Summary
FPS games, orFirst-Person Shooters, are some of the most popular gamesin the world. The FPS genre has stood the test of time and is a staple of the gaming industry, and it has evolved to the point where FPS games are a medium for other genres to exist on top of. For example, many games take an FPS core but may style themselves around RPGs, puzzle games, and everything in between.
It is no surprise, then, that FPS games are one of the most popular types of games to build a modding base upon. Plenty of FPS titles have a dedicated community that continues to iterate upon the base titles, including new features, graphical improvements, overhauls, and sometimes entirely new games. AnyPC gamers who love FPS titlesshould be aware of the games that they can get a whole new experience out of through the use of third-party mods.
Cyberpunk 2077is the latest full release from CD Projekt Red, developers ofTheWitcherseries. Despite mixed reception upon its initial release,Cyberpunk 2077managed to restore its image through updates and a very well-received DLC. The game uses a almost entirely FPS format in order to offer a hybrid between anOpen-World RPG and a shooter, set in an incredibly compelling cyberpunk city.
Since its release,Cyberpunk 2077has experienced a lot of love from the dedicated modding community, releasing all sorts of mods to enhance and improve the experience of the base game. One example of the more simple enhancement mods isBetter Vehicle Handling by RB, fixing the inconsistent and frustrating vehicle handling. Some mods are more elaborate, such asMetro System by keanuWheeze, which restores the originally planned metro system to Night City.
Arma 3is a very deep and intricatemilitary simulation title, demonstrating unprecedented levels of immersion and using the FPS format entirely to its advantage, although it can also be played in third-person for players who prefer that viewpoint.Arma 3is almost a blank slate, aside from some single-player levels, meaning it is designed as a base for player input and creation, including mod integration.
Arma 3is most known for its total conversion mods, offering military simulation in various fictional and historical settings. Highlights of these total conversions includeOperation TREBUCHET by Article 2 Studios, which offers players an entirely fleshed-out experience set in theHalouniverse. The most famous total conversion to come out ofArma 3would bePLAYERUNKNOWN’s Battle Royale by PLAYERUNKNOWN, which would become the highly successful standalone battle royale game,PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Garry’s Modis the incredibly famous and beloved sandbox title, developed byRustdevelopers Facepunch Studios. It is a complete canvas for player creativity, offering the ability to spawn and utilize various assets from titles such asHalf-Life. Players can then use these assets to do as they please, whether it be building structures or setting a pack of headcrabs loose onHalf-Lifecharacters.
The nature ofGarry’s Modlends itself to player creativity, and as such, a vast array of workshop mods have been created over its long tenure. These mods have then often been compiled to be utilized in, or used to create, some incredibly famous game modes and experiences. These experiences include the social deduction game mode, Trouble In Terrorist Town, or thehide-and-seek experienceProp Hunt.
Half-Lifeis one of the most classic and genre-defining FPS titles of all tiem, merging a semi-horror experience with an action-adventure sci-fi shooter into one of the most beloved PC titles.Half-Lifeutilized Valve’s now famous Source engine, and was a massive technological step forward for the games industry.
The utilization of the Source engine, along with the innovations within the engine itself, is what makesHalf-Lifeone of the most modifiable FPS games. There is no greater example of a mod forHalf-Lifethan the creation ofCounter-Strikeby Minh Le and Jess Cliffe. This mod would go on to be acquired by Valve and turned into one of the most beloved and famous competitive FPS games, a modern iteration of which is still one of the most played games on Steam each year.
Bethesda titlesare no stranger to being heavily modded by dedicated fans, a treatmentFallout 4was sure to receive.Fallout 4is the latest single-playerFallouttitle which has a much heavier reliance on its shooter elements, operating as an action FPS first and an RPG second.
Many mods have been released throughout the tenure ofFallout 4, offering a variety of features and experiences. One notable example isSim Settlements by kinggath, offering an entire quest chain alongside brand new NPCs and more base-building content. Some mods add entirely new areas to the game, likeFallout 4- Point Lookout by The Capital Wasteland Team, a mod that features the Point Lookout area from theFallout 3DLC of the same name.
The originalDoom, released in 1993, is a beloved and critically-acclaimed title, forever cemented in gaming history. Many would argue thatDoomwas the most important FPS title in gaming, allowing for the genre to thrive and grow to the behemoth it is in the modern age.
Numerous people still playDoom, using updated engines such asGZDoomto experience the plethora of community mods, levels, and overhauls. These mods range from entire gameplay reworks likeBrutalDoom by Sergeant Mark IV, to complete overhauls that change the game entirely, such asSonic Robo Blast 2 by Sonic Team Junior.
TheS.T.A.L.K.E.R.games are a post-apocalypticsurvival horror FPSseries that offers hardcore simulation and survival elements. Pitting players against a war-torn landscape filled with mutated and monstrous horrors, alongside mysterious anomalies and warring human factions. As expected, such a setting is perfect for modding communities to build upon, utilizing the FPS nature of the games to allow for unprecedented levels of immersion.
Easily the most famous modding project in theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.franchise is entitledS.T.A.L.K.E.R.Anomaly by Anomaly Developers. This ambitious modding project usesCall of Pripyatas a base to create a new and immersive experience on a custom engine that allows for more stability and content inclusion. If such a project wasn’t ambitious enough in and of itself,S.T.A.L.K.E.R.Anomaly has its own modding community, releasing projects that iterate upon it. The most famous example of which isG.A.M.M.A. by Grok. This project is a mod pack that makes for aS.T.A.L.K.E.R.experience like never before, making the game even harder and improving graphical fidelity to create an incredibly immersive and hardcore experience.
