Regardless of world events, 2020 was a huge year for FPS games, with arguably some of the best (and worst) game releases of all time. Starting off strong with Doom Eternal, and carrying through with the addictive surges of Valorant and Call of Duty: Warzone, alongside the many releases from indie devs, there really was no shortage of entertainment last year.
From indie highlights to ports, there was a lot to love all year long, but a lot of games went totally under the radar because of the bigger releases taking the spotlight. For anyone looking for something new to shoot, here’s a look at some of the most underrated FPS games of last year.
5 Too Little: Prodeus
For anyone following the recent craze of boomer shooters following the popularity of New Blood’s Dusk and Amid Evil, Prodeus probably isn’t a surprising addition to the list. Following in the spiritual footsteps of ’90s classics like Doom, Hexen, and Blood, Prodeus is a fast-paced gory shoot-em-up taking the quality of triple-A gameplay and adding a neo-retro aesthetic.
Not only is it a beautifully faithful Doom-like, but its development team is full of star creatives and industry veterans, making it an all-around fantastic experience unlike most other shooters out today. On top of the campaign, there is also a fully integrated level editor, and tons of community maps to add near infinite replayability.
4 Too Little: Doom 64
Sure, Doom 64 is a game from 1997, but even back then it was overlooked in favor of a plethora of bigger releases, not to mention its N64 exclusivity. Doom 64 may have gone under the radar twice now, but with its port on the Nintendo Switch, it deserves another look.
This entry has an atmosphere much like its predecessors, only upgraded with the new lighting optimization and demon models. For fans of classic Doom, it’s a must-buy, and for new audiences brought in with the 2016 reboot and last year’s Doom Eternal, the classic entries are some of the best-aged games of all time. They are well worth a shot for their price point and wide availability.
3 Too Little: Post Void
Post Void is radical in the same way that Doom and Wolfenstein were back in the ’90s. This game is exactly what suburban moms were worried about, with an added visual touch of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Post Void is colorful, hypnotic, fast-paced, and sick to its core. It’s also ultra-cheap on Steam and promises a good amount of replayability for anyone looking for a quick and addictive octane buzz.
Valuing speed above all else, Post Void‘s gameplay feels a bit like classic Doom with a surreal arcadey roguelike loop, and a violent streak as long as Hotline Miami. The game has an epilepsy warning due to the intensity of its visual style and breakneck speed.
2 Too Little: Serious Sam 4
Much like the Doom games and their recent reboots, Serious Sam has had a pretty long run relative to other shooters, going on 20 years now with the fourth installation. Unlike its gritty modern compatriots, Sam takes a more classic approach with its action, supplementing high-octane gunfights with quippy one-liners and bright, vivid visuals.
A lot of players unfamiliar with the franchise discounted Serious Sam 4 as just a dumb boomer shooter undeserving of their attention, but this is a much more refreshing game than it lets on. For the price point, any FPS fans should check this one out.
1 Too Little (In Some Ways): Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is an interesting piece of gaming history, as it’s objectively one of the best virtual reality games of all time, pushing the medium forward with its technical innovations. On the other hand, it’s not the most accessible game out there, and most players had to experience it through YouTube instead of their own hardware.
Alyx pushes the envelope of what VR games can accomplish, giving players more realistic mechanics and immersion than ever available before. On top of that, the physics work amazingly well, with realistic liquid in breakable bottles, markers that can draw in real-time on various surfaces, and hand tracking that makes juggling, aiming, and throwing much more tactile experiences.
Looking closer, Half-Life: Alyx was one of the most talked-about games from a lot of people who never even got to play it. With its technical advances, obviously, not everyone would be able to get their hands on hardware strong enough to handle the game even at its worst.
Valve might argue that not enough people played its game, but Half-Life Alyx was not really made available to those who couldn’t afford adequate setups. In this case, the closer truth is that Alyx got plenty of love from Valve but not enough from its deserved audience.
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