When you think about genre-defining games, there are often a few interchangeable names that come up, but in the case of the FPS genre, people always seem to come back to Half-Life 2. It's an icon of gaming and an experience that virtually everyone should play through at least once, and it has remained culturally relevant for over 20 years.

Not every shooter title can be remembered forever, but these near-perfect FPS games really should be talked about more today.

However, due to the passage of time and the nature of innovation, there have been several newer games that take strides in certain technological and design areas, surpassing Valve's masterpiece in one way or another. In the grand scheme of things, they may not be better overall games, but they demonstrate a new level that even Half-Life 2's timeless gameplay can't keep up with.

Ultrakill is explosive, bloody, and a whole lot of fun, but despite the speed and adrenaline, you can still see glimmers of early FPS design in the fringes. It isn't always just a rush to the finish, and instead, you need to manage your health and style meter to stay healthy and reach higher tiers by swapping weapons with purpose rather than at random.

Also, in a lot of situations, combat almost acts like a high-speed puzzle, where your mobility and gunshots become tools to overcome the various wacky challenges thrown your way. Ultrakill ​​​​​​is a much faster step up from Half-Life 2 , yet still a modern must-play for any FPS fans looking for this generation's crowning achievement.

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