Third-person shooters are a great way to experience some wild action set-pieces as players take out the enemies standing in their way and make the most of their perspective by covering all bases. This gameplay loop has seen a ton of innovations over time, with cover shooting being one of the biggest changes to the genre that many other titles have replicated.
However, relying solely on shooting enemies can make for a less-than-stellar experience if this gameplay is paired with something just as interesting, if not more. This is whysome of the best third-person shootersaround integrate platforming and parkour elements to keep things engaging in the long run.
Tomb Raider’s rebootis something that surprised fans to no end. Despite the game clearly trying to emulate the success of theUnchartedseries, fans won’t mind as long as they get to experience a return to form for Lara Croft.
Watching this archaeologist slowly come to terms with the brutality she must accept to become an adept tomb raider makes for a great time. The action is brilliant and is held up by fun platforming segments that can lead to a violent demise if Lara isn’t careful.
Uncharted 4is the final chapter in Nathan Drake’s series and makes for one of the best video games fans can get their hands on. This action-packed shooter is full to the brim with gorgeous cinematics, stellar visuals, and gameplay that places equal emphasis on platforming and shooting action.
It helps that this game humanizes Drake in a way that previous games haven’t attempted, making for a deeply emotional story that hits all the right notes. All of this is held up with polished gameplay loops that let players take out enemies in style as they jump around from cover to cover.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apartis a massive technical achievement for Insomniac Games, allowing them to show offthe capabilities of the PS5’s SSD. Going through portals and enjoying the high load times on the latest console helpsRift Apart’s adventure stand out as one of the bestRatchet & Clankgames ever made.
It helps that the visuals and gameplay of this title are a ton of fun to get through, allowing players to take out enemies in style as they use Ratchet’s iconic weaponry. All of these elements cementRatchet & Clank: Rift Apartas a brilliant demonstration of this series' action-platforming goodness.
The sheer joyoozing out ofSunset Overdriveis palpable from the moment players boot up this title and check out what’s on offer here. The game wastes no time in letting players enjoy a high-octane gameplay loop where both traversal and combat are equally important.
It’s easy to see why Insomniac Studios was chosen to carry forward Spider-Man’s legacy after checking out this title. Combat and traversal work hand-in-hand, encouraging people to be as stylish as possible with their skills to attain success.
Before turning into one of the best first-party PlayStation developers around courtesy of their stellar work on franchises likeUnchartedandThe Last of Us, Naughty Dog was known for games likeCrash BandicootandJak & Daxter. The latter boasts a great combination of platforming and shooting gameplay, and no title personifies this more thanJax 3.
The gameplay is polished to a T, allowing players to experience the best of both worlds as they check out some fun platforming and shooting mechanics that feel great to this day. Some people argue that the predecessor was more engaging from a story perspective, but fans seeking out a title with the best gameplay in the series can’t go wrong withJak 3.
Despite being a title known for its multiplayer, theSplatoongames integrate a single-player story that makes the most of its gameplay mechanics. The shooting action is as fun as ever, but what makes this campaign so much fun is the seamless manner in which platforming segments are added to the mix.
Players must tactically place their ink on the ground to scale platforms, nail jumps, and reach boost pads. It’s a simple yet fresh way to helpSplatoon 3’s gameplayfit into the single-player mold without overstaying its welcome.
One of the more underrated third-person shooters that has been criminally ignored,Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrathis an excellent game for players to sink their teeth into if they want to check out a fun bounty hunter title where platforming and shooting feel very smooth.
Traversal is quite dynamic, with the Stranger having to climb, jump, and position themselves properly to reach locations. All of this is held up with fun combat mechanics that let players use creative weapons for great effect.
1Crackdown 2
The Agent Has A Suite Of Movement Options To Choose From That Aid Their Combat Capabilities
There’s a reason why so many fans went gaga overCrackdown 2when it launched. Players loved the idea of controlling an Agent whose abilities were augmented with a super suit, letting them leap and traverse great distances in the blink of an eye.
Sure, players could use vehicles to traverse the open world too, but the verticality and opportunities for platforming present in the game’s world helped it stand out as a unique game in Xbox’s library. The third-person shooting is the cherry on top of a fan-favorite title, and it’s a shame thatCrackdown 3failed to evolve this promising formula.
