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The best hero shooters on PC

Two characters face off at close range in Apex Legends.
Respawn Entertainment

The best PC games come in all genres, but there’s no doubt that FPS games on PC are especially popular. Counter-Strike 2 alone is constantly at the top of Steam’s most played games list, overtaking even the most popular MMORPGs and free games. Within the larger FPS genre, hero shooters are especially beloved. These games combine some RPG elements by giving each character some unique traits and abilities to spice up the normal gunplay. While Overwatch popularized the genre almost a decade ago, tons of excellent hero shooters have come out since that refined and tweaked the formula in fantastic ways. Plus, with most being cross-platform games, you can even play against console players. These are the best hero shooters you can play today on PC.

Don’t forget that there are plenty of upcoming PC games that might be the next big hero shooter.

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
79%
Platforms
Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
December 01, 2015
Most hero shooters don’t take the realistic approach, but Rainbow Six Siege smartly incorporates distinct operators with simulation-level gunplay and destruction. Each operator has their own loadouts and stats, but also gadgets to use either in offense or defense. These range from simple things like setting up bear traps or cameras to breaching charges and thermal grenades. Between the huge number of operators that all have different abilities you need to learn and watch out for, the destructable environments, and lightning-fast time to kill, Siege demands that you stay on your toes and proceed slowly and cautiously in every map. But once the action kicks off, it will send your adrenaline to the moon.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege - Launch Trailer (Official)
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Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2
83%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Valve
Publisher
Valve, Electronic Arts
Release
October 10, 2007
Team Fortress 2 was a hero shooter before we even came up with the term. Despite its age, it has remained perfectly balanced thanks to the fact that it has stuck to its core nine classes and never made major changes to the meta. The stylized graphics and comedic tone of the entire game also keeps it somewhat timeless. Mechanically, it is diverse and allows for a ton of player expression within the different classes. None are overpowered, and none are too weak, but you need to learn how to best utilize your tools given the map and team composition. This is also one of the few hero shooters that is just as fun to play casually as it is competitively. While official support has slowed to a crawl, community maps and modes are easily accessible and can be just as good as the official content.
Meet the Heavy

Valorant

Valorant
74%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Riot Games
Publisher
Riot Games
Release
June 02, 2020

We mentioned Counter-Strike as easily the most popular FPS on PC, but that is strictly not a hero shooter. Valorant is what Counter-Strike 2 would look like if it did bring in unique heroes, and the result is exactly as good as you would hope. This game comes from Riot Games, makers of League of Legends, so they know a thing or two about balancing characters. The format is almost identical to CS where you purchase weapons, armor, and gear at the start of a round and then either need to attack or defend different points with an explosive. You die just as fast, but can use different active and passive skills to turn the tides of a round. That new wrinkle is just enough to make it feel fresh if you’ve spent the past decade playing CS without lowering the skill ceiling.

The Round // Gameplay Preview - VALORANT

Apex Legends

Apex Legends
76%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
So many hero shooters stick to round-based objective game modes, but why not a battle royale? Apex Legends answers that question and is still the market leader in that niche. There are multiple modes now, but the core game sets you up in squads of three Legends spread across the assault, skirmishers, recon, controller, and support classes. Each comes with two active and one passive ability that are strong but not meant to be game changers. Mastering the fluid movement systems, nailing your aim, and gearing up with stronger loot are just as important as knowing the best time and place to use your skills. Teamwork is especially essential in Apex Legends, making it the perfect free PC game to play with your friends.
Apex Legends Official Launch Trailer

Quake Champions

Quake Champions
72%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
August 18, 2022
The oldest style of shooter is the arena shooter. Quake Arena is still built on the bones of the original Quake design, but with a bit of hero shooter flair added on top. The game is still fast, brutal, and arcade-y, but now you have more than just the weapons you find on the map to rely on. Each character has active and passive abilities, like a grappling hook and the ability to see enemies through walls. Because movement is so fast, you will need to master these abilities and treat them as options rather than your primary tools since aim and map awareness is still the most important factors.
Quake Champions: E3 2016 Reveal Trailer

Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals
75%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
Genre
Shooter
Developer
NetEase Games
Publisher
NetEase Games, Marvel Games
Release
December 06, 2024
It was only a matter of time before a game took the “hero” part of hero shooters seriously. At first, many called Marvel Rivals an Overwatch clone because of how many abilities functioned and how the UI looked, which is fair. On the other hand, the third-person perspective and cast of iconic and deep-cut Marvel characters are more unique than we thought. It uses the same game modes you’ve seen in other hero shooters, mainly cart pushing and point capturing, but they’re tried and true modes that still work here. Why it has caught on so much is that the roster is so large that there’s bound to be at least one character you know and love to play as, and there are more ways to contribute to a team than just being a crackshot.
Marvel Rivals | Official Announcement Trailer

Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2
69%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Release
August 10, 2023
A lot of people have given up on Overwatch 2, but the truth is it is still going strong and has been slowly improving since it was relauched. What never changed was the polish and fun factor the game has had since it started. At this point, the roster of all original characters is massive. That is somewhat of a negative for competitive players since the balance is always in flux, but the average player can simply enjoy the huge range of different styles. There is always something new to unlock, a new game mode to try out, or a season of ranks to work your way up through. Even though almost every other game on this list has come out since, Overwatch 2 still has something special that none of them has been able to perfectly recreate or surpass.
Overwatch 2 Announce Cinematic | “Zero Hour”
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
The best hero shooters on PS5
A team of heroes in Marvel Rivals.

The hero shooter genre has been around for years but really started hitting its stride in the latest console generation. A lot of the best PS5 games are still narrative-focused games, but more and more of the best FPS games are starting to crack that list, with hero shooters being especially popular. These games give more personality and depth to your normal run-and-gun experience with unique characters that have their own movesets that add new layers to the gameplay. This makes it so games are determined by more than just who has the best aim and reflexes. Thanks to most of them being cross-platform games, hero shooters are easy to jump into and find matches with, but first, you need to find the right one for you. Here are the current best hero shooters you can play on PS5.

There are also a ton of upcoming PS5 games that could be the next big hero shooter phenomenon.

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The best Lancers in FragPunk
A character holds a gun in Fragpunk.

The PC FPS market is stacked with popular and long-running games that make it hard for a newcomer to break through. FragPunk isn't your typical hero shooter, however. It features hundreds of Shard Cards that allow players to break the normal conventions of the genre, while still rewarding precise aim and skill. Because no two matches are ever the same, the only thing you can rely on is your Lancer. These heroes fall into one of several categories like Healing and Skill Damage, but there are already a few that have stood out as being far more powerful than the others. To help you get off on the right foot in FragPunk, here are the best Lancers to pick
Broker

Packing a rocket launcher for a primary weapon, Broker is not only deadly but easy for anyone to pick up and dominate with. In terms of abilities, you also get a second set of rockets that can knock enemies back in a pinch and a throwable cherry bomb that act as a proximity mine. As a defensive option, the smoke screen is invaluable for creating cover for yourself and your teammates.
Pathojen

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The best video game villains of all time, ranked
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

We always establish some level of connection with our player character in games, but it is usually the villain who gets the most time in the spotlight. In many series, it is the villain who remains the constant while the hero changes, building up a rivalry that extends beyond the game itself. What makes a good villain can be a lot of things. They can be especially hard boss fights, have sympathetic goals and motivations, or are just so comically evil that we just love to see them on screen. We've been thwarting some villains since the NES generation, while others are more modern. No doubt we will find even more fantastic villains in upcoming video games, but for now, this is our ranking of the best video game villains of all time.
7. Dr. Wily

Dr. Wily deserves a spot on this list for being one of the first recurring villains on the NES. Each Mega Man game featured a unique cast of robot masters to fight, but the same mad scientist was always behind them going rogue. In the end, we always bested his robots, stormed his castle, and captured him (except for that one time when Mega Man was fed up with it all and tried to murder him). It was always world domination with Wily, and only because his partner got all the glory for their work in robotics. Neither his motivation or goals changed much from game to game, but fighting him at the end was always a treat with all the powers you'd coallected.
6. Bowser

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