A few week in the past, I noticed Turbo Overkill was leaving early entry on Steam. I made a decision to purchase it as a result of it appeared cool, and performed it for about quarter-hour. I then puzzled why the heck I hadn’t written about among the best types of video games but? I’m speaking about Boomer shooters in fact. So I believed I’d put collectively a high 10, and it wouldn’t be exhausting. I’ve performed some wonderful video games through the years, however it really was a large ache within the ass (forgive me however we’re again within the 90s in spite of everything with boomer shooters). I didn’t need to lower any of the video games on this listing as a result of they’re all superior and price shopping for.
As a substitute of stressing over reducing a sport or two to hit some arbitrary quantity for higher Google search isn’t actually one thing I’m going to do with boomer shooters. Screw that. This listing options each single boomer shooter I’ve loved taking part in on Steam Deck through the years, and I hope you find yourself discovering one thing new to play on Steam Deck or PC. I’ve even found some new ones as lately as final month, they usually have grow to be mainstays on my Steam Deck.
I additionally wished to focus on a number of revivals and remasters of the classics that impressed many of those video games, and this function goes to be longer than anticipated so strap in for this journey.
So what’s a boomer shooter?
I grew up taking part in DOOM, DOOM II, Wolf 3D, and getting spooked by Heretic. I missed out on the Quake video games till the remasters if you happen to consider that, however earlier than digressing additional, I consider boomer shooters as first-person shooters designed to look and feel just like the cream of the crop from the 90s. So do I contemplate DOOM a boomer shooter? It’s difficult, however if you happen to did take pleasure in DOOM, I believe you’re going to like the video games I’ve highlighted right this moment.
DUSK ($19.99)
DUSK from David Szymanski, New Blood Interactive, and Andrew Hulshult is a sport I’ve been enthusiastic about for a very long time really. I solely actually fell in love with it on Change, however have since performed it on PC. It feels genuine, full of affection, elegant gameplay, wonderful environment, and has a deep respect for the participant and the style. Not solely do I believe DUSK is likely one of the greatest Change ports of all time, however it shines on Steam Deck, and is shockingly underpriced at simply $19.99 on Steam. My solely concern with DUSK is that I can’t purchase a PC massive field model of it and may’t discover a bodily copy of it on Change now.
Prodeus ($24.99)
Prodeus from Bounding Field Software program and Humble Video games caught my consideration for its visuals and Andrew Hulshult’s music. Get used to me speaking about Andrew as a result of it’ll occur lots on this function. Again to Prodeus, it feels extra like a bizarre however good mix of a contemporary massive price range shooter however with retro-styled visuals. I’ve been taking part in it fairly a bit on consoles and Steam Deck as a result of it has syncing and a pleasant set of customized ranges obtainable on-line along with extra campaigns. The ultimate moments falter a bit, however Prodeus is a pleasure to play, and it has one in all my favourite soundtracks in years. Having initially performed it on Steam Deck and Change primarily, I’m replaying Prodeus on PS5 and rattling it holds up brilliantly. That is one other sport I’d like to see get a PC massive field launch. Certainly one of Humble’s greatest releases by far.
AMID EVIL ($19.99)
AMID EVIL appears like a contemporary and polished successor to Heretic and Hexen. Indefatigable and New Blood Interactive’s launch is extra fantasy, and it proved to me that the latter was a high tier writer. AMID EVIL’s degree design, aesthetic, and weapon utilization come collectively brilliantly making it a sport I want was on extra platforms so I may reward it to extra folks. AMID EVIL additionally options music by, you guessed it, Andrew Hulshult. I’ve been replaying this one as a result of it simply bought a giant new enlargement a number of hours in the past. I’ll save my full ideas on the enlargement for a later article, however I can safely say that AMID EVIL with its new enlargement, The Black Labyrinth, is a should play, and it wants to come back to console so I can throw cash at it once more.
Ion Fury ($24.99)
If you understand what 3D Realms or Apogee Software program imply, you’re in the fitting place, and have good style generally. Ion Fury from 3D Realms is a large technical achievement, and an incredible shooter with a kickass protagonist. It appears like a contemporary Duke Nukem 3D in all features, however I am keen on taking part in Ion Fury regardless of how lengthy it’s. The best way Ion Fury makes use of this traditional sport engine within the fashionable period is price watching (on Digital Foundry) even if you happen to don’t plan on shopping for it. I can’t wait to play the Ion Fury DLC every time it does launch.
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun ($21.99)
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun is about within the Warhammer 40k universe, however it’s principally a mix of a boomer shooter and fashionable DOOM. I like the gameplay, aesthetic, and many of the ranges, however it generally feels prefer it depends on fashionable shooters an excessive amount of. Regardless of the Warhammer 40k universe setting, Warhammer 40k: Boltgun is approachable by anybody searching for a traditional shooter repair, and I can’t recover from how effectively among the weapons and sounds come collectively. That is high tier stuff regardless of its points, and I hope we get a comply with up or DLC.
ULTRAKILL ($24.99) (Early Entry)
Sure sure sure. I do know ULTRAKILL isn’t a standard boomer shooter, however it blends in the most effective bits of boomer shooters with character motion video games. I like Satan Could Cry and I like boomer shooters so why would I not like ULTRAKILL, printed by New Blood Interactive? Even in early entry, ULTRAKILL is an unbelievably polished expertise that blends within the fast-paced violent gameplay from boomer shooters with skill-based motion sport scoring. This mix of genres makes a lot sense after taking part in only a little bit of ULTRAKILL, however I don’t even need to consider how a lot work went into nailing the whole lot about it. ULTRAKILL higher get a console launch and vinyl soundtrack or Dave Oshry is getting an indignant electronic mail from yours actually.
Turbo Overkill ($19.99)
Turbo Overkill is why this boomer shooter function on TouchArcade exists in any respect. The opening moments of this cyberpunk setting into your chainsaw and the music all come collectively to make this among the best shooters obtainable right this moment. Sure, it’s instantly within the high tier of the boomer shooter subgenre, and the gameplay selection and degree design are beautiful. I’m glad Turbo Overkill exists not solely as a result of it’s a improbable sport, but additionally as a result of it bought me to find extra nice video games. The boss fights are additionally a spotlight in Turbo Overkill.
Nightmare Reaper ($24.99)
Nightmare Reaper is a type of video games that makes you go Cosmo Kramer mindblown.gif. It blends in traditional shooters, looters, and rogue-lites along with a (say it Bart) soundtrack from Andrew Hulshult to truthfully simply query how issues work so effectively. The procedurally generated features would possibly flip some off, however I’m impressed with how the builders Blazing Bit Video games managed pulling this off. This one has a demo as effectively, and I’d advocate making an attempt it out.
HROT ($19.99)
Somebody I do know via Shaun beneficial HROT once I requested him for his favourite boomer shooter. HROT is a sport I didn’t learn about two weeks in the past, however I’m glad I purchased it on the advice. This one has a demo, however I simply took an opportunity on the complete sport. The one-player retro FPS is about in a small Slavic nation set after a catastrophe within the late 80s. HROT’s gameplay is nice, however the environment and aesthetic are the highlights. It’s unbelievable that HROT was achieved by one individual, and I urge you to attempt the demo no less than. It is going to be not like something you probably have skilled thus far in shooters.
CULTIC Chapter One ($9.99)
CULTIC is one other 3D Realms launch, however this one so far as I can inform, has been utterly achieved by one individual, Jason Smith. It feels virtually too good for a one individual launch, and it’s at the moment obtainable as “Chapter One”, however don’t begin considering this can be a demo or early entry. This can be a full, polished, and very good shooter expertise that I am keen on. It additionally completely swaps between maintaining you in your toes with its gameplay, having you soak within the type, and even throws in some horror to spice issues up. I can not look ahead to CULTIC Chapter Two, and to see how that builds on the present sport modes and lore. In plenty of methods CULTIC jogged my memory of a type of video games you’d see somebody submit about that was too good to be true, however this one exists, and is unbelievable.
GRAVEN ($24.99) (Early Entry)
So GRAVEN is an early entry launch, and with that comes the same old caveats in regards to the state of the sport and content material. It blends in boomer shooter components with puzzles in a darkish fantasy world. I wasn’t positive if I ought to embrace this till it will get extra content material, however the environment and gameplay proper now justified it. I’d look ahead to a demo on this one earlier than leaping in, however I like what I’ve performed of GRAVEN lots.
Selaco (Free demo)
Whereas GRAVEN had the caveat of being an early entry launch, Selaco is simply obtainable as a free demo on Steam proper now. It additionally goals to mix in the most effective of the traditional 90s shooters with fashionable options, however it feels not like anything I’ve performed thus far. The destruction, enemy design, encounter design, and extra come collectively to solely annoy me that I can’t play the complete sport proper now. This demo is free so simply attempt it out for your self. You’ll not remorse it.
Challenge Warlock II ($16.99) (1+2 Bundle) (Early Entry)
I like Challenge Warlock II much more than the primary sport even in its early entry state proper now, however I nonetheless assume the primary sport is price taking part in if you happen to’re comfortable with the aesthetic. The explanation I’m that includes Challenge Warlock II right here, is as a result of I trusted a buddy and simply blindly purchased each however began taking part in Challenge Warlock II first. The primary sport has bite-sized ranges and a few nice designs throughout the board, however it’s a bit simple. Challenge Warlock II is a big improve that just about jogs my memory of what I skilled going from Nioh to Nioh 2, however this one does extra. The primary sport feels prefer it channels some Wolfenstein 3D as effectively, however the second’s verticality and motion are adequate that I virtually embedded a chef’s kiss gif right here.
Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer ($16.99)
Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer is probably the most 90s media I’ve skilled since effectively, the 90s. Taking part in it felt like I used to be again at school making an attempt to sneak in a while taking part in a WWF sport on my PlayStation. Huge Z Studios’ launch right here is likely one of the most “designed only for me for positive” releases I’ve performed with its humor, visuals, superior gameplay, and nice music. It’s virtually prison that I do know individuals who skipped this as a result of they thought they wanted to play Hypnospace Outlaw first. I by no means bought round to it round launch due to time causes, however I like Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer with all its faults. It’s a launch wherein I wouldn’t change a factor. It’s pure artwork.
BONUS
I initially didn’t really feel proper calling or categorizing the video games that actually impressed what folks contemplate boomer shooters in a listing about boomer shooters, however they’re completely nonetheless price taking part in or revisiting if you happen to already personal them. That’s why the video games beneath are ones you would possibly’ve already performed, however with a narrative from me on how I found or lastly performed them.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version ($19.99)
After I performed Rise of the Triad again within the day, I favored it, however it didn’t persist with me like Heretic or DOOM did. When Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version was revealed, I used to be solely focused on it as a result of I noticed Nightdive Studio and New Blood Interactive concerned. The one issues lacking primarily based on how this function on boomer shooters has gone to this point could be Apogee and Andrew Hulshult. Effectively they’re each concerned. Sure, you should utilize Andrew Hulshult’s 2013 Rise of the Triad soundtrack in Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version. So this principally feels just like the boomer shooter dream group engaged on one of many OGs, however is Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version price getting? Sure it’s. Even if you happen to didn’t play it earlier than, a ton of affection and care has gone into this package deal and I’ve loved it sufficient to reward it to 3 folks thus far within the final week.
Quake II and Quake ($9.99 every)
Would you consider me if I mentioned I by no means performed the unique Quake and Quake II till Nightdive Studio’s enhanced remasters? Again within the day, I fell out of shooters and missed the entire Quake wave. I cherished Nightdive’s work on Quake I and the unbelievable soundtrack, so was curious to see how I’d discover Quake II. Quake II isn’t pretty much as good as the primary sport, however this re-release positive is wonderful at how a lot content material has been crammed into its low asking worth package deal. The madmen even included Quake 64. How will you not purchase it after they do issues like that?
DOOM AND DOOM II BUT NOT DOOM 3 ($4.99 every)
I nonetheless bear in mind convincing my dad to get me DOOM II when he was on vacation overseas. Again then I had solely performed DOOM via its shareware launch and didn’t know that wasn’t the whole sport. After I bought DOOM II, I used to be blown away by how a lot it had in it, and whereas I choose DOOM to DOOM II, they’re each legendary and obtainable on actually the whole lot together with cellular with very good conversions that I’ve been writing about for years now. DOOM and DOOM II really feel like the right finale to this function on boomer shooters as a result of the style wouldn’t exist with out DOOM.
For those who made it this far, I hope you discovered no less than one sport you’re going to purchase as a result of I’ve adored those featured right here. If somebody saying “boomer shooter” made you consider simply Doom or Quake, I hope this function makes you now additionally consider New Blood Interactive, Andrew Hulshult, Nightdive, 3D Realms, and Apogee (once more). Additionally AMID EVIL’s DLC delayed this a bit extra as a result of why would I not need to play new content material for among the best video games in years? I’d like to write down in regards to the ones I didn’t get time to take a look at as effectively sooner or later like PowerSlave Exhumed, so consider this because the Finest Boomer Shooters on Steam Deck Chapter One (like Cultic) with Chapter Two hopefully coming later this yr that includes music by Andrew Hulshult.
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