There have been an abundance of game engines throughout the years, with the DOOM Engine and Unreal being some of the most recognizable ones out there. More recently, user-friendly gameengines such as Unity and Godothave been gaining more ground in the indie scene.
However, the Build engine is arguably one of the most iconic, thanks to the instantly recognizable look and feel of the games produced using its software.Blood,Duke Nukem 3D, andShadow Warriorare amongthe best first-person shootersof their time, let alone today, all thanks to this innovative engine.
PowerSlave’sconsole and PC versions differ rather dramatically, with the console version being an arguably better (and more unique) game thanks to its Metroidvania elements and focus on exploration above all else. While not afully-fledged Metroidvania, the elements of the genre that are present inPowerSlavehelp to elevate player exploration.
While some players may prefer the original PC version ofPowerSlavefor its more straightforward approach to design, the console versions of the game are a welcome reprieve from the run-and-gun, key-collectingnature ofDOOMclones. Though, that’s not to sayPowerSlavedoesn’t have its fair share of those gameplay mechanics, as well.
Where To Play PowerSlave?
Though PowerSlave was originally developed with the Build engine, Nightdive Studios recently remastered this underappreciated FPS under the title:PowerSlave Exhumed. This well-crafted update of the game allows players to play a port of PowerSlave’s console versions. The PC version ofPowerSlaveis also available on sites such as GOG.
Ion Furyis arecently released indie FPSthat takes clear inspiration from industry legends such asDuke Nukem 3D, with the developers going as far as developing the game in the Build engine. This has resulted in a faithfully constructed old-school FPS packed with secrets and retro imagery, with large-scale levels and expansive battle arenas that are a joy to fight in.
The game’s tongue-in-cheek humor and action-hero protagonist, as well as the game’s classic shooter gameplay, will likely appease many fans ofDuke Nukem 3D. However,Ion Furyis also a tremendously accessible experience thanks to the addition of auto-saves and headshots, providing a Build engine game with modern features.
Where To Play Ion Fury?
Ion Furyis a modern indie game that was released in 2019 and is available on the Steam store. Thanks to its relatively recent release,Ion Furyis easy to get up and running and runs well on most machines.
Known as one of the greatest Build engine games along with other titles such asBloodandDuke Nukem 3D,Shadow Warrioris among the best old-school first-person shooters. Despite aging somewhat poorly in certain regards,Shadow Warrioris, thankfully, more focused on its action than its narrative, much like many FPS games of the time.
Shadow Warrior’sgreatest strength is arguably its diverse arsenal of weaponry that allows players to go fromhacking and slashing enemies with a katanato gunning them down with dual-wielded machine guns.Shadow Warrioralso makes the most out of its unique setting, providing a variety of creative environments to explore.
Where To Play Shadow Warrior?
A definitive edition ofShadow Warrioris currently available on both Steam and GOG, allowing players to easily access this classic Build engine game. The Steam version also includes added Steam achievements, for players that enjoy seeking out a challenge.
Duke Nukem 3Dis a legendary entry in the first-person shooter genre, in large part thanks to itsiconic (albeit misguided) protagonistand unique setting. This expansive old-school shooter creatively used the limitations of its engine to create dense, large-scale environments that are frequently fun to explore. These environments are plentiful and feature a great deal of variety across the game’s three original episodes (more episodes were added with subsequent releases).
WhileDuke Nukem 3D offersa variety of zany weapons that are equally fun to use, its large-scale level design is arguably its greatest strength. This is only bolstered by the attention to detail in the environments that reward players for exploring.
Where To Play Duke Nukem 3D?
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Touris a remastered version of the original game that’s currently available on Steam. This version adds a new episode, and while some fans may prefer the original version of the game, there’s no doubt thatDuke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Touris the easiest and most accessible entry point.
Featuring a dark story andGothic settingrevolving around the slaughter of countless cultists,Bloodis an immensely satisfying first-person shooter with a dense, eerie atmosphere. The game’s surprising variety of environments, from a dark carnival to a moving train, makeBlooda consistently wild ride — despite the limitations of its engine.
Bloodfeatures a variety of fun weapons with alternate fire modes, as well as an abundance of brilliantly designed (and sometimes maze-like) levels with dense environments. These levels are always fun to explore thanks to smooth movement controls and a number of hidden secrets to keep you busy checking every corner.
Where To Play Blood?
Originally released in 1997,Bloodis currently available on Steam under the nameBlood: Fresh Supply, an updated version of the game developed by Nightdive Studios using a new engine.
