7 Best Xbox One First-Person Shooters Ever

The Xbox One console ushered in a new generation of immersive first-person shooter (FPS) experiences. With cutting-edge graphics and intuitive controls, Xbox One games allowed players to lose themselves in believable game worlds seen through the eyes of expertly crafted heroes and warriors.

In the 8 years since its launch, Xbox One has amassed a library brimming with outstanding FPS games spanning franchises old and new. Let‘s highlight 7 FPS titles that represent the very best the console has to offer.

A New Generation for Blockbuster FPS Games

Microsoft positioned the Xbox One as an all-in-one entertainment system for the modern living room from day one. Technically, the console featured cutting edge specs well-suited for smooth FPS gameplay:

An 8-core x86 processor clocked at 1.75 GHZ
500GB hard drive
8GB DDR3 RAM
A GPU capable of 1.31 teraflops of performance

These internals enabled Xbox One games to render expansive 3D environments packed with incredible levels of detail and visual effects. When playing a polished FPS like Call of Duty, Xbox One also empowered developers to achieve silky smooth 60 frames per second gameplay. Such high framerates are critical for fast-paced shooters requiring precise aiming and split-second reactions.

The Xbox One controller built on years of continuous improvements for a best-in-class input device ready for FPS gameplay as well. Textured analog sticks enabledexact movement while triggers offered gamers superior weapon control.

Out of the gate, the original Kinect sensor also held potential for introducing new ways of interacting with FPS titles. While largely underutilized, creative developers found ways to incorporate Kinect into enhanched experiences as seen in Wolfenstein: The New Order or for Cortana voice commands.

With its modern platform and refined controller, Xbox One was well positioned to take legendary FPS franchises and indie upstarts to new levels.

Defining the First-Person Shooter

Before highlighting standout titles, let‘s define this beloved video game genre.

First-person shooters are games portrayed from the visual perspective of the player character. As the name suggests, gameplay largely revolves around shooting from a first-person viewpoint. This immersive perspective helped pioneer the genre through early titles like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake.

Core gameplay elements in most FPS games include:

Exploring environments seen through the eyes of your character
Arsenal of weapons ranging from pistols to rocket launchers
Frantic run-and-gun action as you mow down enemies
Varied mission objectives like infiltration, rescue, demolition and more
Challenge of aiming/shooting weapons in a 3D space

While early FPS pioneering focused on the shooting aspects, modern games incorporate roleplaying, stealth, platforming, puzzle solving, and more.

Popular franchises have also expanded from a solitary single-player campaign to online cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. Despite such additions, the classic FPS formula still revolves around tactical first-person shooting refined over 30+ years.

Let’s see how Xbox Oneallowed both storied franchises and new IPs to capture FPS magic across single and multiplayer.

7. Battlefield 1

The Battlefield series has a knack for delivering some of the most expansive and cinematic FPS experiences around. Battlefield 1 lives up to that legacy by bringing the all-out warfare of World War Ito vivid life.

Rather than focus on a single protagonist, Battlefield 1 features a series of distinct story-driven "War Stories". These single-player missions let you participate in key battles across war-torn locales like France, Italy, and Arabia. Gameplay captures the gritty realities of The Great War complete with harrowing tank assaults, desperate aerial dogfights, and hard-fought trench warfare.

Multiplayer truly steals the show however with support for up to 64 players simultaneously clashing across sprawling maps. You can rain down destruction piloting biplanes and bomber zeppelins, lead daring cavalry charges, or ruthlessly gun down foes with period-authentic weaponry. Few games manage to capture the organized chaos of battlefield combat like the spectacular Battlefield 1.

Release Date: October 2016
Metacritic Score: 88

6. DOOM

DOOM revolutionized gaming when it exploded onto the scene in 1993 with its shocking violence and breakneck action. After over a decade away, Bethesda successfully rebooted the godfather of FPS games while retaining everything that made DOOM iconic.

Stepping into the boots of the legendary Doom Slayer, you awake to find Mars overrun by the demonic forces of Hell. DOOM wastes no time plunging you into an intoxicating power fantasy fueled by an endless stream of satisfying weapons and over-the-top gory mayhem.

While the single-player campaign steals the show, multiplayer offers some old-school demon-blasting fun as well. Overall, the 2016 DOOM reboot pays faithful homage to classic DOOMtitles while introducing fluid modern gameplay for a new generation of fans.

If you want to experience how the Xbox One allowed developers to capture DOOM‘s magical essence for modern hardware, look no further than this devilishly fun reboot.

Release Date: May 2016
Metacritic Score: 85

5. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Very few franchises are as seminal to FPS history as Wolfenstein. After a successful reboot with 2014’s The New Order, MachineGames knocked its sequel out of park. Like its predecessor, The New Colossus continues BJ Blazkowicz’s 1960s crusade to spark a new American revolution against the Nazi’s iron grip.

This well-crafted single-player campaign retains the stellar blend of over-the-top action, stealth, and storytelling its predecessor was praised for. Except this time B.J.’s resistance movement has kicked the Nazi war machine into overdrive. This means even more powerful weapons and sadistic super soldiers for players to mow their way through.

From infiltrating a Nazi stronghold in Roswell to rallying resistance forces from a stolen U-boat, few FPS games manage to intertwine rollicking gameplay and storytelling like The New Colossus. Its stunning Technical achievements earned it a 2018 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation as well.

Release Date: October 2017
Metacritic Score: 88

4. Apex Legends

Battle royale games took the gaming world by storm thanks to Fortnite and PUBG. Apex Legends stormed into the burgeoning genre in 2019, combining slick FPS action with innovative twists.

Squads of 3 players compete against 19 other teams in a fight for survival across the sci-fi landscapes of Kings Canyon. Unlike its peers, Apex Legends injects much-needed character and personality through its roster of unique “Legend” characters. Players select from that cast based on their preferred skills and playstyle before being dropping into the massive arena.

Once you hit the ground, familiar battle royale mechanics kick in as your squad scavenges for weapons before hunting down others. However, Apex Legends mastery revolves heavily around effectively using hero abilities. Lifeline can call in a remote heal drone while Wraith can open dimensional rifts across the map. This grantsthe game a welcome layer of strategy lacking in competitors.

These smart twists combined with polished FPS gameplay are why 50 million gamers flooded servers during the first month of release. Out of all the battle royale pretenders, Apex Legends remains the crown jewel for Xbox One owners.

Release Date: February 2019
Metacritic Score: 89

3. DOOM Eternal

After successfully reviving the dormant DOOM franchise, Bethesda and id Software unleashed a superior sequel just 4 years later. DOOM Eternalrefines the same addictive flow of frantic FPS slaughter introduced in 2016’s DOOM reboot.

The ominous Slayer returns to exterminate Hell’s army which has successfully conquered Earth. This demon genocide requires a staggering amount of firepower supplied through all your favorite weapons like the Super Shotgun, Heavy Cannon, and Crucible Blade.

Blistering gameplay still rules the day in Eternal but small tweaks like upgrading gear or equipping perks provides another layer of depth. Rip and tearing through hordes of nightmarish demons has also never looked better thanks to cutting-edge graphics showcasing the id Tech 7 engine.

While 2016’s DOOM marks an impressive return to form, Eternalrepresents the pinnacle of pure FPS escapism on Xbox One. Slaying demons has never been more delightfully cathartic.

Release Date: March 2020
Metacritic Score: 88

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

The Call of Duty series has ruled FPS sales charts for well over a decade thanks to its polished gameplay and cinematic set-piece moments. 2016’s Modern Warfare Remastered offered Xbox One owners the chance to re-experience one of the most seminal entries in FPS history.

Originally released in 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare redefined FPS storytelling within its globe-trotting campaign. This remake allowed a new generation of gamers to enlist alongside "Soap" MacTavish and Captain John Price for an unforgettable military escapade. Encounters like slowly infiltrating Pripyat or protecting a compromised informant showcase Call of Duty’s mastery of memorable FPS missions.

A stellar multiplayer mode accompanied the stellar single-player as well. Iconic maps like Crash, Backlot, and Shipment returned with enhanced visuals while retaining the same addictive action fans loved.

Modern Warfare Remastered represents a masterclass in updating FPS classics for modern hardware. Every explosive set-piece and tense showdown is more thrilling than ever thanks to Xbox One’s power.

Release Date: November 2016
Metacritic Score: 83

1. Overwatch

Blizzard Entertainment rarely releases new IPs but when they do, you can bet it will take the gaming world by storm. Overwatchrepresents their first attempt at tackling the red-hot FPS genre by remixing comfortable shooting mechanics with bold MOBA-like hero abilities.

The result is one of the most creative, accessible, and entertaining competitive FPS experiences ever created. Teams of 6 unique Overwatch agents battle across the game‘s 28 maps using lethal abilities and synergistic teamwork. Whether you enjoy playing as cybernetic ninja Genji or tank captain Reinhart, every hero caters to different playstyles.

This ingenious mashup of FPS and MOBA DNA created something unprecedented. Xbox One servers rapidly swelled as 50 million eager players were hooked by Overwatch‘smission to "save the world". Highly-balanced gameplay that makes every wild match a joy rather than frustrating experience.

With an endearing art style, charismatic heroes, and deep strategic meta defining its core, Overwatch marked the evolution of online FPS play. There‘s a good reason it remains Xbox One‘s highest-rated FPS years later.

Release Date: May 2016
Metacritic Score: 91

The Cream of The Xbox One FPS Crop

While Nintendo and Sony consoles offer their own standout FPS titles, these 7 games represent the pinnacle of the genre on Xbox One.

Franchises like Battlefield, Call of Duty, and DOOM continued their proud lineage of pioneering FPS innovations with new Xbox One releases. Critical darlings like Wolfenstein II or hits like Overwatch also left their marks with unforgettable single and multiplayer experiences.

With innovations like 4K graphics or 120 FPS support, modern Xbox Series X consoles continue the tradition of providing a premier home for FPS fans. However, Xbox One owners can rest easy knowing these 7 games delivered some of the most intense, cinematic and unforgettable FPS campaigns and versus battles ever seen.