Published on August 5, 2023
Updated on November 25, 2023

19 Best Boomer Shooters

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First Person Shooters have been around since the beginning, and are still one of the most popular genres out there. With such a long history, they could be divided into old-school and newer ones.

Talking about old-school shooters (or boomer shooters, as the kids would say), usually means the inclusion of several elements, such as those released in the 90s/early 00s, fast-paced gameplay, complex level design, a simple story, a great variety of enemies, and often a unique presentation. So, this list is intended to introduce old-school shooters to new audiences and where to start.

So, with all of that being said, let’s begin!

Table of Contents

Doom


1993
About
Release Date
December 10, 1993
Developer
id Software
Publisher
id Software
Franchise
DOOM
Genre
FPS
Players
Multiplayer, Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

The grandfather of the FPS genre, the one that really popularized the genre. Some would argue that it started with Wolfenstein 3D, but DOOM brought so much innovation and new concepts, so I recommend starting with this here. At the time, it was state-of-the-art technology and introduced ceiling textures, angled walls, projectile-based weapons, and so on.

It also has a great presentation, and the graphics are always clear, The enemies have their unique color palettes and behavior, and the levels are complex, but not so much that you get lost in them (it has a map), and of course a legendary soundtrack. It was so successful, that the term “DOOM clones”, was used to describe any other FPS game, that came after it.

DOOM is still popular today and has one of the oldest and most dedicated communities out there. To this day, there are still plenty of mods being created, all of which are easily available, and simple to set up. You can check our list of the best DOOM mods here and also a guide for setting them up.

It’s an absolute must-play and something that shouldn’t be missed out on. DOOM 2, just expands on the concept, such as level design, but is still the same game, and they are often bundled together.

Duke Nukem® 3D


1996
About
Release Date
January 29, 1996
Developer
3D Realms
Publisher
FormGen
Franchise
Duke Nukem®
Genre
FPS
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Duke Nukem® 3D
(1996 Original Release)
Duke Caribbean Life's a Beach
(-0001 Expansion)
Duke It Out In D.C
(-0001 Expansion)
Duke Nuclear Winter
(-0001 Expansion)
Duke Nukem 3D Plutonium Pak
(-0001 Expansion)
Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition
(-0001 Complete Edition)
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
(2013 Enhanced Port)
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour
(2016 Enhanced Port)

A natural progression from DOOM, in most cases, will lead straight to Duke Nukem 3D (well, at least in mine). Duke Nukem 3D, is the third game in the Duke Nukem franchise, which originally started as a platformer. The game was developed on a Build Engine, which offers plenty of interaction with the world and also introduces a voiced protagonist.

In addition to flipping switches, you can now also turn lights on/off, solve puzzles, create alternate paths, interact with NPCs, and of course, kick some alien butt. It also has a semi-realistic, presentation of the real world, one that looks believable and not some abstract concept of it.

The weapon slots are similar to those from DOOM, meaning that you’ll get a pistol, shotgun, and rocket launcher, but instead of a BFG, you’ll get a Shrink Ray, which is a fun twist in the game. Duke Nukem 3D, also has some of the best level designs, when it comes to old-school shooters, and they served as an inspiration to other games.

Duke Nukem 3D also has a very active community, and mods for it are still being made, even today. The modders are very creative and are keeping the franchise alive, and you can find our list of best mods here. They are easy to set up, so once you finish the game and expansion packs, the fun isn’t over. A must-play for any old-school shooter fan.

Quake


1996
About
Release Date
July 22, 1996
Developer
id Software
Publisher
GT Interactive
Franchise
Quake
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
1v1, Single Player, Split-Screen Co-Op
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Quake
(1996 Original Release)
Quake
(2021 Remaster)

While Duke Nukem 3D, brought to the table world interaction and brilliant level design, Quake brought cutting-edge technology. Id Software just three years after the release of DOOM, managed to create a true 3D FPS game. This means that everything is in 3D, levels, enemies, weapons, and items.

Quake is a mix between fantasy and sci-fi, and this is due to different creative visions for the project, but it works in the game’s favor. It creates a unique setting, where you are encountering demons in old castles, and blasting them with your shotgun.

What makes Quake stand out from the rest is its presentation, and besides the enemies being low poly (by today’s standards), they are all unique and instantly recognizable. The soundtrack is also memorable, as it was composed by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who also provided vocal quips for the protagonist.

The game also still has an active community, albeit in smaller numbers, but it’s still there. Quake was the first entry in the franchise, which is still going strong even today. If you want to play the first truly 3D FPS game, then Quake is the game for you.

Quake III Arena™


1999
About
Release Date
December 02, 1999
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Activision
Franchise
Quake
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Quake III Arena™
(1999 Original Release)
Quake III Revolution™
(-0001 Enhanced Port)
Quake III: Team Arena™
(2000 Expansion)

This is a different approach in the Quake series, as the game doesn’t feature a traditional FPS campaign. Instead, it focuses on the multiplayer aspect of the game, however, there is still a single-player element, but in a much more reduced role. In single-player, the goal is to go through various tiers, fighting against more and more dangerous opponents.

The familiar id Software stamp is there, and the level design is remarkable, while some of the playable characters are from other id games, such as Doomguy, or Ranger from Quake 1.

A year later, the game received an expansion pack, Team Arena, and its primary focus as the name suggests was on team-based mods while bringing even more maps and characters. Quake 3 Arena, is also notable for several reasons. It was among the first games, that required players to own a graphics card, it popularized multiplayer coined the term “Arena shooters”, and introduced id Tech 3. The game’s engine was later used in several games, and when it was later released for free, helped improve the game developer community.

It’s still fun after all this time, and with a huge number of mods, and a still active community, you can still find people who play it.

Unreal™ Tournament


1999
About
Release Date
November 22, 1999
Developer
Epic Games, Digital Extremes
Publisher
Atari, GT Interactive, MacSoft
Genre
Arena Shooter
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Gladiator
Players
1v1, Online Co-Op, Single Player, Split-Screen Co-Op
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Unreal™ Tournament
(1999 Original Release)
Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition
(-0001 Complete Edition)

Developed by Epic Games, after their huge success with Unreal, UT was in huge competition with Quake 3 Arena. Unreal Tournament wasn’t as demanding, and it could run on most PCs at the time, due to its great optimization. It also offered a huge variety of mods and maps, and this was even before any of the mods started to come out.

Where Quake 3 might have seemed a bit tame to some, UT managed to excel in its presentation, in both graphics and soundtrack. The premise of the game is simple, and your goal is to win the tournament, by beating its many categories. Those include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Domination, and so on.

The levels are certainly the biggest plus for the game, as you will be playing in a large variety of differently themed levels. Oddly enough, all of them fit the theme of the game, as these are supposed to be themed arenas.

Its great success brought several games in its franchise, and of course, popularized the use of the Unreal Engine. With a wide variety of content and mods at your disposal, it isn’t surprising that you can still find people playing the game. It must be played at least once.

Half-Life


1998
About
Release Date
November 19, 1998
Developer
Valve
Publisher
Sierra Entertainment
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Half-Life
(1998 Original Release)
Half-Life: Blue Shift
(-0001 Expansion)
Half-Life
(2001 Enhanced Port)
Half-Life: Opposing Force
(2004 Expansion)

Sooner or later we were going to touch upon, Half-Life, the legendary Valve FPS game. Developed using a heavily modified Quake 1 engine, Half-Life, not only put Valve on the map, but also started several other franchises, and changed the way FPS games were made.

You play as Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist, and after a failed experiment you find yourself in the middle of an alien invasion (which is more of a worlds colliding type of moment).

It introduced several new things, such as taking the time to introduce the player to the environment, no cutscenes at all (it’s all played in-game), deeper NPC interaction, and intelligent enemies. For a 1998 game, all of this was groundbreaking, and it quickly gained a huge following and of course mods. Several of them were widely successful such as Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, Ricochet, and many others.

The game also got a sequel in 2004, Half-Life 2, which also received legendary status and several other spin-offs. Half-Life must be played at least once, and its importance to the FPS genre is on par with DOOM. An absolute recommendation.

Blood


1997
About
Release Date
May 21, 1997
Developer
Monolith Productions
Publisher
GT Interactive
Genre
FPS
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Fantasy
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Blood
(1997 Original Release)
Blood: Fresh Supply
(2019 Remaster)

Blood is one of the essential Build Engine games, that is considered among the top 3 original games on it. The game unlike Duke Nukem 3D, actually takes its cues and references from horror movies and B movie shlock from the 80s and 90s.

You play as Caleb, a gunslinger, who after he has been betrayed by an ancient god and its cult, goes on a rampaging revenge. This game was the first game developed by Monolith Productions and a great first entry in their portfolio.

One of the things that you will immediately notice is that the game aims for fun, and most of the horror is there either as a joke or for shock value. In most cases, the game follows the rule of cool to a letter, along with over-the-top action and gore, enemy design, power-ups, and of course weaponry.

However, the game is challenging and probably among the hardest ones of the original Build Engine games. It’s lengthy, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome, and the difficulty is just right, never becoming impossibly hard. Although it stands on Duke Nukem’s shoulders, this gem of the game isn’t to be missed, and you’ll be in for a hell of a ride.

Shadow Warrior™


1997
About
Release Date
May 13, 1997
Developer
3D Realms
Publisher
GT Interactive
Franchise
Shadow Warrior
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Samurai
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Shadow Warrior™
(1997 Original Release)
Shadow Warrior Classic Complete
(2012 Complete Edition)
Shadow Warrior Classic
(2013 Port)
Shadow Warrior Classic Redux
(2013 Enhanced Port)

The third-best game on the original Build Engine, and one that is often not praised enough. Shadow Warrior’s theme is Asian action movies, and B movie jokes and gore. The game wasn’t without innovation and it introduced climbable ladders, drivable vehicles, and voxels instead of sprites for certain models.

The plot follows Lo Wang, who turns against his master, Master Zilla after he decides to conquer Japan using demons and the power of ancient gods. Lo Wang’s arsenal of weapons is consistent with the theme, so you’ll have shurikens, a katana, and possibly the first appearance of a sticky grenade.

Shadow Warrior also received two expansion packs, Twin Dragon and Wanton Destruction (which wasn’t released until 2005), both of whom introduce new enemies, and bosses and have plenty of levels. This being a 3D Realms game, the presentation is great, and the soundtrack by Lee Jackson is just as memorable as the one in Duke Nukem 3D.

It’s a fun action game, but with a different theme, and some great level design. It was re-released several times, and it also had a remake released in 2013, which brought new life to the game, creating a series after 16 years. It’s easily available and is a great introduction to the series.

Chasm The Rift™


1997
About
Release Date
October 24, 1997
Developer
Action Forms
Publisher
Megamedia
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Gore
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Ukraine
Remakes
Chasm The Rift™
(1997 Original Release)
Chasm: The Rift Remaster
(2023 Remaster)

Chasm: The Rift is one of the first FPS games, that came from Eastern Europe (Ukraine), setting up a foundation for the future. The game is unique, and most importantly has a unique charm to it, and probably coined the term “Eurojank”. This term is usually associated with games, coming from Eastern Europe that are ambitious, but sadly ridden with annoying/comical bugs.

The game itself is inspired by Quake and mixes elements of sci-fi and fantasy. You play as a soldier, whose mission is to stop “Timestrikers”, which are mutated beings that are attacking Earth at various points in history. So, now you must time travel to stop them, and somehow save Earth before it’s completely changed.

One of the most notable features in the game is the ability to remove limbs from enemies. The level design is complicated, so you must pay attention to the level layout. Despite its rather moderate success, it influenced other modern games such as HROT and Dusk. It’s short but memorable and you can get it for cheap on Steam, making it more accessible and playable thanks to the new port.

Ion Fury


2018
About
Release Date
April 17, 2018
Developer
Voidpoint
Publisher
3D Realms
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Cyberpunk
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

Ion Fury is an anomaly in today’s gaming scene. Released in 2019, it was developed using a Build Engine (a modernized source port), to create an entirely new game. You play as Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison, a bomb expert when Dr. Heskel tries to take over Neo D.C. and now it’s up to her to stop him.

Originally, Bombshell was supposed to be a character in Duke Nukem Forever, and went through many iterations, before being cut from the final version of the game. In 2016, she finally got her own game, Bombshell, and Ion Fury is a prequel to that game.

Developed by VoidPoint, who are essentially a group of Duke Nukem 3D modders, the results are nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail, level design, enemies, and even bosses are all top-tier. Despite being developed on the Build Engine, it looks surprisingly good and gives the game that action movie/comic book feeling, making it look like some lost FPS from the 90s. It won several awards for being the best Indie game in 2019 and having the best soundtrack as well.

Due to its success, 3D Realms managed to create a new franchise, and an expansion pack Ion Fury: Aftershock was released shortly after, while the new game Phantom Fury is also being developed. So, if you’re looking for that 90s magic, but in a slightly modern package, give Ion Fury a go!

Dusk


2018
About
Release Date
December 10, 2018
Developer
David Szymanski
Publisher
New Blood Interactive
Genre
FPS
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

Dusk is what happens when passionate fans, who are also skilled developers, make a game. Inspired by 90s shooters, mainly DOOM and Half-Life, with a touch of Blood, it creates a unique mix that delivers a rousing success. It’s also one of the games that popularized the term, “boomer shooters”, due to its visuals and design being evocative of the 90s.

Dusk is set in the titular town of, Dusk, Pennsylvania, where a large number of ancient ruins were discovered. Naturally, the government took an interest and sent teams to research the ancient ruins and their powers, but they were soon corrupted by demonic forces. You play as the DuskDude, a treasure hunter, who heard rumours about the place and its riches, but is quickly captured, and now must save himself, and maybe the world.

Dusk is interesting because it emulates the 90s aesthetic and design perfectly. If you want, you can play the game with a 90s graphic filter, making it all blocky with primitive 3D graphics.

Level design is simply brilliant and genius, and probably some of the best works in a long time. The enemies seemed to be inspired by Blood, along with weapons as well, but it all fits the theme of the game perfectly. It isn’t a parody of the old games or nostalgia bait, but instead, it has spirit and charm, and most importantly it’s full of memorable moments. There is no reason to miss this game, especially if you’re into retro FPS games.

Prodeus


2021
About
Release Date
June 24, 2021
Developer
Bounding Box Software
Publisher
Humble Bundle
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Online Co-Op, Online PvP, Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

Developed by Bounding Box Software, Prodeus is a mix between the 90s shooters, mixed with some modern gameplay elements. Prodeus is an excellent example of a good visual direction, in a way that you can identify what’s on the screen rather quickly, among the chaos. It has that strong 90s feeling, with its fast-paced gameplay and blood and guts all over the place, in a cool-looking sci-fi environment.

Its quality shouldn’t surprise anyone since it was developed by two ex-Raven Software employees, Mike Voeller, and Jason Mojica, with a great track record. The story is not that important and your only objective is to destroy Prodeus, the creator of a world that you’re currently on.

The game’s main focus is on the presentation and gameplay, making it seem like a lost 90s game. It also has a nice feature where you can change the graphics from a retro-style look to a more modern one. This way both the older and younger players can enjoy the game to their liking, and if you played any of the classics, you’ll feel right at home.

HROT


2021
About
Release Date
January 29, 2021
Developer
Spytihněv
Publisher
Spytihněv
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Czech Republic
Available On

HROT may not look like much at first glance, but there is a lot more under the surface. Inspired by several 90s shooters, it seems to take the most inspiration from Quake 1 (1996), with its low polygonal graphic style.

The game is set in Czechoslovakia in 1986, after an unspecified disaster. Starting in a Prague Metro Station, throughout the game, you’ll see several recognizable landmarks mixed with the bleak atmosphere creating a unique feeling of dread. It creates this feeling masterfully, and this is further reinforced by the level and enemy design. You can play it as a fast-paced shooter, and still enjoy the game to its fullest, even if you don’t stop and check out every detail out there.

With its unique presentation, and bizarre representation of Czechoslovakia that probably has some basis in reality, you shouldn’t miss out on it. Its unique charm and look can keep you occupied for hours, and smooth gameplay only adds to an already great experience. It’s essentially Quake, but with a Czech twist on it, but with the right amount of weird.

Ultrakill


2020
About
Release Date
September 03, 2020
Developer
Arsi Hakita Patala
Publisher
New Blood Interactive
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Finland
Available On

Now some shooters just have an interesting premise and name, such as Ultrakill. The story is simple, and you play a robot in a world where humans have gone extinct. So, you decide to enter hell and fight demons over there while harvesting their blood. With such a premise you can expect a lot of action.

The gameplay has a great idea to challenge your skill. At each level, your performance will be graded, and to achieve the best results you will need to perform various combos and kills. If you find yourself surrounded by enemies, don’t retreat, as their blood is being used to heal you up and keep you in a fight. So, you can expect, fast-paced action with ever-rising challenges.

Fast gameplay, combined with epic action and a phenomenal soundtrack, will make for one unforgettable experience. With plenty of combos and levels and the recently released second act, Ultrakill will keep you occupied for hours.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun


2023
About
Release Date
May 23, 2023
Developer
Auroch Digital
Publisher
Focus Entertainment
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

You may think that Warhammer 40k: BoltGun is just another game in the franchise, but it manages to stand out on its own. Despite WH40k, having a deep and complex lore, you don’t need to know any of this to play BoltGun. All you need to know is that you are being sent to a corrupt world and your task is to destroy all chaos forces.

Despite its retro look, BoltGun was developed on Unreal Engine 4, but the developers managed to capture the 90s gameplay and feeling masterful. Despite playing as a Space Marine, one of the finest Emperor’s warriors, the game can still be incredibly hard, especially during boss fights. The titular BoltGun isn’t the only weapon in the game, and the rest of the arsenal is the standard FPS weapons, with the option of upgrading them along the way. The presentation is on point, and it nails the 40k look flawlessly.

If you’re looking for a good fast-paced retro shooter, where you play as an unstoppable death machine, then look no further than BoltGun.

Amid Evil


2018
About
Release Date
March 12, 2018
Developer
Indefatigable
Publisher
New Blood Interactive
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
New Zealand
Available On

Amid Evil is one of those shooters, that seem to have it all, in both the presentation and gameplay. While it may seem that most of the retro shooters are just sci-fi-themed, there were several of them with a fantasy theme. Taking obvious inspiration from games such as Heretic (1994), Amid Evil manages to improve on that idea and deliver something great.

The game looks and plays like a retro game, despite being made using Unreal Engine 4, and it features a strong presentation, even featuring Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.0. The story is rather simple, and your goal is to retrieve sacred weapons to stop an ancient evil. Naturally, this will take you on a long journey, straight out of a fantasy book, all the while fighting monsters along the way.

It has some of the most memorable levels and scenes, followed by an excellent soundtrack by Andrew Holshut. So, if you’re looking for something similar to the original Quake or Heretic, then Amid Evil is something you shouldn’t miss out on.

Turbo Overkill


2022
About
Release Date
April 22, 2022
Developer
Trigger Happy Interactive
Publisher
Apogee Entertainment
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Cyberpunk
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
New Zealand
Available On

In Turbo Overkill, you play as Johnny Turbo who returns to his home city, only to find that it has been taken over by the AI. The obvious solution is to destroy the AI, and this can be only achieved by lots of shooting, explosions, using a trusted chainsaw, and entering Turbo Time.

The game looks like, every 90s FPS trope, complete with fast-paced combat and aesthetics. One of the main features in the game is the ability to augment yourself, and for example, give yourself a mechanical rocket launcher arm or a chainsaw leg. Almost all weapons have additional variants, to spice things up with hordes of enemies to wipe out. What’s great is that Turbo Overkill uses established FPS logic, and expands upon it, but still making you feel right at home.

Published by Apogee Software, the game also has plenty of references to 90s games and movies, while the levels are accompanied by a great synth-wave soundtrack, creating some pretty memorable fights. With fast-paced gameplay, references, Easter Eggs, enemies, and chainsaws abound, Turbo Overkill deserves the look and attention. If you still aren’t convinced, you can always download the demo, and try it out yourself.

DOOM Eternal


2020
About
Release Date
March 02, 2020
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Franchise
DOOM
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

Looking at this list, you would probably assume that I’m a huge id Software fan, and you would probably be right. Honestly, did you think this list would be complete without the sequel to DOOM (2016)? It seems that history is repeating itself, as the sequel is arguably once again more popular than its predecessor.

DOOM ETERNAL is a more refined and improved experience and has set new standards for FPS games. The biggest thing is the new approach to gameplay, as each enemy is vulnerable to different types of damage. This will force you to change your weapons on the fly, exploiting their weakness for maximum carnage.

The presentation of the game is real AAA stuff, with phenomenal visuals and sound design. It even takes clues from the original games, which is evident in both the enemy and environment design. This one is a definitive recommendation, and if you need even more challenge there are two DLCs for you to try out.

Quake II™


1997
About
Release Date
December 09, 1997
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Activision
Franchise
Quake
Genre
FPS
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Crossplay, Online PvP, Single Player, Split-Screen PvP
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Remakes
Quake II™
(1997 Original Release)
Quake II™
(-0001 Port)
Quake II®
(2023 Remaster)

The Quake franchise left a huge mark on the industry, with the first one having at the time cutting edge technology, and 3 popularizing the Arena FPS genre. However, Quake 2 is often overlooked, but with the recent remaster it’s back stronger than ever.

Quake 2 has a pretty straightforward story, where you play as a marine sent to the planet Stroggos, in an attempt to launch a counter-offensive and save Earth.
The game retains fast-paced gameplay, and the movement ties well to the agility of the character. This means that you will need to quickly learn how to strafe, jump, circle strafe, and other now signature FPS moves.

The recent remaster is the best version of the game to get, as it comes packaged with the base game, two expansion packs, Quake 64, and a completely new episode. The AI and graphics have also been polished and updated, complete with several quality-of-life features. The multiplayer is still fun and is now playable with bots as well. Don’t miss out on this one!

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9 responses to “19 Best Boomer Shooters”

  1. Scott Miller says:

    The games listed as “3D Realms” we’re actually Apogee games. We created the 3D Realms brand but it wasn’t a separate company—the company was still Apogee. So games like Duke 3D and Shadow Warrior were made by Apogee. (And the new 3D Realms in Denmark had nothing to do with making these older games.)

    • Avatar photo Babalon, Mother of Abominations says:

      Appreciate you being here Scott!

      Sadly, companies are the weakest link in our database at the moment, and we haven’t yet developed the necessary technology to properly support companies that have gone through rebrandings or acquisitions.

      Similarly, while we support the standard “developer & publisher”, it’s less than half of the truth. Multipe companies have worked in multiple roles for most bigger titles, and while we truly want to show this information accurately, the data entry alone requires the kind of resources we don’t yet have.

      I will try to create the code with Apogee / 3D Realms as the first iteration though, and will make sure to let you know once we’ve reached that stage!

      Thanks again for jumping in!

  2. Fulminare says:

    Gotta love the nostalgia vibes of the article, showing that older games are still the best. You can see the value of the older FPS when the newer generation is releasing newer versions of classic 3D shooter. Should make one about newer shooter that are going to release like the games, Forgive me father 2, Fortune’s Run and Mullet Mad Jack.

    The couple of nostalgic classic that are missing here are, Redneck Rampage and the Alien trilogy, which most likely will never see a release again.

  3. INFERNUS says:

    How about just called them classic shooters. Boomer shooter sounds dumb as f**k.

    • Avatar photo Babalon, Mother of Abominations says:

      Couldn’t agree more mate! We are not the ones deciding the sub-genre terms that “stick” though, and boomer shooters define a very specific type of shooter!

    • Fulminare says:

      You mean Boomer shooters sounds more degrading towards the older generation of gamers.

      The problem is that it’s become a norm because of mainstream gaming media. They like to create division between the older generation and themselves, seeing as they see themselves as a higher class of people compared to the older generation that made gaming popular.

      • Avatar photo Babalon, Mother of Abominations says:

        What Fulminare said!

        At the same time – and while not a fan of the term, there’s always value in popularizing “new genres”, since it helps more people discover a bigger spectrum of games in their chosen niche!

  4. Marco Wanke says:

    DOOM was released 1993 not 1994.

    • Avatar photo Babalon, Mother of Abominations says:

      Sorry for that, we were missing the original MS-DOS release, that’s why the incorrect date was showing up!

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