As a professional gamer who's seen countless virtual battlefields, I've recently found myself drawn to a refreshing corner of the FPS genre - games that ditch traditional firearms entirely. In 2025's oversaturated market of military shooters, these gunless experiences have provided me with some of the most creative and memorable gaming moments of the year.
Primal Power in a Modern World
Last month, I revisited Far Cry Primal, which still holds up remarkably well despite being released nearly a decade ago. There's something viscerally satisfying about stalking through prehistoric landscapes with nothing but primitive weapons at my disposal. Ubisoft's decision to strip away modern weaponry and place players 12,000 years in the past created a uniquely immersive experience.
I found myself holding my breath while hunting mammoth herds, calculating the perfect moment to throw my spear. The tension when facing a sabertooth tiger with only a wooden club is unmatched by any modern shooter. During one particularly intense session, I actually caught myself physically ducking behind my desk when a rival tribesman hurled a spear toward my screen!
Dancing with Death in Ghostrunner 2
If Far Cry Primal slows down the FPS experience, Ghostrunner 2 accelerates it beyond imagination. This cyberpunk masterpiece has become my go-to adrenaline fix. Armed with nothing but a katana, I've spent countless hours perfecting wall-runs and mid-air slashes through neon-soaked environments.
What makes Ghostrunner 2 special is how it transforms limitation into liberation. Without guns, the game forces you to become one with momentum and timing. I've died hundreds of times learning this dance, but each successful run feels like performing a perfect symphony of movement. My heart still races when I clear a room of enemies without taking a hit - a feeling no traditional shooter has matched for me this year.
The developers have continued supporting the game through 2025 with new challenge modes that push the boundaries of what's physically possible with their movement system. I'm currently stuck on the "Impossible Slice" DLC, which has me questioning my reflexes and sanity in equal measure!
Weaving Magic in Tokyo's Empty Streets
Ghostwire: Tokyo remains one of the most visually distinctive FPS experiences I've ever played. The 2025 next-gen update breathed new life into this supernatural adventure, enhancing the already stunning elemental effects of the Ethereal Weaving combat system.
I'll never forget my first encounter with the headless schoolgirls in Shibuya - frantically casting wind spells while backing into a corner, genuinely terrified despite being an experienced gamer. The combat feels like conducting an orchestra of destruction, each hand gesture triggering cascades of elemental energy that ripple through Tokyo's haunted streets.
What separates Ghostwire from other magic-based shooters is its cultural authenticity. The game respectfully incorporates Japanese folklore into its world and mechanics in ways that feel educational without sacrificing entertainment. I've caught myself researching yokai legends after gaming sessions, fascinated by the real-world inspirations behind the game's supernatural enemies.
Battlemage Brilliance in Immortals of Aveum
Immortals of Aveum represents the pinnacle of magical combat systems in first-person games. The 2025 definitive edition fixed earlier performance issues, allowing the spell effects to truly shine on current hardware.
The three-color magic system (blue, red, and green) creates a combat triangle that's easy to understand but difficult to master. I love how each magic type feels distinct - blue for precision, red for raw power, green for area control. During intense battles, I'm constantly switching between them, creating combo opportunities that reward strategic thinking rather than twitch reflexes.
What particularly impressed me was how the developers managed to make spell-casting feel as satisfying as firing a well-designed gun in traditional shooters. The audiovisual feedback when landing a powerful spell creates that same dopamine hit that keeps me coming back for more.
Retro Magic in Wizordum and Classic Revivals
Sometimes I crave the simplicity of old-school design, and that's where Wizordum comes in. This pixelated homage to '90s shooters like Doom and Heretic captures the essence of what made those games special while replacing shotguns with spell books.
There's something comforting about the straightforward level design and enemy patterns. No complex narrative, no RPG systems - just me, my spells, and hordes of monsters to blast through. The game's soundtrack deserves special mention - a perfect blend of retro MIDI vibes and modern production that keeps my adrenaline pumping through each level.
Speaking of classics, the revival of Heretic and Hexen has been a highlight of my gaming year. These pioneering magic-based shooters laid the groundwork for everything that followed, and playing the remastered versions reminded me how innovative they were for their time.
Voice-Casting Chaos in Mage Arena
For pure multiplayer madness, nothing beats Mage Arena. This voice-controlled spellcasting arena shooter has become a favorite for my streaming sessions, as much for the gameplay as for the inevitable hilarity that ensues.
Trying to pronounce complex spell incantations while under pressure leads to some of the most entertaining gaming moments I've experienced. Last week, I attempted to cast a powerful fire tornado but instead summoned a tiny rain cloud over my character due to my mispronunciation. My viewers couldn't stop laughing, and neither could I.
The game's accessibility is its greatest strength. I've introduced it to friends who rarely play FPS games, and they've taken to it immediately. The developers have fostered an incredibly welcoming community, with weekly tournaments catering to players of all skill levels.
The Future Beyond Firearms
As we move deeper into 2025, I'm seeing more developers explore gunless first-person combat. Several promising indie titles on the horizon are experimenting with telekinesis, time manipulation, and even music-based combat systems. The major studios are taking notice too, with rumors of a AAA studio working on a martial arts-focused FPS that could redefine hand-to-hand combat in first-person games.
What makes these gunless FPS games so compelling? Is it simply the novelty of breaking from convention, or is there something more fundamental at play? Perhaps by removing firearms, developers are forced to be more creative with their core mechanics, resulting in more unique and memorable experiences.
I wonder if we'll eventually see these alternative combat systems become the new standard rather than the exception. As technology advances and players grow more sophisticated in their tastes, will traditional gun-based shooters begin to feel limiting rather than liberating?
Whatever the future holds, I'm grateful that in 2025, the FPS genre has expanded to embrace such diverse expressions of first-person combat. Whether I'm hurling spears at woolly mammoths, slicing through cyberpunk assassins with a katana, or casting elemental spells in haunted Tokyo, these experiences remind me that sometimes the most exciting path forward is the one that diverges from convention.
What's your favorite non-gun FPS? And more importantly, what unexplored combat systems would you like to see in future first-person games? The possibilities seem as limitless as our imagination.