Riot Games‘ new First-Person-Shooter (FPS) VALORANT has proven once again how popular the genre is. But what makes games like VALORANT, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Rainbow Six: Siege so beloved around the world?
Multiplayer is Key
One of the key reasons for that is the multiplayer aspect. Only a few other genres enable their fans to play together or against each other in the same manner as FPS do. Success in many titles is highly dependent on teamplay and communication, requiring players to talk, plan and proceed tactically with friends and teammates. Battle Royale games like PUBG or Call of Duty: Warzone even allow up to 100 simultaneous players fighting against each other for the chicken dinner.
You can find new friends or discover the beast that your best buddy turns into after the third loss in a row. Especially in tactic-based shooters like CS:GO or Rainbow Six having a well-functioning team is essential for the enjoyment of the game.
Besides the compelling teamplay aspect, there is also the competitive element. Striving for first place and winning every game sounds great, but often requires hundreds if not thousands of hours of dedication. Everybody enjoys winning games, even more so against other players instead of Computers, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that players keep on grinding until they finally edge out a win.
A Diverse Genre
What also makes the shooter genre unique are the very different approaches that various publishers follow. VALORANT created a game with many of the core mechanics of Counter-Strike but gave it a totally different spin by bringing special abilities for the agents to the mix. Rainbow Six: Siege is a very strategic alternative to CS with a lot more modern looking graphics and an unique breakable environment.
But there’s even more. Apart from the round-based shooters there are plenty of other modes that different games specialize in. Gigantic battlefields with a highly realistic war simulation like in ArmA3 or Squad for example. The list could go on and on. Basically said there is the perfect FPS for every player out there.
In 2018 the FPS-genre had a market share of over 20% percent, only being topped by the very broad action game category. With Riot Games’ entry to the world of first-person-shooters, there is no doubt that even more people will join the fight in the future.