Wolfenstein 3D ($1.99, Universal) established the elements of what we now recognize as a first-person shooter. A 3D world, movement and strafing performed on one controller, another used to look around, an arsenal of weapons, health packs and (semi) intelligent enemies. It’s a little crude by today’s standards, but as a piece of nostalgia it’s well worth a look.

Clearly this was an avenue to be further explored, so id followed it up with the legendary Doom. The iOS version of this landmark title – rebranded DOOM Classic ($4.99, Universal) – is an almost perfect recreation of the original game. We say almost, because after the release of the original game, creative players were able to make their own levels and content to share with the Doom-playing community, which isn’t really possible with the iPad.

Like Doom, Marathon 1 (Free, iPad), looks a little creaky in its old age, but it remains playable and particularly interesting for the fact that its creator was none other than Bungie, which went on to bring Xbox gamers the massive Halo franchise.

Duke Nukem 3D ($0.99, iPhone; $0.99, iPad) was notable for stealing Doom’s crown, not in terms of popularity, but in the wave of controversy it stirred up on its original release. It’s fair to say that much of the fun comes from the guilty pleasure of seeing the ludicrously macho Duke swear and slaughter his way through a landscape full of hideous aliens and big-breasted women… if you like that sort of thing.

DOOM II RPG ($2.99, iPhone), while an interesting enough project for Doom fans, is possibly not the biggest draw for younger iOS gamers raised on more sophisticated role-playing fare. Visually and thematically, it’s very much a Doom game, but here the flowing first-person action is replaced by slow turn-based gameplay.

DOOM Resurrection ($4.99, iPhone) once again pits the player as a lone soldier up against the hordes of Hell in a besieged Martian mining facility. The visuals have had a modern makeover, leading to some truly unsettling demonic encounters, but more importantly the gameplay, while retaining some of the aiming and shooting aspects of a regular FPS, is entirely on rails, with the movement through the levels being strictly choreographed.

The iOS version of id’s new big FPS franchise RAGE HD ($1.99, Universal) – is a similarly on-rails affair, but the combination of an enjoyably gruesome plot and superb visuals make it a nightmare world worth visiting.

N.O.V.A. ($4.99, iPhone; $4.99, iPad) and N.O.V.A. 2 ($6.99, iPhone; $6.99, iPad) are the closest you’ll get to Halo on iOS. They’re visually stunning, boast slick control systems and feature stable multiplayer content.

The most ubiquitous first-person shooters of the past decade have been those based on realistic military conflicts, and iOS gamers have plenty of such games to choose from. Brothers In Arms: Hour of Heroes ($6.99, iPhone) is a relentlessly action-packed WWII romp despite some delinquent controls.

Gameloft shows how FPS gaming on iOS should be done with the Call of Duty-inspired Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation ($6.99, iPhone; $6.99, iPad) which features great looks, scripted events that keep you utterly engaged in the story, and flowing gameplay courtesy of a well-implemented control system.

Those seeking a little more tactical depth from their first-person shooting should take a look at the squad-based Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard ($6.99, iPhone; $6.99, iPad). You still control a central character, but are accompanied by two other squad members, to whom you can issue orders to take on individual enemies, flank doorways, plant explosives and the like.

Lastly, we’ve got two final titles that strip away all the single-player shenanigans in order to concentrate on an online multiplayer offering. Archetype ($0.99, iPhone; $2.99 iPad) is a visually appealing shooter with an excellent balance of weapons and big, open, well-designed maps.

Not quite so slick, but featuring a rather pleasing rewards and upgrade system, is Eliminate Pro (Free, iPhone) in which you can either play free or go for In-App Purchases.