The PlayStation 4 was a fine home for shooters, from big-budget campaigns to arcade blasters and competitive team games. Smooth, fast action and the DualShock 4's precise sticks suited everything from first-person blockbusters to twin-stick indies. The picks below cover first-person, third-person, top-down and side-scrolling shooters.

1. Doom#

id Software rebooted its classic in 2016 as a fast, brutal first-person shooter built around constant movement. Glory kills reward close-range aggression with health, and Mick Gordon's metal soundtrack drives the pace. Hell's arenas, secrets and upgrade trees make every level worth exploring, and the campaign runs smoothly on the console. The multiplayer was the weaker part of the package, so this is best treated as a single-player game. It remains one of the defining shooters of the generation.

2. Titanfall 2#

Respawn Entertainment released Titanfall 2 in October 2016 and paired a superb single-player campaign with agile, wall-running multiplayer. The story of Jack Cooper and his Titan BT-7274 is short but packed with inventive levels, including a memorable time-shifting stage. Movement is fluid, and the grappling hook and pilot abilities give multiplayer a distinct identity. The downside is that the campaign is brief. Even so, the campaign alone makes it essential for anyone who loves first-person shooters.

3. Doom Eternal#

Doom Eternal arrived in March 2020 from id Software and turned the formula into a resource-management puzzle: chainsaw for ammo, glory kills for health, flame belch for armor. Combat is faster and more demanding, with a wider range of demons that each call for a particular weapon. The platforming and lore-heavy story divide players, and some dislike juggling so many systems at once. It suits players who want a challenge and enjoy mastering a complex combat loop.

4. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End#

Naughty Dog's Uncharted 4 launched in May 2016 and ended Nathan Drake's story with treasure hunting, big set pieces and strong character work. It is a third-person shooter with cover and climbing, and the gunplay is more flexible than before thanks to stealth options and wider, open-ended levels. The presentation is among the best on the console. The shooting itself is less sharp than in dedicated shooters, and the pacing slows in places. It is a cinematic adventure first, so players wanting pure action might look elsewhere.

5. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus#

MachineGames released The New Colossus in October 2017, sending B.J. Blazkowicz through an America ruled by the Nazis. The shooter is loud and physical, with dual-wielding, stealth options and a story full of dark humor and surprisingly emotional scenes. Its character writing and cutscenes are a standout. Gunplay is solid, but difficulty spikes can feel uneven and some levels overstay their welcome. It is a bold and confident campaign that rewards players who value narrative alongside shooting.

6. Resogun#

Housemarque's Resogun was a PS4 launch game in November 2013 and remains one of the best arcade shooters on the system. It is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up set on a cylindrical, voxel-built world, where you save humans and chain kills for score. Explosions break the environment into thousands of cubes, and the controls are tight and responsive. Its content is limited, and score-chasing is the main reason to keep playing. It is a short, intense blast for anyone who likes arcade design.

7. Metro Exodus#

4A Games' Metro Exodus came out in February 2019 and takes the series out of the tunnels and across post-apocalyptic Russia on a train. Open, semi-sandbox levels mix stealth, scavenging and gunplay, and the atmosphere is richly detailed. Weapon upkeep and limited ammo keep tension high, and the story has real emotional weight. The base PS4 shows its age with lower resolution and occasional technical roughness, and the AI can be inconsistent. It is a good choice for players who like atmospheric, survival-tinged shooting.

8. Wolfenstein: The New Order#

MachineGames revived the series in 2014 with The New Order, a first-person shooter set in an alternate 1960s where the Nazis won the war. It blends old-school pick-ups and big guns with a stronger story than the genre usually offers, along with stealth and a perk system. The pacing is excellent and the characters are memorable. It has no multiplayer, and the gunplay is more traditional than in modern shooters. It is a great pick for fans of a campaign-focused, classic-feeling shooter.

9. Nex Machina#

Housemarque teamed up with arcade designer Eugene Jarvis for Nex Machina, released in June 2017 on PS4. It is a twin-stick shooter in which you rescue humans and fight robot waves across voxel levels that break apart in fireworks. The controls are precise, the pace is relentless and local co-op is included. It is short, and the fun comes from replaying for scores and unlocking harder modes. Those who do not care for arcade score-chasing may feel it ends too quickly.

10. Battlefield 1#

DICE's Battlefield 1 launched in October 2016 and brings large-scale warfare to World War I. Conquest and Operations modes fit dozens of players on big maps with vehicles, horses and dramatic weather and destruction. The War Stories campaign is told in short, varied chapters. The bolt-action weapons and period setting give it a different feel from modern military shooters. The campaign is brief and the multiplayer has a steep learning curve for newcomers. It is ideal for players who like chaotic, large-scale battles.

11. Superhot#

The Superhot Team's Superhot turns the first-person shooter into a puzzle: time only moves when you do. You dodge bullets, throw objects and plan each kill in a minimalist red-and-white world. The idea is fresh and the short campaign is full of clever moments. Its story is thin, and once you finish the campaign there is limited reason to return beyond the challenge modes. It is a stylish pick for anyone who wants a shooter that rewards thinking over reflexes.

12. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number#

Dennaton Games released this top-down shooter in March 2015 (the PS4 version was ported by Abstraction Games), building on the ultra-violent original. You burst into rooms, plan your route and die often, restarting instantly. The neon visuals and pulsing synth soundtrack create an unmistakable mood. The story is told out of order and can be confusing, and some levels are sprawling and unfair compared with the tighter first game. It is best for players who enjoy fast, punishing trial-and-error action.

13. Borderlands 3#

Gearbox released Borderlands 3 in September 2019, continuing the loot-shooter series with a huge variety of procedurally generated guns and four Vault Hunters. Co-op with friends is where it shines, as chaotic firefights and colorful planets keep the loot flowing. The gunplay is satisfying and each weapon feels different. The humor is hit and miss, and the story is uneven. It is best enjoyed in co-op with friends.

14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare#

Infinity Ward's 2019 Modern Warfare reboot, released in October 2019, updated the series with a gritty campaign and a more tactical multiplayer. The campaign is tense and morally grey, while multiplayer features the Gunfight mode and large ground-war battles with realistic audio and weapon handling. Its gun feel is some of the best in the franchise. The campaign is short and the multiplayer can feel unforgiving to newcomers. It is a polished choice for players who want a mainstream, high-energy shooter.

15. Sniper Elite 4#

Rebellion's Sniper Elite 4 arrived in February 2017 and sets its World War II sniping in large, open Italian maps. You choose your route, use suppressed shots and the slow-motion X-ray kill cam to take out targets. Ballistics and stealth reward patience. The story is forgettable, enemy AI is inconsistent and the repeated kill cam can get old. It is a good option for players who like methodical, tactical shooting with freedom in how they approach each mission.