Modern FPS Games That Surpass Half-Life 2

When you think about genre-defining games, there are often a few interchangeable names that come up, but in the case of the FPS genre, people always seem to come back to Half-Life 2. It’s an icon of gaming and an experience that virtually everyone should play through at least once, and it has remained culturally relevant for over 20 years.

However, due to the passage of time and the nature of innovation, there have been several newer games that take strides in certain technological and design areas, surpassing Valve’s masterpiece in one way or another. In the grand scheme of things, they may not be better overall games, but they demonstrate a new level that even Half-Life 2’s timeless gameplay can’t keep up with.

Ultrakill

A Bigger And Better Arsenal

• Faster and more fluid combat.
• More complex weapon combos.

Ultrakill is explosive, bloody, and a whole lot of fun, but despite the speed and adrenaline, you can still see glimmers of early FPS design in the fringes. It isn’t always just a rush to the finish, and instead, you need to manage your health and style meter to stay healthy and reach higher tiers by swapping weapons with purpose rather than at random.

Also, in a lot of situations, combat almost acts like a high-speed puzzle, where your mobility and gunshots become tools to overcome the various wacky challenges thrown your way. Ultrakill ​​​​​​is a much faster step up from Half-Life 2, yet still a modern must-play for any FPS fans looking for this generation’s crowning achievement.

Titanfall 2

Mobility Made Perfect

• Excellent level design and set pieces.
• Excellent writing and consistently surprising mission design.

Titanfall 2 represents the peak of modern FPS campaigns, and the multiplayer is equally impressive and well-made. The story follows a range of different missions that each introduce a fresh idea, from wall-running and grappling hooks to time-shifting, all with the bonus of the Pilot and Titan gameplay.

When it comes to PvP, all those elements translate perfectly, and you have a ton of control over how fights play out, regardless of whether you are piloting a Titan or running around on foot. While it is a shame that the game’s popularity has dwindled in recent years, it is for sure worth revisiting, even just for the campaign alone.

Cyberpunk 2077

Leveling Up The Scale

• Enormous dystopian world.
• Expansive relationships and stories.

FPS games come in all shapes and sizes, and Cyberpunk 2077 makes a push to cover all bases at once. You have a giant city to explore, full to the brim with stories and adventures to follow, and you have to contend with everything from corporate soldiers to the voices in your head, adding flavor and variety to an already alluring world.

The world-building is clearly the standout, but combat and gameplay don’t lag far behind. There’s room for loads of different builds and ways to play the game, which also plays into the idea of player agency, where there really are no limits on what kind of person you can be in the glorious neon of Night City.

Metro 2033

Immersed From Start To Finish

• Atmosphere on another level.
• Tension is increased rather than broken.

Metro 2033 feels very close to Half-Life 2 in a lot of ways. They are both linear FPS games with a gritty, dystopian setting, yet Metro leans far more into horror and atmosphere, dropping you into a bleak, snowy world covered in mutated creatures and the last remnants of the humans who have weathered the storm so far.

It is hard to describe how immersive this game is, as no matter where you are in the story, it always feels as though the stakes and danger are equally high. Nowadays, it may have fallen to the bottom of the ladder due to all the sequels stealing the spotlight, but I would still highly recommend taking the plunge.

Peripeteia

The World Is Your Oyster

• Modern immersive simulation.
• Creativity is king.

Peripeteia takes the term “immersive sim” and blows it up completely. Set in an alternate-history cyberpunk Poland where the Cold War never ended, you follow a story of corruption and clashing ideologies, taking whatever paths and sides necessary to ensure your safety and the success of your mission.

Guiding that are the vast levels where you can effectively climb and traverse any surface, unlocking dozens of opportunities to subvert expectations and really push the limits of the game. Half-Life 2 may want you to take your time and absorb all the content piece by piece, but here, Peripeteia is more than happy to let you engage with its world in the way you deem fit.

VLADiK BRUTAL

Grounded Yet Gory

• Excellent physics in combat.
• Directly inspired by old-school shooters.

VLADiK BRUTAL is a classic-style shooter clearly inspired by Half-Life 2, set in a fictional Eastern European dictatorship where citizens are chipped in the neck and prisoners are worked as slaves. That setting already feels perfect for a HL2 comparison, and the gameplay complements the rebellion arc you undergo as you fight to survive against overwhelming odds that only grow worse as time goes on.

Gore is the name of the game, with a brutal damage system that lets you dismember enemies using a dozen different weapons that each offer a unique way to fight back. On top of guns, you need to solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and even drive vehicles to make it through to the end, and even when you get there, you will probably want to do it all over again.

G String

Mods Can Become Anything

• Began as a mod but is now a standalone shooter.
• Advanced powers and combat approaches.

G String began as a Half-Life 2 mod and grew into a standalone cyberpunk shooter developed in the Source engine. Take one look at the sprawling megacity, and it already resembles a reimagining of the Half-Life universe, only with far more technology and a hell of a lot more scale.

The similarities don’t end there. You have access to a set of telekinetic powers that give way to some pretty creative ways of killing, much like the Gravity Gun that so many people have come to adore. However, G String is so much more than just a nice evolution of a legendary game, and it very much stands on its own two feet against a true titan of the genre.