First-person shooters are known for theirextensive arsenals of weaponry, usually having at least two weapon slots; one for a primary weapon, and another for a sidearm. Weapon switching was an essential mechanic of old-school shooters likeDOOMandQuakeand continues to be important in modern games, as seen inULTRAKILL.
However, some first-person shooters only give the player a single weapon to make use of. This can be a mechanical design choice, or simply a result of a game’s theme, and in both cases it makes the experience easier to learn and more accessible as a result.
Games with a single weapon as well as games that only allow one weapon at a time/only have one weapon slot will all be considered for this list.
This notorious game mode in the long-runningCall Of Dutyfranchise isn’t exclusive to the series, but it’s arguably one of the best executions of its design. Primarily, this comes down to the well-crafted arsenal of theCall Of Dutygames.
Gun Game is a unique game mode inCall Of Dutythat pits players against each other in a free-for-all. Unlike regular free-for-all, however, Gun Game starts players off with a basic weapon and nothing else. In order to get access to better weapons, players need to kill their opponents. Each kill swaps their current weapon for a different one, giving the game mode a great sense of momentum that forces players to change their play style.
HYPERGUNis a rough-around-the-edges but extremely unique, and highly replayable,indie first-person shooterwith a distinctive visual style and some creative ideas. The game is a roguelike in which players must create the ultimate weapon out of procedurally generated augments and attachments.
Despite there being multiple classes, each of which starts players off with a different weapon, players are only given access to a single gun at any one time. However, the sheer variety of modules in the game results in an incredible number of combinations, offering plenty of weapon variety over repeat runs.
5Heavy Bullets
One Low-Poly Revolver And Six High-Impact Bullets
This psychedelic, minimalist FPS rogue-like puts a weighty, low-poly revolver in the player’s hand and six high-impact bullets with which to take out enemies. Each of these bullets must be manually picked back up by the player, resulting in a unique and often frantic gameplay loop.
The moment-to-moment gameplay ofHeavy Bulletsis incredibly focused on this revolver. While the game does feature purchasable offensive toolsin the form of melee attacksand bombs, the revolver is the only gun that players can make use of throughout each run. As a result, players are often left with just a single weapon to fend off the game’s variety of enemies.
4High Hell
A Fast-Paced, Fluid, And Accessible FPS
This minimalist FPS, published by Devolver Digital, features a minimal butstriking flat-color visual styleand an absurd sense of humor that allows it to stand out. The experience is short, but the action-packed gameplay is frequently satisfying and encourages speed-running.
In keeping with its short run-time,High Hell’smechanics are relatively simple and, as a result, accessible. The gameplay ofHigh Hellrevolves mostly around kicking in doors and killing the enemies behind them, all of which is done with just one gun. The gun itself is a hyper-accurate, fast-firing shotgun that packs a serious punch, making each shootout a consistently satisfying experience.
This psychedelicrogue-like first-person shooterplays at a breakneck pace, featuring frenetic music and a chaotic gameplay loop that drives players forward at all times. Despite featuring a small variety of weaponry, players can only have one weapon at a time.
Players always begin with the same weapon but can take new weapons when they’re offered at the end of each stage. However, this will result in passing on a passive upgrade, and new weapons always override the previously equipped weapon. This results in a risk-reward scenario, and often asks the player to deduce which weapons are best for certain situations.
This innovative indie game is a minimalist FPS experience with a focus on chaotic action and skill-based gameplay. The game itself seems to take inspiration from old-school shooters likeQuake, which can be felt in theexpressive movement controls.
Devil Daggersis extremely minimalist, featuring a simple, darkened arena for players to battle hordes of demonic enemies. The single weapon in the game (the titular daggers) also features multiple firing modes, which allows for a great deal of skill expression despite the limited mechanics.
This FPS adaptation of the classicMetroidformula takes place in a fully realized 3D world, which players systemically explore throughout the game. Although there are plenty of ways to take down enemies inMetroid Prime, players do this through the use of their arm cannon,which can shoot both missiles and beams.
Samus' arm cannon can actually fire a variety of beams, all of which have their own use cases. Among these are the power beam, the wave beam, the ice beam, and the plasma beam. Players unlock these beams throughout the game, and each adds a level of strategy to combat encounters by requiring the player to choose their damage type wisely.
