Cheap indie shooters are a great alternative to AAA shooters. These games offer great gameplay, interesting mechanics, and good stories at a low price. MeinMMO author Marko Jevtic recommends here the 10 best single-player shooters under €20 that you can play in 2022. Perhaps your new favorite game is even among them.
Especially at a time when the big AAA shooters often disappoint, one should try the best indie shooters. They not only provide great action that you may not find in expensive blockbuster games. They are also cheap, and most should run smoothly even on older hardware – but it’s better to double-check the system requirements of the games.
Thus, the games were presented in the context of gift ideas. Since the games can also be recommended regardless of that, this list has been adjusted and formulated to be ‘timeless’.
Therefore, I recommend here my 10 favorite shooters from the past years that you can play in single-player mode. All of these are also available for under €20 without any offer. These are not only personal favorites – they are also highly recommended on Steam.
Privately, he is also a shooter expert beyond gaming. He is frequently in contact with legends of the shooter community, such as KovaaK (known for his popular aim trainer). Thus, he helps as a co-leader of several Discords normal players as well as streamers and esports professionals to find the right settings and devices for shooters. This resulted in an expertise for all the nuances of the shooter genre.
What you should consider: This list is not ranked – with one exception. Number 1 is actually my favorite game from the list. If I could only choose one game from the list, I would take that one. From number 2 onwards, the recommendations are thus listed in alphabetical order. The prices and Steam ratings were checked on December 22, 2021.
1. ULTRAKILL – Sheer endless mechanical depth
Developer: Arsi “Hakita” Patala | Publisher: New Blood Interactive | Platform: PC | Release: 2020 (Currently in Early Access)
Steam rating: Extremely positive – 99% with currently about 16,000 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
ULTRAKILL is by far the best shooter I have played in recent years. And that, even though it is still in Early Access. The game’s website is DevilMayQuake, and that’s the best summary of ULTRAKILL: Like in Devil May Cry, you have to perform stylish combos in ULTRAKILL, but you do it from a first-person perspective.
This combo system at a high gameplay tempo offers virtually endless possibilities to unleash your creativity. You can parry enemy projectiles, dash and slide, use a grappling hook, perform double jumps and wall jumps, reflect bullets with a coin, stomp on enemies… and combine all of that skillfully and intelligently.
Many levels, infinitely deep mechanics, a great soundtrack, tons of replay value – despite the retro look, ULTRAKILL is one of the most modern shooters in recent years in terms of gameplay. The game already has more content in Early Access than some full-price games after all their DLCs. With every content update, the game becomes bigger and better.
I can’t stop raving about it. But that’s not just for me: Looking at user ratings, ULTRAKILL, with a 99% positive rating, is one of the best games on Steam (via Twitter).
2. Black Mesa – The legendary Half-Life gleams anew
Developer: Crowbar Collective | Publisher: Crowbar Collective | Platform: PC | Release: 2020
Steam rating: Extremely positive – 95% with currently about 68,000 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €14.99
Trailer:
Black Mesa is a fan remake of the legendary shooter Half-Life. It is so good that even Valve developers see it as the best version of the classic (via PCGamer). Whether you want to reminisce or experience the shooter icon Half-Life for the first time – Black Mesa is a fantastic game in any case.
Because the gameplay of Half-Life is just as much fun today as it was in 1999, Black Mesa plays excellently. The completely revamped graphics are the most notable improvement in this project. Connoisseurs of the original will especially appreciate the significantly improved Xen levels.
3. BPM: Bullets Per Minute – Shooter action as a rhythm game
Developer: Awe Interactive | Publisher: Awe Interactive | Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release: 2020
Steam rating: Very positive – 95% with currently about 6,500 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
No matter whether you shoot, reload or dodge: Everything you do in BPM: Bullets Per Minute must happen to the beat of the music. Thus, reloading animations become a multipart act that requires several inputs in the right rhythm. This makes weapons like the revolver particularly fun when each of the 6 bullets is loaded into the chamber to the beat of heavy metal music.
A major inspiration for BPM: Bullets Per Minute is the roguelite Crypt of the Necrodancer. Thus, BPM itself is also a roguelite. With several unlockable characters, you play through several shorter levels. The equipment available is distributed randomly in each new game session. A death also forces you to start over. It takes about an hour from the beginning to the final boss – a perfect length for a roguelite run. This invites for many new attempts without quickly becoming frustrated.
4. Bright Memory: Infinite – Combos in full ray-tracing glory
Developer: FYQD-Studio | Publisher: FYQD-Studio, Playism | Platform: PC, soon Xbox Series | Release: 2021
Steam rating: Very positive – 93% with currently about 24,000 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
Bright Memory: Infinite has some similarities to ULTRAKILL at first and even second glance: Both games focus on fast combo action where melee attacks are just as important as firearms. But despite these similarities, there are some exciting differences that make both games worth playing. If ULTRAKILL is Devil May Quake, this game is Ninja Gaiden meets Titanfall.
Also noteworthy is the graphics of Bright Memory: Infinite. They are impressively detailed and realistic, even ray tracing is included in the game. If you have trouble with the retro look of ULTRAKILL, this game is the next best choice. However, the levels where you don’t shoot but sneak, drive cars, or jump over flying airplanes are particularly enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the game is very short with about 2 – 3 hours of gameplay. However, it is still a lot of fun to replay, as you receive a kind of score upon completion that encourages you to improve.
5. Cruelty Squad – Immersion despite horrendous graphics
Developer: Consumer Softproducts | Publisher: Consumer Softproducts | Platform: PC | Release: 2021
Steam rating: Extremely positive – 97% with currently about 5,800 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
Cruelty Squad is undoubtedly the most disgusting game you can play. The graphics are an assault on the senses, the music is unbearable, and the characters are obnoxious in every way. But there’s a reason for this: The game cynically comments on the violence and ugliness of shooters while making that violence and ugliness incredibly fun at the same time. Even though it may be hard to believe: I wholeheartedly recommend Cruelty Squad.
The surreal genius of Cruelty Squad is a so-called immersive sim. Youtuber Super Bunnyhop aptly describes it as a mix of Hitman and Quake (via YouTube). Each level offers players a lot of space and a list of people they need to kill. How you do that is completely up to you.
What you can do is not always clear because of the graphics. Thus, even the most experienced gamers need to ‘relearn’ playing to some extent. And because you need to learn to understand Cruelty Squad in a process, the game can reveal its deep and fun mechanics.
6. Devil Daggers – Arcade horror with high addictiveness
Developer: Sorath | Publisher: Sorath | Platform: PC | Release: 2021
Steam rating: Extremely positive – 96% with currently about 5,100 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €3.99
Trailer:
Devil Daggers is the cheapest game on the list, and it has the least content. There is one level, one weapon, only a handful of enemies, no music, and a timer. However, I have already played it for almost 100 hours. This is due to the high addictiveness that this arcade horror game evokes.
The game takes place in a completely flat arena where you are continually attacked by more and more monsters as time goes on. The goal is simply to survive as long as possible – success is measured in seconds. However, you quickly realize that surviving requires not only improvisational skills but also a lot of strategic thinking under pressure.
This quickly puts you into a fascinating trance. The outstanding sound design also contributes to this. Surpassing my previous record by just one second feels incredibly rewarding. I want to experience that as often as possible.
7. DUSK – The best modern retro shooter
Developer: David Szymanski | Publisher: New Blood Interactive | Platform: PC, Mac, Switch | Release: 2018
Steam rating: Extremely positive – 98% with currently about 12,700 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.99
Trailer:
The publisher New Blood Interactive specializes in releasing modern shooters with the classic gameplay mechanics from the FPS games of the 1990s. DUSK is undoubtedly one of the best “boomer shooters” – so named because they are intended to appeal to the older generation of “baby boomers”.
If you have nostalgic feelings for DOOMs, Quakes, and Duke Nukems from the last century, DUSK is your best choice. But even those who missed this type of game should check out DUSK: With fantastic level design, great weapons, many creative levels, clever secrets, and a great atmosphere, DUSK is one of the best shooters you can currently play.
Steam reviews also confirm this – an outstanding 98% of players have left a positive review.
8. Gunfire Reborn – Roguelite-Borderlands with cute animals
Developer: Duoyi Games | Publisher: Duoyi Games | Platform: PC, on consoles in 2022 | Release: 2021
Steam rating: Very positive – 94% with currently about 56,800 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
Gunfire Reborn is a highly enjoyable roguelite loot shooter. In charming comic style, you choose one of 6 cute animal heroes, each with their own strengths and build options. As is typical for roguelites, you start in Gunfire Reborn from scratch with each game session. With randomly selected level layouts, weapons, skill options, and enemies, you fight your way to the final boss – if you succeed or die, you start over again.
The gameplay loop is very fun. Despite a quite challenging difficulty level, it always feels fair. The game pace is generally somewhat more relaxed than in other action roguelites, but it remains enjoyable throughout. The high addictiveness and the permanent upgrades you can buy encourage many gaming sessions. Additionally, the game can also be played in multiplayer mode with up to 4 players.
Even though I consider Roboquest to be the better roguelite FPS (more on that later), Gunfire Reborn is a great game that I can highly recommend. For a deeper look at the game, I recommend the article by my colleague Irina Moritz:
New shooter Gunfire Reborn has a 94% rating on Steam – What makes it so good?
9. Receiver 2 – The game with realistic weapon mechanics
Developer: Wolfire Games | Publisher: Wolfire Games | Platform: PC | Release: 2020
Steam rating: Very positive – 91% with currently about 1,800 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
Do you remember QWOP – the famous browser game where you have to control each joint of a marathon runner separately? Receiver 2 follows a similar philosophy, only instead of controlling the legs of a runner, you control the actions of a weapon. In other shooters, only 3 buttons handle all the functions needed to shoot: the left mouse button shoots, the right mouse button aims, and R reloads. Not so in Receiver 2:
Each function of your weapon is controlled by its own button. The magazine must be removed and then replaced, each bullet must be loaded individually, and malfunctions must be precisely detected and properly handled. This provides a realism that is unprecedented even in VR games. With this gimmick, every FPS standard becomes a tactical and mechanical challenge.
The gameplay is slower than any other game on this list, but the intensity of a single fired bullet in Receiver 2 is high, like a boss battle in some other games.
10. Roboquest – The current best roguelite shooter
Developer: RyseUp Studios | Publisher: RyseUp Studios | Platform: PC, soon Xbox One & Series | Release: 2020
Steam rating: Very positive – 94% with currently about 2,400 ratings (via Steam)
Price: €16.79
Trailer:
As great as Gunfire Reborn is: For me, Roboquest is not only the better roguelite shooter but one of the best roguelites on the market. The two games are very similar at first glance: Both are roguelites with permadeath mechanics, both have a comic style, both have loot shooter gameplay like Borderlands, and both have optional coop.
However, Roboquest caters to a different niche than Gunfire Reborn. The game pace is significantly higher in Roboquest – with some practice and experience, much faster action is possible here even than in the trailer. The movement encourages you to keep moving and jump from one enemy to the next. Higher rewards for quick level completion also awaken the ambition to discover the inner speedrunner.
Roboquest is still in Early Access and thus has not yet fully tapped its enormous potential. But what is already in the game absolutely deserves your attention and time.
Bonus: Game Pass
This recommendation is a bonus recommendation because I want to recommend several games here that would individually cost over €20. However, they are all included in the Game Pass. The Game Pass is available on PC and Xbox consoles and costs €12.99 monthly for the most expensive version. The Game Pass only for PC or Xbox costs €9.99. Both versions can be canceled monthly.
If you don’t have the Game Pass yet, MeinMMO has a perfect tip for you: Because you can currently get the Game Pass exceptionally cheap and save a lot of money.
With the Game Pass Ultimate, you can also play selected games via the cloud – you would only need a compatible browser on the device of your choice. If you want to use your tablet or mobile with Android or Apple for this, I additionally recommend a controller. As long as it can be connected via Bluetooth, that should be technically easy to do.
My shooter recommendations in the Game Pass (sorted alphabetically):
- DOOM (Console, PC, Cloud)
- DOOM Eternal (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Enter the Gungeon (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Halo Infinite (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Prey (Console, PC, Cloud)
- Prodeus (PC)
- Titanfall 2 (Console [requires Game Pass Ultimate], PC)
If you want a large selection of AAA shooters, the Game Pass is an excellent option.
These are the 10 single-player shooters under €20 that I can warmly recommend for 2022. Do you have another recommendation that I haven’t listed here? Is there a game from this list that has already become your favorite? Let me know in the comments – I always love hearing that.
If you’re also looking for the best multiplayer shooters, we also have a list for you:
The 15 best multiplayer shooters in 2022 for PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox
