First-person shooters come in all shapes and sizes. Some are epic adventures that take dozens of hours to beat and include a plethora of side quests and RPG mechanics, while others are bite-sized journeys anybody can beat in one sitting. This list will focus on the latter in case any players are looking for short bursts of frantic FPS action.
Even though multiplayer can extend the replay value of many of these games, this is all about reaching the credits of the single-player campaign. If somebody does not like short games or thinks they don't have value, just know these games are so fantastic players should have no problem beating them multiple times.
9 TimeSplitters
TimeSplitters is the successor to the legendary N64 first-person shooters Perfect Dark and GoldenEye. Being a PS2 launch title, it came out before Halo so it still has some more retro sensibilities and classic console FPS controls.
The levels in the campaign are short and move fast, meaning players can reach the credits in just a couple of hours. However, the plethora of multiplayer options and bonus challenge modes greatly extend gameplay value. The objectives also change slightly on higher difficulty modes, adding more incentive to keep playing.
8 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare
This entry can also account for most other Call of Duty titles. Modern Warfare gets a special mention because of how tight and quick its campaign is. The reboot also marked a breath of fresh air for the franchise with a new engine and new versions of fan-favorite characters.
The campaign tried to be more poignant than prior entries, a decision that caused some controversy. Once someone is done with the campaign after about 4 hours, they can always jump into the variety of online multiplayer modes. Gunfight, a series of micro-sized two versus two rounds, is a particular highlight of the multiplayer suite.
7 Superhot
Superhot is available to play with a controller and through VR. Both modes work excellently. The game is based on a unique mechanic where time only progresses when the player moves.
This makes dodging bullets and precise movements an important aspect of completing levels. The small handful of levels are short, but it is a joy to replay them in an attempt to perfect a run. Superhot VR is different enough from the base release to justify playing both.
6 Titanfall 2
Respawn Entertainment's first release was the multiplayer-only Titanfall. It is interesting to know the first game does not have a campaign because Titanfall 2 is renowned for having one of the best modern FPS campaigns.
It is short, but every level introduces a new gameplay concept and quickly utilizes it to its full extent before moving on to the next interesting idea. It never lingers on one novelty for too long. Titanfall 2's sales did not immediately reflect the critical praise, making it a cult classic that became more renowned over the years through word of mouth.
5 Portal
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The Orange Box was quite the deal back in 2007. It came with two previously released titles and then three new games. One of those new titles was Portal, a unique puzzle game where players solve problems using a portal gun.
The gameplay alone makes it great, but the darkly comedic writing makes it one of the most celebrated first-person shooters of the 21st century. It is not exactly a shooter, however, since there is no real combat and the only tool players have is the portal gun. Even if a couple of puzzles stump the player, it should only take between three and five hours to beat.
4 Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
While Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is technically an expansion to Far Cry 3, it is a standalone app. Players don't need Far Cry 3 to play it. Blood Dragon is also radically different than any Far Cry title. It is an homage and satire to action movies from the 1980s.
The whole map is soaked in neon and the story includes tons of references to the culturally relevant decade. The main character is even voiced by Michael Biehn, famous for Terminator and Aliens. The game was so beloved it is surprising no proper follow-up has been released or announced.
3 Killzone: Mercenary
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There was once a time when no one could imagine first-person shooters working well on a handheld system. The PlayStation Vita introduced dual-analog support for the first time and made the genre more comfortable for gaming on the go.
There still were not a lot of FPS games on the system, but Killzone: Mercenary is seen as a highlight. The campaign is short so anyone can beat it quickly. Like most of the games in the franchise, Mercenary's graphics are extremely impressive, especially considering the system it is on.
2 Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
In between Wolfenstein: The New Order and The New Colossus there was a small standalone title called The Old Blood. Where the new games in the franchise take place in the 1960s, The Old Blood takes the action back to World War II, giving fans a nostalgia rush as they are brought back to the setting older games in the series utilized.
A smooth mixture of stealth and bombastic combat against both humans and machines makes the game unique. Even though it is short and devoid of side quests, The Old Blood is a pleasure to play from start to finish.
1 Half-Life 2 Episode One
In an effort to not have such a long gap between entries, Valve decided to release follow-ups to Half-Life 2 in episodic installments. Half-Life 2: Episode One only takes a few hours to beat. It follows Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance as they escape a ruined City 17. The next game, Episode 2, is slightly larger.
Unfortunately, the idea to make smaller games come out faster didn't really work out. No Half-Life games came out between 2007 and 2020. All these years later and Episode One still stands out as a great, small FPS adventure.