Top 10 Competitive Online Shooters
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These games lead to furious battles with our rivals—until we take them out. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Competitive Online Shooters.
For our list, we’re looking at any competitive shooter you can play online, be it first or 3rd person. We’ve limited our choices to one game per franchise, and we’re also ranking them based on quality of online play and replay value.
#10: “Killzone 3” (2009)
The name doesn’t lie—this installment in the squad-based series is full of combat. We love all of the “Killzone” games, but the multiplayer in this title brings things to a new high with the overhauling of the leveling system. The new mechanism rewards players for their achievements on the battlefield with Unlock Points for new weapons and abilities, so you’ll reap the benefits of destroying your enemies.
#9: “SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs” (2003)
This game’s predecessor was one of the first online games for the PS2, but this title drastically upgraded the online play in the series of tactical shooters. The twelve new maps and the addition of turrets to some of the old ones help improve the online experience. Another cool addition is the anti-personnel mine, which gets set off by someone walking on it and can destroy large number of enemies in an instant.
#8: “Gears of War 3” (2011)
As much as we love bisecting Locusts with Chainsaw guns, it’s nice to know that people have your back. Thankfully, like the campaign, this game’s online components emphasize team play. You’ll want as many people on your side as you can find when you try Beast mode, where you play as a Locust and have to survive 12 rounds of combat with human enemies. It’s as challenging as it is fun.
#7: “Quake II” (1997)
The multiplayer in this game was so great that the title became one of the first eSports, thanks to its legendary convention QuakeCon. The title improved on its excellent predecessor by recasting some of the weapons, so having the rocket launcher no longer made for a nearly automatic victory. With dedicated servers for this game still running today, it’s worth a revisit if you haven’t played in a while.
#6: “Unreal Tournament” (1999)
We already knew how great the Unreal engine was before this game, but “Tournament” showcased its abilities to fuel online action. The seemingly endless variety of game options ensures that you’ll never run out of ways to challenge your enemies. Plus, it was one of the first games to have an announcer call out your exploits, pushing the concept of violence-as-sport to a whole new level.
#5: “Battlefield 3” (2011)
It’s carry a big gun to take out your enemies, but sometimes even that’s not enough to get the job done. That’s why Battlefield lets you hope into a huge selection of vehicles to get you where you’re going and blow everything up when you get there. The title’s expansive maps and their destructible environments are ideal settings for the furious combat. We’re still sticking with the 3rd installment since one editor here is still burnt from the buggy 4th game.
#4: “Team Fortress 2” (2007)
Who said online shooters had to be realistically dark and twisted experiences? Team Fortress 2 goes in the opposite direction, and the results are awesome. The hilariously over the top characters and wacky weapons remind us of what videogames are supposed to be fun first and foremost. Classic capture the flag is always amazing, but the latest standout has to be Medieval mode, where you’re limited to using medieval weapons. Sorry BattleCry, you’re a bit late to that bandwagon.
#3: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” (2009)
The single play campaigns have had some memorable moments, but online play has always been the reason people keep answer the call. The first Modern Warfare may have revolutionized the franchise, but this installment perfected the experience thanks to its visual overhaul and customizable killstreaks. Everyone's got a favourite killstreak lineup, whether they like to play it safe with care packages and UAVs, or hold out for something bigger like the coveted AC130 or Chopper Gunner rides.
#2: “Halo 3” (2007)
Honestly, any Halo game since “2” introduced online play to the series could have taken this slot. Reach pushed the model even further, but the immense amount of features the series is now known for was really perfected in #3. Not only were there tons of modes, maps and DLC content, but you could now build your own maps in the forge and even watch incredibly detailed replays of your matches.
Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:
“Star Wars: Battlefront 2” (2005)
“Planetside 2” (2012)
“Left 4 Dead 2” (2009)
#1: “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” (2012)
Taking the top spot is the Valve franchise that started life as a mod. Like “Counter-Strike: Source,” “GO” combines the team-based CS gameplay with the ultra responsive Source Engine. “GO” has improved on its predecessors 10-fold by adding the stat tracking competitive mode, where you’re matched with equally skilled players and ranked in world wide leaderboards. With players locked into these intense 5 on 5 matches, every split second decision becomes crucial to victory. Anyone who thinks Counter-strike has become outdated need only play a few of these competitive matches to fully understand just how deep this simple concept goes.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite online shooter? For more intense top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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