Great PlayStation Games To Play If You Like Halo

Highlights

• Sony has provided a variety of great shooters for PlayStation players to fill the void left by the exclusive
  Halo
  series.
• Games like
  Rage 2
  ,
  Titanfall 2
  , and
  DOOM Eternal
  offer similar gameplay mechanics and features to the Halo series but are great games in their own right.
• PlayStation gamers may not see future
  DOOM
  titles on the platform following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, but
  DOOM Eternal
  and
  DOOM
  (2016) are still available to enjoy.

Exclusivity is one of the most frustrating aspects of the gaming industry for consumers. Many iconic franchises, like The Legend of Zelda, Gears of War, and Super Mario, are unavailable to PlayStation players, which can leave people feeling left out. One other series that has eluded the blue brand is the sci-fi first-person shooter Halo. Led by its protagonist, Master Chief, the Halo games have been a cornerstone of the FPS genre since Halo: Combat Evolved hit stores in 2001.

Thankfully, Sony has provided its customers with numerous excellent shooters over the years, which can fill the void left by the Halo series’ exclusivity. This list will not simply look at the games like Halo on the PlayStation as many of them aren’t worth playing. Instead, this list will look at games that have similarities to the Halo series 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.

1 Returnal

Running And Gunning Takes Precedence In This Sci-fi Roguelike Shooter

The idea of fighting against a hostile alien species is something Halo fans are pretty familiar with. This is also the case in Returnal, 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.

2 Killzone

Touted By Many As Sony’s “Halo Killer” Prior To Its Launch

Killzone takes 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 of Killzone is rich in detail and makes it a great recommendation for players seeking out games like Halo on PlayStation hardware.

In fact, Killzone was touted as a “Halo killer” 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 their Horizon series.

3 Resistance: Fall Of Man

Humanity Bands Together To Fight Off An Alien Threat

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) in Halo, it’s easy to see why the Resistance series is a perfect fit for fans of this sci-fi series. Similarly to Halo, Resistance: Fall of Man revolves 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.

4 Rage 2

A Fast-Paced FPS With Frenetic Combat

The announcement of Rage 2 came as a surprise to many people, as although the original Rage was a solid 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 of Halo is quite similar to Rage 2‘s gameplay.

Still, id Software and Bethesda decided to revitalize the series, releasing Rage 2 in May 2019. Whereas the original Rage was predominantly grounded and serious, Rage 2 tries to inject a ton of charisma into the IP. This is evident from simply comparing the games’ front covers, as Rage 2‘s cover is bursting with color in stark contrast to its dreary predecessor.

5 Titanfall 2

Sci-Fi Shooting Goodness Similar To Halo With A Mech To Make Things More Action-Packed

It’s fair to say that Titanfall 2 wasn’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 issue with releasing the two games just one week apart, believing them to appeal to different audiences.

Despite the slow start, Titanfall 2 has 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 better games like Halo on the PlayStation that players can check out for themselves.

6 DOOM Eternal

Swift Movement And Weapon Switching Are Rewarded As Players Rip Demons To Shreds

Arguably the most influential first-person shooter franchise of all time, DOOM received 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, future DOOM titles may not appear on the blue brand following Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media, Bethesda’s parent company. Still, DOOM Eternal and DOOM (2016) should be more than enough to keep fans of the series occupied. The setting of this game may be wildly different from the Halo series, but the swift gunplay and satisfying shooting mechanics of Doom: Eternal will help Halo fans feel right at home.

7 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Wielding Firearms Akimbo And Shooting Down Nazis Makes For A Great Time

Although the DOOM franchise was undoubtedly more influential to the FPS genre overall, the Wolfenstein series deserves recognition, as id Software’s Wolfenstein 3D had many of the ideas that the developer would reuse in the groundbreaking DOOM (1993).

Much like DOOM, the Wolfenstein series is still going strong today. MachineGames’ Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus has a similar action-packed pace to Halo but with Nazis taking the place of the Flood, Covenant, and other enemy factions in this beloved sci-fi franchise.

8 Destiny 2

Made By Bungie, The Developers Who Brought Halo Into Being

Destiny 2 is an obvious choice for this list, as the game was developed by Bungie. Bungie was responsible for the original Halo trilogy, along with Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach. Destiny 2 is 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 acquiring Halo creator Bungie. As such, it’s possible that players waiting for more games like Halo on the PlayStation may not have to wait that long, with the announcement of Marathon sparking a ton of interest already.

9 Prey

An Immersive Sim With Lots Of Action In An Unnerving Sci-Fi Environment

The original Prey was released back in 2006 by 2K Games to impressive commercial success; subsequently, a sequel was slated to release shortly after. However, Prey 2 slipped into development hell and ended up being canceled in 2014. Thankfully for Prey fans, the cancelation of Prey 2 didn’t mark the end of the franchise, as the IP was rebooted in 2017.

Arkane Studios’ Prey was 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 to Halo‘s action-packed gameplay, but the sci-fi influences will players feel at home.

10 Apex Legends

A Hero Shooter With Intense Movement Mechanics And Great FPS Action

Apex Legends was developed by Respawn Entertainment and is comfortably one of the best battle royale games in the genre’s short history. Respawn Entertainment is the same studio that developed Titanfall 2, and subsequently, the games have a similar, fast-paced feel to their gameplay.

Apex Legends has 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 the Halo series.

11 Borderlands 3

A Looter Shooter With Great Action That Fans Of Halo Will Love

The Borderlands franchise has become a cornerstone of the open-world FPS market, along with Ubisoft’s Far Cry series. The games are known for their loot mechanics and unique art style, which surprisingly was a change that was implemented late in the original game’s development.

Borderlands 3 didn’t blow critics away upon release, and the game only scored between 78 and 82 on Metacritic across its three releases. However, the game has recently been re-released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and has received a whopping Metascore of 91 on PS5, thanks to numerous improvements from the original. Players who loved the co-op elements of Halo will find the Borderlands series to be a perfect replacement for people who want to check out more FPS titles with their friends.