First-person shooter games have been around for decades. And while the genre's creative well seems to run dry every couple of years, somehow, developers manage to keep pushing the envelope one way or another. AAA FPS titles from multi-million dollar companies are really fun to play, as many of them have stunning graphics, well-developed characters, addictive multiplayer lobbies, and story-rich campaigns.

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9 Great AA Studios To Keep An Eye On

Falling somewhere between indie and AAA, AA developers have been taking the gaming industry by storm in recent years.

However, their AA counterparts also deserve some love, as they're typically developed by mid-sized companies with higher budgets than indie developers, but considerably lower than behemoths, like Ubisoft. AA FPS games are often unique, as the studios that make them usually play to their strengths and strive to create something special that makes them stand out. Here are some of the best AA First-person shooter games everyone must play.

7 E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy

Metascore: 61

• Artful world design
• Complex, lore-rich story

Released back in 2011, E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy is set in a dystopian cyberpunk-style future, where players will take on the role of a member of E.Y.E, a task force within the mysterious organization Secreta Secretorum. As the organization plots to overthrow the mighty Federation, internal conflicts will arise, leaving the different factions of E.Y.E at war against each other.

E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy is lore-rich and has a style reminiscent of timeless classics, such as Half-Life. While the graphics aren't the best, even for their time, the game delivers a pleasant experience that explores a world carefully designed with care by the developers. The New Eden area, for example, is what Cyberpunk 2077 would probably have looked like if it had been released almost a decade earlier, which is a great compliment for an AA game.

6 Painkiller: Hell & Damnation

Metascore: 64

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, macOS
• Release Date: October 31, 2012
• Developer(s): The Farm 51
• Genre: First-person shooter
• Decent weapon variety
• Fun, fast-paced boss fights

One of the most beloved aspects of AA First-person shooter games and the studios that develop them is that sometimes, they can afford not to take themselves too seriously. While Painkiller: Hell & Damnation feels a bit much like a Doom knockoff, Daniel is a likable leading man who will take players on a journey to collect 7000 souls and fight the forces of evil to get his wife back. Is there a more noble cause?

A fan favorite of this title is the Satan Claus boss fight, which will keep players on their toes and is one of the game's high points. After all, what's more epic than fighting a monster Santa Claus in a Christmas-themed arena while a metal version of Jingle Bells plays in the background?

5 Hard Reset Redux

Metascore: 67

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna
• Release Date: September 13, 2011
• Developer(s): Flying Wild Hog
• Genre: First-person shooter, Adventure
• Could use a few more bosses
• Weapons look and feel powerful to use

For players who like futuristic environments and FPS games set in dystopian cyberpunk societies, Hard Reset Redux is a must-play. This title is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction, with the city of Bezoar being its last stronghold. Major Fletcher, a soldier from C.L.N., is the only thing standing between the machines and The Sanctuary.

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While the overall boss count falls a bit on the shorter side, each one poses a fun challenge that will have players rethink their strategy every time. In terms of duration, Hard Reset Redux isn't the longest game out there, but for players who want 100% completion, it will provide around 14 hours of fun.

4 Killing Floor 2

Metascore: 75

• Terrifying bosses with powerful attacks
• Large enemy waves that add to combat difficulty

With the impending release of its sequel in the near future, it seems only fair to include Killing Floor 2 in this list. Developed by Tripwire Interactive, this title will have players exploring mainland Europe, which has been overrun by monstrous clones called "ZEDs" that originated from a failed experiment by Horzine Biotech. The game has a wide variety of powerful weapons, such as the FAMAS Masterkey, and the Stoner 63A LMG, which can be great for decimating enemy waves in an instant.

Unfortunately, like Hard Reset Redux, Killing Floor 2 also has a shortage of bosses, but with some being as terrifying and challenging as Doctor Hans Volter, quality triumphs over quantity in this case.

3 Sniper Elite 4

Metascore: 77

• X-Ray kill animations are great
• Fun stealth-based gameplay

Ever since the first Sniper Elite game was released back in 2005, it was obvious that the franchise had a lot of potential. And for the most part, it has lived up to it. This franchise's installment is set in 1943 and takes place on the Italian peninsula. Players will once again play as Karl Fairburne, who will join forces with the Italian Resistance to push back Fascists and ensure Allied victory.

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Demanding careful stealth tactics, precision aiming, and a strategic approach to dispatching enemies, Sniper Elite 4 is arguably a high point in Karl's history. With a decent mission list including the beloved Regilino Viaduct, and a relatively long completion time for perfectionists, this AA first-person shooter game deserves all the praise it gets.

2 Insurgency: Sandstorm

Metascore: 78

• Great graphics
• Weapon handling feels on par with AAA titles

For anyone wondering what the offspring of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and early-days Call of Duty games would look like, all they need to do to find the answer is play Insurgency: Sandstorm. This game is one of the few on this list that feels more like an AAA title than an AA one, as it has great graphics, amazing weapon handling, and an overall polished look and feel that demands being experienced.

Weapons like the FAL battle rifle are extremely versatile, as they can be used in both long and short-range situations, depending on the scope installed on them. And that's just one of the many options the game offers players. Insurgency: Sandstorm is a great example of how dozens of millions of dollars aren't always necessary to create a great FPS.

1 Shadow Warrior 2

Metascore: 78

• Interesting weapon designs
• Fast-paced combat that demands focus

When it comes to taking the look and play styles of several existing titles and combining them into a brand-new one, few have managed to do it as well as Shadow Warrior 2. Set 5 years after the events of the first game, this title will put players in the shoes of Lo Wang once again. The antihero now works as a hired sword for the Yakuza and lives on the outskirts of the city controlled by his nemesis, Orochi Zilla. Players must take on several enemies and defeat demonic forces as the game progresses to free the world from evil.

With weapons and environments that look a lot like those in Doom Eternal, and powers reminiscent of Bioshock Infinite's Vigors, this AA First-person shooter title delivers formidable bosses and adrenaline-inducing combat. The King Skeletor Machine Gun, and the Lumberjack's Caress Chainsaw, are a few examples of Flying Wild Hog's seemingly endless creativity in weapon design. The voice acting in Shadow Warrior 2 is also quite good, with supporting characters like Kamiko, who delivers a believable performance that feels neither flat nor exaggerated.

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