5 Third-Person Shooters With Flawless Combat

A third-person shooter without a compelling combat system is about as redundant as a paper-mache spork. The simple truth is, every shooter should at least have something to wager when releasing to the world. Without any evidence of having an addictive combat system, the game is only destined to plummet into everlasting failure. That's a bitter pill the vast majority have unfortunately had to swallow, and the minority that haven't have indeed caused otherwise great games to crumble into ash.

Of course, there are plenty of video games that hoist the colors for phenomenal combat systems all over the globe. These are, in fact, games that have somehow revolutionized the mechanics in one way or another, which has, in turn, opened the door for countless others to follow in their place. But what are these games we speak of? Well, let's dive right into it. Here are five third-person shooter games with flawless combat.

5. Gears of War

Gears of War is known for being Xbox royalty, as it has been for the best part of fifteen years now. With five major instalments in the bank plus a casket of spin-offs to bolster it, the third-person shooter saga stands as one of Microsoft's favorite children. Let it be said, though, that its prominence wouldn't have been cast in stone if it wasn't for the flawless combat the series narrowed in on from an early age.

Gears of War launched to an overwhelmingly positive reception, with critics and players both praising the first chapter for its chaotic, albeit incredibly addictive combat. For a series that had only just found stable ground to walk on, the game played surprisingly well. This full-frontal combat only blossomed into an even higher level of greatness as the series capped off its original trilogy. As for today, Gears proudly hoists the flag as one of the most popular Xbox exclusives to ever grace the earth.

4. Dead Space

There's honestly no greater feeling than the one that comes with dismembering an alien with a ripper blade. And on that note, Dead Space has it dialed, to a tee. Although coined as more of a survival horror than a third-person shooter, the terrifying series does see its fair share of nail-biting encounters. And boy, when it happens—it happens.

Perhaps it's the weapons you're given that make the combat the award-winning success it is. The fact is, every kill is made to feel flawless and personal, even when you're shoveling through alien carcasses on the back end of the USG Ishimura. Ripper blades aside, Dead Space has a treasure trove of unreal weapons, and not one of them even comes close to disappointing the wielder. Like, ever.

3. Tomb Raider (2013+)

One of the greatest things to happen to Tomb Raider in the last thirty years is the 2013 reboot, something which Square Enix piloted for next-gen consoles. While still keeping some of its original charm, the would-be survivor trilogy lay the foundations for a whole new adventure. From there, only fireworks orbited its kingdom, and it was mostly to do with its stealth-based combat that the skies remained engulfed in color.

Unlike its early PlayStation chapters which favored the reckless route, the 2013 reboot focused more on strategy-based combat. This wound up working wonders for the beloved series, as each and every takedown was made to feel exhilarating. And to be fair, even with its powerful origin story to boot, it was really the addictive combat that kept us coming back for more. For that we say, well played, Square Enix.

2. Remnant: From the Ashes

What happens when you mesh Dark Souls' combat with a Division-style post-apocalyptic world? Why, you get Remnant: From the Ashes, of course. It isn't exactly bursting with innovations and artistic curveballs, but it certainly packs one heck of a punch as far as quality third-person shooters go. And to be fair, it's one of those oddly difficult games that we openly embrace, if only to feel the satisfaction that comes with each and every merciless slaughter.

Remnant: From the Ashes gives you the tools to throw down with some of the deadliest foes on the planet. As an army of one with a whole lot of gadgets and gizmos to spare, you must take back earth from the alien species known as the Root. Sounds simple, sure, but its unfathomable difficulty spikes definitely give you something to juggle on the side. But then, that's all the more reason to master it — for the sense of achievement that binds with every kill.

1. Resident Evil 2

To think, Resident Evil was once known for being in receipt of some of the worst gameplay mechanics in the world. A lot changed once Capcom made way for the series reboot, of course, which helped to resurrect just a slither of its dignity along the way. Much to our surprise, though, the Resident Evil 2 remake was miles ahead of its predecessor when it came to combat.

Rather than using the stale and clunky mechanics that plagued the original trilogy, Capcom opened up to a whole new system. It was flawless in its own way, and a far cry from its former self. This was, of course, developed into a well-oiled machine by the time the third remake came about. Now, it's almost impossible to picture the two generations in the same room together.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any flawless combat systems we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.