Making our favorite FPS modes 1v1 to decide the greatest of them all

PC Gamer has opened a public vote to determine the greatest first-person shooter mode through a single-elimination tournament. Readers will select winners across eight classic FPS formats, including large-scale capture modes and small-scale respawn battles. The tournament aims to settle long-running debates by letting the community decide which mode reigns supreme. Round 1 voting runs until Saturday, October 3 at 11:59 PM PDT.

The matchups pair iconic FPS formats against each other, such as vehicle-based control point modes versus random respawn capture. Other rounds feature single-life elimination showdowns and asymmetrical party modes like Infection and Prop Hunt. Each pairing highlights contrasting design philosophies within the genre. The results will determine which modes advance to the next round.

The tournament progresses through multiple rounds, with winners advancing and losers eliminated until a single mode is crowned. PC Gamer plans to announce Round 1 results and begin Round 2 the following week. The process emphasizes community engagement, encouraging readers to rally support for their preferred modes. The final outcome will reflect collective preferences rather than editorial bias.

The initiative is led by staff writer Morgan Park, who covers FPS topics in the column FOV 90. Park has written for PC Gamer since 2018 and previously contributed to outlets like Polygon and Kotaku. The tournament reflects the diversity of FPS modes, from competitive bomb defusal to chaotic asymmetrical party games. Readers are invited to participate and shape the outcome of the competition.