The Greatest Dungeon Shooter Games Of All Time, Ranked

Shooters have found their way into just about every setting imaginable, from intergalactic spaceships to realistic battlegrounds, but one of the most interesting subgenres sends players into the fantastical dungeons beneath the surface. There is something so interesting about running around a level deep below the ground and slowly pushing on into the unknown, using whatever guns, wands, or swords you can get your hands on.

Some opt for a more roguelike loop that generates random dungeons time and time again, while others focus on stricter, more thought-out levels that encourage exploration and observation to move forward. Even more importantly, it doesn’t matter if the game’s setting is truly fantastical by nature or simply inspired by it; what counts is whether the experience can make you actually feel as though you are truly dungeon-crawling.

10

Heretic + Hexen

Trading Guns For Magic Spells

• Iconic shooters from the early days.
• Puzzle-heavy design separated it from other FPS games.

Heretic + Hexen helped establish what fantasy shooters could become long before the genre officially existed, and now, with an enhanced release, more players get to experience that greatness firsthand. The core gameplay feels akin to something like DOOM, only traditional firearms are replaced with magical weapons that give the game a more fantastical feel than its genre counterparts.

What made these two games memorable was their structure, as the levels emphasized exploration, puzzles, and interconnected dungeon layouts rather than straightforward corridor shooting. That design philosophy gave them a slower, more oppressive atmosphere compared to the arcade aggression dominating most FPS titles at the time. I had personally never heard of either, yet when I saw the new release drop, I was instantly hooked by the spooky art style and gameplay blend, and I just had to give them a try.

9

Delver

Something New Every Single Time

• Procedurally generated runs.
• Permadeath reinforces the randomness.

Delver is a small-scale, pixelated dungeon adventure that feels equal parts punishing and rewarding. There are no second chances or margins for error, and one mistake can reset players back to the surface, but once the loop clicks, virtually nothing can stand in their way.

It only took a few runs for me to be hooked, but I will be honest: I died far too many times because I really wasn’t ready for the level of depth the game had to offer. I also think that, because of how minimal the aesthetic is, many players will gravitate towards it and fall in love in no time, with many hours being eaten up by the search for treasure.

8

Dark And Darker

• PvPvE structure adds constant chaos.
• Dungeon exploration driven by risk-reward.

Extraction shooters are normally perceived as gritty, military shooters, but Dark and Darker flips that narrative on its head. Players need to contend with both other scavengers and monsters at the same time, navigating tight spaces filled with limited resources, and the constant threat of permanent loss.

The intensity is pretty incredible, and as someone who has played quite a few different extraction games, I can honestly say that this one is near the top, purely due to how unique it is. Every door opened and corridor explored carries so much risk, making even small encounters meaningful, and the slower combat styles reinforce the oppressive atmosphere, separating it from faster multiplayer shooters that otherwise dominate the space.

7

Abyssus

Into The Watery Depths

• Fast-paced gunplay across runs
• Cooperative systems introduce more synergy

Abyssus takes players into a ruined catacomb beneath the seven seas, forcing them to run and gun their way through countless rooms, all while powering up for the next challenge. The procedural nature of the experience makes it incredibly replayable, and there are lots of opportunities for experimentation thanks to the tremendous build variety offered by the many modifiers and weapons.

I was skeptical at first, only playing the demo to get a taste of what the game was all about, but before even finishing the run, I had bought the full thing and booted up another round. Add in co-op, and suddenly, you have a fast and rewarding FPS that takes players to a slightly different subterranean setting, but one that is all the more intriguing for it.

6

Arx Fatalis

Immersive Simulation At Its Best

• The entire game takes place in an underground world.
• Magic system relies on physically drawing runes.

Arx Fatalis remains one of the most ambitious dungeon crawler RPGs ever made, and a large part of that comes from dedication to its own ideas. The underground setting feels cohesive and believable, with interconnected areas functioning as a living ecosystem rather than isolated levels. The fact that there is virtually no escape into the outer world means that players are constantly confined to a series of interior locations.

The rune-based magic system is still remarkably unique. It requires symbols to be drawn manually by the player, creating an even more engaging loop. Being on the older side of the video game spectrum, I was hesitant that it would hold up, but the rune system alone was all I needed to be transported into the dungeons and never look back.

5

Gunfire Reborn

Cute, Cuddly Carnage

• Weapon combinations radically alter playstyles.
• Character abilities create strong build diversity.

Gunfire Reborn is one of the best examples of how to take the structure of a roguelike and translate it effectively into an FPS setting. Weapons, scrolls, and elemental effects combine to create wildly different runs, opening the doors to some real creative combos without the need for rigid optimization.

The pacing is also carefully balanced, meaning that encounters escalate steadily while maintaining readability, keeping the game chaotic, but never overwhelming. My friends and I spotted Gunfire Reborn on Steam and knew it would become an instant hit. Even after pushing through all the main content, I still find myself coming back for more.

4

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

On A More Brutal Level

• Deeply satisfying combat.
• Vast endgame progression loop.

Warhammer has always kept one foot in the shooter door, and the release of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide further cemented its place in the genre’s top franchises. Intense, cramped, dungeon-style levels, extensive class customization, and a near-endless stream of late-game content to grind: Darktide is the perfect combination of horde shooting and RPG mechanics merged into one.

At first, I wasn’t totally on board, but that was shortly after the game’s launch. When I came back a few years later, I was pleasantly surprised by just how fun the gameplay loop was. I could hop into a match with a group of randoms and smash some enemies across the screen, then return to base and do it all over again, leveling up and pushing further into the depths of what is widely considered to be one of the greatest IPs ever created.

3

Remnant 2

Soulslikes And Guns Collide

• Slower, more methodical shooter style.
• Boss fights rely heavily on skill.

Remnant 2 takes everything that made the original good and makes it great, streamlining a lot of the systems and placing a much greater focus on raw shooter action. Branded as a soulslike, the tag certainly rings true. Players will be tested right from the start with a series of procedural areas that always lead up to a challenging boss fight, alongside some valuable loot that makes exploration feel similar to a dungeon crawler.

One of my favorite parts of Remnant 2 is the classes. Despite being able to use whatever weapon you want, there are still ways to gravitate towards a specific archetype. For me, that meant sniping with X-ray vision, taking out enemies from afar, and always keeping my distance, but even with the perks of the strategy, there were still moments I struggled with due to just how hard the late-game enemies can get.

2

Sulfur

Just You Versus The World

• PvE extraction gameplay.
• Multiple systems merge into one.

Sulfur shows just how far the extraction shooter space has come, and that you don’t necessarily need other players for the genre to work. The loop will be familiar to many fans of extraction games, but this time around, many systems have been simplified foir a more stylish and responsive game that prioritizes feel and feedback above all else.

The world is also designed in a way that allows it to feel strange yet humorous, lending the experience a more laid-back tone that doesn’t really exist elsewhere. I could get lost for hours in a run, just clearing every room and enemy, and by the time I was geared to the nines, I just wanted to keep on going.

1

Barony

The Ultimate Multiplayer Dungeon Experience

• Challenging yet rewarding exploration.
• Party dynamics make every run feel different.

Barony is the peak of PvE dungeon design. It effectively transports the classic RPG tenets, like classes and enemies, into a condensed and accessible format, allowing virtually any player to hop in and understand exactly what the goal is.

As you progress deeper through the procedurally generated dungeons, the amount of content seems to keep flowing. I was also surprised at how far down things go, with layer upon layer presenting you with countless items and enemies to conquer. If you are looking for a new roguelike FPS to enjoy with a group of friends, there is truly no other game out there that can compete with Barony.