2016 is poised to be the year that just might turn us all into FPS players

First person shooters are arguably the most popular type of games ever created. The mixture of engaging combat and exciting spatial exploration is what modern games excel at. And starting with the success of Id Software in the 1990s FPS games have been closely tied to the growth of gaming in terms of market share but also cultural significance. Characters such as Doomguy, Gordon Freeman or ,more recently, Master Chief have become integral parts of the popular culture at large. Franchises like Counter Strike or Call of Duty have dominated global sales charts for more than a decade. In short, there is no gaming concept more Western than the FPS. While the Japanese were mastering their unique RPG aesthetic, the US has given the world the thrills of twitch shooting,

Despite the astounding success of the genre, mainstream FPS title have largely been a market segment designed for the "bro" demographic. Every single element of a game like Call of Duty is designed to appeal to white guys aged 16-35. This unfortunately means that these games remain impenetrable for a large portion of the gaming community. For me personally, the emphasis on pure twitch shooting skills is a huge deal-breaker for most online components of realistic shooters. In short, my shooting reflexes are terrible. This has kept me from being immersed in CoD and Battlefield. I spent years thinking that I was part of a very small minority because my disability renders me incapable of twitch reactions. Funnily enough, a new wave of game devs all over the world have seemingly acknowledged  that my niche concern is a legitimate barrier to entry for quite a few people. Things are changing and I couldn't be more excited.

The game that really made me reconsider my attitude towards shooters was Rainbow Six Siege.  At first glance game looks pretty by-the-numbers, it is essentially set up in the same way as Counter Stroke with some interwoven MOBA-light elements. Because of this exact impression and the online-only aspect the game has received mixed reviews across the board. Contrary to the popular belief, what makes the game truly special is the way the game allows you to contribute to your team's success by being smart rather than just shooting.

Obviously, proficient shooters in Rainbow Six Siege will still end up being the better players, at least in terms of high-level play. However, the game also allows you to contribute to the team effort by mastering your specific ability as well as taking advantage of the environment. Placing a trap in the exact right spot can be as viable as racking up a bunch of headshots. It is essentially the thinking man's shooter that gives you at least 3 distinct methods of expression within the game. You can specialize at: A) Shooting B) Special skill execution or C) Taking advantage of the environment. This is the trinity of good shooter design that is in stark contrast to the shooting-only emphasis of titles like CoD. As a person that never really had this feeling of being essential to your team's success, Rainbow Six Siege is truly a godsend. It is a very inclusive game that only appears to be a regular shooter.

The new unique approach to the FPS genre is also what I loved about the Polish indie gem Superhot. The game's central conceit revolves around a fascinating bullet time mechanic. In Superhot time moves only when you move. You can always take your sweet time to plan out a poetic way to down multiple enemies. It is wonderfully dynamic and very strategic at the same time. It gives you the thrill of being a game action hero without demanding any kind of twitch shooting skills. I feel like the phrase "poetry in motion" was invented specifically to describe my experience in Superhot. And don't trust the let's plays, the game looks kinda boring when you're watching it. Both Rainbow 6 Siege and Superhot might look a bit intimidating, but they both deserve to be played.

On top of that, we have Overwatch and Battleborn, two games that will add to the genre's inclusivity in ,ore interesting ways. I haven't had the pleasure to participate in the Overwatch or Battleborn betas but what I heard about both games is truly promising. In addition to the heavy use of the aforementioned trinity of inclusive FPS design, both games are aesthetically innovative. The character design teams of Blizzard and Gearbox made a point of creating diverse casts of characters that will appeal to gamers from all walks of life. At the moment, Overwatch is really trying to invite new players to learn high-level teamplay. Battleborn will probably make more sense for people looking to engage in more of a casual experience. Whatever ends up happening with both games, the real winners are the previously excluded gamers. Who could've anticipated that two major AAA studios would be putting their money on convincing gaming minorities, such as women, to feel at home playing their FPS titles?

2016 will most likely change our definition of First Person Shooters. Rethinking the very formula and  providing unique mechanics  in games like Siege or Superhot fills me with some much-needed hope for the future. The video game industry has finally acknowledged that twitch shooting skills are not universal. After years of missing out on the fun of multiplayer battles, people with sucky reflexes can finally join the ranks of the FPS crowd. 2016 might just be the year to give these games a shot. Shooters will never be games for everyone and I'm fine with that. But, at the same time, it is a historically significant genre for gaming and making it more accessible and interesting to casual players is indeed a noble endeavor and an exciting trend I can fully get behind.  It's time to give inclusive shooters a chance.