Summary
There is a generation of FPS shooters that hold a special place in gaming history. Titles such asWolfenstein,Quake,andDoomwere groundbreaking releases that pushed the genre to new places. For a certain age bracket, these games were often what brought people into gaming in the first place.
Over the last few years, there has been a rise in developers releasing games heavily influenced by these original classics. Known as"Boomers Shooters,“these games recreate the feeling ofpure FPS chaotic funthat the originals did so well. Taking the elements of fast movement, a simple art style, rapid combat, and tons of enemies to gun down; boomer shooters are adrenaline gaming at its best.
Updated Jul 27, 2025, by Andy Chapman:The boomer shooter genre of FPS continues to produce new, exciting titles that are both nostalgic and modern. With many of these games, such asIon FuryandDusk,starting to appear on consoles, the audience for retro-shooters is growing all the time. For players looking for their next gaming experience, this article has been updated to include a few more entries. These additions are more examples of a genre that is no longer just a trend, but a major part of the gaming landscape that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
For players looking for a chaotic and fast-paced shooter with plenty of big guns,Postal: Brain Damageis the ideal choice. This spin-off from theRunning With Scissorsseries takes players into the damaged mind of The Postal Dude, as they blast their way through a myriad of bizarre enemies.
Getting through this shooter isn’t a walk in the park. Players will need to avoid hard-hitting attacks from the many enemies in the game. But with a great selection of guns that feel both powerful and sometimes silly,Postal: Brain Damageblends dark humor withDoom-style gameplay, creating a fun shooter that ticks all the right boxes.
Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, this vibrant, comic-like retro shooter is a welcome addition to the genre. Old-school FPS games often included elements of cosmic horror, most notably inQuake. WithForgive Me Father, the developers went all in, creating a Lovecraftian shooter with all the tentacles and insanity that fans of this genre adore.
Like many games in the comic horror genre, madness plays an integral part inForgive Me Father. Players will find the audio and gameplay changing as their level of madness increases. This unique FPS title will appeal to horror and boomer shooter gamers alike.
Metascore: 72
The quality of boomer shooter games over the last few years has been consistently high. These titles rarely rely on complex mechanics, groundbreaking graphics, or in-depth narratives to sell their games. Boomer shooters are all about fun. Developers T19 Games continue this trend withDread Templar.
Dread Templaris a hardcore retro-style shooter that offers players the chance to blast their way through hell and its many demons, upgrading weapons and skills as they go. With cutscenes at a minimum, the game gets right to it, letting the player get in on the action straight away. For players looking for their next FPS addiction,Dread Templaris a great title to choose.
Metal Hellsingerbrings the thrashing metal soundtrack of classic shooters to new interactive levels. This action-packed rhythmic shooter blendsDoom-style gameplay with an original metal soundtrack, where killing enemies to the beat of the music does more damage.
Metal Hellsingeris unsurprisingly a game made for metalheads, meaning fans of other genres may be put off by the emphasis on heavy metal music. Nonetheless, the gameplay loop is fun, simple, and effective, and with the added rhythm element thrown in,Metal Hellsingeris a memorable addition to the genre.
11Wizordum
Steam Reviews: Very Positive
Wizordum takes the look and feel of classic 90s fantasy games and brings it into a retro-style shooter setting, creating a vibrant FPS experience that is reminiscent of Hexen and Heretic. The game also allows players to create and share unique levels, as well as compete online with other players to be the fastest and climb the leaderboard.
Wizordum is another notable release in the growing catalog of fantasy retro-shooters released over the last few years. With a selection of magic weapons and spells to take on the game’s enemies, players will love this vibrant FPS game that takes them on an epic adventure through the world of Terrabruma.
Project Warlocktakes influence from games such asQuakeandHexenand then throws in a lot more. There are no quick save options and no checkpoints in the game, meaning that if a player dies, they start the level again.
Project Warlockis vibrant in its design, utilizing its pixel art style in a way that is almostcomic-like in its presentation. With each chapter taking place in a new setting, the level design never gets old. The combat is fluid and a lot of fun to play, making this a must for any fan of the boomer shooter genre.
Blood Westis a unique addition to the retro-shooter genre. With its dark atmosphere, stealth mechanics, and immersive storyline, the game blends all these elements to create an addictive horror experience.Blood Weststands out among the many other retro shooter releases, by bringing light RPG mechanics that allows players a higher level of freedom in their play style.
Players control an undead gunslinger as they wander the desolate landscape, ridding it of the demonic entities who haunt it. With many boomer shooters taking inspiration from the same few games,Blood Westis a welcome change of pace.
Heavily influenced byDoomwith the blood and guts turned up to ten,Prodeusis a solid addition to the sub-genre that will scratch that boomer shooter itch. While the game suffers from levels that seem to blend into each other, it also features all the hallmarks players have come to love from throwback FPS games.
Witha heart-pounding soundtrack, scores of demonic enemies to gun down, and fast-paced movement,Prodeusdoes all these very well and sets itself apart with some modern particle techniques, elevating the pixilated style from a purely ’90s aesthetic.
Amid Evilis a dark fantasy FPS that also takes its cues from cult shooter classics such asHexenandHeretic. Replacing the standard weaponry of FPS withmagic swords and staffs,Amid Evilis a unique addition to the recent flood of boomer shooter games.
Set over seven different worlds, the game brings a lot of different styles and colors to its palette. Weapons can dish out some heavy damage and make the player feel truly powerful. Amid Evil is a nice change of pace from the usual sci-fi setting and offers an excellent dose of fantasy gaming nostalgia.
Ion Furyis a game that wears its influences on its sleeve, namelyDuke Nukem 3D.The game features all the pop culture references, a sleazy cyber-punk backdrop, and sassy one-liners players should expect.
It also plays extremely well, with a pleasing amount of weapon types, all with alternative shooting modes that can dispatch a myriad of enemies quickly and efficiently.Ion Furywas one of the games that helped the popularity of boomer shooters skyrocket in recent years and has an equally good expansion,Ion Fury: Aftershock.
