Atomic Heart has come out recently and has already gained plenty of recognition in the gaming world. But this type of FPS game is nothing new, with countless others that have already set the groundwork.
During the early 90s when FPS games started popping up left and right, the recipe was fairly simple. You’re a dude with a gun, and your mission is to blast anything that moves until it ceases to exist. Slowly but surely though the genre evolved, bringing complex stories and NPCs that were more than cannon fodder into the fray.
Atomic Heart is the latest successful FPS, an alt-history Sci-Fi adventure set in a communist backdrop where an advanced AI has gone haywire. With plenty of action and some truly weird cutscenes, the game takes plenty of inspiration from FPS games that came before it. Let’s look at some games similar to Atomic Heart that paved the way.
Half-Life
We have to mention Half-Life since it was the first FPS that added things like an actual story and complex NPCs to the genre. Enemy AI was also revolutionary for its time, especially the Special Forces units sent to clear Black Mesa. They actually employed tactics, flanking and advancing on your position under a barrage of supressive fire. While all of this might not sound like much nowadays, back in 1998, it was a breath of fresh air compared to the standard fare of countless waves of enemies continuously advancing on your position just to easily get mowed down.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, PlayStation 2
Dishonored
Set in a steampunk setting that also throws magic into the mix, Dishonored is one of the best games like Atomic Heart. You will take control of Corvo Attano as he is framed for the murder of the Empress of Dunwall. You will have to go on a slew of assassination missions as you try to save the industrial city of Dunwall from corruption. Gameplay is fast-paced with multiple weapons and abilities at your disposal. Player freedom is emphasized, allowing you to approach any situation in multiple ways.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Generation Zero
Self-published by Avalanche Studios, Generation Zero is an interesting open-world survival FPS game set in an alt-history Sweden in 1989. Killer robots are on the loose and you will have to scavenge and skulk across the world while you try to make sense of this situation. Enemies range from man-sized robots wielding machine guns to towering monstrosities equipped with rocket launchers and lasers. Generation Zero can also be enjoyed with up to three friends in online co-op.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Horizon Zero Dawn
If we’re talking about killer robots, we obviously have to mention Horizon Zero Dawn. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where dinosaur-shaped robots roam the lands, you will take control of a younger hunter named Aloy as she tries to save her tribe. You will have to face enormous robots and other warring factions on your path to success. Combat is very satisfying as you dash and weave while shooting weak spots with your varied arsenal of medieval weapons. The story is also very interesting, focusing on discovering what led to the creation of these dinosaur-like monstrosities.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Prey
Prey, a Sci-Fi horror FPS, is set on Talos 1, a space station orbiting the moon. Your character is part of a research team investigating the Typhon, a hostile alien race with some interesting abilities. The Typhon can shapeshift into any object and use telekinesis and other psychic powers. You will have to deal with them with the help of various Sci-Fi inspired weapons as you try to escape Talos 1.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Deus Ex
Even though it is a very dated game, Deus Ex was a very unique experience when it came out. It has influenced many games like Atomic Heart by adding many RPG elements to the FPS genre. Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, you take control of JC Denton, a nano-augmented UNATCO operative, as he battles various terrorist organizations. Gameplay was very tactical, emphasizing stealth since engaging too many enemies was a death sentence. To help you out, you had plenty of gadgets and the capacity to augment your body further to attain unique abilities.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
SOMA
From the developers of Amnesia: Dark Descent, SOMA is a Sci-Fi horror game set in an underwater research facility where machinery has started gaining sentience. Even though you won’t be shooting a single bullet in this game, the main story cues are very similar to Atomic Heart. You will have to run around this facility as you solve puzzles while avoiding horrible death at the hands of these rogue AIs.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Bioshock
And last but not least we have to mention one of the biggest inspirations for Atomic Heart and other games on this list, Bioshock. Launched in 2007, Bioshock is one of the most successful FPS games ever, attributed to its very mature story and unique gameplay elements. Exploring the underwater world of Rapture is just as terrifying more than 15 years later as you deal with Splicers. Alongside the standard fare of period-appropriate guns, you can equip various Plasmids to gain unique powers. These Plasmid powers range from electric bolts shooting out of your fingers to unleashing a swarm of crows upon your enemies.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
With how much the FPS genre has evolved over the past 30 years, there are always interesting titles that try to break the norm. Since graphical fidelity has evolved, developers have more freedom than ever to create fascinating worlds you can fully explore. And since Sci-Fi is more popular than ever, we are definitely going to see more games like Atomic Heart coming out in the next few years.
