Patient Gamers

Operation Harsh Doorstop is my favorite fps, it is a semi-realistic vehicle big map shooter.. but it has mod support and mods like Casualfield (which has active multiplayer servers) have much more Call Of Duty like gameplay. It is free, no live service crap. Even if you don't like where the vanilla game is right now, keep your eye on it, it is an easy platform for other shooters to be modded on. Player population isn't huge but there are consistently full servers. I also don't think the realistic nature of the game makes it less accessible than a game like battlebit, since there is such a specific gun meta at certain ranges in arcadey games like battlebit, and everything happens so fast with constantly rushing smg players... it is actually really hard to break into when you are playing on even normal pub servers. Apex Legends is in my opinion the worst game with this. In a game like OHD though, an assault rifle with a scope can do pretty much anything well enough, though you might prefer a more specific kit for a situation, but there isn't this crazy focus on constantly changing weird metas and gun balances to pump up paid skins for a gun that was just added... This is just a free moddable big map vehicle shooter with a server browser and barebones singleplayer, which is awesome.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/736590/Operation_Harsh_Doorstop/

Halo Infinite I grew up with Halo 1-3, I don't have any special love for 343, but Halo Infinite big team battle is the best halo multiplayer has ever been. Capture the flag is amazing with the warthogs the way they are balanced in halo infinite, I can't stand microsoft lol but damn halo infinite is in a nice state now.

Splitgate Ok, player population isn't massive, but this is a realllllly good game, even outside the portal gun mechanic. The gunplay is great and the jetpack is tuned perfectly. Can't recommend it enough!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/677620/Splitgate/

Easy Red 2 Alright now I am just straight up lying, this game never has huge concurrent numbers, but you can give large numbers of forces commands pretty easy in the interface (like you can drive a half track up to an objective and order your squad to dismount and assault). It is another WW2 game... but this game actually strives for historical specificity in lots of areas that aren't usually covered in WW2 games. There is a great diversity of armor, vehicles and fighter planes, the games is a blast and is a steal at around $10. Cross platform tooo!!?!?!?! Great for bot bashing.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1324780/Easy_Red_2/

Xonotic is the best arena fps ever, playerbase is HUGEEEE E

https://xonotic.org/

ok but I love it

Next battlefield could turn things around, respawn /Vince zampella was given control of the series

Due Process is a multiplayer competitive shooter similar in vein to Counterstrike or Rainbow Six Siege, but the maps are somewhat procedurally generated (there's tilesets and certain rooms layouts for every map) meaning there's no consistant strategy and sniper points to meta game. You play as defenders guarding a bomb or attackers breaking into the building to disarm the bomb, switching sides after 3 rounds. Rounds last 2 minutes with an extra minute given at the start to plan out the strategy. The economy of weapons works in that all the guns for 3 rounds are all available at the start and only the living players get to bring weapons to the next round. The original devs are no longer working on it I believe, but it is being updated and maintained by volunteers.

BattleBit Remastered is legitimately the tightest battlefield-like fps i’ve ever played, better than name-brand battlefield even. it fills the exact same niche for me.

i play with mic off and still manage serviceable communication with a squad of randies pretty much every game. there’s relatively frequent balance updates, so the meta isn’t focused on any one single playstyle. it’s exactly what i imagine an fps made by fps-junkies to look like.

Also playing support actually feels rewarding, and i think that’s proper rare in multiplayer games.

e: fuck hahah just kidding apparently it was abandoned by the devs. last update 15 months ago, rip to my favorite fps :c

I also picked this up recently and am enjoying it a lot. Can't speak for the multiplayer, but the singleplayer is very good. There are a lot of meaningful choices and variety that keep things fresh throughout and between runs.

Ooh thank you for mentioning Triangle Strategy. It's been on my mind because it seems it'll scratch that FFT itch but I didn't have it in my wishlist.

I liked it until the timed missions kicked in. It was a free game on EGS years ago.

I have over 600 hours in Anno 1800 and highly recommend it buuuut I would advise people consider the more expensive edition that includes all the expansions.

True, but if it annoys you enough, there are tools to help you remove the requirement.

https://github.com/YoteZip/LinuxCrackingBible?tab=readme-ov-file#6-drm-stripping-guides

There are other tools too.