Shooter Games

Shooter games come down to aiming and firing: at a target, at a horde of enemies or at something far away. It's one of the biggest sections on the site, with more than 800 games and very different paces. What changes from one to the next is what you have to keep an eye on: distance, ammo or whatever is rushing at you.

Types of shooters and what each one asks of you

Sniper games like Rabbit Sniper, Sniper Hunter and Sniper Hunter 5 are about patience. You look through a scope, wait for your moment, and a miss usually hurts because ammo is limited. You play them almost entirely with the mouse.

Target shooting has one clear classic in Duck Hunt, which on Nintendo consoles was played with a light gun and here is controlled with the mouse. Close by are the launch-and-calculate games like Crazy Penguin Catapult, and turn-based ones like Worms 2, where the angle and power of the shot count for more than reflexes.

Mr Bullet 3D belongs to a different family, aiming puzzles. Each level makes you think about where the bullet will bounce or pass. You can take it slowly, and you should.

At the other end are the nonstop action games. Machine Gun Squad, Storm Ops and Super Mario Shoot Zombies throw waves of enemies at you, and moving well matters more than precise aim. Sunny Farm io, as the .io in the name suggests, puts several players in the same match.

Getting better

In sniper games, take your time: one well-aimed shot is worth three rushed ones. If the game has recoil or a swaying scope, wait for it to settle. In the fast ones, track the nearest enemy and don't waste time on the distant ones. Then bring your mouse back toward the center so you have room to react on both sides.

And if a level has you stuck, switch games. With this many to choose from, it's easier to find the pace you like than to force one that frustrates you.