Top Shooter Games of 2024: Wccftech’s Ultimate Picks

2024 proved to be an exceptional year for aficionados of shooter games. It may not have been the finest we can remember, especially with the absence of major franchises like Halo and Battlefield, yet it still provided a plethora of enjoyment through various triple-A titles that generally met their expectations, arguably surpassing 2023 in terms of this genre’s offerings.

Every title we selected (excluding STALKER 2) features some form of online capability, which is not surprising considering the strong connection between shooter games and multiplayer. Most are situated within science fiction/post-apocalyptic settings, with the notable exception of Call of Duty. Without further delay, here is our selection of the top five shooters launched in 2024, arranged by release date. Stay tuned for updates on other genres as per usual.

Helldivers II (6/10)

The year for shooter games enthusiasts commenced with a bang thanks to Arrowhead’s Helldivers II. While the game did not earn a high rating at launch on Wccftech from reviewer Ule Lopez, primarily due to technical difficulties, Helldivers II achieved remarkable sales figures. By May, it had exceeded 12 million copies sold across PC and PlayStation 5, establishing itself as the fastest-selling game ever published by Sony. It may have indeed persuaded Sony to consistently release live service games simultaneously on PC as well.

The active player base fluctuated greatly throughout 2024, varying with the patches, although a September update brought renewed activity. Helldivers II also recently received the Game of the Year award at the TIGA Awards.

Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 (7/10)

Saber Interactive’s Space Marine 2 is another title that didn’t fare well in reviews on Wccftech, receiving only a seven out of ten from reviewer Chris Wray. However, it became immensely popular with fans. Just one day after its official launch, the game had already sold two million units. Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 excelled particularly in Europe, where it became the second best-selling new release of the year (prior to the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6). By late November, Space Marine 2 had surpassed the five-million mark. With a fresh update just launched and many more planned (including DLCs), this much-anticipated third-person shooter sequel will undoubtedly entertain fans well into 2024.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (8.8/10)

The Call of Duty series was not in top form following the releases of Modern Warfare II and III. Neither title released in 2022 or 2023 really resonated with the Call of Duty community, but this year, Treyarch reinstated CoD to its rightful place in the realm of first-person shooter games with Black Ops 6. In Wccftech’s critique, Kai Tatsumoto stated:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 signifies a genuine comeback, with Treyarch at the helm of development once again. This is arguably the most definitive Call of Duty installment in years, presenting a package that performs excellently across the three main pillars: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. While the storyline may not stand up to the spy thriller premise leading up to its launch, the online package effectively enhances the overall experience.

Activision and Microsoft have claimed that it is the largest Call of Duty game ever in terms of total players, playtime, and match count, which was somewhat to be expected given its availability on Game Pass.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl (8/10)

The sole title on this shooter games list concentrated exclusively on single-player, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, bore the immense anticipation inherently linked to its lengthy and problematic development journey. Fortunately, the Ukrainian team at GSC Game World delivered a game that, in spite of its bugs and deficiencies, largely upheld its pledge of providing a truly unique experience. Here’s a snippet from my review:

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a commendable successor to the original in every aspect, both positive and negative. The vision remains unchanged: an uncompromising game that will often test your patience, yet also delivers an unparalleled experience that is hard to find elsewhere. It exemplifies the classic scenario where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Bugs and balance challenges continue to be prevalent, but they should not deter you from playing, especially if you are prepared to wait for developers and modders to resolve them.

The team is actively working on numerous fixes and enhancements, along with the impending release of mod tools, multiplayer, and DLCs.

Marvel Rivals

Shooter games featuring heroes have not exactly flourished in recent times. Concord could be viewed as one of the year’s most significant failures, shutting down merely two weeks post-launch, with Sony allegedly having invested a budget of $400 million in vain. Overwatch 2 isn’t in great shape either, at least when contrasted with its predecessor.

Within this backdrop, Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games seemed poised for difficulty, particularly since it strongly resembled Blizzard’s title prior to release. The Marvel brand also did not assist in supporting major triple-A launches like Marvel’s Avengers and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Nevertheless, Rivals surpassed expectations and obtained the admiration of numerous gamers, both on Steam and beyond. Just last week, the creators declared that more than 20 million users have engaged with Marvel Rivals so far, with a lengthy list of updates and new characters planned for the game.

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Noteworthy Mentions

Here are a few additional shooter games launched in 2024 that you might want to consider if our top five don’t pique your interest:

• The First Descendant
• Starship Troopers: Extermination
• MechWarrior 5: Clans
• Zero Hour