• Home
  • Directory
  • Geeky Fun
  • Answers
  • MakeUseOf Guides
cool websites
RSS Twitter Facebook
Subscribe to MakeUseOf. Now, 168728 members!
Aweber

Top Five Free Online Shooter Games – Must Read For Gamers

By Simon Slangen on Jul. 5th, 2008

Games can cost you quite a buck. Some games cost a lot, most of them even more. This isn’t always the case, though; sometimes they don’t even cost anything at all!

Actually, there are a lot of free games available. When we’re talking about shooters (read: games in which you shoot stuff and/or living things) these are nearly always multiplayer games.

Read on for the top five free online shooters.

5. War Rock – 550 MB

War Rock has been released as a free game from the very start, and extras can be purchased additionally. You can choose between 5 basic classes: engineer, medic, sniper, assault and heavy trooper. You have three main game types and three more additional ones. The three main game types are ‘Close Quarters Combat’, ‘Urban Ops’ and ‘Free for All’. In ‘Close Quarters Combat’ you’ll play in relatively small maps, thus entering more direct combat. ‘Urban Ops’ involves two teams, deploying bigger maps and more additional machinery like cars and mounted guns. ‘Free for All’ is like a standard ‘Deathmatch’ in most games; kill everyone you see, or be killed.

War Rock Online Shooter Game

View Trailer
Full Download

4. Nexuiz – 380 MB

I’m sure everyone who plays this will notice major similarities with Unreal Tournament. The gameplay shares a lot of things as well. It’s very fast paced, uses a wide range of unique weapons and the same rush of adrenaline. I don’t think anyone would mind me calling this the free Unreal Tournament alternative.

Nexuiz - online shooting game

View Trailer (homepage)
Full Download

3. Warsow – 180 MB

Very fast paced and also very acrobatic. When I say acrobatic, I really mean acrobatic. I’m talking about bunny hopping (a strange way of jumping, allowing you to move really fast), known in other games, but implemented and thoroughly elaborated , about rolling, leaping and running up against the walls. Warsow is as much about shooting as about the acrobatics. To get the hang of the whole ‘acrobatic system’, it has cooked you a few tutorials – which you better try out before facing the real deal.

online shooting adventure game

View Trailer
Full Download

2. Gunz The Duel – 440 MB

Gunz isn’t just any shooter. Not just any Shooter or Hack ’n Slasher to be honest, as you have both guns and a sword. The games are often set in relatively small levels. It features very extended acrobatics as well, thus creating a very entertaining and addictive gameplay. The more you play, the better you’ll get. The better you get, the higher your level will be. You can also buy yourself new armor and weapons, either by playing a lot of games and receiving points, or by using real money. One of the downsides of Gunz is the necessity to start the game using your web browser, but you’ll get used to it.

Gunz

View Trailer
Full Download

1. F.E.A.R. COMBAT – 1800 MB

F.E.A.R. (‘fear’ for the friends) is an acronym meaning First Encounter Assault Recon; ‘Fear’ fits the game, though. Most people know or have played the game (perhaps even one of the expansions), but not a lot of people know that the included multiplayer mode has been released on the internet by its makers, giving you the opportunity to download it for free! In the game you can play as a member of the Special Forces or as one of the cloned soldiers.

View Trailer
Full Download

Games That Didn’t Make The Top 5

Of course these aren’t the only good online shooters. The next few games didn’t make it into the top 5, but are also worth a play:

  • America’s Army (a very realistic game. This figures because it was developed by the US Army itself)
  • Return To Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (an online WW2 shooter)
  • Mono (very simple and abstract game – very addictive)

Do you think you know any games that should’ve been included in this list? Have your say in the comments, and tell us why it’s better than one (or some) of these featured games.

(By) Simon is a student from Belgium who wastes his time relaxing, watching anime and surfing the net. He would tell you to check out his blog, only he doesn’t have one yet!

stumble it!

Enjoyed the article? Subscribe to MakeUseOf to get daily updates on new cool websites and programs in your email for free. You'll also get free printable cheat sheets to your favorite programs

Your Email:




More about: fun . Games . shooter

85 Comments

2008-07-05 10:20:55
kaneda

Also Alien Arena

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 15:01:31
Simon

http://red.planetarena.org/

Reply to this comment
2009-09-30 08:02:13
omg

i thought soldier front was better then that alien shit

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 10:36:33
Tobi

Have you had anything about free online mmorpg’s? Would be nice to see a similar list otherwise.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 14:47:34
Simon

There’s a possibility I’ll be covering this in the near future ^^

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 10:49:27
Krasen

I’m checking warsow, and i saw Mono, and here is one little cute game (arcade online shooter) in case you dont know it – Tee Worlds at http://teewars.com/ veri worms like but with fast action.

Cheers ;]

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 10:56:58
Anonymous

America’s Army shouldn’t be there at all. It took me 4 hours to download, only to figure out it didn’t work, so I was told to install the patch which forced we to wait another 3 hours. The patch didn’t work either, so I then was told to install the before version of the game, forcing me to wait yet again another 2 hours. When it was halfway done I just gave up. I figured out a lot of players had the problem and had to wait as long as me. I asked my friends if it was any good and they said it wasn’t that good of a game. They said it was trying to be too realistic.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 14:53:15
Simon

It’s a shame you had this much trouble, it’s a pretty good game. You mustn’t forget it’s army propaganda, though. This is why they try to be this realistic. Before you’re able to ‘play’, you have to attend a couple of classes and even make tests.

Why don’t they just let you play? Because the main cause of the game is to approach possible soldiers.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 23:33:30
Anonymous

Well with this download time Simon, it really doesn’t make me want to join the Army.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
2008-07-06 03:40:39
Aibek

:-)

Reply here
2008-07-10 23:49:56
John Romero

It is realistic in the way you describe as well. There’s plenty of hurry-up-and-wait in the Army, and lots of stuff that doesn’t work as expected.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here
2008-07-05 12:51:34
schneo

Thanks for this post, personally I also liked “Urban Terror”:
http://www.urbanterror.net

Reply to this comment
2008-10-22 13:01:43
MIchael

yep me too!!

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 13:12:45
KNOWTEBOOK.COM

Americas Army is also one. cheers: http://www.americasarmy.com/

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 14:54:13
Simon

It was mentioned in the last section.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-05 16:41:42
John Burton

http://combatarms.nexon.net/ is also free with micro-payment add-ons, but currently in open-beta.

Doesn’t require bleeding edge hardware.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-06 07:00:42
Simon

Thanks for the link, it looks pretty awesome. Looking into it right now.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-06 18:31:35
Simon

Too bad it isn’t available in Europe/Asia/etc.
Even worse they didn’t mention it on the homepage. Talking about bad communication… No wonder my bandwidth never lasts long.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
2009-07-21 22:11:56
jon
Subscribed to comments via email

combart arms is ownage. they have had an add on which includes most of the world. you should try it. very addicting in the way they do they do things, for example they sell guns by the number of days and sorts so you always wanna earn money to buy and unlock and yadda yadda blah blah. 9.5 out of 10. if you evr do download it or already have…. names skdmark :)

2009-08-11 18:24:04
Someone

The thing about it is that if u have vista, don’t download it…it could mess it up like what happened to mine, I had to spend 2 hours trying to fix it, but other than that…Its a hardcore game

2010-01-24 11:59:29
Steistas
Subscribed to comments via email

Hi,

Combat arms has EU, the address is http://combatarms.nexoneu.com/NXEU.aspx?PART=/Main

I’ve played, works great, the only thing in few deathmatches had people cheating. Otherwise great.

Reply here
2008-07-06 13:44:30
Jonathan Solichin

Another great one: Soldier Front (http://sfront.ijji.com)

Reply to this comment
2008-12-31 20:16:45
asds

soldier front sucks its the worst FPS online

Reply to this comment
2008-07-06 13:56:21
orjan

http://www.battlefield-heroes.com/

Reply to this comment
2009-12-26 11:32:46
Anonymous

Yeah. I love Battlefield Heroes! It really should’ve been on there.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-06 20:58:54
Jesse Maddox

The problem with a software and internet blog covering video games is that it attracts the attention of gamers. Who will no doubt come to be disappointed in finding the games they already play on the list. If you really have some interest in posting some more lists such as these I highly recommend you focus on the unsung heroes of the world. You will no doubt get a lot more attention, and people would greatly appreciate your work.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-09 11:36:37
Etna

Bah, quit whining. I don’t think there are a lot of people who are disappointed by this list judging by the comments. I do know a few of the games on here, but not all of them, so to me they are “unsung heroes.” -_-

Reply to this comment
2008-07-07 08:16:12
mmiles

Great sites. I would love to see more game coverage.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-09 10:42:24
Tim W

Gotta put my vote in for OpenArena, a free and open-source FPS based on Quake III

http://openarena.ws/

Reply to this comment
2008-07-12 19:51:11
Connor Veale

No one has even mentioned Sauerbraten… I love Sauerbraten.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-14 22:02:18
Joey

yay, thanks for the free online shooters.

Reply to this comment
2008-07-14 22:08:44
steele

Hey what about Combat Arms!

http://combatarms.nexon.net/

Reply to this comment
2008-10-09 18:42:51
jesse
Subscribed to comments via email

Combat Arms is great exept for one thing the loading screen on alot of computers freezes and I’m starting to get pissed off but it is a great shooter especially tyhe way snipers are put in the game

Reply to this comment
2008-07-15 05:15:41
E

tremulous

Reply to this comment
2008-07-23 15:41:48
RV

like Americas army more.
it is more realistic with the training and al that stuff :P

Reply to this comment
2008-08-03 19:11:46
juan

true combat elite http://www.truecombat.us/
screenshot http://www.truecombat.us/images/history/tce_049a.jpg

wolfenstein enemy territory http://www.splashdamage.com/node/57
screenshot http://kahvipapu.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/enemy-territory.jpg

sauerbraten http://sauerbraten.org/
screenshot http://sauerbraten.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

worldofpadman http://www.worldofpadman.com/
screenshot http://padworld.myexp.de/index.php?media

Reply to this comment
2008-08-18 13:17:01
Kami

Exteel is a very nice third person shooter, but it’s not a populair one, try it :)

Reply to this comment
2008-08-24 08:01:20
Amos

Tremulous (http://tremulous.net/) is a quite fast-paced and pretty unique online FPS in which you choose the side of either aliens (more agile and stronger, but use next to no technology and are almost useless at long-range combat) or humans (who can build strong defences and, given enough room, survive unscathed) and focus on strengthening your own base whilst attempting to overthrow that of the opposition. Although the graphics are a bit 90’s, it’s a game worth playing.

Reply to this comment
2008-08-25 18:24:54
Jorge Bucaran

I think the list is fine! I would add American Army too by the way.

Reply to this comment
2008-09-05 08:17:58
Brent

yea imma download this game when i get home cuz im at skool lol gonna play this for a while and take a break off my shaiya and guild wars and city of heroes lol

Reply to this comment
2008-10-05 00:34:54
Matt

Combat Arms fo’sho

By far one of the best shooters I’ve ever played(including the ones you buy) but this one is free.

Reply to this comment
2008-10-15 19:49:39
Ryu

Assault Cube anyone? not a bad game…

Reply to this comment
2008-11-06 21:41:22
bob

S4 League is the coolest shooter that I’ve played. Its got a parkour style to it and beats gunz in every way :p S4 is new and is still developing and level doesn’t matter…ONLY UR SKILLZ! lol

Reply to this comment
2008-12-22 13:23:02
carson

wish i had a faster computer for games like war rock. thanks for the list.

Reply to this comment
2009-01-06 23:24:05
Smily

Soldat ftw

Reply to this comment
2009-01-22 11:59:00
Blah

any cool NO DOWNLOAD first person shooters?

Reply to this comment
2009-01-28 16:03:38
Simon Slangen

Not many, they should be games using the shockwave(example) or Unity engine(link).

Reply to this comment
2009-06-28 13:28:28
Chase Unfried
Subscribed to comments via email

Actually, check out “Orange FPS” you might need some friends though, almost no one plays it from what I have seen, might have changed….

Reply to this comment
2009-01-27 15:20:38
free games

You could also add Combat Arms to the list.

Reply to this comment
2009-01-27 15:21:32
Peter

F.E.A.R. Combat really deserves first place!

Reply to this comment
2009-01-28 15:59:48
Simon Slangen

And it is! :D

Reply to this comment
2009-02-25 19:22:15
mmo

great top! congrat!

Reply to this comment
2009-03-01 14:57:23
Phenom

Combat Arms Is The Best Game Period… No Questions Asked.. No Arguement Needed..

Reply to this comment
2009-03-06 15:31:11
Madzkie

hey, have you guys ever heard of sudden attack? its good too.

Reply to this comment
2009-03-10 20:26:05
oldskoolPunk

It seems Combat Arms gets the most popular vote so far.

A few on your list require alot of jumping around like a mad bunny. Too 90’s for me. Even Quake Live has lessened the jumping around thing. Quake Live is ok for a no-download shooter, created by the gods at Id. Weird that its not in the list.

Reply to this comment
2009-03-23 03:47:30
OWNER

combat arms EU just search by google.
http://www.google.com

Reply to this comment
2009-04-04 12:10:54
Free Games

I had a good time playing War Rock. I burned quite a few hours getting into that game!

Reply to this comment
2009-04-08 19:17:58
bigpapi

i want to now if nexuiz have some verys =) because i’m not sur because gunz have virys so …

Reply to this comment
2009-04-09 11:52:50
Simon Slangen

A virus? You must be mistaken, all these files were scanned beforehand.

I’d appreciate it if you could send me your scanner details and log to simon [at] makeuseof.com

Reply to this comment
2009-04-11 17:04:39
Francesc
Subscribed to comments via email

I was going to play Combat Arms, but they just disabled the latinamerican server. I also read some very racial and xenophobic comments there, f*ck them.

Reply to this comment
2009-04-17 13:34:12
bigpapi

simon are you very sure of what you said because i am sure gunz have virus and i want to know if i can install nexuiz

Reply to this comment
2009-04-19 13:53:17
Simon Slangen

Ok, I’ve done some research concerning the Gunz ‘virus’.

The problem has been coming and going since 2007, and causes some anti-virus suites to show trojan horses.
ijji reports this as a program malfunction, a collision between GameGuard and those suites, and says to be actively working with each other to permanently rid everyone of the problem.

It’s hard to be 100% sure with these things, but I tend to believe ijji in this. A trojan that has been around for two years and triggers so little response seems highly unlikely.
There also haven’t been any cases whatsoever, reporting this ‘trojan’ messing anything up, so IF there IS one, it’s most certainly a spambot, irritating folks all over the world, but harmless to you.

Anyway, to answer your initial question:
No, although this might trigger some strange stuff with Gunz and other ijji games, Nexuiz ought to be safe.
Gunz and Nexuiz are independant, and in no significant way related.

Reply to this comment
2009-04-17 15:52:06
bigpapi

anyone can help me

Reply to this comment
2009-04-19 12:07:25
bigpapi

this game need money
!!!!!!

what that!!!

Reply to this comment
2009-04-28 18:50:08
Hank

You forgot Manga Fighter which is a free to play 3rd person MMOG shooter by Gamescampus.

Reply to this comment
2009-05-15 21:24:28
GamerGod

No? NOBODY IS GONNA SAY KUMAWAR? YOU PEOPLE ARE EFFING STUPID!

Reply to this comment
2009-05-30 01:42:39
kn9sli

I started off with kuma great fun but nexons Combat Arms is the best free fps ive played by far but they added a new map today and the servers are dragging butt im sure they will patch it as soon as possibl but check it out!!!!

Reply to this comment
2009-07-21 22:46:37
Chase
Subscribed to comments via email

Too be honest, combat arms is for people who want to blow cash for a mediocre FPS, hell, warrock is better, and I might buy it.

Reply to this comment
2009-07-24 09:40:28
renato

la lotta contro le armi è il miglioreeeeeeeee QST sn bellima combattere è il gioko più bello di tt

Reply to this comment
2009-07-30 11:10:15
fpssoldier

I’d throw on that list!

Reply to this comment
2009-07-30 11:13:03
fpssoldier

Cross Fire – crossfire.subagames.com

Reply to this comment
2009-08-08 00:47:31
uchiha-minato

my favourite game to play online is without a doubt,BATTLEFIELD HEROES, iknow what some of you might say, but this cartooney addictive game is awesome..i think it should b number one.and yes ive played all of the top 5.

Reply to this comment
2009-08-09 18:52:09
Chase
Subscribed to comments via email

Lol… too bad BF heroes is TPS, along with guns, and guys, lets see some sauer love! I love sauerbraten, they got a AWESOME new edition, and it is so fast, I can’t even piss my pants.

Reply to this comment
2009-08-08 00:48:35
uchiha-minato

and its entirely free.

Reply to this comment
2009-09-09 10:20:59
tobias

wolfteam
battlefieldheroes

Reply to this comment
2009-09-12 03:40:36
Chet
Subscribed to comments via email

Hi, I am looking for an old game that had counter strike like weapons but it was like a side scroller like this game Crash Commando. Please look at youtube for Crash Commando and see if you remember an old game like this one.

Reply to this comment
2009-10-28 17:34:13
anonymous123

i think fear is the best one
i have downloaded it and its fantastic
but the problem is that on my computer it takes a lot to download

P.s my computer is very slow

Reply to this comment
2009-10-28 17:37:25
anonymous123

The other games are not goog like fear
but i have got Fear multiplayer game downloaded from the internet
there doesent exist any campaign or something like this
this version of fear is only for multiplayer games

Reply to this comment
2009-11-03 16:30:17
Luc

Openarena(.ws) is cool, also many people like quakelive(.com) :)

Reply to this comment
2009-12-23 07:13:55
Tina
Subscribed to comments via email

Crossfire is a free FPS too :)
http://www.z8games.com
I love it <3

Reply to this comment
2009-12-25 11:53:15
CrossFire

I think that on the 2nd place Counterstrike source needs to stand but you need to buy it.
Crosfire number 1 !.

Reply to this comment
2010-01-24 18:30:15
cookie

errr…what about Urban Terror??? http://www.urbanterror.net

imo one of the best free shooters out there…

Reply to this comment
2010-01-25 22:13:02
Beatle4

I must agree with the other posts about Battlefield Heroes. A great fps game. It’s made by the same company that makes the Need For Speed games.

Reply to this comment
2010-02-07 15:16:15
Gary
Subscribed to comments via email

The only thing about War Rock is that it has Trojans in it. I tried to install it only to have my Virus Protection stop the download because it found a Trojan. Any help?

Reply to this comment
2010-02-08 21:56:59
Ryan Corley

Hi, i am Will and just came across your site through search. I would like to invite you for link exchange deal with my good quality sites, all having different page rank.Please let me know if you would be interested in pursuing this conversation further. And i will draft a good proposal for you accordingly.
Thanks,
Ryan Corley

Reply to this comment
Reply
Note: Comments with abusive content, sarcastic grammar nitpicking, self-promotion will not be published. All comments are moderated.
Click here to cancel "reply".

TopicsMUO Guides
  • Browsing
  • Cool Software
  • Web Apps
  • Lists of Tools
  • How-To Tips
  • Windows
  • Mac
  • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile Apps
  • Polls
  • Geeky Fun
  • BitTorrentThe Easy Guide
  • iPhoneUnofficial Manual
  • ItunesThe Big Book
  • LinuxGetting Started
  • MacBeginner's Guide
  • MoviesFor Movie Addicts
  • PC BuildingThe Idiot's Guide
  • ProductivityProductivity Guide
  • PhotoshopThe Idiot's Guide
  • TwitterBest Tips & Tricks
  • More Guides
Follow us on Twitter
Be Our Friend on Facebook
MakeUseOf Staff
Editors:
  • Editor in ChiefAibek Esengulov
  • MakeUseOf Directory's EditorKaly
  • Managing EditorMark O'Neill
  • Assistant EditorJackson Chung
  • MUO WP GuyJorge Sierra
  • PDF ManualsSimon Slangen
  • Promotion & SEORyan Dube
  • Sys AdminKarl Gechlik
  • MakeUseOf NewsletterSaikat Basu
  • MakeUseOf Answers EditorTina Sieber
Staff Authors:
  • ( Ask The Admin )Karl Gechlik
  • Tina Sieber
  • ( Tech Crazy )Varun Kashyap
  • ( The Things I Do )Saikat Basu
  • ( simonslangen.com )Simon Slangen
  • ( Free Writing Center )Ryan Dube
  • ( Super Subconscious)Jeffry Thurana
  • ( Tapping Thought )Dean Sherwin
  • ( Mac Photography Tips )Bakari Chavanu
  • ( timmyjohnboy.com )Tim Lenahan
  • ( Boulder Community Computers )Justin Pot
  • Other Active Authors ...

 

© 2010 MakeUseOf . Designed by kailoon AboutContactSubmit AppWrite For UsArchivesMobile VersionDisclaimer visitor stats