UPDATE 2026/05/07: 2-1/2 years on: it's still my favorite game.

UPDATE 2024/11/27: My favorite game. Top 2 best shooter of the last 10 years. Doesn't matter how bad I'm doing, I'm always having FUN, in the very least. Can't say the same about most competitive shooters.

INITIAL REVIEW 2023/11/09:
So, there's some dissent over this game, including some "review bombing", which has become fun for some sad people for some reason - why? I don't know. But, for whatever reason it's there. Gaming is meant to be fun. And, stress can be a part of fun. But negativity doesn't have to be. I say: appreciate games for what they are, not what they aren't, but also know where YOU find the fun.

I write few reviews, despite being a very avid gamer, and wish to share my appreciation for gaming. It's a part of my life, and has been for almost the entirety of my 37 years. I prefer PC gaming, but harbor no ill will to anyone who prefers a console, and/or a controller, and recognize (and respect) the unfortunate - and fortunate - consequences of competitive cross-play. All of the above being said, I'll tell you why I like The Finals.

I've been a PC FPS player for decades at this point. I started playing competitively with Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, and Unreal Tournament 2003. I never decided to pursue any of that professionally, I simply appreciate the structured approach to these games (despite any inherent flaws with any "online" competition in gaming).

I'll attempt to sum my opinion thusly: The Finals aims for a familiar & fun gameplay loop of fast, competitive, arena-based FPS games, but from a fresh perspective; not gameplay on the verge of being old enough to legally drink in the United States. Games like COD are the same-old, same-old. It hasn't - and won't - change. **The Finals** FEELS new, and takes the exciting, frenetic, fast-paced core of a good arena gameplay loop, and focuses on small, multi-team competition. It has a unique - and often beautiful - aesthetic, and offers new freshest vibe to a new FPS in years. It's a good game, and feels very unique. While I take umbrage with the devs instituting a COD level of offensively-overpriced monetization (edit: honestly they've been much more fair than that, and offer as many free cosmetics as paid), it's something expected and inherent to any F2P, or "service" game, in 2023/24 & beyond.

TL;DR: The Finals has legitimate solid, and fresh-feeling, gameplay; a very rewarding gameplay loop. The best cosmetics in gaming, to whit: Free is good; Overpriced skins not great. Excited for it's future. Makes me excited to game again!