By Morgan P
Video game developers, designers, and scholars have devoted a substantial amount of time to understanding immersion—the psychological state in which players feel present within the game world—and avatar identification. That is what makes a player really connect and engage with a game. First-person perspective is one identified way of making gameplay more immersive, immediate, and engaging.
Let’s be honest, no game is perfect. But the first-person games on this list are about as close as you can get. These are the games that innovated, iterated, or perfected the form. Many of these games built off what came before them and, in turn, shaped the landscape of first-person games to come. They are perfection in first-person games in that they are beloved landmarks of video game history, and would not have been the same game if they were third-person.
First-person is more than shooters, and it’s more than a mode. It is a fundamental design choice that shaped the way these beloved games draw players in and are remembered long after they stop playing. Here are some honorable mentions that we would be remiss in omitting: Deus Ex, Quake, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Metroid Prime, Left 4 Dead 2, Thief: The Dark Project, and System Shock 2.
Half-Life 2
We Don't Go To Ravenholm
It’s not a coincidence that so many of the games on this list usedone Half-Life engine or another in their first iterations. The first Half-Life was iconic, but Half-Life 2 took that legacy and pushed it to new heights. Gordon Freeman continues to take on an alien invasion that is 1000% not in his job description as a theoretical physicist.
From the terrifying close-ups of the head crabs that leap at Gordon with no fear for their own safety, to the unnerving eye contact of the G-man, the first-person POV makes for some of the most memorable moments in early 2000s gaming. Half-Life 2 also introduced the strangely Gothic departure from the sci-fi horror of the rest of the game in the section in Ravenholm, which inspired many first-person horror games.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Rest In Peace
Iconic team shooter CS:GO had its humble beginnings in 2017 when it was released to little fanfare and critical acclaim. It then went on to become one of the most popular first-person shooters of all time. Many other games have attempted to copy the fast-paced combat with mixed success. Its recognizable hand and knife animations and multi-levelled maps make it incredibly obvious when another game is trying to emulate CS:GO gameplay.
The problematic loot box mechanics notwithstanding, the game had an enthusiastic and dedicated fan base and a thriving e-sports scene. It’s worth noting that this entry clearly and deliberately differentiates between CS:GO and CS2 here. When CS2 was released in 2023, it controversially replaced the original. We may never play the original CS:GO again without hacks and mods, but it will live on in the players' hearts and minds.
Portal
Now You're Thinking With Portals
Portal is arguably the Platonic ideal of what a first-person game can be. Chell, as the silent protagonist, is never seen, except through portals at a certain angle, and her relative anonymity is important in allowing the player to embody the player-character. This is absolutely necessary when navigating the fiendish and innovative physics puzzles.
The physics would feel completely different if the player were experiencing them first-person rather than falling face-first into a carefully calculated action loop. The loneliness of not seeing a single human avatar, player character, or otherwise, really enhances the empty dystopian test chambers of Aperture Science. Players really get the feeling of being at the mercy of the whims and machinations of GLaDOS.
Doom
You Are Doom Guy
This first-person shooter has stood the test of time. It has been revived, revitalized, reworked, and ported to just about any platform and format you could name, including PDF. The first-person view of Doom gameplay is perhaps one of the most recognizable sights in video games.
It’s hard to imagine Doom without the gore and viscera flying into your character's face from a recently obliterated demon. The impact of the first-person POV and the intense soundtrack is undeniable and was quite revolutionary at the time. But as revolutionary as Doom was, it is important to remember that it was building off the legacy of Wolfenstein’s 3D engine.
Dishonored
No Trace, Clean Hands
Dishonored affords a level of moral flexibility and diversity of approaches in gameplay that no two players are likely to experience or interpret the narrative in the same way. The first-person perspective enhances the immediacy of a player’s moral choices in the game. It's hard to escape from the brutal death you have inflicted on a guard just doing his job when it is close to your face.
The skills and powers that Corvo uses, not to mention his fluid movement about the city, are stunning in first-person. Dishonored 2 could easily make a longer version of this list, as Emily’s play style adds a whole new dimension to the first-person gameplay.
Read the full article on GameRant
This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
