First-Person Shooter (FPS) Emergence (1990s) Wolfenstein 3D (1992): Often credited as the first true FPS, Wolfenstein 3D from id Software allowed players to navigate a 3D environment from a first-person perspective. Players took on the role of a spy in a Nazi fortress, setting a trend of shooter games with historical or military themes.

Golden Age and Genre Expansion (Late 1990s - 2000s) Counter-Strike (1999): Initially a Half-Life mod, Counter-Strike became a massive success and established the team-based, tactical FPS subgenre. It remains one of the most popular competitive shooters.

Modern Innovations and Popularization of Online Play (2010s) Blizzard's Overwatch combined FPS mechanics with MOBA-like (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) character classes, introducing a roster of unique heroes with special abilities. It popularized the "hero shooter" subgenre.

Battle Royale Explosion: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG, 2017) and Fortnite (2017) brought the battle royale genre to the forefront. In these games, players compete to be the last one standing on large, shrinking maps, combining survival with shooting mechanics. Fortnite, with its building mechanics and free-to-play model, achieved massive popularity and mainstream cultural impact.