first-person shooter game

electronic game genre

Also known as: FPS game

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

A first-person shooter (FPS) is a type of electronic game where players experience the action from the perspective of their character. These games involve using weapons to defeat enemies.12

The genre's roots can be traced back to early experiments in the 1930s, but the birth of electronic shooter games is often marked by Spacewar! in 1962. Early games like Computer Space (1971) and Space Invaders (1978) simplified gameplay, with Space Invaders achieving significant popularity and even causing a coin shortage in Japan.2

Increased computing power led to the development of first-person perspectives. While not the first, Wolfenstein 3D (1992) set a standard for the subgenre, followed by Doom (1993), which introduced multiplayer support and significantly influenced PC gaming. FPS games continue to evolve, with modern titles often blending elements from other genres like adventure and puzzle games.23

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electronic shooter game
…PCs, was not the original first-person shooter (FPS) game, it set the standard for the subgenre. id Software followed up with Doom (1993), the first FPS game with multiplayer support. Other popular FPS games released in the 1990s include Duke Nukem 3D (1996), Quake (1996), Half-Life (1998), and Unreal Tournament…
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…PCs, was not the original first-person shooter (FPS) game, it set the standard for the subgenre. id Software followed up with Doom (1993), the first FPS game with multiplayer support. Other popular FPS games released in the 1990s include Duke Nukem 3D (1996), Quake (1996), Half-Life (1998), and Unreal Tournament…
Read More

Doom
…this game genre, the “first-person shooter.” (Typically, in first-person shooters the players move through mazelike corridors and rooms filled with adversaries—controlled by other players or the computer—and through stealth or more accurate shooting try to outlive their opponents.) Doom added numerous technical and design improvements to the Wolfenstein 3D…
Read More
…this game genre, the “first-person shooter.” (Typically, in first-person shooters the players move through mazelike corridors and rooms filled with adversaries—controlled by other players or the computer—and through stealth or more accurate shooting try to outlive their opponents.) Doom added numerous technical and design improvements to the Wolfenstein 3D…
Read More