I don’t really play many multiplayer FPS games. But a while ago I discovered Splitgate and I really liked it. It’s the only multiplayer FPS I’ve played much of. But I’ve stopped playing it because development has stopped and also I was experiencing occasional stutters on Linux.
The announcement of Splitgate 2 has got me wanting to play Splitgate again or something like it. I was excited for the Splitgate sequel until they actually showed it, and it seems like it’s going in the wrong direction for me - adding factions or whatever, overcomplicating things. And idk if I should get back into Splitgate, since it’s dying and the release of Splitgate 2 will only speed that up. So I’m looking for a similar game that I will like.
Things I liked about Splitgate:
- It’s simple. I don’t have much experience with shooters but Splitgate is really easy to pick up on. Using portals well can take a while to wrap your head around, but you don’t need to use portals to win most of the time. (Maybe there’s just bots making it seem easier than it is, but the point is it’s still simple compared to the other popular games)
- Movement is fast and fun, mostly because of the jetpack but also the portals. I can get anywhere really quickly and also shooting someone while flying around is fun.
- Games are short. I don’t often have enough time to commit to a long game.
- Almost all of the different modes were great, both for variety, but also sometimes I’m in the mood for different things. Sometimes I’d just want to play my favourite modes like Domination/King of the Hill, and sometimes I’d play a mix of everything. There were only maybe 3 game modes I didn’t like.
I know Splitgate is very similar to Halo. But there are so many Halo games out there, which one is the best/most similar to Splitgate? Also the jetpack is one of my favourite things about Splitgate, I love flying around a bunch. Halo doesn’t have that. Also, as far as I can tell, there isn’t a timer for matches? So I can’t really know how long it will take. Is there another game that has flying like Splitgate, and also short matches? And also works on Linux.
I mean, Splitgate still has pretty consistently 100-300 players on Steam, which is enough to find a match relatively quickly. Maybe I should just play Splitgate until it is actually dead, and worry about finding a new game then. And try to find a fix for the stutters in the mean time.
I’ve been getting back into playing The Finals lately. Kinda similar to Splitgate, in that the mechanics are easy to understand and mastering them will yield you a lot of fun and victory. The movement is very snappy, there’s a lot of variety in how you can play, and matches are relatively quick.
It’s an objective-based shooter, so you won’t win just by getting kills; you have to complete a specific goal before your enemies to actually win. So it’s a bit like Overwatch or TF2 in that regard (kinda dated references, I know) in terms of goals and a player’s abilities. And the gunplay feels very much like Battlefield, which would make sense because ex-DICE devs worked on this game, I believe. It’s also got crossplay.
It’s got a seasonal/live service model for cosmetics. The battle pass and any other MTX are all only for cosmetics, though; unlocking weapons/abilities can only be done through gameplay, with no skip mechanics. So no weapons, abilities, maps, game modes, etc can be bought with real money at all. Figured I’d mention, since I know that’s a turnoff for a lot of people, but I’ve been enjoying it as a free player.
Halo CE, Halo 2, and Halo 3 are great. Then the franchise was purchased by 343 and everything since has been a soulless COD clone with a Halo skin… and a random RTS.
343 didn’t purchase Halo, Microsoft purchased it from Bungie and then licensed it to Bungie, then transferred the license to 343 after Reach launched.
But other than that, you are correct on the other stuff.
You could wait a bit for Splitgate 2, I suppose. It is set to come out next year.
Right… Splitgate and splitgate 2 are lies. What you experienced are probably mostly if not all bit matches instead of playing with and against other players. But that is besides the question.
Realistically there have been no actual good games in that niche in recent years (less than 10 years old) and the old ones are either dead unless you like botmatches or have a tiny community that is really REALLY good and will wipe the floor with you.
Anyhow Quake 3 (good luck) Tribes 2 (good luck) Unreal tournament 2004 (good luck obtaining legally, also good luck) Halo (LoL last decent one was reach on 360) There’s more but those are even more niche than the big ones already listed.
Idk… lotta people on mics in pre/post-game lobbies in Splitgate for it to be bot matches
Possibly keep an eye on Diabotical Rogue… Definitely not what you want right now, but it has potential.
And just to actually add something:
Halo Masterchief Collection,
Friends vs Friends (you actually do need friends for this one its kinda dead but fun as hell),
Unreal Tournament 2004 (large private server scene),
Any entry in the Quake series really.
