Summary
- Sony's PlayStation games excel in combat loops, with real-time action being a major draw for fans.
- Uncharted 4, Returnal, and Bloodborne offer some of the best combat experiences on PlayStation.
- Games like God Hand and Demon's Souls enhance combat with challenging mechanics and rewarding gameplay.
The PlayStation brand has become stronger with each successive console generation, to the point where Sony has started resting on its laurels because of its console dominance. It's easy to understand why fans can't get enough of this studio, given the excellent quality of their first-party offerings.
Some of the best PlayStation games feature incredible combat loops that keep fans coming back for more. Sony was one of the first companies to realize that real-time combat would become the go-to for most modern gamers, and strove to populate their titles with some of the best action-packed combat fans can enjoy.
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8 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
The Best Combat In The Uncharted Series
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- Released
- May 10, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
While the first three Uncharted games were great for their time, their combat has become too bare-bones for players to appreciate it from a modern lens. However, A Thief's End doesn't suffer from this problem and boasts the best combat seen in an Uncharted game.
The tense firefights, simple yet fun stealth, and acrobatic takedowns ensure that running and running will feel great in Uncharted 4. Nathan Drake is a whirlwind of death who takes out his foes in style as he embarks on one final adventure to escape the mundanity of modern life.
7 God Hand
Players Master Combos, Only For The Game To Up The Difficulty
God Hand
- Released
- October 10, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m // Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
It's a shame that God Hand's massive barrier to entry prevented it from enjoying the critical and commercial praise it deserves. Fans who gave this game a shot and made a conscious effort to learn the combos realized why this amazing combat made it one of the PS2's standout games.
Gene can become a competent fighter when players learn the combos, but the game doesn't make things easier for players. Rather, the difficulty ramps up to the max when players are too skilled at this game. The title becomes so hard that players will be tempted to get on their knees and beg for their lives to make things more manageable in combat.
6 Returnal
Satisfying Third-Person Shooting Combat That Rewards Player Skill
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Returnal is a AAA roguelike that showed just how popular this genre had become after blowing up on the indie scene. Players control Selene, a space explorer who crash-lands on a mysterious planet and must escape the loop that she's trapped in.
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The combat in Returnal is fast-paced yet engaging, forcing players to time their dodges and pick their attack windows wisely to take out the strongest bosses in the game. It can be overbearing early on, but players who power through the early-game difficulty of Returnal will find themselves enjoying one of the best ranged combat systems in a PlayStation game.
5 Demon's Souls
The PS3's Solid Combat System Holds Up With A Visual Upgrade
Demon's Souls
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
With Dark Souls elevating FromSoftware to new heights, many fans were puzzled to see that the game preceding this trilogy was stuck on the PS3. Thankfully, Sony heard everyone's demands and decided to remaster the game for the PS5 without losing out on its tense combat.
This makes the PS5's Demon's Souls remake one of the best titles for players who want to check out a tough-as-nails combat system. Players are rewarded for timely dodges and parries, with the game's cinematic bosses punishing players for losing their focus in these grueling battles for a split second.
4 Marvel's Spider-Man 2
The Acrobatic Combat Feels Better Than Ever
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
Insomniac Studios did a great job of letting players enjoy what is comfortably the best Spider-Man game, with a sequel to their hit title featuring the beloved web crawler. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 lets players control two Spider-Men in a grand adventure where combat is one of the major pillars and feels more satisfying than ever before.
Players have access to abilities and items that can be unleashed on enemies with a simple button combo, making battles more dynamic than ever. Players will love smashing enemies to bits as they master the acrobatic combat of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and show their enemies who's boss.
3 God Of War Ragnarok
Kratos Has Numerous Options At His Disposal In Combat
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
God of War is one of the most beloved PlayStation franchises of all time, with the original trilogy endearing Kratos to the masses with his brash personality and brutal fighting skills. However, with the reboot, Sony realized that this character needed to be more multi-faceted to appeal to modern gamers.
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As a result, Kratos evolved into a milder version of his past self who wanted to be a worthy father to Atreus without losing out on his combat edge. Ragnarok enhances his options in battles and introduces more balanced combat mechanics, ensuring that players will love mastering the gameplay and taking on some of the game's hardest challenges.
2 The Last Of Us Part 2
Visceral, Tense Combat Makes For An Engaging Experience
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
While the story of The Last of Us 2 split fans down the middle, the gameplay was less divisive. Fans loved how tense encounters could get, giving them more options in stealth while giving players enough options to defend themselves when they were spotted.
Both human and infected enemies are a blast to fight against, with players either taking them out from the shadows or using everything they've crafted to shoot down and blow up their enemies in style. The brutal combat of The Last of Us Part 2 is one of its strongest aspects and will keep fans entertained till the very end.
1 Bloodborne
The Fast-Paced Combat Boasts The Iconic FromSoftware Edge
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Bloodborne is widely considered one of the greatest FromSoftware games ever made, which is a loaded statement given that titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring exist. However, the game's focus on gothic horror, coupled with a fast-paced combat system, ensures that players will love mastering the game's mechanics.
Nailing countershots to land Visceral Attacks and mastering a weapon's moveset turns players into an unstoppable force in combat. However, even the most skilled fighters will still struggle against the toughest bosses in Bloodborne. Bosses like Orphan of Kos and both of Ludwig's forms waste no time in humbling cocky Hunters.
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