Best looking FPS game

Important takeaways

• FPS games vary in presentation, with some favoring realism while indie titles offer sleek visuals and matching gameplay.
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Anger Foot and ULTRAKILL showcase beautiful visuals, flashy effects and unique character designs in FPS games.
• Neon White, Fallen Aces and CULTIC present immersive, stylized worlds in fast-paced FPS experiences with distinct visual and gameplay elements.

The first-person shooter is perhaps one of the most popular genres in video games, booming in popularity with breakout hits such as DOWNFALL and Half-lifenot to mention the abundance of BUILD engine games. From the expansive and utterly ambitious linear campaigns of Halo for multiplayer shooters such as Battlefieldthere are all kinds of FPS experiences on the market.

But when it comes to presentation, many (but not all) FPS games shoot for realism and graphical fidelity, especially in the AAA and AA space. While high fidelity games can certainly be stylish in their own right, the heavily stylized experiences found in the indie scene are many. Furthermore, each of these games are not only visually stunning, but have the gameplay to match.

1 Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Stylish 3D environments and pixelated 2D characters

Set in the richly detailed, grim dark world Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun had a deep well of inspiration to draw from when developing their slick 3D environments and pixelated 2D characters. Although it is based on an existing IP, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun retains its sense of self, mainly thanks to its lovingly crafted old-fashioned presentation.

This presentation extends beyond the game's surface graphics, however, with dazzling visual effects and heavy sound design that elevate the action in all the right ways. Unfortunately, the game can be a little difficult to read, especially when there are a bunch of enemies on screen, but the chaos found in its combat encounters usually makes up for it.

Bright, loud and artfully dizzying

Players could blink and miss their own deaths Anger foot. Its chaotic combat encounters are only enhanced by the game's electric pace and pounding soundtrack, with a wild art style to match. Characters look like computerized versions of clay dolls, run around with exaggerated animations and die comically in a fit of flopping ragdolls. Explosions are bright and loud, environments are strangely giddy, packed with color and small details, and the visual effects – from simple flames to blooming shoots – all fit perfectly.

Anger foot is practically built to make players feel stylish, in much the same way as games such as Hotline Miami. The game's breakneck pace and low time to kill make the whole experience a breeze, and short levels reduce the potential frustration that comes with dying repeatedly. Additionally, most levels are dotted with extra rooms and/or corridors that allow for slight variations in the path, each of which has been designed to guide the player through the action without fuss.

3 ULTRA KILL

Inventive character designs and immersive lighting

ULTRA KILLs low-poly models and pixelated textures might not offer the highest fidelity look in the first-person shooter genre, but it's stylish to a T, enhanced by inventive character design, immersive lighting and over-the-top mayhem. The exaggerated movements of its animations, explosive visual effects, and the brilliant use of space in its level design make for an experience that's full of style, and it's a consistent joy to zip through its blood-soaked levels.

The satisfying gameplay of ULTRA KILL driven primarily by its scoring system, which emphasizes speed and skill in equal measure, propelling players through its dark corridors and expressive battle arenas at a ruthless pace. While players may feel overwhelmed at first, those who take the time to master its fast-paced combat will fly through each level with style.

4 Neon white

Accessible Speedrunning in a stylized world

Neon white is a fast-paced first-person shooter that tasks players with running through a variety of lively missions in highly stylized environments, taking down all enemies along the way with a variety of weapons represented by cards. Each of these cards also has a secondary ability, useful for navigating around each level. The game's graphics are almost minimalistic, with a sparing but effective use of colors and a clean user interface.

More important than its images, however Neon whites smart and stylish gameplay. Players go through completely short missions and use the aforementioned cards to stop time in mere seconds. Even players who don't like speedrunning or point-attack games are likely to get a kick out of replaying Neon whites mission, as it uses a unique system to advise the player on how they can improve their performance.

5 Fallen Aces

An immersive FPS with a lot of comic book style

Fans of gangsters, boomer shooters and immersive sims should definitely consider giving Fallen Aces more than a passing glance. The game has many strengths, but its visual style is arguably one of its biggest draws, a comic book style that's rich in detail and perfectly suited to the game's tongue-in-cheek tone.

Fallen Aces is comical, violent and pulpy, offering a unique flavor and vivid vision even as an Early Access title. The game is steeped in a classic noir atmosphere, and the comic book panels that tell its story are both exceptionally effective and stylish.

6 CULTIC

A unique version of an old-fashioned aesthetic

Arguably one of the most well-crafted boomer shooters in the genre's recent revival, CULTIC is a huge mix of fast-paced FPS games such as Blood and action-oriented survival horror such as Resident Evil 4. This unique combination results in one of the most stylish, memorable and expressive FPS experiences on the market.

CULTICs gameplay is heavy. Every shot and impact is packed with power, from the sprite-based animations to the sound design. The commitment to an old-school look, combined with the game's unique color palette and cinematic lighting, consistently delivers memorable visuals. But that's not all CULTICs presentation that is stylish, as its fluid gameplay, intuitive level designs and expressive motion controls also exude style.