List of freeware first-person shooters

Title Developer Release date Last update Operating system Engine License Notes
Action Quake 2 The Action Team 1998 2003 Linux, Windows id Tech 2 Freeware Team and Deathmatch based very fast FPS
AssaultCube Rabid Viper 2006 2013 Linux, Mac OS, Windows Cube Engine zlib License (code), Individual licenses (media) Realistic environments, fast arcade game play, many game modes. Single/Multiplayer.
Black Shades Wolfire games 2001 Linux, OS X, Windows, Mac OS, iOS Wolfire Games Freeware Free First-person shooter
BZFlag Chris Schoeneman, Tim Riker 1993 2011-07-03 (2.4.0) Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows, other UNIX GNU LGPL Tank combat.
Chub Gam 3D: Director's Cut ChubGamSoft 1998 MS-DOS Pie in the Sky Freeware Surreal horror single player game.
Red Alert: A Path Beyond Bluehell Productions[1] 2007 2014-08-05 Windows, Mac W3D_engine Freeware FPS, takes place in the Red Alert world
CodeRED: Alien Arena COR Entertainment, LLC 2004–11 2011-12-29 (7.53) Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows CRX Engine GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media) Science fiction, with single or multiplayer modes.
Cube Wouter van Oortmerssen 2001 2005-08-29 Linux, BSD, Mac OS, Windows Cube engine zlib License (code), Individual licenses (media) Quake style multiplayer deathmatch. Single/Multiplayer.
Cube 2: Sauerbraten Wouter van Oortmerssen 2004 2010-07-19 Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows Cube engine zlib License (code), Individual licenses (media) Quake style deathmatch, includes built in level editor. Single/Multiplayer.
The Dark Mod Team Dark Mod 2009 2013 Windows id Tech 4 engine CC-BY-NC-SA First person stealth game in the style of the Thief (series) games ( 1 and 2 ) using a modified Id Tech 4 engine
F.E.A.R. Combat Monolith Productions, Vivendi Universal 2005-10-17 Windows Lithtech: Jupiter EX Proprietary license Stand-alone multiplayer component of the popular game F.E.A.R. Available here.
Fallen Empire: Legions GarageGames, InstantAction 2009-06-30 2013-06-27 Windows Torque Game Engine Proprietary license First-Person Shooter with Jetpacks, Multiplayer, CTF, Deathmatch
Freedoom Freedoom project 2011-01-22 (0.7) Linux, OS X, Windows, Android, Mac OS, MS-DOS, others Doom engine GNU GPL (code), BSD (media) A Doom WAD file intended to be used instead of the copyrighted file from the original Doom and Doom II.
The Glorious Mission Giant Interactive Group 2013-06-20 Windows Proprietary license Online multiplayer. Developed with the People's Liberation Army of China for use as a recruitment and training tool.
Gore: Special Edition 4D Rulers 2008-07-04 Windows AMP engine Proprietary license
Hidden & Dangerous Illusion Softworks, Take-Two Interactive 1999-07-29 2001-11 Windows Insanity Engine Proprietary license Released free to promote its sequel, Hidden & Dangerous 2. Single/Multiplayer.
.kkrieger .theprodukkt 2004 Windows Proprietary license Won first place in the 96k game competition at Breakpoint in April 2004.
Kuma\War Kuma Reality Games 2004 2006-07 Windows Source engine Proprietary license Tactical episodic shooter. Single/Multiplayer.
OpenLieroX Jason B. 2003 2003–present Windows Source engine Single/Multiplayer.
Marathon Bungie Studios 1994-12-21 2007 Mac OS (original), ported to Linux, OS X and Windows via AlephOne Aleph One GNU GPL (code) Released as freeware and source code.
Nexuiz Alientrap 2005-05-31 2009-10-01 (2.5.2) Linux, OS X (10.4 or later), Windows DarkPlaces Quake engine GNU GPL Unreal Tournament style deathmatch. Single/Multiplayer.
OpenArena OpenArena team 2005-08-19 2012-02-20 (0.8.8) Linux, OS X, Windows ioquake3 id Tech 3 GNU GPL Free software content remake of Quake III Arena. Single/Multiplayer
Point Blank Zepetto, NCSOFT 2008-03 Windows N/A Proprietary license Free FPS created by Zepetto in 2009. Close Beta version.
Postal² Running With Scissors 2003-04-13 Linux, OS X, Windows Unreal Engine 2 Proprietary license The multiplayer component of commercial game Postal2STP.
Purge Freeform Interactive 2003-04-15 Windows Lithtech: Talon engine Proprietary license RPG hybrid where you can level up and increase stats by earning experience points.
Quake Live id software 2010-08-06 Linux, OS X, Windows id Tech 3 Proprietary license A free web based version of Quake III Arena, playable in full screen mode..
Red Eclipse Red Eclipse Team 2011-03-15 2013-03-22 (1.4) Linux, Windows, OS X Cube Engine zlib License, Individual licenses (media) A free/open source FPS with fast paced gameplay and agile movement. The development team is very open to community suggestions.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. build 1935 GSC Game World 2009-02 Windows xrCore build 1935 Proprietary license 2004 Alpha build of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Contains content and features cut from the final release. Has a number of bugs but contains a full, playable single player campaign.
Savage: The Battle for Newerth S2 Games 2003-09-09 Linux, OS X (commercial), Windows Silverback Engine Proprietary license Hybrid FPS/RTS with both ranged and melee combat
Savage 2: A Tortured Soul S2 Games 2008-01-16 Linux, OS X, Windows (commercial) K2 Engine Proprietary license The sequel to the award-winning game, Savage: The Battle for Newerth.
Smokin' Guns Smokin' Guns Productions and Iron Claw Interactive 2009-01-01 2012-06-08 Linux, BSD, OS X, Windows, others ioquake3 id Tech 3 GNU GPL (code/some media) Proprietary license (some media) Western Quake-like FPS. Single (with bots)/Multiplayer.
Starsiege: Tribes Dynamix, Sierra Entertainment 2004 (free release) Windows Darkstar engine Proprietary license Futuristic team based combat, released for free to promote Tribes: Vengeance. Multiplayer only.
Superhot Piotr Iwanicki 2013-10-24 Windows, OS X Time-Based FPS with limited ammunition. Singleplayer Only.
The DinoHunters Kuma Games 2006-04-24 Windows Source engine Proprietary license Also a machinima series. Single/Multiplayer.
Tremulous Dark Legion Development 2006-03-31 2009-12-04 (preview release) Linux, OS X (unofficial), Windows ioquake3 id Tech 3 GNU GPL Aliens vs Humans multiplayer team combat with some RTS elements.
Tribes 2 Dynamix, Sierra Entertainment 2004 (free release) Windows Torque Game Engine Proprietary License Futuristic team based combat, released for free to promote Tribes: Vengeance. Single/Multiplayer.
UberStrike Cmune 2010-09-17 OS X, Windows Unity3D Proprietary license Free-to-play "social shooter" on Facebook, MySpace and Apple's Dashboard Widgets.
Unreal Tournament Epic Games TBA 2015-03-09 Linux, OS X, Windows Unreal Engine 4 Proprietary license Crowdsourced and free first-person shooter.
Unvanquished[2] Dan Floda, Harsh Modi, Maximilian Stahlberg ? ? Windows, Linux, OS X, Tremulous ? Science fiction, with single or multiplayer modes.
Urban Terror Silicon Ice Development / Frozen Sand 2000-08-05 (Beta 1.0) 2013-09-27 (4.2.015) Linux, OS X, Windows ioquake3 id Tech 3 GNU GPL (ioquake3 engine), Proprietary license (mod code, media) Fast-paced, Hollywood tactical shooter. Originally a Quake 3 mod, now a standalone game.
Warmonger: Operation Downtown Destruction NetDevil 2007-11-28 2009-08-27 Windows Unreal Engine 3 GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media) High-end Free-to-play first person shooter with destructible environments..
Warsow Warsow team 2005-06-08 2014-06-08 (1.5.1) Linux, OS X, Windows Qfusion id Tech 2 GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media) Quake style deathmatch focussed on high-paced action and trickjumps.
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory Activision, id Software, Splash Damage 2003-05-29 Linux, OS X, Windows id Tech 3 GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media) Intended expansion pack turned freeware. WW2 multiplayer team combat
World of Padman Padworld Entertainment 2007-04-01 2011-07-16 (1.5.4 beta Windows/Linux), 2011-01-24 (1.5.1 OS X) Linux, OS X, Windows ioquake3 id Tech 3 GNU GPL (code), Proprietary license (media) A free Quake 3 like comical FPS game
Xonotic Team Xonotic 2010-12-23 2015-01-16 (0.8) Linux, OS X, Windows DarkPlaces Quake engine GNU GPL Fork and direct successor of the Nexuiz Project.
Black Mesa (video game) Crowbar Collective (Black Mesa Modification Team) 2012-9-14 Windows Source (game engine) Freeware Complete remake of Half Life 1(Needs Steam in order to run)

Freeware clients

Some free-to-play online first-person shooters use a client–server model, in which only the client is available for free. They may be associated with business models such as optional microtransactions or in-game advertising. Some of these may be MMOFPS, MMOTPS or MMORPG games.

Title Developer, Publisher Release date Operating system Engine License Notes
Battlefield Heroes EA Digital Illusions CE 2009-06 Windows Refractor 2 engine Proprietary license 3rd and 1st-person perspective; microtransaction business model
Battlefield Play4Free EA Digital Illusions CE, Easy Studios 2011 Windows Refractor 2 engine Proprietary license Includes contents from Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Leveling system, in-game shop and gameplay customization.
Blacklight: Retribution Zombie Studios 2012-04-03 Windows Unreal Engine 3 Proprietary license Online multiplayer, futuristic setting.
CrossFire Z8Games 2006 Windows Lithtech Jupiter Freeware Modern team based shooter. Lots of game modes.
Mission Against Terror Kingsoft Dalian JingCai Studio, Wicked Interactive / Suba Games 2012 Windows Proprietary license Free-to-play online fps, developed by KingSoft, published by Wicked Interactive / Suba Games.
Fallen Earth ? ? ? ? ? Online multiplayer[3]
Heroes and Generals ? ? ? ? ? Online multiplayer[4]
War_Rock ? ? ? ? ? Online multiplayer, features controllable vehicles
Combat Arms Nexon 2008-07-11 Windows Lithtech Proprietary license Online multiplayer, modern setting; microtransaction business model.
CrimeCraft Vogster Entertainment 2009-08 Windows Unreal Engine 3 Proprietary license Massively multiplayer online with 3rd and 1st-person perspectives; microtransaction business model.
PlanetSide 2 Sony Online Entertainment 2012-11-20 Windows Forgelight Engine Proprietary license Massive battles with 2000 players per continent at a time. 3 factions fighting over 3 continents. Player customization, microtransaction business model.
Quake Live id Software 2010-08-06 Windows id Tech 3 (modified) Proprietary license Browser-based version of Quake III Arena. Subscription optional; ad-supported for free clients.
Sudden Attack Nexon Windows Lithtech Proprietary license Online multiplayer
Tribes: Ascend Hi-Rez Studios 2011-12 Windows Unreal Engine 3 (modified) Proprietary license Online multiplayer; microtransaction business model.

Game engines

Engine Developer, Publisher Release date Linux OS X Windows other License Notes
Aleph One Bungie Studios (originally) 2000-01-17 Yes Yes Yes Mac OS, BSDs GNU General Public License Aleph One is an open-source project based on the Marathon 2: Durandal code, which was released to the public by Bungie Software.
Build engine Ken Silverman/3D Realms 2000-6-20 Yes Yes Yes Yes Custom licence, GNU General Public License First released by Silverman; 3D Realms later did GPL releases of Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior
Cube Wouter van Oortmerssen Yes Yes Yes No zlib License (code), Individual licenses (media) FPS with sandbox style level-editor
Cube 2: Sauerbraten Wouter van Oortmerssen Yes Yes Yes No zlib License (code), Individual licenses (media) FPS with sandbox style level-editor
Dim3 Brian Barnes No Yes Yes No MIT License Development set
id Tech 1 id Software 1999 Yes Yes Yes No GNU General Public License Known as Doom Engine, originally used for Doom, Doom 2, and clones
id Tech 2 id Software 2001-12-22 Yes Yes Yes No GNU General Public License Quake 2, CRX and Qfusion are open-source derivatives
id Tech 3 id Software 2005-08-19 Yes Yes Yes Yes GNU General Public License Quake 3, ioquake3 is an open-source derivative
id Tech 4 id Software 2011-11-22 Yes Yes Yes Yes GNU General Public License Doom 3
Quake engine id Software Yes Yes Yes No GNU General Public License Quake, DarkPlaces is an open source derivative
Retribution Engine APGSoftware 2001 No No Yes No GNU General Public License Quake style single player games and levels.
Torque Game Engine GarageGames 2012-09-20 Yes Yes Yes No MIT License
Unity Unity Technologies 2009 Yes Yes Yes No Purchasable license for commercial use, iPhone license, Free indie license Development set
Unreal Engine Epic Games 1998 Yes Yes Yes PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android Proprietary Free to download and use
Wolfenstein 3D engine id Software 1995 Yes Yes Yes No GNU General Public License Also available from Blake Stone: Planet Strike source release

References

  1. ↑ Red Alert A path Beyond
  2. ↑ Unvanquished
  3. ↑ List of free MMOFPS games
  4. ↑ List of free MMOFPS games