All Shadow Warrior Games, Ranked

Shadow Warrior first entered the video game scene in 1997 as an FPS shooter. It’s often compared to Duke Nukem 3D, also an FPS released in 1996. That’s because the two use the same build engine, mirroring arsenals like the katana as a starting weapon and having a bit of other similar gameplay. After the show-stopping release of Shadow Warrior and Lo Wang’s first rodeo with fans, two expansions followed: Twin Dragon in 1998 and Wanton Destruction in 2005. 

And then came the overdue hiatus that had fans wondering whether Shadow Warrior would ever grace their screens in the modern day. Luckily, the series received a reboot with three entries: Shadow Warrior (2013), Shadow Warrior 2 (2016), and Shadow Warrior 3 (2022). Looking back, it hasn’t been smooth sailing, through and through. So, which entries go down memory lane as stellar renditions to the series, and which ones dropped the ball? Let’s find out in today’s all Shadow Warrior games, ranked article.

4. Shadow Warrior (2013)

It had been years before any Shadow Warrior game had been released. So, naturally, Shadow Warrior (2013) was met with so much excitement and expectation at the same time. Given the years apart, this entry had a lot to show and prove that Shadow Warrior was back, better than ever. 

If you played the 1997 entry, you’d be well familiar with the outlandish humor Lo Wang was famous for, so much so that playing the game in recent times will make you want to put his head through a wall. Fortunately, Shadow Warrior (2013) streamlined all that, even cutting back on the over-the-top voice acting and racial stereotypes, and presenting a reboot more streamlined for changing times. 

On the other hand, the gameplay held much regard and, consequently, carried more weight to the overall experience of playing the FPS shooter. Again, Shadow Warrior (2013) doesn’t waste any time proving its worth via fast-paced, adrenaline-infused sequences. It’s a game that’s among the first few to validate sword and gunplay while also adding a touch of elemental abilities to the mix. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t do enough to outshine the rest of the pack. However, the amount it did does deserve noteworthy mentions for graciously picking up where things left off.

3. Shadow Warrior 3 (2022)

The latest Shadow Warrior (2022) entry has a lot riding on its back, thanks to an undisputed advance in technology and hardware. Despite a relatively shorter length than its counterparts, Shadow Warrior (2022) does an outstanding job reflecting modern times. The gameplay is much faster-paced, whether firing guns or traversing its environs. The visuals, too, don’t lag behind, with an impressive spectacle of gore splashing through the screen to our delight.

If you played and loved the 90s Shadow Warrior era, then you’re going to love Shadow Warrior 3 (2022). It’s like the epitome of all that’s great about the series, which also speaks to its flaw of sticking to a recipe curated so many years ago. 

Regardless, the adjustments to the traversal movements, way more than any of Shadow Warrior (1997)’s predecessors, are impressively good, helping to curate a more intuitive explorative process. Also, the added variety in the guns and abilities at your disposal helps create a fresh experience you can easily get lost in for hours on end.

2. Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)

Shadow Warrior 2 had the sheer luck of picking up from a successful Shadow Warrior (1997) reboot. It’s the sequel to Shadow Warrior (2013), thus lifting off the base gameplay of its predecessor, and fine-tuning each gameplay element to near perfection. So, essentially, the gunplay, swordplay, jokes, and thrill of battle look and feel elevated compared to its predecessor. 

However, Shadow Warrior 2 took yet another step toward innovation and shifted the game’s brand to the looter-shooter subgenre. While innovation is always a welcome addition to a long-running series, it can sometimes miss the mark and derail the experience fans know. This is what happened to Shadow Warrior 2, where, despite introducing new mechanics, it failed to match its audience’s expectations.

Regardless, it’s still a blast playing the game, with newcomers getting a sense of a different side to Shadow Warrior. Plus, it’s a relatively better experience playing Shadow Warrior 2 compared to the Shadow Warrior (2013) reboot, which greatly struggles with ageing.

1. Shadow Warrior (1997)

Being a classic entry, there’s no debate over whether Shadow Warrior (1997) tops this list. Sure, it’s a frustratingly racist entry that’s fortunately been cut back on in later entries. Outlandish humor and racist stereotypes aside, Shadow Warrior stands as one of the greatest FPS of all time. It’s pretty hard to find a game like 1997’s Shadow Warrior, which adds to the charm of reminiscing about its gameplay.

“Ridiculously fun” is an understatement. Shadow Warrior incorporated unique and fun weapons, most of which went on to influence later FPS games. The gameplay is still surprisingly good, thanks to the powerful build engine that also brought forth games like Duke Nukem 3D. Blasting off opponents is incredibly satisfying. You can even nuke your opponent if you’d like. 

The level designs are creative, too, and the weapon roster incorporates a good number of different types to go around, everything from Uzis to nukes to swords to shotguns to grenades and more. Following Shadow Warrior, two expansion packs were released, namely Twin Dragon (1998) and Wanton Destruction (2005). In comparison, the expansions dropped the ball on nearly all fronts. The levels just weren’t enticing enough. 

It’s sad that Lo Wong has aged poorly. Granted, he is like a mush of Asian stereotypes. Also, things like the shotgun shots would feel underwhelming, and the grenades would be a little trickier to handle. It just didn’t pack the same punch as you might expect. However, Shadow Warrior still remains a classic campaign with fun enemies that caused a huge stir in the gaming world at the time of release.

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our Shadow Warrior games? Let us know down in the comments or over on our socials here.