The Best FPS Games for Mac: MacBook Pro / Air

Finding the best FPS games for Mac is a tough assignment. Games that will keep you at the edge of your seat and glued to your computer screen. Killers that are built to extract every last ounce of processing power and graphics potential out of your Mac, while keeping you on the edge of your seat with their nonstop action.

Some of the best games to play on Mac laptops. This list could be helpful if you are a gamer who loves playing first person shooters (FPS) or any other kind of games on their Macbook Pro or Air. I have created this list based on my own personal experience and research.

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As far as FPS games go, BioShock 2 is arguably one of the best.
As far as FPS games go, BioShock 2 is arguably one of the best.

The first-person shooter (FPS) genre is very popular, it can give you the feeling of being right in the center of events, and the excitement and thrill that goes with it. My favourite FPS game on Mac is CS: GO, but keep reading to find out which ones are my top picks for FPS for Macs.

  • System requirements: You don’t need the latest and greatest PC to play these games, but you will need at least an Intel Core i5 processor, 2 GB NVIDIA 680MX or better integrated graphics chip, along with at least 8GB of RAM.

The FPS genre has seen a lot of change with the introduction of gaming consoles and the popularity of the Call of Duty franchise. But, that doesn’t mean that FPS games aren’t without merit on the Mac. A great game just needs to be played on computers at hand. And who knows, maybe Macs will be able to compete with gaming consoles if Apple creates an iMac that could handle these high-end graphical games.

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In any list of the best FPS games, there are always surprises. Some are hidden gems that haven’t seen the popularity they deserve while others should be classics but aren’t played by enough people. Although macOS is not known for gaming by any means, there are many great FPS games on Mac.

We may not know what Apple’s got in store for us quite yet, but we do know about some really awesome FPS games for Mac!

After hours of tests and research — here are the 7 best FPS games for Mac.

1. Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is a very fun first person shooting game and there are many weapons to choose from.
Borderlands 2 is a very fun first person shooting game and there are many weapons to choose from.

Borderlands 2 is a very fun first person shooting game and there are many weapons to choose from. The Borderlands franchise is one of the most popular FPS games of this decade. Since its 2010 launch, millions and millions of players adopt to its crazy universe.

Most people buy Borderland’s 2 when they see how awesome the gameplay is! The main story missions are all fun and exciting, but side missions are what add real value to it. Makes you one of the best games to be played in multiplayer mode.

Borderlands 2 is a game of satire and in-jokes from beginning to end. If you enjoy The Goonies, Mad Max and similar movies, you’re going to have a ball playing Borderlands 2. Even if you haven’t seen the movies I mentioned, you’ll get a kick out of the look and feel of this down-and-in dirty FPS game. It’s a totally immersive experience with lots of laughs along the way.

The game gives you a hilarious script, great voice acting and about 30+ hours of single-player fun your first time through (and you will replay this game to get experience with each character class). Add to that fantastic cooperative multiplayer gameplay and downloadable content to extend the game, and you’ve got a potent mix that will keep you coming back again and again.

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The goal of your character is to find and acquire an alien vault hidden on the planet, located in a hidden vault city called Sanctuary. You will play as one of four characters, each with her or his own special abilities: Axton, Salvador, Zero, or Maya.

As you progress through the game’s story line and gain experience through killing enemies, you’ll develop new skills and attributes using the same kind of skill tree that you’d find in a role playing game (RPG).

So, I’ve been playing Borderlands 2 on and off for two weeks now, and I have a pretty good handle on the game. It is everything I expected it to be: colorful, hilarious and fun as Hell.

The game has an opening cinematic reminiscent to that of a theme park ride — hinting at many of the same days when games were dumbed down instead of made more complex in order to appeal to new gamers who’d never played before — however, this doesn’t last long and from there you are thrust into the world created by Gearbox and Vault-Tec.

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Like any RPG, you level up and increase your character’s attributes through skill trees that allow you to focus upgrades in one area or attempt to become less reliant on a particular brand of gun.

In Borderlands 2 those skills will often seem like a god-send in the middle of an intense fight against a mini-boss or giant boss. If he’s hitting you too hard? Double-jump out of the way, throw him a surprise with an ammo regeneration grenade or some health potions.

There’s always that element of excitement in Borderlands 2, the moments when you dump everything you found in your inventory and start laying out mounds of guns, shields, grenades, boosters, class mods — everything — onto a table.

You compare them, sort them out by elemental damage or magazine size or rarity and hopefully end up with an arsenal that feels perfect somehow. It’s a hectic process at times where you might find yourself second-guessing how much of your time was spent on something as simple as finding just the right guns.

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Whether it’s split-second decision making in high-risk situations, or pouring over ECHO recordings to glean information about the next boss fight you’re about to face, there is something for everyone in this game.

Even if its shortcomings make it difficult to be considered among the true greats of this generation, it is still a solid game that deserves your attention.

2. CS: GO

Counter-Strike- Global Offensive (CS- GO) is a tactical first-person shooter
Counter-Strike- Global Offensive (CS- GO) is a tactical first-person shooter

CS: GO has proven, once again, that a competent shooter can entice new players with only the most vital elements of gameplay.

The Counter-Strike franchise began in 1999 as a mod for Half-Life and has since grown into a standalone franchise, loved by millions and one of the top competitive first-person shooter games. The game was built from the ground up as an esport and it shows. CS: GO took a very successful competitive game and expanded on it without over complicating the core experience.

You don’t unlock classes or weapons via progression or buy them from the store. All you have are your defaults, which are only good if you’re an expert without an itch to improve. That’s because CS: GO is as much a game where you die a lot as it is a game where you win a lot. It takes more than skill to win at Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – you need composure, too.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a game about making mistakes. I’m not talking about the kind of mistakes that end with you dying early and often, like when you don’t check angles or walk into obvious traps. I’m talking about the reliable and repeatable mistakes that everyone makes but turn from harmless to fatal after repeated performance.

To put it bluntly: CS is a game more about being punished for your mistakes than being rewarded for being good.

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CS:GO is all about skill, reflexes and patience. The player’s ability to aim is not the only thing that matters, since without patience, a win will be impossible. You may have amazing reflexes and be able to get a headshot every time you see an enemy on your screen. But even so, it’s almost impossible to win against more experienced opponents if you don’t have the right mentality.

The best way to learn more about CS: GO is to play more CS: GO . As you play, you’ll figure out all the little things you never knew about the game: when to shoot and when not to shoot; what angle your bullets will reach the target at; where smoke grenades are actually useful; and how important being able to change your crosshair size really is.

There’s a difference between dying and losing. Links are old, but some of your favorite YouTubers playing CS: GO may have mentioned it. In this game, players must make their own experience by discovering these differences on their own. This is where CS: GO shines brightest. And it’s not just an idea; I discovered these fundamental truths from playing the game myself.

CS: GO offers two main gamemodes: “Classic Casual” and “Classic Competitive”. Classic Casual is equivalent to the core CS gameplay, with all weapons, utility, and game mechanics enabled. Classic Competitive is where the more competitive side of CS: GO comes into play, disabling a lot of game mechanics to try and make for a more skill-based match. With these game modes you can have various playlists that are preselected maps and teams, such as Arms Race or Demolition.

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Bomb Scenario mode is a unique game mode that stands out from the rest of the CS: GO modes due to its unconventional blueprint for gameplay.

This gameplay goes for a more tactical approach compared to other modes in which players scramble for weapons and aim to eliminate anyone in sight. In Bomb Scenario, there are two main objectives: planting/defusing the bomb or eliminating all of the players on the opposing team.

Each round starts with a planning stage. This is when you choose your team, select the amount of money your team will start with and decide on a Global Offensive player-selected map out of the three randomly selected as the next map to be used in the match.

The best way to ensure that you have a good time in this game is to learn the basics of the CS: GO FPS game. You don’t want to go into matches without a basic understanding of the rules. This will greatly improve your overall experience for numerous reasons, such as being able to adequately train for a match, knowing how the weapons work, and having a rudimentary grasp of the environment and how it works.

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Overall, we greatly enjoyed our time with CS: GO. It’s fun, it’s fast, and its replayability is high. The guns all have their own feel, and the best ones to use in-game are often dependent on scenarios themselves. Most importantly though, the game itself is fair.

There are no weapons that work better than others when put under equal skill (and yes, an abundance of skill is needed to play at a competitive level).

The simple fact of this being true works wonders for CS: GO in an eSports setting as well. By not favoring certain players over others based on how well they are equipped, it ensures that the most skilled players will rise to the top.

All in all, this is a pretty competitive game mode that forces the players to think tactically and strategically. We can probably expect other game developers to follow suit with their own versions of anti-bomb scenarios.

3. BioShock 2

As far as FPS games go, BioShock 2 is arguably one of the best.
As far as FPS games go, BioShock 2 is arguably one of the best.

BioShock 2 has set the bar for first person shooter games. The plot is engaging, the gameplay fast paced and exciting, and the graphics are second to none. Players will find themselves immersed in a world of psychological warfare with its many twists, turns, and edge of your seat moments.

BioShock 2 is a great first-person shooter (FPS). I should know, because I am a big fan of the original BioShock. The coolest thing about BioShock 2 is that it provides you with almost everything that you would expect from a great FPS game: adventure, customization, strategy, and action.

In BioShock 2 you reprise your role as a Big Daddy – a genetically altered human encased in a heavily armored diving suit. After a mysterious plane crash, you find yourself near the sunken dystopia of Rapture, battling mutants, warring factions and an eerie presence that sucks the lightning right out of your skyhook.

When BioShock 2 was announced, one of the things that stood out most to me was the photorealistic graphics, a treat to behold on an HD TV. Here we are, not even a year after the original title, and a new game that looks like a hi-def documentary.

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But as much as I appreciate how stunningly beautiful the graphics are, I also love the game itself. It’s more action-oriented than its predecessor but doesn’t lose anything in the process. My only complaint is that if you’re not careful, you sometimes get slaughtered in just two seconds flat by Splicers who seize their chance if you turn your back at them for just a moment.

I am overall impressed with the work that had been done for the BioShock 2 game. The high attention to detail and the stunning quality of life features made this game unique. The intriguing storyline coupled with the exceptional graphics of this title makes it one of the best in its genre.

The system of plasmids you’ll find in BioShock 2 are equally impressive. In the first game, you had to worry about two kinds of inventory devices: one held your weapons and the other held your plasmids.

Now, each gauntlet instead acts as one universal holding device by storing your ammunition, melee weapon, plasmids and Gene Tonics — which allow you to make permanent character upgrades such as increased strength, EVE vitality or damage resistance.

The fact that all of these devices now reside in a single area makes the gameplay more streamlined and ultimately easier to understand.

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BioShock 2 takes concepts laid down and refined by its predecessor, and enhances the experience with a refreshing take on the FPS genre. While many of the original concepts are still intact, the sequel feels like an entirely different game, which is both a good and a bad thing. BioShock 2 provides you with a myriad of new ideas to sink your teeth into (pun mildly intended).

Bioshock 2 easily meets the criteria set on its website and provides a great experience, whether you are a hardcore gamer or not. The branching and multiple story lines provide a great way to attract numerous consumers’ and the incorporation of mature themes and interactive story telling makes the game even more exciting if you choose to play it in that manner.

Almost all of the aspects of this FPS game can be seen as positives, with little criticism being given by users. All in all, BioShock 2 gameplay lives up to its own expectations as it is one of the better FPSs on the market.

In one word, BioShock 2 is a success: fun. If you enjoyed System Shock 2 or are a fan of FPS games, you will enjoy BioShock 2. I recommend it!

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

CALL OF DUTY 4- Modern Warfare boasts an incredibly realistic experience that makes players believe they are actually fighting the Battle of Mogadishu
CALL OF DUTY 4- Modern Warfare boasts an incredibly realistic experience that makes players believe they are actually fighting the Battle of Mogadishu

When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was first announced for the PC, excitement levels were reaching new heights. As an avid Call Of Duty player since the release of the PS2 title, I joined the hype train as it started to gather steam.

You could feel the anticipation from every gaming site you visited and many were starting to speculate on how Infinity Ward would be improving on their last CoD title: World at War. Would they build upon their staple game engine that worked so well? What new features would they be adding?

How would they alter older features? The list of questions seemed endless.

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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare delivers a breathtaking and intense experience unlike any other. You are taken on an epic journey as Marine Plathner serving with the United States Marine Corps in a personal quest to bring down an evil Russian Scientist, who is responsible for helping orchestrate this worldwide terrorist conspiracy. The title, developed by Infinity Ward, will release on November 5, 2007.

The single-player campaign develops an intricate and engaging story filled with twists and turns that are unexpected yet natural.

A strong cast of characters, particularly Captain Price and Gaz, is bolstered by intriguing cutscenes that keep you hooked even through the slower episodes. The multiplayer mode is rich and robust, sporting enough variations on game types to keep matches lively for quite a while and more than enough unlockables to keep gameplay fresh over time.

From the AK-47 to the AN-94, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare accurately portrays some of the most notable firearms in use today, along with a number of significant pieces of equipment and vehicles.

While most modern weapons are accurate in the game, some have been altered to comply with international weapon laws and regulations and to suit the aesthetic requirements of a video game. The modern weaponry found in COD4 will pique the interest of firearms enthusiasts, military history buffs and gamers alike.

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Forced to relocate, and almost always outnumbered, you react like a good soldier and stick to the shadows. Peek round corners. Take out enemies with silenced shots. Sneak into buildings through back doors, using night vision goggles when necessary.

And progress through the linear level designing with a series of flanking maneuvers and quick kills.

This is where Infinity Ward earns the respect it’s been getting for years as a shooter developer.

Forget about the multilevel lobbies, forget about multiplayer — this is what Call of Duty is all about: intense first-person combat, lots of cool guns, and a great story delivered in awesome Hollywood fashion.

In previous Call of Duty games, the focus was on World War II. This time out Infinity Ward has set its sights on a more modern period of combat, placing more emphasis on fighting insurgents rather than Nazis. This also means that the technology has changed quite a bit, as have the types of weapons used. The result is a fast-paced shooter that feels far more up to date than its predecessors.

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They have added several new gameplay features, such as a Survival Mode and the ability to enter buildings, which also includes close-quarters combat. Some of these features are exclusive to the Wii version. The Wii version also became the first in the series to be given a Mature rating by the ESRB. The new surroundings are detailed enough to even hear a pin drop. The variety of woodland, suburban and inner city environments look incredible from all angles, especially when it’s raining heavily in some missions.

With stunning and unparalleled visuals and sound, CoD4 delivers a true cinematic thrill. This takes Call of Duty 4 to the next level, with new online play modes, more co-op and single player content, as well as more robust clan support to challenge rivalries.

Topping that off is an expanded Xbox Live experience that includes both downloadable game content and incentives to keep people playing online.

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A daring move by Activision, CoD4: MW is better than Halo 3 in some respects because it is less predictable and easier to fall victim to unknown dangers than in Bungie’s flagship title. The term “run n’ gun” is heard so often when gamers talk about this game that it comes up naturally when describing CoD4.

Modern Warfare excels because Infinity Ward had to overcome the fact that Call of Duty was an FPS franchise in which you killed people. You really didn’t have to think too much about it, granted you could be stealthy, but you didn’t have to be Bruce Wayne or James Bond. So they took this post September 11th criticism and made a game where every little action has strategic implications.

You’re probably going to die a lot because human beings generally don’t make smart strategic decisions during combat.

That’s why its fun to play video games. It’s ironic that Call of Duty is sometimes criticized for being too violent because this is a more realistic, actually more restrained, game than many others less likely to provoke such complaints.

In other words, the game makes sacrifices to keep from being excessively violent in order not to offend people — but it still lets you do all sorts of things like blow enemy soldiers into bloody chunks as well as burn them alive with white phosphorus grenades. The guys at Infinity Ward just don’t want the audience to realize how hard they’re trying.

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Let me put it this way: if you are a FPS gamer and you have somehow missed Call of Duty 4, you owe it to yourself to check this game out. It is intense and exciting.

Though it might feel like a step backwards in terms of tactical realism, the action is so adrenaline-pumping that there really isn’t much time for thinking and strategizing anyway.

Enjoy the mayhem. And even if you have played this one before, be sure to give this guide a look because it’s full of helpful pointers that can help keep you alive and ahead of your enemies.

5. Fortnite

Fortnite is the latest free-to-play third-person shooter Battle Royale multiplayer game by Epic Games. The Fortnite game is a cross between Minecraft and Call of Duty.
Fortnite is the latest free-to-play third-person shooter Battle Royale multiplayer game by Epic Games. The Fortnite game is a cross between Minecraft and Call of Duty.

Fortnite is a first-person shooter (FPS) game, which is multiplayer and co-operative. This game is known for its gameplay of construction and destruction as well as its lighthearted tone.

The main objective is to remain alive and reducing the health of opponents until the match ends. The game is carried out in Battle Royale concept which means that there are 100 players to fight with each other on an enormous island.

There are various additional elements added into the game such as weapons, buildings and also vehicles which help you to collect resources, build something or defend yourself.

The game was first unveiled in 2011 and was used as a playerunknown’s-battlegrounds-like to test the Unreal Engine 4. It features both singleplayer and multiplayer modes that allow up to four players to join a match.

The game sports a cartoonish art style and focuses more on construction rather than destruction like other battle royale games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, H1Z1: King of the Kill or Realm Royale.

When someone asks me for a quick rundown of games in the Call of Duty series, I usually describe them as World War II soldiers with space age equipment. But Fortnite is different. The only thing which came to my mind when watching the gameplay footage that made Fortnite stand out from it’s competitors was “utilitarian.”

Almost every action and item is purposeful, almost no superfluous gimmicks, no distractions (you are listening to a voicemail during your first death in the above video) or extras, each class has a purpose right down to the names of their weapons and every action feels like part of an overall theme.

Those themes even extended into weapon building in Fortnite. Weapons are randomly generated by combining components, but they have a logical flow when you combine them and even have different characteristics based on who built them—seriously, there are some visually distinct differences between what I built and what others built when we played together.

Fortnite might not be the deepest experience, but it’s the least cluttered one and once you find the weapons you’re looking for, most fights in Fortnite go about the same way.

The real beauty behind Fortnite’s inventory system? The fact that your weapons are only five slots makes trading them out with anything you find in a chest or weapon rack a cinch. Hunting for the perfect gun that fits your style is never tedious. You can always craft the best quality or most desired version of that gun with just one more couple of materials and get right back to the business of blasting other players back to the lobby.

The game’s Fortnite Crafting system gives you access to a wide variety of items that you can use to aid yourself in the match. 

These items include Constructible Cores — which are used to build fortifications and ramparts as well as stairs and walls — Stone, Metal, and Wood, which are used to upgrade your Fortifications (which will be discussed later), weapons such as guns, melee, trap kits (including grenade launchers, rockets, remote explosive charges, etc.), traps and other items.

There are a lot of people who really really enjoy playing Fortnite. There are also a lot of people who really really don’t. And then there are the overwhelming majority of people in the middle, whose reactions to the game are less clear-cut.

But many players draw on an intense and passionate fanbase that feeds on rumors, theories, and fan theories even more so than battle royale games like PUBG or H1Z1.

If you love the first person shooter genre, Fortnite is one of the best new games right now. The overall game is built in a free-to-play manner, but Epic Games makes money when people buy V-Bucks (the pricing is in-game). V-Bucks are used to buy things in Fortnite like dance moves, outfits, and other cosmetic items. You can also buy the Battle Pass, which come with battle related challenges that reward XP which can upgrade your account level.

Overall, Fortnite is a great game with wonderful graphics. The community is growing quickly and Epic Games has been great in responding to community feedback. Each addition they make makes the game that much better. I would recommend this game to any gaming fan out there. Be on the lookout because the only way to master this game is to play it.

6. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is one of the best first-person shooter games you can find.
Team Fortress 2 is one of the best first-person shooter games you can find.

Team Fortress 2, released in 2006, is the sequel to the game that put class-based first-person shooter multiplayer games on the map. As a result of its predecessor’s success, Team Fortress 2 has garnered a following comparable to that of other multiplayer classics, such as Counter-Strike and Left 4 Dead.

Although there are many great single-player games out there, it’s not hard to see why Team Fortress 2 is more enjoyable when played with others — even more so when it’s being played competitively. With an active community of some 5 million players, it’s unlikely you’ll get bored of playing this game for a long time to come.

The game pits two teams (red and blue) against each other, with each team trying to complete objectives in order to win the match. Each player on the team selects one of nine character classes to play, each with varying roles like offense, defense, support or covert missions. The maps used vary from the ridiculous to the sublime and are an excellent test of your teamwork skills when playing with human opponents.

You can choose from nine different character classes across two opposing teams, each with its own strengths, weaknesses and strategies to learn. Loaded with comedy and fast action, TF2 is the game’s strength and biggest selling point, even six years after it first came out.

The gameplay is really quite simple: You don’t die often, and when you do, it’s usually your fault – so getting back into the thick of it is relatively easy. The learning curve isn’t as steep as it should be (i.e., quick to learn, hard to master) and you can jump right in without reading massive manuals or spending weeks playing nightly (though with hundreds of unlockable hats and such, a few hours will certainly turn into a few weeks.)

If you’re looking for a great online party game, you can’t go wrong with Team Fortress 2. Just be sure to find some friends first, as at its core this is a team-based game meant to be played with three other people. With that in mind, though, Team Fortress 2 is one of the best party games on the market today, and one that sees periodic updates throughout the year.

The game’s enormous popularity over the years is thanks in large part to Valve’s dedication to continuously improve it. It may not be the prettiest game out there, but what it lacks in visual flair it makes up for in gameplay, which results in an unforgettable FPS experience. Fans of first person shooters looking for a change from Call of Duty or Halo will discover that Team Fortress 2 is still the best free online FPS you’ll find online.

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7. Counter Strike: Source

Counter Strike- Source is an online first-person shooter that requires teamwork, strategy and a good aim. This game offers awesome graphics and sound to make the gaming experience more realistic.
Counter Strike- Source is an online first-person shooter that requires teamwork, strategy and a good aim. This game offers awesome graphics and sound to make the gaming experience more realistic.

Counter Strike Source is one of the biggest online multiplayer first person shooter game out there. It was released on August 21, 2004 as a successor to Half Life. The original intention was to just make a remake of the original Counter Strike game but when the developers started working on it they realized that it wouldn’t be an easy task and eventually turned the game into the most dynamic, innovative and feature rich shooting game.

Counter-Strike: Source is a well-crafted sequel to one of the most popular mods for one of the most popular PC games, and it does its predecessor proud. Those who are new to the franchise will find a slickly made and addictively fun shooter with plenty of maps, enemies, and weapons to keep them going.

Veterans can still appreciate how this stand-alone game plays and has been updated over the years. The game stands out as one of the most cinematic shooters in recent years, with a focus on storytelling that places high value on player involvement.

It was also one of the first games on Steam to utilize its simplified installation system, where it takes but a few clicks to have your old saved data in a brand new game instance.

Then there is Valve’s stellar support for community developers, which has left this title with many more maps than were included in the original retail release, not to mention a new multiplayer mode via an XBox Live style achievements system.

This game is among the most played online FPS games. It is played in all servers, even at an international level. There are numerous tournaments held every year, with winners winning cash prizes. Besides this, you can use different types of software to cheat in this game and win it easily. I do not recommend using such softwares, so use your gaming skills to win it , instead of cheating.

What the best game mode to play? Well, it depends. Pistol rounds and knife rounds are for practice and typically aren’t taken seriously. Bomb Scenario is the standard competitive mode for most CS:S players and tends to have more teams playing on official Valve servers as well.

The Bomb Scenario is one of the two standard competitive game modes (the other being Hostage Rescue) and has been the most played mode of Counter-Strike: Source since its release in 2004. It consists of 15 rounds, with each round having different objectives. The Terrorists have to plant the bomb at either bombsite (A or B) and if they’re successful they win that round. If they plant the bomb at both bombsites, they win that half of the game.

I’d say the game is pretty much what you’d expect it to be. It runs well, the sound quality is good, and I didn’t run into any bugs during my test-play or in reviewing the game files.

Some of the textures are a little blurry up close for my taste, but that’s probably to be expected from a non-AAA title from 2005.

I think it’s a good choice for most gamers who want a free, multiplayer FPS choice that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re just starting out with Source engine games, CS:Source is also a great place to start because some of its restrictions (like 64 tick servers) don’t apply to more modern titles.

In short, Counter-Strike: Source is a fun game, but it’s not for everybody. If you’re looking for a realistic military shooter game with no frills or added bells and whistles, CS:S probably won’t be for you. Conversely, if you want to immerse yourself in a realistic FPS game that offers fast-paced action, customization options, and a multitude of gameplay modes that never get old or boring, CS:S offers much to like.

Add in the Steam Workshop support and its low system requirements, and this newest iteration of the classic shooter has gotten some welcome updates without losing its enduring appeal.

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Some History of FPS games

In video games, and in common use, the term first-person shooter (FPS) refers to a game in which the player’s perspective is that of the protagonist. Usually this means that the player experiences the action through the eyes of a humanoid avatar from a first-person perspective.

Thus, the use of FPP to describe this kind of gameplay identifies it as an important subgenre of 3D-action games and an extension of older first person adventure games like Wolfenstein 3D or Doom.

First-person shooters are usually in the first-person perspective, but also occasionally third-person. Some recent examples of this subgenre include Halo, Call of Duty and Bioshock Infinite.

The earliest two documented first-person shooter video games are Maze War and Spasim. Maze War was originally developed in 1973 by Greg Thompson, Steve Colley and Howard Palmer, high-school students in a NASA work-study program trying to develop a program to help visualize fluid dynamics for spacecraft designs.

The project they created was called “Rescue”, and consisted of a first-person shooter game built on the Genie game engine (Genie, written by David Munsie, is an early example of virtual reality software). While the 3D elements weren’t popular at that time, the behind-the-view point of view created for the Perspective Glasses Interface System (PGIS) gained popularity with Thompson and his group.

They followed the basic ideas from Maze War called Rescue with Multi-Player Avatars (MPAV), which has been identified as one of the first multiplayer computer FPS games.

Participants would assume the role of “drones” with limited visibility and the ability to communicate with other players in the maze. Thompson wrote the game in BCPL on an IBM mainframe; he then rewrote it in Fortran and expanded its protocol to support eight players. A 4X game called Spasim was developed during 1974–1978 by Mike Mayfield (using the handle Foofum) as a student at Berry College.

The players in the game see only the section of the mazelike maps that is immediately around them, thus becoming accustomed to making decisions from fragmentary and sometimes mistaken information. In this respect it can be seen as a significant predecessor to games like NetHack (but comparatively, it has greater emphasis on combat). In its original version, Maze war did not allow for multiplayer interaction beyond deathmatch.

Wrapping Up

So, what makes FPS games so appealing? The answer is simple. They are popular because they are reliable representatives of the type of computer game known as “first person shooter” (FPS). FPS games offer exciting experiences and simple gaming principles which can be mastered through repeated play.

This is not a ranking, but instead deals more with providing players with appropriate information about their options for shooter games. Many of them might be surprised by how many FPS games are available for their Mac and player can either find new ones that they didn’t know about or start playing some of the best ones currently on the market.

There’s something here for everyone so take a look, pick a game and enjoy your free weekend.

It was rather challenging to narrow down the field to a mere seven titles, but I decided to stick with games that had received some type of award or mention.

There are many more FPSs out there for Mac users, and it would be easy to list ten or twelve additional titles that are vying for a spot on this very short list. But in any event, the games above will provide hours of entertainment both online and off, not to mention some kick-butt eye candy graphics.

If you’re in the mood for some great FPSs for your Mac, feel free to try any one or all of the above. All of them will provide a memorable and satisfying experience, but I’ve always been partial to Borderlands 2 myself. Have fun!

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