Summary
- Returnal offers fast-paced bullet-hell combat in a unique roguelike format for an immersive and challenging experience.
- Risk of Rain 2 provides intense, fast-paced gameplay with multiple upgrades that make players feel unstoppable against hordes of enemies.
- Helldivers 2 blends comedy and action into chaotic missions, offering a wild ride with strategems that add excitement and fun.
Third-person shooters have become a staple in the gaming world, finding their place among some of the biggest titles on the planet across a range of genres from battle royale to horror. Moving past the first-person immersion and instead delivering an over-the-shoulder camera angle, the different perspective adds a level of complexity that can only be found in the third-person and brings with it a good amount of enjoyment and gameplay depth when it comes to taking down enemies or even other players.
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Despite their age, these third-person shooter games still stand out thanks to their unique mechanics and stories.
There are plenty of exceptional titles in the genre that span all kinds of games to excite and entice players, whether they are looking to take on others in intense PvP gunfights or to shoot their way through hordes of foes over and over. However, a few games go above and beyond and offer something unlike any other, redefining the level of enjoyment in both the genre and the gaming space as a whole. For those looking to dive into such experiences, here are the most fun third-person shooters that gamers can check out.
8 Returnal
Rogue-Like Action In An Alien World
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Housemarque
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Featuring an alien world and an explorer stuck in a time loop, Returnal is an action-packed ride that blends fast-paced bullet-hell combat with a roguelike loop that forces players to learn and adapt every time they die. Every session feels like a battle against a monumental alien threat, and the gunplay is so crisp and tight that the shooting alone is enough to keep players invested for hours.
Every reset allows for progression through weapons and upgrades, along with story fragments that permit the player to piece together the narrative without departing from the joy of the gameplay. It's a great title for shooter fans and for anyone familiar with roguelikes looking to explore a slightly different approach that ticks all the boxes and goes above and beyond in the fun department.
7 Risk Of Rain 2
Much Replayability After Every Run
Risk of Rain 2
- Released
- September 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hopoo Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Risk of Rain 2 takes an existing formula and game world and completely flips it on its head, turning a side-scrolling platformer into a third-person shooter that has all the fluidity and responsiveness of a AAA game, just condensed into a more digestible package. In this title, players jump in as the survivor of their choosing, armed with weapons from swords to bows, in order to take down the countless enemies and bosses that await them on each stage.
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Each and every moment is fast and demands precision, as players can quite quickly become overwhelmed and be taken out by the horde. The upgrades start out small, but the player quickly builds up their strength and, within a few stages, become unstoppable, tearing through anything in their path and doing so with style and speed.
6 Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap
Plain Orc-Killing Fun For Hours On End
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap
- Released
- January 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Robot Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Tower Defense, Action, Roguelite, Strategy, Indie Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X/S
The long-awaited follow-up to the cult classic, Deathtrap takes all the teachings from the previous titles and moves the game into a roguelite loop that really rewards creativity and offers a level of freedom that permits players to take the orcs out in whatever way they choose. Players start by picking a stage, then a set of traps, and are tasked with defending against several waves of increasing difficulty, all the while gaining upgrades to augment their character and traps.
Once the run is complete, they can then upgrade basically anything they could have ever wanted, as well as pick up a few extra traps to take into the next fight. The loop is rewarding, and the gunplay is so satisfying, especially when combined with the combo system that incentivizes careful trap placement and truly feeds into the idea of creating the perfect orc-killing deathbox.
5 Red Dead Redemption 2
The Pinnacle Of The Open-World Genre
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the gold standard for open-world narratives and games as a whole. The wild west is never boring, and players are given a vast range of options as soon as the world opens up to them. They can follow Arthur's tale across the land or venture out in search of rare animals, bounties, and mysteries.
Combat feels responsive and puts the player right in the heart of an old-western shootout, incorporating abilities like Dead Eye to add some depth to the shooting while also giving Arthur many weapon choices that all fit the aesthetic and never feel dull to use. Boasting a story that is also pretty incredible, it is hard not to enjoy every second of the game, especially when the map feels so alive and the third-person gunplay is so fun.
4 Marvel Rivals
Team-Based Shooting Done Right
Marvel Rivals
- Released
- December 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Hero shooters have been around for a long time, but it has been a while since a game has made quite the same impact as Marvel Rivals. Bringing a long list of iconic superheroes and villains to a shooter is the perfect recipe for success, and every character has their own unique playstyle and combat approach that keeps the game feeling fun regardless of what role or hero the player chooses.
Teamplay is key, and with built-in synergies, there is a big incentive to work together and combine abilities in order to have the best chances of taking the other team down. Everything feels so responsive, and ability usage really matters, providing a rush unlike any other and a level of satisfaction that has long been missing in the world of third-person competitive shooters.
3 Resident Evil 4
A New Era Of Survival Horror
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- March 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Resident Evil 4 is revered not only as one of the best games in the series but also as one of the main reasons third-person shooters exist today. The blending of horror and action is simply perfect, and any clunkiness from the original is completely erased in the remake, delivering an exceptional shooter experience that never holds back and provides a great deal of joy with every bullet that leaves the chamber.
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The enemy variety is truly remarkable, as even regular zombies can put up a significant fight, and with so many bosses and extra threats to worry about, the tension never falls, and the action stays just as high with it. With new elements like the parry system, third-person gunplay feels so much more fun, as every encounter can turn into a flashy gunfight that can only end with one survivor.
2 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Cinema Doesn't Begin To Describe It
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
- Released
- September 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Space Marine 2 takes the brutal, larger-than-life tone of the Warhammer universe and drops it into a visceral third-person shooter that feels just as weighty as its armored protagonist. Playing as a genetically enhanced Space Marine, every swing, shot, and charge hits with brutal intensity, creating a power fantasy that pushes the limits of what is possible in a game.
What makes Space Marine 2 stand out isn’t just its combat, but how it blends melee and ranged action seamlessly. It's not about ducking behind cover and biding time; it's about charging into the fray, chaining executions, and obliterating hordes of enemies in a fluid dance of violence. The cooperative focus promises strategic coordination and relentless momentum, making every mission feel like a cinematic warzone. Whether playing solo or in co-op, the game delivers satisfying action that never ceases to amaze.
1 Helldivers 2
Comedy And Action Melded Into One Perfect Pile
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The sequel to a game of a completely different kind, Helldivers 2 brings the idea of chaos and completely turns it inside out. Every mission feels like a movie, with ships flying overhead and explosions happening every two seconds. Players are in for a wild ride that continues to impress and deliver, regardless of whether they are extracting some hostages or defending an area from a horde of alien insects.
The real fun comes from the strategems, abilities that can be called in throughout a mission and provide various boons from additional weapons to giant mechs that can tear through the landscape. Whether jumping in with a squad of four or going in for a solo tactical mission, Helldivers 2 is the pinnacle of fun in a world that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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