The Top 10 Most Popular FPS Games in the World (2019)

Most Played FPS Games
FPS games are as epic as they're cracked up to be!


What are the most popular FPS games of today?

10. RUST

Total Registered Players: 5 million+

Total Active Players: 40,000+

This player looks epic in his random collection of armor and his chainsaw.

Rust is a survival-based game released on December 11, 2013  that allows players to create strongholds and collect loot to aid in their survival. Players may also kill other players and loot them.  After death, a portion of the work that players have put into building up their homes, and stashes of other survival items will remain. This game has sold over 5.5 million units, earning about $250,000 from Steam Early Access.

According to Steam Charts, about 40,000 players play daily, and although there have been occasional dips, most of Rust’s player base has remained constant. The Twitch presence is still active for Rust, with players still live-streaming on a regular basis. YouTube is also an active platform for the Rust community, many videos being posted daily by players. 

Considering that Rust has a steady player base and developers that release monthly updates, it is unlikely that we will see  its demise anytime soon, but players are still wondering if there will eventually be a change. Most complaints regarding the game focus on the difficulty of single-player participation, and with many teams taking advantage of single-players or low-leveled players, this issue may lead to the decline of the game.  

9. Destiny 2

Total Registered Players: 12.1 million+

Total Active Players: 2 million +

A Solar Titan Super moves about to crush some skulls.

Destiny 2 is the second entry in the Destiny franchise and was released on September 6, 2017.  On day one of the release, it was the largest day one sales globally on the PlayStation store due to the opportunity to return to the world created in Destiny, a FPS game that held a decent story along with MMO elements like raids.

Many players who enjoyed Destiny were fans of the DLC releases that extended the game and allowed for specialty loot. Destiny 2 has followed the same ideas with its gameplay and releases. Gameplay itself is fast-paced and entertaining with the addition of a magical element based on your chosen class that can protect you, make killing effective, etc.

Destiny 2 has around 2.6 million daily players on average. Player count has decreased a good deal since launch, but after dropping the Forsaken DLC, player interest has started to return. Many players consider the second entry to the Destiny series to be lacking  overall, and the rate in which loot drops s and repeated themselves was annoying for players.

The community is still an active one, with people sharing Xur’s weekly location and items and others sharing information about new loot, etc. There is a presence on both YouTube and Twitch with YouTube having the most videos. Bungie continues to frequently update to their game as they are still invested in trying to bring back player interest.

The company has taken a lot of criticism for the development flaws that were brought to light as player interest died. Because of this, some gamers wouldn’t say Destiny 2 is dead since the release of Forsaken has garnered so much positive attention for the company., but at the same time , the new expansion is expensive.

Compared to other games on this  list, like PUBG or Rust , this game is not as affordably  and can be disappointing when considering the money that players  must invest in it.

8. Fallout 4

Total Registered Players: 20,000,000+

Total Active Players: 15,000-20,000

Players are ready to gun down raiders, or radiated monsters, in Fallout 4.

Fallout 4 released on November 10, 2015 and shipped around 12 million copies on launch day. The sales from Fallout 4 are believed to have overtaken even those  of Skyrim. Fallout is known for letting players create their own strongholds, like in RUST, and customize many features of the game. For PC gamers, there are  a multitude of mods that can be run with the game, which allows for even more customization .

According to Steam, somewhere between 15,000 and 18,000 have been playing recently. The player rate has fallen since its release, but the fans that remain continue to play on a regular basis. YouTube and Twitch are both still active communities for Fallout 4 players with streamers posting live content and  making compilation videos.

Despite putting their efforts into the upcoming Fallout 76, Bethesda continues to provide players support for Fallout 4 by providing occasional patches for consoles and PC. Fallout 4 still has a strong following, with most gamers returning due to the mods that can be run in-game, but due to Ubisoft’s failure with the Creation Club and a how difficult mod creation in Fallout 4 can be, it is likely that Fallout 4 will see its demise once Fallout 76 hits the shelves.

7. Team Fortress 2

Total Registered Players: 50 million+

Total Active Players: 90,000-100,000+

This free-to-play game is often compared to games like Overwatch.

Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play online game that released on October 10, 2007 and has frequent updates including new maps, game mods, character changes, etc. Gamers, even those new to the game, enjoy the different options that TF2 gives players. Different choices allow for different play styles. Currently, 80,000+ players play Team Fortress 2 daily.

The player base of TF2 has remained relatively consistent since its release. While there have been dips in the player base, numbers are quickly recovered by the new gamers that take their place. The community is still active though the game is more popular on YouTube than it is on Twitch.

With 80,000 players still playing and developers still releasing updates to ensure gameplay is engaging and fluid, it’s not difficult to understand why TF2 isn’t dead yet.

6. Overwatch

Total Registered Players: 40 million

Total Active Players: Unknown. While Overwatch does have a tracker site, it does not list active or daily players.

The graphics for Overwatch are beautiful, and gameplay is quick and engaging.

Overwatch was released on May 24, 2016 and has generated over $1 billion in sales, making it the fastest game to hit 20 million players in Blizzard history.

It is not only a fast-paced FPS, but the introduction of unique characters, many of which also have video backstories that give them depth, brings a large appeal to their audience. Overwatch’s game modes are engaging, and each character has their own specific set of weapons and tools to utilize during matches.

It is difficult to tell the number of active players on this game, as most information that can be found is very outdated, but  the community is still going strong, and there are still competitions being held. Because of this, the amount of active players is likely still in the 100,000+ range. Player count has fallen over time, but has risen during times of new releases.  

As with many games on this list, there is a large fan base that plays regularly, and the community is very active with daily streams on Twitch and YouTube . With a developer like Blizzard behind it, the death of Overwatch will be far off in the distant future.

Recent patches, additions of new characters, and an active community help to play a role in the livelihood of the game. Gamers should expect to hear about this game for some time.

5. Rainbow 6 Siege

Total Registered Players: 25 million+

Total Active Players: 70,000+

A team plans an attack in Rainbow 6 Siege

Rainbow 6 Siege was released on December 1, 2015. Sales at the time of its launch were rocky and continued to be so for the first year of the game. After two years, the interest in the game escalated,  began to make more sales, with Ubisoft announcing they had sold 25 million units in 2017. The game is fast-paced and has classes that oppose each other.

While many games on this list began strong and eventually lost player interest, the opposite has been true for Rainbow 6 Siege. After a rough launch, players came around to the game, and it now has around 70,000+ players, which is nearly ten times what it was at launch, according to Steam Charts. YouTube is the most popular platform for sharing Rainbow 6 Siege video compilations and parodies, but there are still many who stream through Twitch.

Rainbow 6 Siege is a popular competition game, used in e-sports, and is regularly updated by Ubisoft. With this, and its surprising rise in fan base, Rainbow 6 Siege should continue to  thrive for some time.

4. CS:GO

Total Registered Players: 50 million+

Total Active Players: 466,000+

 CS:GO may be a complicated game, but it makes for an excellent watch on YouTube.

CS:GO was released on August 21, 2012 and has since sold 25 million units , surpassing Minecraft’s 24.5 million sales and making it the best-selling PC game in history. It is a difficult game to play and requires skill and lots of time spent learning. This makes it the ideal game for professional-level gamers that enjoy competition.

CS:GO has an active daily player base of 330,000+ according to Steam Charts, a number that  has stayed consistent since its release. YouTube is an active video forum for the CS:GO community, and there is a good Twitch presence as well. Developers perform  occasional patches and updates, and the massive player base tells us that CS:GO isn’t going anywhere soon.

3. Battlefield 1

Total Registered Players: 19 million

Total Active Players: Around 50,000-90,000.

Battlefield 1's stunning graphics make for an epic gaming experience.

Battlefield 1 was released on October 21, 2016. In the first week of launch, it topped the combined sales of both Battlefield 4 and Battlefield Hardline, estimating that around 3-4 million copies of the game were sold. Gamers who have completed the campaign for Battlefield 1 have commented on its incredible story and action. The multiplayer mode feels built for a WWI setting, and the graphics and gameplay are outstanding.

All Battlefield games have been praised as being highly realistic, with the latest entries in the series even adjusting the sniping to account for the real-world calculations made by military snipers . The game has thousands of players, during peak times, daily.

The PS4 sees averages of 50,000 players, while Xbox One and PC see 30,000 and 20,000 respectively, but overall player counts have  dropped since the release of other FPS games, such as  the two most recent Call of Duty games and other well-known games like PUBG and Fortnite.

Those who remain long-time fans of the game are still active within the community, posting videos on Twitch and YouTube and sharing on forums, but overall, the decline of player activity  has decreased streaming. Is Battlefield 1 dead? It’s difficult to say.

While player base has dropped tremendously over time, especially since the introduction of other FPS games, there have been several complaints about updates creating a difficult balance within combat classes. On average, there are still many people playing daily despite these complaints, so it is likely the game will continue to hold on to life until the next Battlefield entry.

2. Call of Duty World War 2 and Black Ops 4

Total Registered Players: WW2- 50 million+ Black Ops 4- 50 million+

Total Active Players: WW2-  2,500  Black Ops 4- Unknown at the moment, but high.

Call of Duty World War II features  beautiful scenery and weapons from the WW2 era.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 is the first Call of Duty game to have a Battle Royale mode.

Call of Duty WW2 was released on November 3, 2017, earning over $500 million within its first 3 days of release. On December 20, 2017, it was confirmed that the game had generated over $1 billion in revenue, making it the highest-grossing console game of the year in North America. Call of Duty Black Ops 4 was released on October 12, 2018. Black Ops 4 also earned over $500 million in its first three days.

The appeal for all Call of Duty games is the fast and accurate gameplay. The maps are engaging and  the gun selections are varied, allowing players to play to in their own style. The game is highly competitive. The large player base allows for quick matchmaking, and players have little trouble finding matches. According to Steam Charts, the average player base for WW2 is now around 2,500, though this number doesn’t account for those who do not use Steam.

Player count for WW2 has fallen, especially with the release of the newest Call of Duty game. WW2 does still have the occasional streamer and forum presence, but many of the streamers who were playing WW2 have now moved on to BO4.

Black Ops 4’s exact daily player count is currently unknown  but it is extremely high and increasing as new gamers purchase the game and join in the fun.  There is currently a large platform for streamers on Twitch and YouTube to stream Black Ops 4, as this is the first entry with a Battle Royale mode.

Most gamers have commented that WW2 is some of the most fun that they have had playing in the Call of Duty franchise, but they do have issues with the game. Developers have released patches for WW2 and remain relatively active, but since the release of the newest CoD game, it will be likely that support for WW2 will drop off, with WW2 fading from existence like previous Call of Duty games.

1. PUBG

Total Registered Players: Over 400 million players Total Active Players: 87 daily and 277 monthly

Unlike games like Fortnite, where you must build things around yourself to provide protection, PUBG has more classic elements like the ability to hide in tall grass.

PUBG was released March 24, 2017 and earned 50 million in sales across Xbox and PC, making its first million within 3 weeks of launch. As with other Battle Royale games, PUBG offers a thrilling fight-or-flight experience, leaving players wondering when someone might pop up and kill them. With PUBG, as opposed to games like Fortnite, the fun comes in the ability to crawl through and hide in the tall grasses and beefing up your character with real-world items like helmets and other tools.

Its large and active player base allows players quick and easy matchmaking sessions to get themselves right back into the game should their character die. Another benefit to this game is the mobile platform which gives players access on the go. 87 million play PUBG daily.

This statistic includes those who use the free mobile version of PUBGand those who play worldwide.  Recently, PUBG’s player count has fallen, according to Steam Charts. PUBG’s developer, Bluehole, state that around one million games are played daily, and the community is still an active one, with many players streaming through Twitch, YouTube, or other streaming services, and posting on forums like Reddit .

Is PUBG dead, or will it be soon? Player speculation on this is mixed. Long-time fans are invested in the game and are holding onto hope that PUBG will eventually become e-sports ready, allowing for competition gaming. Meanwhile, the dropping player rate may suggest the opposite is true.

Several players have complained about issues with lag on PCs, glitches, and several other issues within the game, despite developers adding patches every 14-15 days. The recent increase of interest in Epic’s Fortnite has also torn interest from PUBG and may continue to do so as PUBG’s largest player base is in China, and Fortnite plans to release there soon.

You may also be interested in:

More on this topic:


A wood elf armed with only a deadly bow and some ambition, Katy is committed to bringing justice to the fallen and information to the masses.
Gamer Since: 2005
Favorite Genre: RPG
Currently Playing: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Top 3 Favorite Games:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed III, Batman: Arkham City


More Top Stories