The Best Boomer Shooters for Steam Deck and PC – From ‘DUSK’ and ‘HROT’ to ‘Prodeus’ and ‘Cultic’ – TouchArcade

A couple of 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 questioned why the heck I hadn’t written about top-of-the-line kinds of video games but? I’m speaking about Boomer shooters in fact. So I assumed I’d put collectively a high 10, and it wouldn’t be onerous. I’ve performed some superb video games through the years, but it surely truly was an enormous ache within the ass (forgive me however we’re again within the 90s in any case with boomer shooters). I didn’t wish to minimize any of the video games on this listing as a result of they’re all superior and value shopping for.

As an alternative of stressing over chopping 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 enjoying 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, and so they have turn out to be mainstays on my Steam Deck.

I additionally wished to spotlight just a few 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 enjoying DOOM, DOOM II, Wolf 3D, and getting spooked by Heretic. I missed out on the Quake video games till the remasters should you 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 take into account DOOM a boomer shooter? It’s sophisticated, however should you did take pleasure in DOOM, I believe you’re going to like the video games I’ve highlighted as we speak.

DUSK ($19.99)

DUSK from David Szymanski, New Blood Interactive, and Andrew Hulshult is a sport I’ve been serious about for a very long time truly. I solely actually fell in love with it on Swap, however have since performed it on PC. It feels genuine, full of affection, chic gameplay, superb ambiance, and has a deep respect for the participant and the style. Not solely do I believe DUSK is among the greatest Swap ports of all time, but it surely shines on Steam Deck, and is shockingly underpriced at simply $19.99 on Steam. My solely problem with DUSK is that I can’t purchase a PC large field model of it and might’t discover a bodily copy of it on Swap 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 so much on this function. Again to Prodeus, it feels extra like a bizarre however good mix of a contemporary large finances shooter however with retro-styled visuals. I’ve been enjoying it fairly a bit on consoles and Steam Deck as a result of it has syncing and a pleasant set of customized ranges out there on-line along with extra campaigns. The ultimate moments falter a bit, however Prodeus is a pleasure to play, and it has certainly one of my favourite soundtracks in years. Having initially performed it on Steam Deck and Swap 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 large field launch. One in every 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 present 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 an enormous new growth just a few hours in the past. I’ll save my full ideas on the growth for a later article, however I can safely say that AMID EVIL with its new growth, 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 what 3D Realms or Apogee Software program imply, you’re in the best place, and have good style typically. Ion Fury from 3D Realms is an enormous technical achievement, and a tremendous shooter with a kickass protagonist. It appears like a contemporary Duke Nukem 3D in all elements, however I like enjoying 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 value watching (on Digital Foundry) even should you 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 mainly a mix of a boomer shooter and fashionable DOOM. I like the gameplay, aesthetic, and a lot of the ranges, but it surely typically 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 in search of 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 observe up or DLC.

ULTRAKILL ($24.99) (Early Entry)

Sure sure sure. I do know ULTRAKILL isn’t a standard boomer shooter, but it surely blends in the perfect 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 enjoying only a little bit of ULTRAKILL, however I don’t even wish to consider how a lot work went into nailing all the pieces about it. ULTRAKILL higher get a console launch and vinyl soundtrack or Dave Oshry is getting an indignant e-mail from yours really.

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 top-of-the-line shooters out there as we speak. 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 implausible sport, but in addition 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 elements 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 attempting it out.

HROT ($19.99)

Somebody I do know by Shaun advisable HROT once I requested him for his favourite boomer shooter. HROT is a sport I didn’t find out 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 ambiance and aesthetic are the highlights. It’s unbelievable that HROT was completed by one individual, and I urge you to strive the demo not less than. Will probably be not like something you seemingly 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 fully completed by one individual, Jason Smith. It feels virtually too good for a one individual launch, and it’s at present out there as “Chapter One”, however don’t begin considering it is a demo or early entry. It is a full, polished, and excellent shooter expertise that I like. It additionally completely swaps between retaining you in your toes with its gameplay, having you soak within the fashion, and even throws in some horror to spice issues up. I can’t look forward to CULTIC Chapter Two, and to see how that builds on the present sport modes and lore. In loads of methods CULTIC jogged my memory of a type of video games you’d see somebody put up 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 standard 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 certain if I ought to embody this till it will get extra content material, however the ambiance and gameplay proper now justified it. I’d look forward to a demo on this one earlier than leaping in, however I like what I’ve performed of GRAVEN so much.

Selaco (Free demo)

Whereas GRAVEN had the caveat of being an early entry launch, Selaco is barely out there as a free demo on Steam proper now. It additionally goals to mix in the perfect of the traditional 90s shooters with fashionable options, but it surely 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 strive it out for your self. You’ll not remorse it.

Undertaking Warlock II ($16.99) (1+2 Bundle) (Early Entry)

I like Undertaking Warlock II much more than the primary sport even in its early entry state proper now, however I nonetheless assume the primary sport is value enjoying should you’re happy with the aesthetic. The rationale I’m that includes Undertaking Warlock II right here, is as a result of I trusted a pal and simply blindly purchased each however began enjoying Undertaking Warlock II first. The primary sport has bite-sized ranges and a few nice designs throughout the board, however it’s a bit straightforward. Undertaking 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 essentially the most 90s media I’ve skilled since effectively, the 90s. Taking part in it felt like I used to be again in class attempting to sneak in a while enjoying a WWF sport on my PlayStation. Large Z Studios’ launch right here is among the most “designed only for me for certain” 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 by which 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 take into account boomer shooters in an inventory about boomer shooters, however they’re completely nonetheless value enjoying or revisiting should you 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)

Once I performed Rise of the Triad again within the day, I appreciated it, but it surely didn’t persist with me like Heretic or DOOM did. When Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version was revealed, I used to be solely excited about 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 date can 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 mainly feels just like the boomer shooter dream staff engaged on one of many OGs, however is Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Version value getting? Sure it’s. Even should you didn’t play it earlier than, a ton of affection and care has gone into this bundle and I’ve loved it sufficient to present it to 3 folks thus far within the final week.

Quake II and Quake ($9.99 every)

Would you consider me if I stated 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 liked 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 nearly as good as the primary sport, however this re-release certain is superb at how a lot content material has been crammed into its low asking worth bundle. The madmen even included Quake 64. How are you going to not purchase it once 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 by its shareware launch and didn’t know that wasn’t the whole sport. Once 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 out there on actually all the pieces together with cell with excellent conversions that I’ve been writing about for years now. DOOM and DOOM II really feel like the proper finale to this function on boomer shooters as a result of the style wouldn’t exist with out DOOM.

In the event you made it this far, I hope you discovered not 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 wish to play new content material for top-of-the-line 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.

Excited by extra Steam Deck protection? Take a look at our Steam Deck suggestions!