First-person shooter
A video game genre focused on weapon-based combat from a first-person perspective.
A first-person shooter is a type of video game where players see the action through the eyes of their character, with the main focus being combat using guns or other long-range weapons. It belongs to the broader action game category and shares many features with other shooter games. From the start, advanced 3D and pseudo-3D graphics have been essential for creating a convincing sense of being inside the game world, and these games have continually pushed hardware makers to develop new graphics processing technology. Multiplayer has always been a key part of the experience, becoming even more important with the spread of internet access.
The genre is defined by allowing players to freely navigate a three-dimensional space, which sets it apart from other first-person shooting games like light gun shooters or rail shooters, where movement is often scripted or restricted. While early games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom helped establish the modern form, later titles such as Quake, GoldenEye 007, and Halo advanced 3D graphics, multiplayer features, and the genre's popularity on consoles. Some games, like Deus Ex or BioShock, blend FPS elements with role-playing mechanics, while others, like Far Cry or Rage, focus more on exploration and story, sometimes being considered adventure games. Even puzzle or platforming games like Portal, which use a first-person view to help players navigate but lack combat, are occasionally grouped with the genre. Some commentators also include combat flight simulators and space battle games when they show the cockpit from a first-person perspective.
In terms of game design, FPS games typically feature a player character, one or more ranged weapons, and various enemies. Because they take place in 3D environments, they tend to feel more realistic than 2D shooters, with better representations of gravity, lighting, sound, and collisions. On personal computers, the standard control setup is a keyboard and mouse, which many consider superior to the two-analog-stick system used on consoles. The player's hands and weapon are usually visible on screen, along with a heads-up display showing health, ammo, and location, and often a map of the area.
The gameplay is generally fast-paced and action-focused, with dynamic firefights at the core, though some titles emphasize narrative, puzzles, or strategy. Melee combat can also play a role, sometime
- Genre
- Video game genre
- Subgenre of
- Action games, shooter games
- Key defining feature
- Player-guided navigation through a three-dimensional space
- Distinct from
- Light gun shooters, rail shooters, shooting gallery games
- Early influential titles
- Wolfenstein 3D (1992), Doom (1993)
- Later influential titles
- Quake, GoldenEye 007, Halo
- Common control method (PC)
- Keyboard and mouse
Lore & Background
First-person shooters are a type of shooter game that relies on a first-person point of view, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the character. The primary design focus is combat, mainly involving firearms or other long-range weapons. They differ from third-person shooters in that the player cannot see the character they are controlling (except for hands or weapons), whereas in third-person shooters the player can see their character. A defining feature is player-guided navigation through a three-dimensional space, clearly distinguishing the genre from other first-person shooting games like light gun shooters or rail shooters, which often feature scripted movement. Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993) helped est
Reader's Guide
First-person shooters have been integral to the evolution of video game technology and culture. They challenged hardware developers to innovate in graphics processing units, driving advances in 3D and pseudo-3D graphics. Multiplayer gaming has been an integral part of the experience, becoming even more prominent with the diffusion of internet connectivity. The genre's design focuses on fast-paced combat, with players navigating three-dimensional spaces and using a variety of weapons, from realistic firearms to imaginative futuristic or magical armaments. Level design varies from structured levels to large sandbox environments, often featuring science fiction, historic, or modern military themes. The genre has also influenced and blended with other genres, such as role-playing games and adventure games, leading to occasional disagreements about specific design elements that constitute a first-person shooter. Its legacy includes not only technological innovation but also the popularization of first-person perspective gameplay across many gaming platforms.
Did You Know?
- Wolfenstein 3D (1992) has been often credited with introducing the genre, but critics have identified similar games developed as far back as 1973.
- Following the release of Doom in 1993, games in this style were commonly referred to as 'Doom clones' before the term 'first-person shooter' became standard.
- Some puzzle or platforming games, like Portal, are sometimes categorized as first-person shooters despite lacking direct combat, using the first-person perspective to help players navigate 3D environments.
- First-person shooters are distinct from light gun shooters, which use dedicated light gun peripherals and often feature on-rails movement.
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