Cross-platform FPS games better than brave

Valorant has passed its fifth anniversary, and in that time has taken the FPS world by storm, proving that brand new IPs can find just as much success in the space as fan-favorite franchises. The game obviously borrows many ideas and elements from similar games in the genre, most notably Counter-Strikebut despite the difficulty that comes with breaking into something as competitive as the FPS market, it has managed to carve out a nice niche for itself in the market, drawing in millions of players and showing the world that Riot is more than just a one-trick pony.

But with all the praise the game deserves, there are still quite a few FPS games out there that manage to deliver a significantly better and more enjoyable gaming experience overall. Many of the best games in the genre manage to bring something unique to the table, innovate in what is otherwise an incredibly tight space, and as a result, deliver an experience that can be appreciated by players on any platform. The idea of ​​cross-play has always been a topic thrown around in the gaming world, but it wasn't until the last few years that things really took big steps in the right direction, with players from Xbox to PC being able to play with each other without any limitations or restrictions, creating a much more shared experience in a single title.

Apex Legends

Larger playing field with more chances for skill expression

Details:

• The battle royale formula makes matches feel fast and distinct every time

• More mechanical depth beyond just targets

Apex Legends brings speed, adrenaline and unprecedented mayhem to the Battle Royale genre. Players can choose from a wide cast of characters, each with unique abilities that change how they engage on the battlefield in different ways. Some unlock various movement options like a throwable teleportation device, while others focus more on information and allow players to scan their surroundings for other players who may be lurking nearby. The maps are filled with a variety of locations that play very distinctly from one another, as players can run through a desert out in the open, then quickly find themselves surrounded by trees and huts to use as cover, giving so much depth to the world for players to unlock.

Where the game really goes above and beyond Valorantpp is how skillfully expressive each mechanic is. Being able to aim is one thing, and players will need to learn to use all kinds of weapons, from weak pistols to devastating sniper rifles, but movement also plays a key role in determining who comes out on top in a firefight. Slide-cancelling, wall hops, delayed jumps, and so many more technical pieces are available to those willing to learn them, turning high-level encounters into dances of skill that depend on several different mechanics, rather than just who landed the first headshot.

Battlefield 6

Bringing back the Premier Modern FPS

Details:

• Intense firefights across gigantic environments

• Charging customization for different playstyles

Battlefield has always led the charge for large-scale FPS battles, and the latest installment pushes things even further. Each map feels like players are dropped into the middle of a war zone, with bullets flying from every direction and soldiers marching across the landscape to take control of whatever bit of territory they can. The gunplay feels so sharp, and the weapons are so responsive, giving players all the tools they need to run in and tear through enemy back lines or sneak flanks from a distance.

Also, the vehicular combat couldn't be more satisfying, as players can easily jump into a terrifying tank and slowly make their way to the target, blowing up anything that gets too close. But as impressive as the planes and tanks are, there are still plenty of counterplay options like launchers that make it feel fair for players across the board. Overall, the game perfectly delivers on the FPS fantasy of being fully immersed in a battlefield full of carnage, and when working with teammates, the tactical elements can actually compete with even the most complicated executions in Valorant.

The finals

Arcadey battles with surprising depth

Details:

• Vertical element allows firefights to take place over multiple layers

• Environmental destruction adds a layer of expression to each map

The finals emerges as one of the most mechanically expressive shooters on the market and takes it all Valorant does well and blows it out of the water. Instead of fixed, predictable maps, each arena is fully destructible, with walls exploding, floors collapsing and entire buildings crumbling before the player's eyes. This creates a level of variety found in very few other shooters, as players constantly need to adapt to a changing battlefield and adapt their playstyle to outplay and outmaneuver their opponents.

As for the actual gameplay, the freedom and level of experimentation is significantly better than in Valorant. Players can choose between lighter builds that turn them into fast assassins or heavier ones that can reshape teamfights in seconds with defensive tools that can swing even losing encounters in the other team's favor. And because of how vertically oriented the maps are, there are even opportunities for players to show off their movement skills, as they jump between structures and double back on themselves to reach new locations and make the other team run in circles.

Overwatch 2

Leading the charge for Hero Shooters

Details:

• A diverse list of heroes with very different styles and roles

• Greater emphasis on teamwork and coordination than solo play

Monitoring burst onto the FPS scene and quickly became one of the biggest games on the planet just weeks after its release. Now, nearly a decade later, after countless updates and even a rebrand, the game remains a mainstay in the shooter world, with content still being pushed out at an incredibly fast pace. The reason the game was and still is so popular is because of how well it mixes genres into a cohesive experience. It takes elements from MOBAs and traditional FPS games and merges them into a perfect hero shooter where each character has a role to play within a team composition, and even after 1000s of games played, players will still experience new techniques and new strategies to learn. Valorant differs in this regard, because despite having specific roles and character types, at the end of the day everyone will still have to shoot each other or risk losing the round.

At its core, it's still an intense team-based hero shooter that can be played by both casuals and those looking for a high-level competitive experience. But above all, there's something for everyone, with characters that focus solely on objectives, like Widowmaker and Soldier: 76, and more supporting characters that focus less on objective mechanics and more on gameplay, like Reinhardt and Lucio, offering a wider variety than the more two-dimensional character design of Valorant. The depth is almost endless, and players have no shortage of opportunities to test their skills against each other, whether they prefer raw FPS objectives or want to show off their match-up skills and blow the entire lobby.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

A tactical masterclass

Details:

• Unique defensive and offensive options

• Insanely high skill cap for mechanics and knowledge

Rainbow Six Siege is the gold standard for tactical, slow-paced FPS gameplay, offering an intensity and level of decision-making that even Valorant can compete with. Instead of running and shooting, players must carefully coordinate every move, relying on precise teamwork, small sound cues, and clever use of tools to take control of small but highly detailed maps. Every wall, window, hatch, and doorway can become an entry point or potential escape route depending on how players choose to approach the objective, and because the rooms are so malleable, there's much less chance of camping out a specific line of sight like in Valorant.

Operators add even more depth, each bringing unique gadgets that can bolster defenses or gather intelligence for the attacking team. There are specific use cases for each character, but rather than having basic roles like Smoker or Initiator, the Operators can instead be used in a variety of scenarios, with a good amount of impact regardless of where they are chosen. At the higher level, things really pick up, as the matches turn into mind games of counter-strategies and game knowledge, while relying heavily on an absurd amount of aiming ability. Valorant can deliver a nice, accessible tactical loop, but R6 pushing each limit further to allow players to fully push themselves to their mechanical and mental limits.