Summary
Exclusivity is one of the most frustrating aspects of the gaming industry for consumers. Many iconic franchises, likeThe Legend of Zelda, Gears of War, andSuper Mario,are unavailable toPlayStationplayers, which can leave people feeling left out. One other series that has eluded the blue brand is the sci-fi first-person shooterHalo.Led by its protagonist, Master Chief, theHalogames have been a cornerstone ofthe FPS genresinceHalo: Combat Evolvedhit stores in 2001.
Thankfully, Sony has provided its customers with numerous excellent shooters over the years, which can fill the void left by theHaloseries' exclusivity. This list will not simply look at thegames likeHaloon the PlayStationas many of them aren’t worth playing. Instead, this list will look at games that have similarities to theHaloseries but are great games in their own right with their own unique features and gameplay mechanics.
Updated on June 27th, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra:Halo is one of the most celebrated FPS series of all time, despite the many ups and downs it has experienced after Bungie stopped working on this series. The exclusivity of this title on the Xbox means that most PlayStation owners have missed out on this masterpiece of a series, but they need not fret too much. There are many excellent shooters that feel like Halo in many ways, and are worth checking out for players interested in the adventures of the Master Chief but don’t have access to an Xbox. A few more such games have been added to this list in its latest update.
The idea of fighting against a hostile alien species is somethingHalofans are pretty familiar with. This is also the case inReturnal,where Selene finds herself stuck in an alien time loop, and must brave numerous dangers to slowly uncover the mystery that is keeping her trapped on the planet Atropos.
The gameplay of this title is challenging, with players having to prioritize run-and-gun tactics to avoid unnecessary damage. However, it’s the chilling story that will keep fans engaged to the very end, with the Roguelike structure adding to the weight of this title’s ambitious story, one that’s way more personal than players will expect.
Killzonetakes place in an alternate history where humans have abandoned Earth and occupied other planets, leading to the creation of two factions that have eventually engaged in all-out war. The sci-fi lore ofKillzoneis rich in detail and makes it a great recommendation for players seeking outgames likeHaloon PlayStationhardware.
In fact,Killzonewas touted as a “Halokiller” by many, even if this series didn’t have the same impact as Master Chief’s adventures when it actually hit shelves. Still, it spawned a franchise with numerous games that let players interact with this unique world and watch the conflict between the Vektans and the Helghast unfold, and eventaully led to Guerilla Games gaining enough notoriety to create theirHorizonseries.
Given how all of humanity bands together to survive against the all-encompassing threat of the Covenant (with the Flood rearing its ugly head later on) inHalo, it’s easy to see why theResistanceseries is a perfect fit for fans of this sci-fi series. Similarly toHalo,Resistance: Fall of Manrevolves around the threat of aliens; in this case the Chimera, an alien force that land in Russia and infect the country to create an army hell-bent on eliminating all traces of humanity.
The US & UK join forces to combat this alien threat, with the protagonist, Nathan Hale, soon discovering that he’s immune to the Chimera virus. Instead of being infected, he becomes a super-soldier with valuable powers who is a blast to control as players mow down enemies to ensure that the United Kingdom is freed from the Chimera once and for all.
The announcement ofRage 2came as a surprise to many people, as although the originalRagewas asolid open-world shooter, it didn’t exactly turn heads or develop much of a long-standing fanbase. It may seem like an out-there recommendation, but the fast-paced gunplay ofHalois quite similar toRage 2’s gameplay.
Still, id Software and Bethesda decided to revitalize the series, releasingRage 2in May 2019. Whereas the originalRagewas predominantly grounded and serious,Rage 2tries to inject a ton of charisma into the IP. This is evident from simply comparing the games' front covers, asRage 2’s cover is bursting with color in stark contrast to its dreary predecessor.
It’s fair to say thatTitanfall 2wasn’t a booming success when it was first released back in October 2016. This was likely due to Electronic Arts releasing the game just one week after another one of their first-person shooters,Battlefield 1.Electronic Arts didn’t see an issuewith releasing the two games just one week apart, believing them to appeal to different audiences.
Despite the slow start,Titanfall 2has an impressive player base today, as the game’s quality has reached ears through word of mouth. Furthermore, like its predecessor, the game stands out for its mix of fast-past action on foot and mech-style combat when piloting a Titan. This sci-fi game is easily one of the bettergames likeHaloon the PlayStationthat players can check out for themselves.
Arguably the most influential first-person shooter franchise of all time,DOOMreceived a modern reboot in 2016. The game performed well both critically and commercially, so it was little surprise when Bethesda gave id Software the thumbs up to develop a sequel,DOOM Eternal.
Unfortunately for PlayStation gamers, futureDOOMtitles may not appear on the blue brand followingMicrosoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media, Bethesda’s parent company. Still,DOOM EternalandDOOM(2016) should be more than enough to keep fans of the series occupied. The setting of this game may be wildly different from theHaloseries, but the swift gunplay and satisfying shooting mechanics ofDoom: Eternalwill helpHalofans feel right at home.
Although theDOOMfranchise was undoubtedly moreinfluential to the FPS genreoverall, theWolfensteinseriesdeserves recognition, as id Software’sWolfenstein 3Dhad many of the ideas that the developer would reuse in the groundbreakingDOOM(1993).
Much likeDOOM,theWolfensteinseries is still going strong today. MachineGames’Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossushas a similar action-packed pace toHalobut with Nazis taking the place of the Flood, Covenant, and other enemy factions in this beloved sci-fi franchise.
Destiny 2is an obvious choice for this list, as the game wasdeveloped by Bungie. Bungie was responsible for the originalHalotrilogy, along withHalo 3: ODSTandHalo Reach.Destiny 2is a leading force in the free-to-play market, and the online shooter has maintained an impressive player base since it initially hit stores back in 2017, largely thanks to the consistent addition of new content that has kept players busy for years.
In a move that surprised many gamers around the world, Sony announced at the start of 2022 that it was acquiringHalocreator Bungie. As such, it’s possible that players waiting for moregames likeHaloon the PlayStationmay not have to wait that long, with the announcement ofMarathonsparking a ton of interest already.
The originalPreywas released back in 2006 by 2K Games to impressive commercial success; subsequently, a sequel was slated to release shortly after. However,Prey 2slipped intodevelopment hell and ended up being canceledin 2014. Thankfully forPreyfans, the cancelation ofPrey2 didn’t mark the end of the franchise, as the IP was rebooted in 2017.
Arkane Studios’Preywas highly ambitious, combining a range of genres such as first-person shooter, RPG, and stealth, as well as featuring an open world. The game is well worth playing for its introduction alone, as it immediately draws players in and gives them a memorable experience. It has a slower pace compared toHalo’s action-packed gameplay, but the sci-fi influences will players feel at home.
Apex Legendswas developed by Respawn Entertainment and is comfortably one ofthe best battle royale games in the genre’s short history. Respawn Entertainment is the same studio that developedTitanfall 2, and subsequently, the games have a similar, fast-paced feel to their gameplay.
Apex Legendshas received numerous awards since it first hit stores in 2019. It’s a great game for players who love fast-paced shooting gameplay similar to theHaloseries.
