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A modern video game is designed to keep your eyes fixed on it by offering as much engagement as possible with detailed builds, loadouts, and other customization factors. For the purposes of this list, however, we’re looking at games where you can easily switch your brain off and go into a zen-like mode while making good progress. Shooter games of the first and third-person variety are usually the best at offering this specific kind of cathartic entertainment, as most of them share a few common and DNA strands.
These are the games that adopt a “shoot first and ask questions later” mentality, regularly throwing you into arenas where your sole goal is to destroy everything in front of you. They’re good fun, and allow you to take your mind off of more pressing concerns. We’ve rounded up 19 of the best shooters that satisfy without making you think too much. These games range from two-fisted Nazi-annihilating simulators to cult-classics that’ll put a smile on your face–not that annihilating Nazis wouldn’t do that, too.
Most of these games are available to play on multiple PC and console. To add to the zen-like immersion, consider playing them with a gaming headset. Check out our roundups of the best gaming headsets for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Also, if you’re looking for a new controller that’s great for first-person shooters, take a peek at our roundups of the best controllers for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
