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Old-school shooters are a source of joy and nostalgia, but finding and running them on modern hardware is often challenging, and sometimes the experience doesn’t live up to your memories. Fortunately, these free clones are available to provide a fresh and exciting twist.
Most games on the list were created by small teams or solo developers and provided for free. If you enjoy these games, consider donating to support their work.
11AQtion
AQtionis an open-source standalone version ofAction Quake 2, which itself was a mod forQuake II.AQtionis a fast-paced arena deathmatch shooter with an emphasis on realism. While you’re able to play the game with bots, it’s far more fun with real players.
If you’ve ever playedQuake, you’ll be familiar with its sci-fi dark fantasy themes, so the devs behindAction Quake 2had quite the ambitious goal of turning that game into a realistic action movie-style shooter.
If you thought that the game looked like old-schoolCounter-Strikeat first glance, you’re actually right on the money. Thedeveloperswho worked onAction Quake IIlater worked onHalf-Lifeand createdCounter-Strike, which itself was aHalf-Lifemod. This effectively meansAQtionis a predecessor toCounter-Strike, which alone makes it worth trying.
10Cube 2: Sauerbraten
Cube 2: Sauerbratenis aQuake-inspired game, though it’s quite old itself having been released in 2004. The standout feature inSauerbratenis its real-time map editing. This allows players to create and collaborate on whole new maps and game modes.
The end result is a ton of single- and multi-player game modes filled with creative map designs, including famous maps from other games like de_dust and Facing Worlds. What’s interesting aboutSauerbraten’s gameplay is that there are only seven weapons (eight if you include fists) in the game, which can make the game feel more approachable for beginners.
9Freedoom
Freedoomisn’t a game per se, but rather a collection of game data. If you want to play it, you need to combine it witha compatibleDoomsource port(engine), such asGZDoom.Freedoomexists becauseDoom’s source code was under theGNU GPL, allowing for free use and modification, while the original game assets remained under copyright.
TheFreedoomproject includes two single-player campaigns and a collection of deathmatch maps. There’s plenty of content to enjoy if you want to relive the nostalgia ofDoomin a new light and without relying on the original assets.
8OpenLara
IfTomb Raider I–III Remasteredinspired you to step back into the shoes of Lara Croft but youdislike the remastered graphicsor just want a free alternative,OpenLarais the project for you. In fact, XProger, the lead developer behindOpenLara, worked as thetechnical directorfor theRemasteredtrilogy.
The original goal ofOpenLarawas to recreate the first five games but it seems that goal has been abandoned, at least for now. However, you can still play through the firstTomb Raidergame, and the best part is that it supports 60 FPS and even works in a web browser (what a time to be alive).
7Shrine IandII
Shrineand its sequel,Shrine II, were both created using the aforementionedDoomengine. They’re essentially conversion mods forDoom II, meaning the core gameplay is quite similar. However,Shrineis a special game in its own right. It’s certainly my favoriteboomer shooter.
What makesShrinespecial is its gorgeous color palette, the hordes of eldritch enemies, a fine selection of unique guns and gun animations, and creatively designed levels. If you have always wondered whatDoomwould look like if it were set in a Lovecraft novel, this is it.
6ULTRAKILL Prelude
ULTRAKILL Preludeis the free demo ofULTRAKILL, a game that costs money and is still inearly access. It’s a frantic, fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping shooter that blendsDoom,Quake, andDevil May Cry(the developer’s words, not mine).
There are a few differences betweenPreludeand its final release. It includes a tutorial, the first five levels, and a secret mission. Although it’s short, it’s designed aroundreplayability, so you’re able to get a couple of fun afternoons from it.
5Netscape Cybermind
Netscape Cybermindis yet anotherQuakeandHalf-Life-inspired shooter, which shows you just how influential those early shooters really were. You play as a hacker exploring cyberspace with the goal of retrieving important corporate data from a server. The guns are pretty creative, the coolest of which is a CD gun that shoots ricocheting CDs. It’s a short little adventure that’sperfect for speedrunning.
4Memoirs of Magic
The developer behindMemoirs of Magiclooked at theDoomengine and wondered what would happen if they combined it with RPG, dark fantasy, and platforming elements. The end result isMemoirs of Magic,a fully fleshed-out arena RPG shooter that features seven unique classes, 15 upgradeable weapons, and over 40 unique maps, just to name a few of the standout features.
3PICOHOT
PICOHOTis a direct homage toSUPERHOT, the viral first-person shooter that’s famous for its bullet time mechanic. Enemies only move when you move, which sounds deceptively simple.PICOHOTwas actually developed by three members of theSUPERHOTteam, so it’s a game with pedigree.
The idea was to re-createSUPERHOTas an 8-bit game that could fit onto afloppy disk. It’s a short experience that you shouldn’t miss out on.
2Templar
Templarwas brought to life by Christopher Yabsley, an indie developer known for his horror first-person shooters. The entire game was built in only seven days using theRGM engine, which itself was heavily inspired byWolfenstein 3D. You play as a templar on a mission to clear a demon-infested church. With a timer and kill counter at the end of each floor, it offers a fun challenge that encourages replayability.
