7 Best PVP FPS Games For Quick Matches

Part of what makes many FPS multiplayer games so appealing and popular is how they manage to provide a fast-paced and thrilling gameplay experience that other genres struggle to replicate. Jumping into a match, scoring a few kills, and reaping the rewards once the chaos is over is an easy way to pump our brains full of serotonin, but not every FPS game allows for this, since there are many that will keep their matches going on for quite a while, forcing players to fight until the bitter end.

On the other hand though, there are also plenty of online FPS titles entirely centered around getting players in and out of the action as quickly as possible, while also giving them enough time to enjoy the core gameplay experience. Anyone who prefers firing up a shooter that can be played in small but satisfying bursts ought to consider checking out these titles listed below.

7 Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite Offers Quick And Exhilarating Objective Based Game Modes

Systems

OpenCritic

Top Critic Rating:86/100 Critics Recommend:95%

Released

December 8, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Admittedly, the time it takes to play an average match in Halo Infinite will depend on the mode you choose, but it’s certainly possible to hop into a game for no more than 10 minutes when opting for one of the smaller-sized options. For example, Arena Slayer and Capture the Flag only rarely pass the 10 minute mark, providing enough time for players to have a competitive all-out brawl before the final scoreboard shows up.

Additionally, Halo Infinite also has a rotation system where new cosmetic items are added every few weeks, including in the battle passes, meaning even a short match can contribute to earning these kinds of unique goodies. It may have received a lot of flak upon release, but Halo Infinite has come a very long way since then and is now a perfect game to play for those looking for quick and snappy online matches.

6 Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2’s Unranked Mode Thrusts Players Into Short But Chaotic Matches

Players have two options to choose from when booting up Overwatch 2; ranked or unranked. While the former will drop them into longer tug-of-war style matches, the former is a much more casual alternative where the matches are much quicker, due to there being fewer rounds, and very often, more chaotic gunfights where people aren’t as worried about dying.

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Luckily, Overwatch’splentiful selection of heroes, who can all be switched between mid-game, make each and every match feel different from the last, while Blizzard’s frequent patches ensure the game never becomes too unbalanced or frustrating to play. These small tweaks and amendments to the characters can also encourage players to jump in every now and again, even if it’s just for a few minutes, in order to get a feel for what’s changed since their last play session.

5 Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2’s Unique Gameplay Style Means Even The Shortest Matches Are Full Of Explosive Action

Titanfall 2 is often considered to be an underrated gem of the FPS genre by those who have played it, but in recent years, it’s made a massive comeback. In 2023, it was announced that, after much demand, Titanfall 2’s servers would be restored, allowing players to once again dive into this parkor-mech hybrid FPS title once again.

Though the online matches in Titanfall 2 tend to be pretty short, what makes the game such a blast to play is how much explosive action is crammed into each and every game. As players sprint around the map, picking off enemies as they go using hyper-futuristic weapons, they’ll eventually have the chance to pilot a mech where they can partake in robotic-kaiju battles with the enemy, resulting in an epic climax to a hard fought battle.

4 Splitgate

The Portal Mechanic Allows Players To Encounter Their Opponents In No Time At All

Splitgate is a free-to-play online FPS shooter which is largely characterized by two things; it’s vibrant art style, and it’s adrenaline-pumping gameplay. This is a game where players need to be on their A game at all times to stand a chance of taking down the enemy, but they will also need to make good use of the ‘Portals’ to navigate the maps and flank around the opposing team.

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All of this means players are able to come face to face with one another in no time at all, resulting in short but sweet matches that never feel like they outstay their welcome. While it may be easy to play, the Portal mechanic makes Splitgate a tricky game to fully master, incentivizing players to jump in again and again to try and find new ways to fool their opponents.

3 The Finals

Tear Down The Environment To Create An Easy Pathway To The Objective

Despite The Finals being an objective-based multiplayer game, it’s not quite as slow or strategic as other similar games like Battlefield, for example. Instead, this is a game all about seeking out the enemy as quickly as possible to ensure they don’t collect enough money to win the game, and there are many ways to go about achieving this.

While ziplines are one common method of traversal, where The Finals really shines is in its environment, and more specifically, how easily they can be torn down. By the end of a 5-10 minute match, it’s not unusual to see most of the map flattened to debris after the amount of carnage that ensues in the chaos, making it a quick and easy way to satisfy that FPS craving.

2 Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 Provides Several Fast-Paced Game Modes As Alternatives To The Competitive Mode

Systems

OpenCritic

Top Critic Rating:80/100 Critics Recommend:88%

Released

September 27, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Counter Strike 2, the free upgrade to the immensely popular Counter Strike: Global Offensive, features several modes which are tailor-made for players who are only able to jump in for a short period of time. One of these is Wingman, a 2v2 mode where only one bomb site is placed on the map, resulting in an intense scramble to see which team can either plant or defuse, or simply pick off their opponents to score the win.

There’s also Deathmatch, a much more traditional mode longtime FPS fans will be very familiar with. The aim is simple; acquire as many kills as possible to win the game, making it ideal for testing out new weapons and gear. Some of Counter Strike 2’s competitive matches can also be on the shorter side if they end up being largely one-sided, but this isn’t always guaranteed.

1 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Black Ops 6 Has Perfected The Arcade-Style Shooter Gameplay That COD Has Become Known For

It may have taken a little while, but it feels as though Call of Duty’s developers have finally managed to perfect the arcade-style twitch-trigger gameplay that they’ve been building upon for so many years with Black Ops 6. The introduction of omni-movement, paired with the quick time-to-kill makes each and every match fast, fun, and exciting to be a part of.

In classic Call of Duty fashion, each game will net the player EXP to level up and unlock new guns and equipment, no matter how short or long they are. What’s more is, in an effort to keep players hooked on the game, Treyarch is always dropping double XP promotions, meaning even a 5-minute match can go a long way as part of the grind.

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