Best FPS level design

[DraQ]

Why is verticallity considered a good design?

For the same reason Doom-style map is better than linear corridor.

 

[Tehdagah]

You mean those open world shooters where exploration is meaningless?

Not true, you need to explore to learn the map and create better strategies.

 

[toro]

Best level design in FPS: Quake
Best vertical-level design: Prey/Dishonored
Best interconnected-world design: Dark Souls

 

[Talby]

Chub Gam 3D.

 

[urmom]

I'm surprised Quake is still #1 for many people. So many years since then.

 

[Shaewaroz]

Duke Nukem 3D has some amazing levels, especially for its time.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Dark Forces 2
Jedi Outcast
Half-Life
Deus Ex
Do the Thief games count?

I mean duh guys.

 

[ValeVelKal]

Dark Force 1 has amazing map for the technology. Their capacity to change theme from “corridor-and-monster” like in level 1, to “horror level” (level 3) to « huge level with huge distance for combat- until suddenly you are in the base » level 4 was outstanding.

 

[RoSoDude]

Quake still has masterful level design. Every level is diverse, challenging, and perfectly paced to be completed with no mid-level saves. The game is addictively replayable to me despite the utilitarian weapon arsenal and drab visuals because the core combat challenge is so satisfying (along with the skillful movement mechanics) and the level design makes hunting for keys and secrets such a joy. id were at the top of their game back then, even though they were just going through the motions by that point.

Episode 4 in particular is highly underrated.
It's filled to the brim with brutal encounters that remain intense every time i replay it. In addition to greater numbers of Vores and Shamblers than the prior episodes, Spawn are exclusive to the episode and are the bane of every hapless player, bouncing erratically to smack you around and exploding violently when killed. With the danger lurking around every corner, each level becomes a razor sharp map-wide resource management puzzle where you have to chain Quad Damage, Ring of Shadows, and Pentagram power-ups to efficiently carve your way through threats while navigating the level for key progression. Damn, why am I not replaying Quake right this minute, anyway?

 

[Sjukob]

If you want "the best of the best" then you have to dig into user made content for 90's FPS games: Doom, Quake, Duke, Blood. I can guarantee you that nothing in the world outdoes fan made levels for these 4. Be careful going this route however, once you take a bite there's no going back, all commercial FPS releases would look underwhelming to you. Here's some stuff for Duke, for example:

 

[Morpheus Kitami]

Catacomb Abyss, Catacomb Armageddon, Nitemare 3D and Blake Stone 3D are the pinnacle of Wolf-clone design. Interesting places, clever ways of getting around limited types of monsters, and plenty of tricky levels without resorting to bullshit.
Doom 1, for obvious reasons.
Blood's level design is a thing of joy, each new encounter another thing of beauty to slowly unravel.
Ion Fury genuinely surprised me with how well-done the level design is, although the enemies don't always live up to that design.
Star Wars Jedi Knight is the yardstick in which all 3D shooters of the era are weighed against.