What is a boomer shooter? Niche genre explained in 2026

Boomer shooter is a niche genre of game that’s often tied back to classic titles like Quake and DOOM. Despite being associated with older games, there are still plenty of new titles emerging in the boomer shooter scene, keeping the dedicated community around the genre consistently active.

But what does the term actually mean? Below, you’ll find Adventure Gamers’ full breakdown of the boomer shooter definition, along with 5 of the best boomer shooters to add to your library this year.

What is a boomer shooter?

A boomer shooter is an action-centric, first-person shooter that’s usually heavy on gore and splatter. But why is it called boomer shooter exactly? It’s somewhat of an odd term, considering that they’re technically millennial or Gen X in origin.

These games are often retro in age or simply aesthetic, giving a nod to titles that inspired the genre, like Quake and DOOM. Despite the boomer shooter community featuring players of a variety of ages, the name stuck as a reference to the inspirations of the genre skewing older.

Boomer shooters will usually feature a minimalistic story and instead focus on bloody action, fluid movement, and resource management in the form of map spawns. Protagonists in these games are often tanky and resilient, yet they’ll move incredibly fast, with a variety of weapons available to choose from.

More often than not, a boomer shooter will take place in either a sci-fi or fantasy setting, featuring nightmarish enemies like gory aliens, evil cultists, or shambling zombies.

It’s not a genre that’s known for realism or subtlety. Stories will be told through notes or audio logs scattered around blood-soaked maps, while boss fights or gauntlets will be packed with viscera and bone dust. Heavy metal soundtracks aren’t a necessity, but they’re a bonus.

Best boomer shooters to play in 2026

There are plenty of exceptional, modern boomer shooters, but don’t skip over the classics when you’re getting into the genre. Quake and DOOM are must-plays.

In particular, a great option is the DOOM + DOOM II bundle on Steam, as it offers enhanced versions of both games. The multiplayer options provided give the best co-op boomer shooters a run for their money.

For something a little different, Cultic is worth a look. This 2022 release pays homage to iconic boomer shooter games like Quake and places you in the shoes of a protagonist who’s battling their way through a dark and twisted cult. It’s survival horror-adjacent in places.

DUSK is another example of one of the best boomer shooters around, as is Turbo Overkill. Both are startlingly different in aesthetic – the former is occultish and dark, while the latter is a neon-soaked, sci-fi gem.

Why are boomer shooters so popular?

Alongside their moreish gameplay loops, boomer shooters remain popular to this day due to their simplicity. That’s not to say that they can’t present a challenge – some levels can be notoriously tricky – but the controls and overall gameplay style are easy to pick up.

Due to the story often being minimal, and there being less of a focus on puzzles or side tasks, boomer shooters are also easy to dip into for short gameplay sessions. They’re perfect for folks who don’t have much downtime but want to blow off steam after work with an hour or two of shooting zombies in the face.

This niche genre also has a strong community, with plenty of dedicated YouTube channels and boomer shooter meme pages. If you ever run out of games to play, chances are you can find someone with a list of new boomer shooters on the genre’s subreddit.

Boomer shooters are simple yet utterly addictive, with games like Quake and DOOM paving the way for a myriad of cultist-blasting, head-melting new titles, like Cultic or Turbo Overkill. They’re not overly complex and are easy to dip into for short bursts, but they’re still immersive and fast-paced.