Summary
Despite being rooted in some design philosophies that may be considered old or outdated, the boomer shooter genre has etched itself firmly into the video game industry and shows no signs of going extinct anytime soon. These chaotic, action-packed experiences have become one of the industry’s most popular experiences, and one of the key reasons why is the long list of iconic protagonists that have solidified the legacy of this spectacular style of game.
Boomer shooter protagonists tend to speak their mindsboth with their weaponsand their mouths, as a number of them rely on one-liners and witty comeback phrases. While characters like Nathan Drake and Kratos built their legacy on rich, complex storytelling, the heroes of boomer shooters are much more in-your-face, a trait that has helped them greatly over the years. These boomer shooter protagonists are the best of the best, combining wit and charm with a talent for destruction.
Warhammer 40khas been aprominent force in video games ever since 1995, when Games Workshop licensed the board game franchise to EA forShadow of the Horned Rat. Since then, it has been at the forefront of numerous genres, but one of the best efforts came withWarhammer 40k: Boltgun, which launched in 2023. Starring a charismatic Ultramarine named Malum Caedo,Boltgunutilizes a beautiful retro aesthetic and feels the closest to classic boomer shooters from the 90s that has been seen in a long time.
Malum’s quips and one-liners are excellent, as this brash Ultramarine slays Chaos Cultists and other enemies from the expandedWarhammeruniverse, culminating in an altogether outstanding experience. Thanks to his booming voice and perfect delivery, Malum fits right in with the boomer shooter heroes of days gone by, and he manages to make an already excellent title feel even better than it already does.
Based on the comic book of the same name by Valiant,Turok: Dinosaur Hunterwas a revolutionary game for the Nintendo 64, even beating the landmark release ofGoldenEye 007to the market by five months. It was an innovative title for the time, as it was not only one of the first shooters on a console to really solve the issue of 3D movement in a first-person view, but its protagonist was a massive shift for representation in video games.
Turok is an indigenous warrior from the fictional Saquin tribe, and is also known as Tal’Set, which was a huge departure from most games of the era. It was an incredible step forward for the genre, and the character of Turok has gone on to become one of the industry’s greatest heroes.Turok: Dinosaur Hunterand its 1998 sequel,Seeds of Evil, the two games that feature Tal’Set in the lead role, are currently available on all modern platforms.
In terms of raw charisma and pure 1990s attitude, there may not be a more appropriate character than Duke Nukem, the loudmouthed merc who has fought countless aliens and monsters ever since his first appearance in 1991. His crude, off-color humor and rampant use of offensive jokes is fairly dated these days, but Duke still remains one of gaming’s biggest icons and one of the boomer shooter genre’s most legendary protagonists.
From his first self-titled appearance in 1991, all the way to the oft-delayedDuke Nukem Foreverthat finally launched in 2011, he hasn’t changed one bit and remains the dorky oaf that he’s always been. And despite how rude he is as a character, the franchise has produced some truly incredible shooters over the years.1996’sDuke Nukem 3Disstill an absolutely incredible game worth playing today, as the level design and outrageous weapons are a blast.
TheStar Warsexpanded universe did a lot of good for George Lucas' space fantasy franchise, as it introduced heroes and villains that would alter the course of the series for decades. Perhaps one of the expanded universe’s best contributions was Kyle Katarn, the lead of 1995’sStar Wars: Dark Forces, an absolutely spectacular first-person shooter that takes place between the events ofA New HopeandThe Empire Strikes Back.
Kyle Katarn is one of the best creations to come out of theStar Warsexpanded universe, as his connections with franchise icons Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader help to solidify him as a major part of the time seen in the original trilogy. His wit, charm and complex story arc from merc to Jedi all began inDark Forces, which is still one of the best boomer shooters ever made and is currently available on all modern platforms.
Bloodwas developed by the newly formed Monolith Productions and was the first game they produced, having been fully funded by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive. Taking influence from classic occult horror films,Bloodstars Caleb, an undead gunfighter who is attempting to hunt down and eliminate a cult that he used to be part of, known as the Cabal.
Caleb is absolutely fantastic, as his delightfully evil cackle and one-liners are a key part of what makesBloodso much fun. Taking out the game’s unique enemies and monsters is punctuated by some wonderful bits of sinister quips and taunts, which allow Caleb’s gleeful personality to shine. It is one of the most fantastic boomer shooters of all time, and thanks to the spectacular effort by Nightdive Studios,Bloodis readily available onmodern hardware.
Doomguy has beenslaying demons and monstersever since 1993, and when it comes to boomer shooter protagonists, there’s simply no one better than the ultimate slayer of evil. First appearing in 1993’sDoom, this no-nonsense demon killer has been all-business and has starred in some of the most influential, beloved shooters ever made.
Doomguy has been the face of first-person shooters for decades now. His rich lineage and iconic design have become a permanent part of gaming, even lasting well into the modern day. This legendary series has continued to be one of the industry’s strongest franchises, with recent releases like the 2016 reboot andEternalcontinuing the trend that Doomguy started in 1993. He’s set to return later this year, withDoom: The Dark Ageslaunching on Jul 09, 2025.
