How to choose the perfect shooter for beginners

Hey there, fellow gamer! If you’re new to gaming, specifically to the world of shooters, you’re in the right place. First-person shooters (FPS) and third-person shooters (TPS) are among the most popular game genres today. With so many choices, I know how easily it can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m here to help you choose the perfect shooter for beginners. We’ll go through how to find the right balance of fun, mechanics, and which games will help hone your skills without making you want to rage-quit.

Choosing a beginner-friendly shooter: Where to start?

Before diving into specific titles, we need to lay down some important ground rules about choosing your first shooter. As a beginner, your goal is to pick a game that gives you a good mix of skill-building, realism, and fun without intimidating you right off the bat. Let’s break it down.

Key factors in choosing the perfect beginner shooter

Difficulty Level: Games with a less steep learning curve are ideal when you’re just starting. Look for games with decent aim assists, beginner-friendly modes, or tutorials.
Mechanics and Controls: Complex shooters can be a handful if you’re still getting familiar with standard FPS or TPS controls like aiming, reloading, and movement. Straightforward mechanics will make your life easier.
Pacing: Some shooters are fast and chaotic, while others are more methodical with moments of intense action. As a beginner, start with games that give you time to think and breathe between action-packed sequences.
Community and Support: Games with strong communities and helpful player bases make learning easier. An engaging community can lower the barrier to entry for you as a newbie.
Graphics and Story: Don’t underestimate the importance of engaging visuals and a gripping story. These keep you interested and invested in the game even if you’re struggling with mechanics at first.

Step-by-step guide: How to choose your first shooter

Step 1: Identify your preferred playstyle

This may sound like taking things too seriously, but it will save you tons of headaches down the line. Do you like close combat or prefer long-ranged options like sniping? Are you inclined toward fast-paced arcade shooters, or do you prefer tactical shooters that reward patience and strategy?

Figure this out early on. If you’re unsure, don’t worry; I’ll provide examples that cater to different playstyles in the practical tips section below.

Step 2: Research common shooter sub-genres

Shooters have a variety of sub-genres, and the two most notable categories are first-person shooter (FPS) and third-person shooter (TPS). FPS games like Call of Duty and Doom limit your sight to what the character sees, putting you “inside” the action. Meanwhile, TPS games like Fortnite or The Division let you control your character from behind.

Here are a few common shooter sub-genres:

Arcade Shooters: These games prioritize fast-paced, action-packed gameplay over realism. A great example is Overwatch.
Tactical Shooters: These are more methodical, and teamwork often plays a big role. Good examples include Rainbow Six Siege and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Looter Shooters: Think of games where you combine the core gameplay of a shooter with looting mechanics. The most well-known example in this category is Destiny 2.
Battle Royale: Here, you’re fighting a massive number of other players, typically until only one or a few survive. Fortnite and Warzone are good starting points.

Step 3: Check system requirements and performance

If you wanna enjoy the game without running into massive FPS drops or crashes, it’s vital to check if your machine can handle it. Most games list their minimum and recommended system requirements on platforms like Steam or Epic Games Store. Make sure the game isn’t too demanding for your PC setup.

Here’s what you should pay attention to:

Recommended system requirements: Try to choose a game where your PC meets or even exceeds the recommended specs to ensure smooth gameplay.
Graphics settings: Look for games that allow you to tweak settings like resolution, textures, and anti-aliasing. This way, you can optimize performance while maintaining decent visuals.
FPS limit settings: Make sure the game allows you to lock or unlock frame rates based on how powerful your rig is.

Step 4: Watch gameplay videos or streams

Once you have a list of potential games, watching some gameplay on YouTube or Twitch is a solid way to see if it vibes with your playstyle. Streamers are often experienced players, so they give a good indication of what the later stages of the game might look like for you.

Watching real gameplay exposes you to the game’s pace, its mechanics, and the overall feel before you commit to buying it. I usually search for “beginner gameplay” or “noob guide” to ensure I’m seeing early stages of the game since that’s what most of us will be dealing with right away.

Step 5: Start on Easy or Casual difficulty

This may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve seen tons of gamers jump straight into harder difficulty levels thinking they can handle it—and then immediately regret it. Play smart, start on Easy or Casual, and give yourself time to get accustomed to the game mechanics, its pace, and the feel of aiming and shooting. Once you feel confident, you can bump up the difficulty for more of a challenge.

Great shooter games for beginners

By now, you should have a pretty good idea on what to consider when choosing your shooter game. But let’s get into a few recommendations. These games are carefully curated to ensure they are beginner-friendly in terms of difficulty, mechanics, and community. Plus, they will all add something fun to your gaming experience.

1. Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment)

Why it’s great: If you’re into team-based games with colorful characters and unique abilities, Overwatch is an incredible place to start. It blends first-person shooter mechanics with a diverse hero system, so shooting isn’t your only way of contributing to the team. There’s a low entry barrier, and it isn’t as punishing for missed shots since many heroes use abilities instead of just guns.

Recommended for players who: Enjoy colorful visuals, teamwork, and prefer slightly slower-paced shooters.

2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Microsoft)

Why it’s great: The Halo series has one of the most approachable FPS systems, along with engaging campaigns that are perfect for solo play. The gameplay is smooth, with responsive controls, and the enemy AI isn’t too punishing in lower difficulty modes. Plus, the community is super welcoming to both newcomers and pros.

Recommended for players who: Prefer traditional FPS campaigns and enjoy sci-fi themes.

3. Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment)

Why it’s great: While Apex Legends is a battle royale-style game, it’s probably the easiest of the bunch for a beginner. The game offers a training mode to help you sharpen your aim and learn movement before throwing you into real lobbies. Plus, the respawn mechanism in squads makes mistakes more forgiving.

Recommended for players who: Are looking for a modern, fast-paced game with a battle royale twist.

4. Call of Duty: Warzone (Activision)

Why it’s great: With a rich history, Call of Duty: Warzone is pretty much a staple for shooter fans. Since it’s free-to-play, you don’t need to make a financial commitment upfront to see if you like it. The shooting mechanics are straightforward but allow for improvement over time, and you have various ways to play, from solos to squads.

Recommended for players who: Enjoy competitive multiplayer and the thrill of outlasting enemies on a big map.

Practical tips for improving at shooters

Once you’ve picked your game and dived in, here are some quick tips on how to improve:

Practice aiming: Aiming is key in every shooter. Try aim trainers like Aim Lab to get comfortable with various aiming styles. Also, lower your sensitivity—too high and your aim will be jittery, too low and it’ll be sluggish.
Map awareness: Learn the maps! Understanding choke points, hiding spots, and common paths that players take can drastically improve your performance.
Mastering movement: Focus on your movement in-game—whether it’s sliding, jumping, or simply strafing to dodge bullets. The more unpredictable your movement, the harder you’ll be to hit!
Watch tutorials: There are tons of shooter tutorials and guides for every game. Check out YouTube or Twitch channels tailored to beginners, like Doom49 or MrFreshAsian.
Play regularly: The best way to improve is to keep playing! Don’t get discouraged by early losses, they’re all part of leveling up your skill set.

Conclusion: Ready to pull the trigger?

Choosing the perfect shooter as a beginner doesn’t have to be complicated when you know what to look for. Focus on choosing games that match your skill level, pace, and playstyle. Whether you lean into arcade-style games with fun abilities like Overwatch or decide to go for military-like realism in something like Warzone, there’s a game out there designed for you.

Now, it’s time to explore and practice. Check out the recommendations, fire up a beginner-friendly match, and get shooting! And don’t forget, learning is the fun part. With every match, you’re getting better. Good luck out there, champ, and I’ll catch you in the lobbies!