Founded in 1994,Monolith Productionsbecame a legend in the FPS genre. During the ‘90s and early 2000s, if you were gaming on aPC, you probably touched one of their iconic games. Whenever Monolith released something good, it always took players’ breaths away. They were so ahead of their time that even now, after so many years have passed, their old games still look amazing and remain a blast to play.
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Unfortunately, you probablywon’t see another studio like Monolithagain now that Warner Bros. has shut them down. It always hurts when a studio that’s given so much joy to players goes away. It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend. Still, where some fade into obscurity, Monolith can take pride in knowing it left its mark on gaming history, as these examples will show.
10F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
The Flawed Yet Fun Horror Game
F.E.A.R. 2
You awaken in a strange hospital after being experimented on. Cut off from your team, you’ll have to fight your way out through a city that’s been nuked. Though the citizens are gone, it’s far from uninhabited. The Replica Army is gearing up for war, a rogue commander and his black op’s forces are hunting you, and the ghostly figure of Alma Wade is stalking you around every turn.
F.E.A.R. 2 continues where the first horror game left off. The arena-style combat feels bigger as you fight using slow-mo powers, many weapons, and even a mech. It’s a fun action shooter, but where the game struggles is in the horror. F.E.A.R. 2 leans too much on gore over tension, with some of the scares feeling weak. However, the enemy designs remain awesome, and it still has one of the most messed-up endings in a horror game.
9Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
The Prototype Titanfall 2
July 15, 2025
Monolith Productions
First-Person Shooter
PC, Mac OS X
Influenced by Japanese animation and the mecha genre, Shogo: Mobile Armor Division was Monolith’s most ambitious project at the time. Because you weren’t just playing as a soldier, you were also piloting a mech. LikeTitanfall 2, you switch between fighting on foot and controlling an enormous mech, both of which are centered around FPS combat with their own set of guns.
The game did a great job capturing how big your robot feels as you pilot it through open environments and battle enemy mechs. Sure, the story was kind of corny, the combat could get janky at times, and you can tell the makers had to cut corners during development, but overall, Shogo is impressive for its time. Though not the first mech-focused game, it was the first mech FPS. Monolith attempted something bigger and unique, rather than another mindless shooter, and they should be proud of their achievement.
8The Operative: No One Lives Forever
James Bond Meets Austin Powers
The Operative: No One Lives Forever
The Operative: No One Lives Forever is what you get when you take the theme of a 60s spy film, throw in some humor, and turn it into an FPS stealth game. You assume the role of Cate Archer, a novice agent dispatched on missions to stop a rogue terrorist organization.
Though originally on PC, The Operative was Monolith’s first game to be ported to a console, released for thePlayStation 2. The game gives you a large selection of weaponry for fighting, but it encourages taking the stealthy approach with its funny selection of gadgets like perfume that puts guards to sleep, sunglasses with a camera, and exploding lipstick. Besides, playing stealthily is part of the fun as the game scores you after every mission. Plus, The Operative has a sense of humor with tons of funny NPC banter and hilarious sidenotes throughout the game.
7No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way
Second Verse, Same as The First
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way
Cate Archer returns in her next adventure: No One Lives Forever 2. The international criminal organization known as H.A.R.M. is up to their nefarious deeds again, and it falls on Archer to stop them. Everything that made the first game great returns here, only with new weapons, gadgets, and exotic locations.
Like in the first game, you’re free to handle every mission in whichever way you want. Go in guns blazing or take the stealthy approach like a true spy. No One Lives Forever 2 was another feather in Monolith’s cap of epic games. However, despite being just as successful and well-received as the first, the adventures of Cate Archer sadly never saw a third continuation.
6Condemned: Criminal Origins
Condemned: Criminal Origins
Released as a launch title for the Xbox 360, Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of Monolith’s darkest games. In a city surging with insane killings, FBI Agent Ethan Thomas is framed for the death of two officers. Now on the run, he’ll be fighting for his life while chasing a new murderer: Serial Killer X, a man who hunts serial killers and murders them using their methods.
Though the game is in first-person, its focus is on melee combat. You can use weapons found in the environment, like pipes, wooden 2x4s, axes, whatever you can get your hands on for blocking and striking. Some swing fast but do minimal damage, whereas some hit harder but are much slower. Though the character models have not aged well, the environments and atmosphere still hold up. The game is still frightening, and players will be on the edge of their seats during certain levels.
The game does have guns, but they have limited ammo and no reloading. So, they’re rare items in Condemned.
5Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Birth of the Nemesis System
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
You are Talion, a Ranger of the Black Gate. After you and your family are murdered, you return as a Gravewalker, a being who revives from death. With the spirit of Celebrimbor bound to you, you set out on a quest for revenge in the realm of Mordor.Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordoris without a doubt one of the best games from Monolith Productions and The Lord of the Rings franchise.
Death carries consequences. When you die, your enemy will remember, even comment on it, and most of all, become stronger. Thanks to the Nemesis System mechanic, each new playthrough is personalized. Every powerful orc you encounter is unique, with new features, combat styles, and personalities: some are battle-crazed, some are unhinged, and some are hilarious.If only Warner Bros. didn’t squander this amazing idea. Despite that, Shadow of Mordor is a must-play even if you’re not a LOTR fan.
4Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
Released in 2017,Middle-earth: Shadow of Warwould unfortunately be the last game Monolith finished. But at least they ended on a high note. After forging a new ring of power, Talion and Celebrimbor commence their campaign against the forces of Sauron and his dreaded Nazgûl.
Everything players loved about the Nemesis System from the previous game has been expanded upon. Not only are the enemies bigger and more diverse than before, but even your connection with them has changed. Forge rivalries with troublesome orcs giving you problems and punish them with your ring of power. Turn powerful foes into followers, spies, or leaders as you march into combat and capture forts.
You feel like a powerful warlord with an army at your beck and call, battling the forces of Mordor. Shadow of War is one big adventure full of encounters, and a perfect end to Talion’s story.
3Aliens Versus Predator 2
Marines & Predators & Aliens, Oh My!
Aliens Versus Predator 2
TheAlienmeets the Predator in one of the best games for both franchises. Aliens Versus Predator 2 is such a classic of PC gaming. What’s funny is Monolith had nothing to do with the first AVP game, nor its follow-ups. In AVP 2, you get three campaigns for the price of one, each with their own individual gameplay mechanics and stories.
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As the Alien, you star in a horror adventure where YOU are the monster. Stalk your prey in the darkness as the perfect organism. As the Predator, you are a hunter with an advanced array of technology. Prove you’re the best as you pursue humans and Xenomorphs alike. And as a Marine, you’re on a mission against a Xenomorph outbreak, armed with only your wit and whatever weapons you can come across.
A simple yet fitting title for Monolith’s first game. Blood is what happens when you take the Evil Dead, DOOM, and chuck them into a black hole. You are Caleb, an unhinged gunslinger who fights like the Doom Marine but spouts pop-culture references like he’s Duke Nukem. Betrayed by the demon you worshiped—you arise from your grave seeking revenge.
In your way is a horde of hostile enemies, from hideous cultists armed with Tommy guns to undead phantoms, gargoyles, and spiders. Blood doesn’t mess around. Even veteran FPS players will find it difficult. Yet there’s a balance between challenge and fun. The arsenal in this game is still incredible, featuring one of the fastest shotguns ever made, a Tesla Cannon, and even magical items like Voodoo dolls. Blood stands as the best example of a boomer shooter.
Honorable Mentions: Tron 2.0 and Claw are good games and deserving of attention, but this list can’t go on forever.
Monolith’s Masterpiece
Kids have Halo. Men haveF.E.A.R.Loaded with supernatural terror, action, and mystery, F.E.A.R. is up there as one of thegreatest FPS horror games ever made, and Monolith’s biggest achievement. Gifted with enhanced reflexes and combat skills, you’re the Point Man from a task force known as F.E.A.R. With a psychic operative on the loose and a battalion of clone soldiers under his command, it’s up to you to stop him before he unleashes horror upon the world.
Everything about F.E.A.R.’s combat is flawless. Each map feels big as you battle enemies in large areas with some of the most advanced AI in gaming with destructible environments. The guns are fun and powerful as you use your slow-mo powers to tip the odds in your favor. The tension, atmosphere, and scares will make the hair of even a seasoned horror fan stand on end. When players think of Monolith, they’ll always think of F.E.A.R.
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