Eradicator (GOG)

An alien citadel has reactivated its defenses, seized the galaxy’s resources, and become a target too dangerous to ignore. Eradicator is a mid-1990s first-person shooter built around an unapologetically loud campaign of labyrinthine bases, alien hardware, and constant firefights. Its tone sits somewhere between a military sci-fi action film and an arcade blaster: grim stakes, exaggerated weapons, and enemies that exist mainly to be blown apart. Rather than following one silent super-soldier, the campaign lets you choose from three distinct operatives, each bringing different stats and special abilities to the assault.

Progress means pushing through 25 sprawling, puzzle-heavy stages, hunting for keys, switches, access routes, and objectives while automated defenses and hostile creatures close in. The arsenal goes well beyond basic rifles, mixing conventional firearms with explosive launchers and bizarre energy weapons, so encounters reward using the right tool rather than relying on a single favorite gun. Movement is more flexible than many shooters of its era, with the ability to look, duck, jump, and navigate vertical spaces helping the levels feel less like flat shooting galleries. Character selection also changes the approach: one fighter may absorb punishment better, while another’s mobility or stealth-oriented advantages can make difficult areas easier to manage.

What separates Eradicator from its better-known contemporaries is its willingness to combine Doom-style aggression with environmental problem-solving and character-driven mechanical differences. Its chunky 3D visuals, aggressive sound design, and elaborate fortress interiors have the unmistakable personality of the CD-ROM shooter era, even when navigation can become demanding. Multiplayer adds further value through several competitive modes, making it suitable for local sessions as well as solo campaign play. Fans of classic shooters such as Duke Nukem 3D, Dark Forces, or Rise of the Triad who want a tougher, more exploratory oddity should find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers should expect old-school controls, dense levels, and little hand-holding.