10 best competitive FPS games, ranked

The first-person shooter market is vast in 2025, as it’s arguably the most popular genre in competitive gaming. Players across all platforms crave new FPS experiences, so we’ve compiled a list of PvP shooters to help you find your next favourite game.

Between entirely new universes in games like FragPunk and older classics, there’s a treasure trove of first-person shooters to try in 2025, and many of them are free-to-play. Whether you’re an esports fan or an everyday gamer, we’ve found an FPS for every type of player.

Esports Insider used a few basic factors to determine the best FPS games for competitive gamers. Firstly, every game should be focused on PvP gameplay and have a notable following in the esports community. Additionally, each game’s availability on major platforms plays a big part in our ranking.

We also considered the graphics, gameplay mechanics, and individuality of each first-person shooter while ranking them in our list. Read on to find out about the best competitive FPS games in 2025.

The following 10 games represent the best competitive FPS titles across every major gaming platform in 2025.

PUBG: Battlegrounds was one of the first battle royales to hit the market. In this game, players can switch between third-person and first-person perspectives based on preference. Additionally, there are a variety of unique maps and vehicles, so every match feels completely fresh. However, PUBG lacks in the visuals department, which is why it comes in at number 10.

Call of Duty is one of the most iconic first-person shooters ever, and Black Ops 6 delivered by offering smooth gunplay and new movement mechanics. Black Ops 6 has a huge competitive community, plus it’s available on Xbox Game Pass, so it’s a game that’s worth playing if you enjoy having access to a fun variety of multiplayer game modes. Though Black Ops 6 is low on our list, it’s still of a higher quality than PUBG.

Team Fortress 2, commonly known as TF2, is an incredibly popular first-person shooter dating back to the 2000s. The competitive community is still strong, and it’s free-to-play on PC. You can play as a couple of different classes, like Engineer or Scout, so it’s one of the simpler hero shooters to jump into in 2025. The beginner-friendly atmosphere mixed with its timeless gameplay is why we believe Team Fortress 2 excels compared to modern Call of Duty.

FragPunk is free and has over a dozen unique lancers to play, granting players a special experience. With tactical gameplay and the Shard Card system, you truly have to think about your loadout before jumping into a FragPunk match. If you like strategic gameplay with a sprinkle of special abilities, then FragPunk is a better FPS than games like COD and TF2.

Delta Force is a newer first-person shooter, but it’s growing in popularity every day following its August launch on consoles. There are dozens of guns to try and an interesting selection of game modes, including the competitive extraction shooter known as Operations. The Warfare mode rivals Battlefield with 32v32 matches, so Delta Force offers more options compared to other recent FPS games like FragPunk.

CS:GO and Counter-Strike 2 are both fantastic options if you’re seeking a first-person shooter on PC, plus they have active esports scenes. Counter-Strike 2 is focused on completing objectives and defeating enemies in online matches. CS2’s competitive community is more developed than Delta Force, which is why it has earned the fifth spot on our list of best FPS games.

Overwatch is one of the best hero shooters of all time, and its upgraded sequel is now free-to-play on all gaming platforms. Players compete in objective-based game modes to best the other team, with dozens of characters across a range of classes to try. Everyone can find a fun hero to play in Overwatch 2, and its availability on every modern console grants it a leg up over Counter-Strike 2.

Apex Legends is Respawn’s free-to-play battle royale. At the beginning of each match, players choose from a roster of characters known as legends, so there are tons of choices for how you play. Due to the massive roster of legends, balanced loot pool, and fun BR gameplay, we believe that Apex Legends deserves to be a spot above Overwatch 2. Plus, Apex has already received an update for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Rainbow Six Siege X is Ubisoft’s updated FPS for modern consoles, and its basic game modes are free-to-play. With a plethora of attackers and defenders, you’ll find that the abilities wielded by each operator often synergise well with their fellow characters. Siege X features a round-based game mode with objectives, offering tactical gunplay that’s slower-paced than most first-person shooters on the market. Apex Legends and Siege X are both fantastic FPS games, but Siege deserves second place since its gameplay is so tactical and competitive.

In our humble opinion, VALORANT is the best competitive FPS available as of September 2025. Not only can fans choose from a collection of special agents, but its objective-based gameplay was built around competitive gaming. Players will also find a huge esports community waiting for them in regions all across the world. Therefore, VALORANT tops our list of competitive first-person shooters that players should consider.

Whether you enjoy the classic gameplay of COD or are seeking a fresh experience, there’s an FPS that’ll meet your expectations. The first-person shooter games above all offer competitive multiplayer modes, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.

The FPS genre will likely continue to grow and flourish as competitive esports becomes mainstream globally. As we get closer to the new year, we can’t wait to see how the esports scene will evolve around the most popular shooters of 2025.