Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →These ten games offer free downloads and open-source credentials, but they are not all the same kind of shooter: some are fast arena battles, some favor smaller-scale multiplayer, and BZFlag is a tank-combat game that sits at the edge of the FPS genre. For a solo-focused option, Freedoom is worth considering too, though it supplies game content rather than a standalone engine.
What “free and open source” means here
Free to download and open source are related but distinct. A no-cost download does not by itself mean a game’s code or assets can be modified and redistributed. The LinuxLinks roundup published on May 17, 2022 applied a stricter set of criteria: free download, an open-source license, playable beyond an early development stage, no exclusive reliance on proprietary data, and open-source or Creative Commons game media. Its ten selections are useful starting points, but the roundup date does not establish the projects’ current release or server activity.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Call of Duty: Vanguard | $28.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Crysis Remastered Trilogy (PS4) | $23.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Crysis Remastered Nintendo Switch | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Sniper 3D Assassin: Shoot to Kill - Best Shooting Game by Fun Games For Free | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
|
RoboCop Rogue City (PS5) | $30.80 | Buy on Amazon |
The list below follows that roundup’s ten selections while flagging what each is best suited to. Check each project’s current download and licensing information before installing, especially if current multiplayer availability matters to you.
Which game fits your play style?
| Game | Best fit | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| AssaultCube | Lightweight, arcade-style multiplayer | Bots, map editor, several modes, and a small download listed on its official page. |
| BZFlag | Networked tank battles | A multiplayer tank-combat game, and a genre-edge case rather than a conventional infantry FPS. |
| Cube 2: Sauerbraten | One of the roundup’s arena-shooter selections | Included in the 2022 list; current project and server status are not established here. |
| Warsow | Fast movement and stylized combat | Jumping, dashing, dodging, and wall-jumping; colored triangles replace gore effects. |
| Red Eclipse | Acrobatic arena combat | Parkour, impulse boosts, and dashing, with code and asset licensing identified by the project. |
| OpenArena | Another arena-style option | Included in the 2022 list; current project and server status are not established here. |
| Smokin’ Guns | A themed multiplayer shooter option | Included in the 2022 list; current project and server status are not established here. |
| Tremulous | A distinct team-based shooter option | Included in the 2022 list; current project and server status are not established here. |
| Unvanquished | A distinct team-based shooter option | Included in the 2022 list; current project and server status are not established here. |
| Xonotic | Feature-rich arena play | Competitive and casual modes, broad customization, and a map editor included with the game. |
The ten games
1. AssaultCube
AssaultCube is a lightweight, arcade-style multiplayer FPS, designed with small-scale battles and accessible hardware in mind. Its official page lists bots, a built-in map editor, and modes including Deathmatch, Survivor, Capture the Flag, Hunt the Flag, and One-Shot One-Kill. That makes it a practical pick if you want to practice alone against bots or make a map as well as join multiplayer matches.
#1 Best Overall
- Rise on every front Dogfight over the Pacific, airdrop over France, defend Stalingrad with a sniper's precision and blast through advancing forces in North Africa
- Through a deeply engaging single player Campaign a select group of soldiers from different countries rise to meet the world's gravest threat
- Call of Duty Vanguard will also usher in a new and unparalleled Call of Duty Warzone integration post launch
- Some features may require an internet connection and an online subscription
The page lists a 47–54 MB download and version 1.3.0.2, dated April 1, 2022. Those are page-specific details, not confirmation of the current package size or latest release. Visit AssaultCube’s official site.
2. BZFlag
BZFlag is the list’s clearest genre boundary case. It is a networked multiplayer tank battle game, not a conventional infantry shooter viewed through a soldier’s eyes. Include it if your idea of an FPS roundup allows first-person vehicle combat; skip it if you specifically want foot soldiers and firearms.
Rank #2
- Crysis Remastered Trilogy includes each of the single-player campaigns from the legendary first-person shooters Crysis, Crysis 2, and Crysis 3
- optimized for today's hardware
- Relive the adventure in this great value all-in-one bundle.
3. Cube 2: Sauerbraten
Cube 2: Sauerbraten appears in the 2022 roundup as one of its free and open-source shooter selections. The available information here does not establish its current release status, platform support, or multiplayer population, so treat it as a title to investigate rather than assuming its servers or downloads are active today.
4. Warsow
Warsow puts movement at the center of its fast-paced FPS play: the official page highlights jumping, dashing, dodging, and wall-jumping. Its visual treatment uses red circles to mark hits and colored triangles in place of gore. The page does not establish current release or server activity, so confirm availability if you are choosing it primarily for online matches. Visit Warsow’s official site.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- Suit up: Your Nanosuit’s speed, strength, armor, and cloaking allow creative solutions for every kind of fight.
- Adapt: In an ever-changing environment, adapt your tactics to dominate on battlefields ranging from frozen jungle to alien environments.
- Customize: A huge arsenal of modular weaponry provides unprecedented control over play style, with options ranging from the experimental to the alien.
- Conquer: Life-like enemy AI require a strategic and flexible playstyle, as new challenges – including a zero-g battlefield– require players to take the offensive and be proactive.
- Explore: Choose your own path through the open world of Crysis, destroying obstacles, driving vehicles, and using the environment itself against your enemies.
5. Red Eclipse
Red Eclipse is an arena shooter built around acrobatic movement, including parkour, impulse boosts, and dashing. Its project page lists Windows, GNU/Linux, BSD, and macOS, and identifies code under the zlib License and assets under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). That explicit split is useful if you care about what parts of the project may be reused under which terms. Visit Red Eclipse’s official site.
6. OpenArena
OpenArena is another selection in the 2022 roundup. The information available for this article does not establish its present-day maintenance or multiplayer population, so check the project’s own current download and server information before planning an online session.
Rank #4
- Ultra realistic 3D graphics and cool animations
- Hundreds of thrilling missions
- Play in multiple battlegrounds, from huge cities to beautiful beaches
- Tons of letal guns and mortal weapons
- Addicting FPS gameplay
7. Smokin’ Guns
Smokin’ Guns was included in the roundup’s ten open-source shooter choices. Its current release availability and online activity are not established here; verify both on the project’s own channels if they are central to your choice.
8. Tremulous
Tremulous is one of the ten games named in the roundup. The available information does not confirm its current maintenance or server activity, so its inclusion should be read as a recommendation from that 2022 list, not a guarantee of a populated multiplayer scene today.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- Get ready to…PROTECT THE INNOCENT AND UPHOLD THE LAW
- Armed with your trusty Auto-9, factory-built strength, years of experience on the force and a variety of tools at your disposal, you will fight forces seeking to destroy the city you call home in an all new first-person, explosive hunt for the truth
- You have the power to decide how to fulfil prime directives in your own way, but as the story unfolds proceed with caution because corruption and greed know no limits
- Prepare yourself to... Protect the innocent and uphold the law
9. Unvanquished
Unvanquished also appears in the roundup. The available information does not establish a current release or player population. If you are interested in its particular team-based shooter style, check its project channels for a current download and multiplayer details.
10. Xonotic
Xonotic is the most fully documented arena option in this selection. Its official site lists Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Clan Arena, Nexball, Freeze Tag, and multiplayer race, along with 25 official maps and a map editor shipped with the game. It is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and the project says it will remain free to play and modify under the copyleft GPLv3+ license. Integrated statistics are opt-in, so they should not be treated as a durable measure of the game’s popularity. Visit Xonotic’s official site.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.For a solo campaign, consider Freedoom
Freedoom is a useful adjacent recommendation if single-player content matters more than matching the original ten-game list. It is not a standalone game engine: Freedoom supplies game content and must be paired with a Doom-compatible engine. The project includes two single-player campaigns and FreeDM, a collection of multiplayer deathmatch arenas. Visit the Freedoom project.
How to choose
- Want speed and movement? Start with Red Eclipse or Warsow; Xonotic is another arena choice with a broad set of modes.
- Need something lightweight? AssaultCube’s official page describes a small package and lists bots, modes, and an editor. Confirm the current download size before budgeting for it.
- Prefer a solo campaign? Look at Freedoom, remembering that it requires a compatible engine and is separate from the ten-game roundup.
- Want a conventional infantry FPS? BZFlag may not fit: its core battles involve tanks.
- Relying on online play? Check current server and player information directly. The cited roundup and project pages do not establish comparable live populations across all ten titles.
Licensing also deserves a quick check when modification or asset reuse matters. Xonotic explicitly states GPLv3+ for the game, while Red Eclipse identifies separate licenses for code and assets. For other projects, consult their current license terms rather than inferring them from the fact that a game is free to download.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
