Best Shooting Game From Each Console Generation

Shooters have come in all shapes and sizes over the years.

From the light gun days of old, the run-and-guns of the original home consoles, to the first-person and third-person shooters of today, the shooter genre has gone through several evolutions as time has passed.

Throughout every console generation, though, one thing has remained a constant: they're an absolute blast to play.

So let's take a trip down memory lane and review the best shooters from every console generation. Yes, that includes the Magnavox Odyssey.

9 1st Generation - Prehistoric Safari

The Future Is Now!

Honestly, you can lump any of the light gun games for the Magnavox Odyssey in here.

Due to the limited capabilities of the Odyssey console, all of its light gun games (Prehistoric Safari, Godfight!, Shootout!, and Shooting Gallery) played essentially the same.

So what, then, gives Prehistoric Safari the edge? Its theming is the best out of the others. Sure, that theming is incredibly limited by today's standards, but you have to think back to what was possible in the early 1980s. Plus, the idea that you're shooting down dinosaurs is pretty cool!

8 2nd Generation - Asteroids

An Atari Classic

It doesn't get any more classic than Asteroids.

First released for arcades before being ported to the Atari 2600, among other consoles, Asteroids is the quintessential shooter of one of the original console generations. It's simple, easy to understand, but hard to master.

Asteroids is the type of game you pick up and play, quickly understand how it works, and before long, hours have passed by, and you're looking to start over once you see the "Game Over" Screen. Just talking about it makes me want to play it.

7 3rd Generation - Contra

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start

The 3rd console generation didn't necessarily birth the "traditional" shooter quite yet, but Contra is still as good as it gets within the genre.

Its run-and-gun gameplay delivered one of the most notoriously challenging experiences in gaming history. It was tough, it was unforgiving, and it was something that you couldn't put down. Contra delivers the very best of the arcade gaming experience, right in the comfort of your own home.

Thankfully, you're able to play the game with a friend in co-op play, which, on paper, makes it a little easier. Don't go in thinking it'll be a walk in the park, though. It demands precise shooting alongside platforming, helping it rank among the very best NES games.

6 4th Generation - Doom

The Granddaddy Of Them All

Technically, Doom did release on the 4th generation of consoles, but let's be honest: the ideal way to play it was on PC. It's such an important shooter that there was no way we could leave it off our list.

From that opening guitar riff in its first level and the feeling you get when you first pick up the shotgun, to completing the game and itching for more as you bump up the difficulty, there's still nothing quite like the original Doom.

I was hooked back in the day, playing it on MS-DOS. I was hooked on playing it on home consoles too. Heck, I was hooked playing it on the Game Boy Advance, of all things. You better believe I'm still hooked on it today; I even just spent an hour playing through the game while writing this article!

5 5th Generation - GoldenEye 007

Bond. James Bond.

When you think of the Nintendo 64, I'm not sure what it did for the FPS genre is something that immediately comes to mind. Normally, it's all about the platformers, like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, or the fun multiplayer games like Mario Party, Mario Kart, and Smash Bros.

Speaking of fun multiplayer games, nothing matched the pure joy that came from playing GoldenEye 007. Where the game truly shines for me, though, aside from issues with the Nintendo 64 control setup, is its campaign.

While there are plenty of other great FPS games for the N64, such as Perfect Dark and Turok 2, GoldenEye is so expertly paced that it still holds up today. I fell in love with the game, playing with friends all night long, and I remain in love with the game, playing through its single-player on a regular basis. Play it on Xbox with modern controls and fall in love with it all over again.

4 6th Generation - Metroid Prime

Still One Of The Best Games Ever Made

The 6th generation had no shortage of great shooters, but there were two that stood out above all the rest back in the day: Metroid Prime and Halo: Combat Evolved.

As great as Halo is, there's just something about Metroid Prime that continues to hold up well today. It's not your traditional FPS experience, leaning in on the exploration and adventuring that comes with the Metroidvania genre, but it's still an excellent shooter.

Those two aspects together are what make Metroid Prime such a fantastic game. It draws you in with its immersive atmosphere and encourages you to explore every inch of its world, even rewarding you for doing so. If you doubt the staying power of Metroid Prime, do yourself a favor and play Metroid Prime Remastered and see just how well the game holds up.

3 7th Generation - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

One Of The Best Call of Duty Games

I've mentioned the importance of a strong campaign in a shooter several times now, and when it comes to the Call of Duty franchise, no entry can touch Modern Warfare 2.

From the iconic Cliffhanger mission, the controversial No Russian, and its completely over-the-top final act, it truly didn't get better than this. For as great as its story and gameplay are, though, Infinity Ward was cooking with their level design, notably because they expanded the game's color palette and biomes.

Yes, the game's multiplayer was more of the same, only better (this was back when Call of Duty was one of the best multiplayer experiences you could play), but the real appeal for Modern Warfare 2 was its campaign. Excellently paced, packed with action, twists, and turns you'd expect from a Michael Bay movie.

2 8th Generation - Overwatch

The Former Gold Standard For Hero Shooters

Yes, I know that Overwatch today is a bit of a meme and a huge shell of its former self. Back in the day, though, there was nothing quite like it, and it was 100% deserving of its Game of the Year win in 2016.

Its concept of a team-based hero shooter isn't exactly revolutionary or innovative, but then again, Blizzard isn't necessarily known for that. They're known for taking a good idea and polishing it to an immaculate shine. That's what they did with Overwatch.

Everything, from its level design, hero balance, gameplay modes, and personality, was in a league of its own. Sadly, I say was, because today's Overwatch, while on the up and up, isn't as strong as its original form. We'll always have those moments, though, playing with friends or suffering through solo queue; it was worth it.

1 9th Generation - ARC Raiders

There's been something about modern shooters that feels lacking, probably because I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of the Battle Royale genre. Even aside from those, the popular franchises of yesterday are a shell of their former selves.

That's what helps make ARC Raiders such a breath of fresh air. Not only is it mechanically sound, but it also accompanies that with some of the most interesting and addictive gameplay loops I've ever seen in a video game. The extraction shooter subgenre is already known for tense, adrenaline-filled moments, but there's just something about ARC Raiders that's different.

Watching the way others interact with people feels more like a social experiment, and it has me nostalgic for chatting with people on Xbox Live back during its early days on the Xbox and Xbox 360. You get to make new friends organically, build alliances, and work with strangers. Or you can just talk smack and kill people while they're down and steal their loot. It's a pure multiplayer experience unlike anything else out there today.