Exploring the Origins
What is the origin of the first-person shooter genre? What are the most important FPS games? We take a look at the history of FPS games, from Wolfenstein to Doom, and everything in between.
Doom, Wolfenstein, and Doom Clones
FPS games are called FPS games because of Doom; the genre was named after the iconic shooter after Doom itself was dubbed a “Doom-like game.” Wolfenstein 3D was released before it, but Doom captured everyone’s imagination, and the term “Doom clone” was coined for any FPS game.
Commander Keen is cool and all, but Doom showed that the technology Id Software possessed was impressive. It was able to iterate on the same technology and make something that would be iconic for years to come. Doom was a phenomenon, and to this day, we have the term Doom clone for any FPS game with a similar tone, gameplay, and visual style.
The term Doom clone was used for any FPS game in the ‘90s before the generic term “first-person shooter” was coined. Games like Star Wars: Dark Forces were referred to as Doom clones, even though they were tonally and technically different.
Metroidvania games still hold on to the term because of the impact of Metroid on the gaming industry. It’s not wrong to do so. But there’s something about Doom clone that feels a bit off. It implies some sort of fraudulence or theft. It’s an outdated term, really, and one that should be abandoned.
Doom, Wolfenstein, and FPS Games
Doom and Wolfenstein are important in the evolution of FPS games. Wolfenstein came before Doom, but Doom captured everyone’s imagination and popularized the term “Doom clones” for FPS games. Doom had a massive market share and grew the gaming market significantly. Doom’s popularity was so immense that it even made its way into other areas, like Bill Gates playing a Doom marine on stage.
However, Wolfenstein is still a cool game. If you’re playing the latest Wolfenstein games, you’ll notice that they’re better than the new Dooms. They’re not Doom clones; they’re just Wolfenstein games. The term “Doom clone” is outdated and should be abandoned, as it implies fraudulence and theft, which is not the case for emerging genres.
That said, we still have some affection for Doom and Wolfenstein, and we’ll always remember them for their contributions to the FPS genre. If you’re interested in more FPS games, check out our breakdown of the best multiplayer games on PC.
The Evolution of FPS Games
Here’s what you need to know about the evolution of FPS games:
