ARC Raiders and more of the best shooter games of 2025

Video games have also included a few dominant genres that are always relevant and popular among players. Shooters are a foundational aspect of modern gaming, especially for those who like to go online and play with others around the world. There's just something fun about locking in to a target with an arsenal of powerful weaponry that never gets old. And between big games with a massive number of players to match up with, to remasters of iconic classics from a bygone era, there was plenty to shoot in 2025.

Although it wasn't the best year for the genre, it was still filled with games that shooter fans could get behind. Games like ARC Raiders made a big impact on multiplayer gaming, while classic franchises continued with new entries like Doom: The Dark Ages earlier in the year. But not every mega-popular shooter was successful in 2025, because there was a lot of solid competition between game releases throughout the year. Here are some of the best shooting games from 2025 that you should play.

Gears of War: Reloaded

Regrouping with a beloved classic

The Xbox 360 era was built upon the success of a few key releases. One of those beloved games was Halo 3, while the other was the original Gears of War. This is why it was pretty big news when Gears of War: Reloaded was announced to be coming out for all platforms, including the PlayStation 5. For some, it was unbelievable, but for others it was an excuse to revisit a classic. And luckily for everyone, this remastering of the war between the Locusts and COG army was still a lot of fun to play. Cutting down enemies with a Lancer chainsaw still feels incredibly good, as does the use of sniper rifles to get sweet headshots in multiplayer.

The visuals of Gears of War get a complete overhaul, with some mild tweaks over the previously remastered version from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition. For some Gears fans, it was retreading a lot of familiar ground, especially with the bonus extra content that was already available before. But for PlayStation 5 owners who had never owned any previous Xbox console, it was something very new and interesting to dive into. Whether it was your first time playing Gears of War or the tenth time you booted it up, Gears of War: Reloaded was still a solid shooter that everyone could have fun with. It remains a classic of the Xbox 360, and a very fun game to play today.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

A sequel everyone waited on

Fans of Metroid have been incredibly patient with Nintendo over the years. Things have been a roller coaster of emotions for new games, especially with some of the terrible game releases on the Nintendo 3DS. Although the Nintendo Switch helped put an end to a long drought of great Metroid games, the real gem that fans had been waiting for was Metroid Prime 4, which was in development limbo for a long time. But finally, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond arrived on the Nintendo Switch 2 and delivered an experience that longtime Prime fans had come to expect.

The game doesn't do anything too outlandish to change the formula of Metroid Prime, but it does enough of the same to reach the same level of quality in atmosphere and exploration. The visuals of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond look fantastic, with tons of great detail in the environments and creatures that bounty hunter Samus Aran encounters. New additions like the Vi-O-La bike keep things fresh and interesting, while the story and puzzles hit the same beats that Metroid came to expect with a sequel like this. A few aspects of the game may have been a drag to some purists, but Metroid Prime 4: Beyond still manages to be a great atmospheric shooter for the Nintendo Switch 2.

ARC Raiders

Extracting with everybody online

The extraction shooter genre is something that doesn't always resonate with a lot of people. But the impact of ARC Raiders on the multiplayer scene cannot be denied. Teaming up with allies and stepping onto the surface of a hostile planet, players must search for resources and loot to bring back with them to base. But like other extraction shooters, the world is incredibly hostile and full of dangers, including other players, that can force the loss of everything a player gathers. Quick reactions, smart playing, and an instinct for survival are key to making it back safely and going through all the precious loot.

According to everyone that plays ARC Raiders online, the best moments come from the crazy things that can happen while out exploring. Everything from the enemies in the environment that challenge players to work together, to the hilarity that can ensue from interactions with other players that end up being hostile or sneaky. Despite some controversy with the game that includes aspects of A.I. generated content in its creation, ARC Raiders has become a big hit among people who love playing shooters online. There's always something crazy happening with the game, and something even crazier to encounter when going out on the next run.

Doom: The Dark Ages

Heavy metal demonic action

Although not considered the best shooter of the year, Doom: The Dark Ages still managed to generate a lot of attention from everyone, based on its name alone. No matter how one feels about it, a Doom game still feels and looks great to play through in every aspect. The concept of having a bunch of weapons to fight the demonic forces of hell is something that will never grow tiring or boring. Shooting big guns at big demons is a pastime that every shooter fan can get behind.

What makes Doom: The Dark Ages different from its two predecessors is how it goes back to some of the basics of the classic Doom series. Slower movement and heavier weapons, along with tons more enemies to rip and tear through within incredibly insane-looking environments. But Doom: The Dark Ages doesn't forget to add some new tools of the trade, including a shield and other fantasy-inspired weapons that are powerful and efficient. Regardless of the form it takes, a Doom game is always going to be appealing in the way

Battlefield 6

Squad up and break them down

Online shooter fans have wanted to see a return to the glory days of the Battlefield series for a while. The previous game, Battlefield 2042, failed to reach the pedigree that longtime fans came to expect from the franchise in previous years. But the arrival of Battlefield 6 marked a period where the series felt like it was re-establishing itself as one of the best multiplayer shooters around. And with new modes being added to the mix, like the free-to-play Battlefield REDSEC mode, there were plenty of reasons to dive into multiplayer. Although the single-player campaign was there for players to go through and enjoy, it's not the main attraction for a series that was built on the foundation of great online multiplayer action.

Squading up with friends, picking a role, and diving into large maps filled with a war-torn landscape is what Battlefield 6 is all about. Balance changes and updates are always a concern with any online first-person shooter, but Battlefield 6 manages to get things feeling right on the first attempt, allowing thousands of players to log on and clash in big battles. Vehicles add an element of power and scale to the matches, while key objectives urge players to work together to fulfill any criteria to win. The REDSEC mode shifts things to a battle royale-style format, but it's the core multiplayer modes of Battlefield 6 that will keep people coming back for more action online.

Hitting the mark in 2025

A lot of games released in 2025, but not all of them were able to resonate with audiences in a big way. The year was full of shooters that were both original creations and continuations of ongoing series, but only a handful of shooting games became massive hits that stood out throughout the year. Surprise hits wowed audiences, and beloved franchises still managed to hit their mark for those who cared about them. And as 2025 comes to a close, the future of shooters is looking pretty good going into 2026 and beyond.