Here's Your Roadmap To 2016's Biggest Shooters

This feature was originally published May 4, 2016.

May is going to be a busy month for shooter fans, thanks to
a packed release schedule of big-name titles. Join us as we break down what
players can expect from this month and beyond.

Shooter fans might want to stock up on the deluge of titles coming
out this month, as the options will run a bit dry in the summer months. Your
wallet may appreciate the reprieve, however, as the fall and holiday seasons
promise new releases and expansions from the biggest FPS franchises. Here's a look
at this year's most promising shooters.

Battleborn
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release: May 3
This week's big retail release comes courtesy of Gearbox,
and features the trademark humor and larger-than-life personalities that Borderlands
is known for. Battleborn trades Borderlands' massive open-world and procedurally
generated arsenal for MMO raid-style story missions on distinct levels, and a
whopping 25 playable heroes, each sporting their own unique weapons and
abilities.
Why You Should Care: Battleborn
shakes up the competitive multiplayer formula with some MOBA-inspired features
such as a rapid leveling system and A.I.-controlled minion droids, and the huge
roster of characters ensures everyone can find a hero (or two or three) that
fit their play-style.

Superhot
Platform: Xbox
One
Release Date: May
3
Xbox One owners can now find out what made Superhot such a
hit with PC gamers. This stylish indie game turns the action-packed FPS into a
methodical strategy game by linking the speed of gameplay to the player's
movement. Sidestepping bullets and shattering enemies into crystalline shards will
make you feel like the hero of your own gun-fu action movie, even if the later
levels get
a little frustrating.
Why You Should Care: If
you're suffering from shooter fatigue, Superhot's unique take on the FPS might
be just what the doctor ordered.

Overwatch
Platform: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
3 (early access beta), May 4 (open beta), May 24 (full game)
Overwatch's official launch is still a few weeks away, but
fans can get an early – and free – look at the game during this week's open
beta. All of the 6v6 team-based shooter's features will be available to check
out (aside from monthly
seasons), including the 21 unique playable characters, four game modes,
unlockable loot, and weekly brawl events.
Why You Should Care: Blizzard
is a master at breaking down what makes a genre fun and compelling, and then building
it up with nearly infinite replayability. Blizzard has already stated that all
of Overwatch's DLC will be free, so if you're looking for a new competitive
shooter, now's the time to check it out.

Rainbow Six Siege:
Operation Dust Line DLC
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
9
Rainbow Six Siege was roundly
criticizedfor its lack of content and technical shortcomings at launch,
but a solid gameplay foundation was already firmly in place. The five-on-five
matches require careful team planning and communication to survive –
steamrolling an unprepared squad with a coordinated ambush is supremely rewarding.
Operation Dust Line adds two more unique operatives to the character roster,
along with additional content – if the last DLC drop is any indication, the
community could be getting another free map as well.
Why You Should Care: Ubisoft's
slow trickle of post-release DLC may not be enough to entice new players to
check out Siege, but it's still the most tactical team-based shooter on the
market right now.

Doom
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
13
Few games have the legacy of id Software's genre-defining FPS
series, and the latest entry seeks to reintroduce players to the fast-paced,
run-and-gun action that old-school shooters were known for. Doom's SnapMap
featurehas also made waves by promising to give players the ability to
easily make and share custom levels.
Why You Should Care: So
far what we've played of Doomhas been gorgeous, gory, and highly entertaining. If you're tired of taking
potshots at enemies from behind cover, Doom shouldn't disappoint.

Homefront: The
Revolution
Platforms: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
17
The first Homefront was far
from perfect, but Dambuster Studios is hoping that the switch to an open-world
formatis enough to enlist more would-be guerrillas to its cause. Your
hit-and-run tactics are augmented by the ability to customize your weapons on
the fly and craft deadly munitions, like an explosives-toting RC car. A
separate four-player co-op mode is also available, if being a lone wolf isn't
your style.
Why You Should Care: The
first Homefront failed to compete with Call of Duty and Battlefield, but that
failure has seemingly allowed Homefront to strike out and find its own
identity. The open-world format should give players more agency in picking and
confronting targets than the standard campaigns of other military shooters.

Coming Up Next: What summer holds for shooter fans...