Some of us play games for calm and casual recuperation after a long day. But others of us play them to get a true adrenaline rush. If you’re in the latter camp, chances are you’re into hardcore FPS games. And if you’re looking for some of the toughest and most competitive multiplayer FPS titles, you need to look no further than this list!
1. Rainbow Six Siege
A game for deep strategizing, perfect execution, and big brain plays, Rainbow Six Siege is as tough as nails. This tactical shooter sees teams take turns defending and attacking sites in compact teams, rewarding those with razor-sharp reactions and innovative strategies.
The game is deeply competitive while relying heavily on strong team play to pull off complex strategies on both attack and defense.
So whip out your microphone and start practicing your aim; you might stand a chance in this tough shooter.
2. Escape From Tarkov
Blend an MMORPG with a hardcore, tactical shooter, and you’d get Escape From Tarkov. It shares much of its DNA with military simulations like the ARMA series, giving you the option to fully kit out your character and build and customize weapons on the fly. But it takes it a step further with virtually no HUD (yes, you need to manually check your magazine to see how many shots you have left), limb-based hit points, and realistic ricocheting bullets.
Rounds are known as “raids,” which will see you dropped onto one side of a map to reach an extraction point on the other. But between you and the extraction lie a whole host of player and non-player characters.
And if you die, you lose everything you had on you. Yes. Permadeath.
This game is tough as nails, but because of it, the thrills offered by Escape from Tarkov are hard to match.
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
First released in 2000, Counter-Strike is yet to be dethroned as the multiplayer shooter of choice for many fans of tough shooters.
The game is simple—and chances are you’ve at least tried it already. Two opposing teams compete in game modes to complete objectives, from planting/defusing a bomb to rescuing/guarding hostages. At the start of each round, players can spend cash earned from doing well in the previous round on new weapons and upgrades to give them an edge.
It’s a deeply competitive team game that rewards pinpoint accuracy, careful positioning, and those gutsy plays that get your heart thumping.
Despite CS: GO being ten years old, its charm hasn’t diminished. Not one bit.
4. PUBG: Battlegrounds
The ultimate and original battle royale, PUBG, is an iconic game in modern history. But don’t let its mediocre graphics and janky animations fool you—this game is optimized for intensity.
In what is now traditional battle royale style, you’ll be dropped into a huge world map and pitted against opponents—either solo or in small squads—with the mission of being the last player/team standing.
With an array of weapons, upgrades, armor, items, vehicles, and more at your disposal, it’s up to you to get creative. But don’t let the options distract you from the sound of those footsteps creeping towards you.
PUBG is a classic, and its dedicated player base continues to come back for its unique battle royale flavor, combining simple aesthetics with punishingly difficult gameplay.
5. Valorant
Breed together Overwatch and CS:GO, and you’d get Valorant—a tactical hero-shooter focused on twitch reflexes and inventive special abilities.
Developed by Riot Games—of League of Legends fame—it works to the studio’s strength in combining interesting characters, playful aesthetics, and incredibly competitive gameplay into a package worth sinking hours into.
Just like CS: GO, you’ll play in teams taking part in round-based gameplay through various game modes based on attack and defense. Although games are a bit more fast-paced than your average competitive CS:GO match.
6. Vail (VR)
Although still in Beta, Vail is tipped to be the competitive multiplayer shooter in VR. While VR has a bunch of realistic shooters—from Pavlov to Onward to the more gamey Larcenauts and Population: One—Vail will bring something new to the table.
With its DNA in games like Counter-Strike, the game thrives on fast-paced, tactical gameplay, which requires pinpoint accuracy, careful positioning, and some serious game sense.
Being in VR, Vail takes the FPS intensity to a new level, as you’ll be holding the gun in your own two hands and pointing to aim.
Like every other game on this list, it’s seriously tough. But, after all, that’s why we all love this genre.
