A lootin'-shootin' good time.
The looter-shooter is a subgenre of action game. One that only really has two distinctive rules: lots to shoot and lots to loot. Beyond these they can generally take any form. Since the granddaddy of the looter-shooter, Borderlands, popularised the offshoot way back in 2009, it has not only grown but flourished.
Over the years, it has inspired countless developers to both adopt and adapt the genre to create their own games. This article will discuss five worthy of note in 2022.
Outriders
The first entry on our list, Outriders, is a vibrant MMORPG that has you both shootin' and lootin' your way across a distant planet, in the far-flung future.
Outriders' approach is stereotypical of the genre and will be very familiar to those who have played any of the Borderlands titles. After you've selected your preferred class, you progress by murdering your way through any and all gun-toting nutcases, that stumble across your crosshairs. Loot is also simply everywhere, which means plenty of menu scrolling time - in-between shootouts - as you try to squeeze the very best possible performance out of your character. Constantly swapping out kit for superior kit, is simply par for the course.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" was seemingly the mantra that developers, People Can Fly, operated with when designing Outriders. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, nor does it try to do so; it instead knows exactly what it is supposed to be. Coupled with People Can Fly's recognisable over the top style, it's a solid looter-shooter and shows that the genre is still relevant in 2022.
image ©: Square Enix, People Can Fly
Doom Eternal
The Doom series may not spring to mind when you think looter-shooter. It has its fair share of shooting, but what about looting? While Doom Eternal's approach is no doubt unorthodox, I feel that it does still qualify it for a spot on this list.
Rather than simply replicating the recognisable Doom formula, Eternal does something different with its gameplay - something the series hasn't done yet. It adds a combat flow mechanic. Rest assured, it still has you mowing down twisted demonic foes by the portal load, but now you have to carefully consider your approach.
Slaughtered enemies may not shower you with new weapons and attire, but they do replenish your supply stocks. This shiny loot is not only plentiful, it is a necessary aspect of the game. It's all a juggling act, one that expects you to kill in a variety of ways to receive a variety of loot.
Chainsaw kills restock ammunition, flamethrower kills give armour shards, and Glory Kills - the elaborate Doom Guy finishing moves - grant health pickups. All these attacks need to be efficiently utilised to make the loot rain down and keep you in the fight.
Even though I may be liberally applying the looter-shooter label to Doom Eternal, it should still be more than enough to satisfy those with a snaffle hankering.
image ©: Bethesda Softworks, id Software
Evil Dead: The Game
The following entry on this list is Boss Team Games' recent, Evil Dead: The Game. A game that does well to provide you with the two aforementioned ingredients: tiered loot and goons to shoot.
Regardless of your preferred Deadite slaying method, there is a weapon available that can do it. That's not to say that there isn't always a weapon out there can do it better, however - as is the nature of looter-shooters. All loot is ranked, so being on the lookout for Gold tier items, while on your travels, is the ideal tactic. Loot isn't hurled at you for each kill, as this game prefers instead to hide away its abundant treasures either around the map or in reward chests.
Here in Evil Dead, micromanagement and gear swapping is not anywhere near as intense as other looter-shooters. This makes it a great pick for those interested in the mechanic, but that want a more subdued and straightforward experience.
image ©: Saber Interactive, Boss Team Games
The Division 2
The following entry on this list takes looter-shooting into a military setting, with an emphasis on realism. It may feature realistic weapons and encourage the use of combat manoeuvres, but it's still a looter-shooter at heart.
As is typical of games set in the post apocalypse, there are countless raider-type individuals to massacre - all of whom have pockets chock full of plunder to pilfer.
Much like Borderlands, The Division 2 contains many of the stereotypical tropes found in looter-shooters, including gear management. As you're here reading this article, though, I assume that suits you just fine. The more realistic approach makes this a unique option among looter-shooters and is one well worth trying.
image ©: Ubisoft
Deep Rock Galactic
You may consider this final list entry to be a bit of stretch; I don't think developers, Ghost Shop Games, would even agree that it is a looter-shooter. Why I think it's deserved of spot here, though, is that it confidently ticks both boxes of the previously mentioned criteria.
Deep Rock Galactic is a deep space mining action game, which can be tackled either alone, or with friends. Your mission is to drain the mineral rich tunnels of Hoxxes IV, while decimating entire mobs of spider-like critters that call the asteroid their home. The bugs grow pretty big on Hoxxes, but your guns are always bigger. Mining can be dangerous work; I'm sure portable miniguns are a crew necessity to meet the health and safety standards.
Like Luigi's Mansion - but in space - there are seemingly endless precious metals to satisfyingly hoover up, down in the procedurally generated depths. This puts an interesting spin on the loot aspect of the looter-shooter.
All in all, Deep Rock is well worth a punt for a group wanting an alternative shlooter experience.
image ©: Ghost Ship Games
thumbnail image ©: Gearbox Software, Microsoft, People Can Fly, Square Enix
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