You may be stunned at how helpful the a number of router shooters really on the market are, regardless of being one of many extra recognizable subgenres within the recreation. To place collectively their greatest record, how uncommon is one thing actually nice, maybe how extremely they’re, and the implications of the unlucky tendency to go down the trail of the nationwide anthem and suicide squad, have been shortened after not catching the viewers. However what they lack in amount is greater than making up for what number of hours you’ll be able to lose to them, and over the previous 20 years I’ve spent extra time on this style than I’d admit.
So, for the needs of this record, what qualifies as a plunder shooter? Properly, because the identify suggests, they imply it’s a must to have capturing (first individual or third social gathering) as the principle approach you work together with the world, and all of these shell casings and/or laser bolts have to reward routes (nearly all the time containing randomized drops) that can maintain you enjoying and seduce you into difficult-to-resistance endgames. Each ongoing video games like Future and extra conventional non-live service video games are eligible. Basically, we’re searching for a recreation that someway adheres to the unique premise of the Looter Shooter style. What for those who take an ARPG like Diablo and switch it right into a shooter?
If, like me, you do not appear to have the ability to shoot sufficient face monsters to assert shining gear, listed below are our high 14 router shooter suggestions.
14. CRAB Champion
One of many odd looters shooters you’ll be able to play proper now could be Crab Champion, a spot the place you play as a crab with a gun in opposition to fellow crustaceans and a sneaky floating head. Quick-paced high fight is probably not as technically superior as friends, however what it lacks in bells and blowing is greater than compensated by the allure of pure dopees. Moreover, it’s lacking the standard add-ons and microtransactions which might be widespread in different Looter Shooters, making it a whole package deal with no hidden prices.
That is nonetheless lively below growth and is at present accessible in Steam’s Earty Entry program, however for simply $10 it is undoubtedly price testing, particularly because it’s an apparent breath of contemporary air from the common Looter Shooter aesthetic. I am a sucker for a goofy tackle style that I really like, and you will find a extra silly choice than this. It was additionally developed by one individual. That is fairly spectacular contemplating that I used to be capable of squeeze out this one over the previous 12 months.
13. Shadow Warrior 2
One of many extra underrated shooters I’ve performed is the Shadow Warrior sequence, particularly the reboot I kicked off in 2013, with experimenting and reinventing (for higher or worse) in every iteration. The primary and third video games are story-focused adventures, whereas the second recreation within the trilogy detoured into the router shooter world with a give attention to semi-open worlds, procedurally generated territory and randomized loot that places it proper in the identical class as Borderlands.
Shadow Warrior 2 is a really joke, however regardless of spending more often than not tearing it into Doom-like pink chunks, my good friend and I laughed over 100 hours as we loved the distinctive model of Lot’s distinctive model. Gunplay has nothing to write down about at house. Buildcraft is certainly on the less complicated side that feels extra like an RPG than lots of its friends, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an excellent time and one in all my favourite flip off-the-brain video games is simply desirous to play a whale with an unpleasant monster.
12. Border Zone 3
Borderlands 3 did a lot to enhance the capturing and graphics of the Borderlands sequence when it was launched in 2019, nevertheless it additionally existed in a really unusual place within the historical past of the franchise, and it felt like developer Gearbox remained within the mud of the style itself. The capturing was stable, however simply overtook the highest to video games like Future, and the booty was nice, however amongst its ally, Buildcraft had already developed past the marginally shallow choice of Borderlands 3. While you put in some fairly questionable selections that comedy writing and antagonists are involved about, you’ve got acquired what I feel is the weakest entry within the sequence.
That mentioned, that is nonetheless a Borderlands recreation, and meaning it is loads of enjoyable to play, even on dangerous days. With a really first rate interplanetary marketing campaign and looking an irresponsible variety of weapons, I spent fairly some time enjoying this. And for those who’re searching for a recreation that is higher than most different video games (besides Borderlands 4), due to its improved gunplay, that is your calling port.
11. Outrider
Folks can leap into the area of router shooters, however they could not have been essentially the most authentic iteration. As a supernaturally powered warrior, you run round, turning the marauder into chunks of flesh, claiming a ton of booty. One factor that distinguishes outrider from different packs is how nice its construct craft is, particularly because the world layer expansions outperform the sport fairly considerably. I spent loads of time optimizing the builds of various characters and throughout completely different stat numbers for the procedureed RAID exercise. The looter shooter is not essentially the very best at accepting the RPG aspect of the mechanic, however outriders actually excel on this space.
I am additionally an enormous fan of the truth that the builders determined to not flip Outrider right into a dwell service recreation and as a substitute determined to help it with a single (and reasonably nice) extension. Please do not get me improper. I am an enormous fan of recreation as a service initiatives, however not all router shooters have to go that path. The outleaders did not really feel any extra strain to play than they wished to play. I am actually grateful. So, for those who’re searching for a greater time on this style, that is the proper choice to play with a bunch of buddies, however you do not need to be wrapped up in a whole lot of hours of content material that threatens to devour life.
10. Borderlands: Earlier than Sekel
Actually, the Borderlands detour to the moon after the unimaginable Borderlands 2 was an excuse to safe extra display time for everybody’s favourite buddy, Good-looking Jack. The distinctive surroundings of Pandora’s moon and the which means of oxygen juggling with the low gravity of its selection is actually controversial, however I by no means stopped loving these wonderful ass.
Actually, the most important sin earlier than the beginning is to do little to evolve the sequence. However extra border zone 2 isn’t actually that dangerous and that is nonetheless maintained to today.
9. Tiny’s Wonderland
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a spin-off of the Borderlands sequence, is the one (hehe, hehe) fantasy recreation on the record dominated by sci-fi video games. Will probably be held at a tabletop RPG like D&D referred to as Bunkers & Badasses (which has since develop into an actual tabletop RPG). This deep, inappropriate shooter is mainly a borderland wearing wizard robes, that includes most of the iconic characters and mechanics recognized to the Gearbox Looter Shooter sequence. One thing like an overworld map requires some dangers in all places. This may assist your journey really feel like a correct tabletop journey, however in any other case it’s totally near the blueprint established by the Mainline Collection.
I actually loved my time at Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, however in the long run it is nicely under the very best entries within the authentic sequence, not solely primarily based on how a lot it may be borrowed, but in addition on the truth that it may well’t stand the comedy chops in Borderlands 2 (extra on that in additional element later). Nonetheless, for those who’re making an attempt to sink loads of your time into an amazingly silly shooter that units you aside from the remainder of the pack with distinctive fantasy skins, that is extremely desperate to suggest.
8. future
Say what you need about your authentic destiny (God is aware of I’ve), nevertheless it modified the style of router shooter in too some ways. Whereas that will plague people who find themselves not followers of dwell service video games, the concept router shooters are on an enormous price range and will likely be a steady journey through the years has been an enormous step ahead for the style. In a phenomenal world to discover, it is without doubt one of the best recreation soundtracks of all time and nonetheless preying on lots of its friends, the primary individual motion deserves reward, even when it would not obtain new content material. In addition they launched raids like World of Warcraft. This has since develop into a fellow gold customary, urging individuals who have adopted, like departments and outleaders, to do the identical. Plus, it has some nice PVP modes the place I’ve misplaced 1000’s of hours through the years.
Sure, it’s a must to take care of some of the difficult, nearly meaningless tales on the planet. Plus, there are some actually suspicious grinds which have pushed me into a number of madness, however Bungie is price it with a number of the greatest gunplay gunmen ever.
7. Borderlands
Because the ancestor of many concepts that got here afterwards, the unique Borderlands recreation deserves roses for being the primary of this sort (or no less than the primary one which was an enormous success). Now, over 15 years in the past, there’s undoubtedly tough edges involving gameplay, environmental variety, and different bells and whistles, however the gearbox has managed to drag away from issues nobody had earlier than. The 4 Vault Hunters are iconic (it was handed over to legend at this level) and are loads of enjoyable to construct. The quaint journey by Pandora’s desert all the time jogs my memory of fond reminiscences regardless of its hilariously dangerous ending.
And whereas Borderlands undoubtedly felt like a greater recreation prototype, it additionally had amazingly good comedy writing and DLC help, so I used to be enjoying with buddies a number of years after its debut. In 2009, when this sort of growth was uncommon and the router shooter style was not current, Borderland paved the way in which for every part that adopted.
6. Tom Clancy is Division 2
Now we have reached the true heavy batsman and began with one of many greats of dwell service shooters. Division 2 is without doubt one of the greatest experiences on this area. With an enormous fuss, a number of the hardest raid actions ever devised, nice construct crafts and an absolute stellar “darkish zone” mechanic that provides a mini extraction shooter in the course of the co-op recreation, Division 2 did nearly every part its predecessors.
It additionally fills the extra practical delight archer area of interest in a darkish apocalyptic world the place individuals battle different people as a substitute of aliens and monsters. Generally this could result in unusual issues. This may make you appear to be a hoodie man who has survived dozens of shotgun explosions on his head, however for those who can put apart how odd it’s, you may be a very good time. Above all, each video games on this sequence have loads of content material to dive into, and lots of of them nonetheless have an lively participant base.
5. Future 2
After his predecessor pioneered the dwell service mannequin, Future 2 expands on these concepts and is approaching 10 years of content material. It is not all the time constant to be a enjoyable recreation to play, and from an extremely compelling growth to a hard-waving man who needs to place his head in a stained glass window. This could occur if you’ve developed this lengthy recreation and have 1000’s of hours of content material launched. As soon as Future 2 pulls it aside, it’s undoubtedly probably the greatest marauder archers within the nation mile.
That is as a result of there’s nearly no a part of that completely wonderful gunfire. Campaigns like The Witch Queen and Closing Type are a number of the higher tales informed by the router shooter. For years, capabilities and development choices have been constructed to the purpose the place they discover them superb and have a number of choices. Above all, it has a lot dang content material that you may play every single day for a 12 months in a row, however nonetheless will not run out of persuasive issues. It is not all the time good with its loot, usually painful and livid (together with the newest expansions), very contradictory to the standard of the storytelling, however males, it’s a must to go it on to Bungee to remain related so long as you will have this recreation. The business isn’t the identical with out it!
4. Warframe
Okay, technically, Warframe is extra of a marauder than a shooter, however given its style influence and unimaginable overlap, it will really feel completely unusual to not embody it on this record. Taking up the completely dripping area ninja position in Swagger, Warframe ate my time through the years with its unending grind and enjoyable occasions with buddies. It additionally means that you can pull off fashions that you simply play free of charge very nicely (or no less than have pretty constant information).
It is also spectacular how lengthy this has lasted – in truth even destiny is earlier than – on today there is a warning that Warframe builders declare the sport stays in open beta (sure, actually). I have never performed Warframes constantly, however each time I logged on within the final decade, I had added mechanics that felt like a very completely different animal, corresponding to area fight, a roguelike zone, and even a time journey DLC with bike using and romance mechanics. I am oh man. This recreation is simply… insanely good.
3. Border 4
If you have not heard the information but, Borderlands 4 is out now and is one in all my favourite router shooters. Even early on this lifetime, with many bugs, efficiency points and common uncertainty, this large, open world rethink of this sequence represents a significant leap from Borderlands 3. I additionally glide with my buddies and incorporate grapple as I blow up in essentially the most ridiculous arsenal I can think about, bringing some fairly good enhancements to gunplay, particularly locations regarding mobility, and one in all my favourite experiences of 2025 (and prone to proceed to take action).
Borderlands 4 could be very prone to be even increased on this record, and whereas numerous patches and content material drops take care of a few of my nits, I am in all probability even taking a high slot, however I’ve nonetheless been stolen my coronary heart and spending over 60 hours of time. The way forward for the Borderlands sequence appears very shiny. Particularly contemplating that we now have already charted content material for the following six months, together with the brand new playable vault hunter.
2. Remnant 2
Usually referred to as “Darkish Souls with Weapons,” the sequence has a really distinctive take, combining soul-like mechanics with the roguelike options and the goodness of the router shooter, with two absolute nails combining all three concepts. This ought to be warned by saying that it’s controversial in classifying Remnant 2 right into a looter shooter. That is primarily as a result of that is the one recreation on this record that requires you to finish the loot or the identical exercise. As a substitute, you’ll get a assured booty that takes on a way more difficult exercise and removes the necessity to play it once more as soon as you’ll be able to beat them.
Nonetheless, there are numerous causes to work with Looter Shooter, Gameplay, Buildcraft and Co-op groups to defeat scary bosses, get the gear and weapons you’ve got wished so as to add to your construct, after which beat the marketing campaign and proceed enjoying for a very long time. The truth that it destroys most different router shooters, particularly a number of the developments seen in the necessity to crush, may very well be one of many the explanation why that is so ranked for me (Remnant 2 was, in any case, one in all my favourite video games of 2023). If you have not performed it but and you are a fan of Looter Shooter, I can not suggest it sufficient.
1. Border Zone 2
As a lot as I am keen on the recent and newness of Borderlands 4, it is extraordinarily tough to contest with the sequence “Magnum Opus: Borderlands 2.” With an unimaginable variety of weapons, a number of the greatest comedy writings within the historical past of the sport (good outdated good-looking jack from the tip of the hat), and with a surprisingly emotional appropriate storyline when it seems to be silly and shallow, I spent over 1000 hours in Borderlands 2 and it is again when individuals by no means really went in a recreation that did not have loads of match matches that have been actually aggressive.
Clearly, the sport is over a decade outdated, so it may well’t stand it in any respect in sure areas like gunplay, motion, construct crafting, and so forth., however after enjoying fairly lately I used to be shocked to see how nicely it nonetheless holds. And if the unique Borderlands recreation was the sport that produced all of the Looter Shooters, Borderlands 2 undoubtedly had an additional influence on the style, bettering the idea from the unique, and later applied new concepts repeated by friends, corresponding to how Endgame’s Treakmill stimulates Future, Warframe, Autotriders, Autotriders, Autotriders, Autotriders, Autotriders, and extra.
And you’ve got it! These are the highest 14 router shooters you’ll be able to play proper now. Which one is your favourite? Is there something good we missed? Please hear within the feedback and tell us.