Among the fan-favorite and popular titles like Max Payne and Gears of War, there are a lot of underappreciated gems in the Third-person shooter genre. Here are the ten most underrated third-person shooters that you might not have played or even known about. This list is in no particular order.
Stranglehold
John Woo’s Stranglehold is a sequel to the action movie Hard Boiled by John Woo himself. It’s not often that we see a game being a sequel to a movie, and Stranglehold is surely one of the greats. It looks inspired by Max Payne but it’s in no way, a cheap knockoff. Stranglehold’s cutscenes have a cinematic feel to them and the gameplay is a real treat. It’s absolutely insane, with debris flying around and you diving from cover to cover while picking off enemies with your dual pistols. It’s heavily action-focused and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Vanquish
Vanquish is a fast-paced and stylish third-person shooter that was released in 2010. It was developed by PlatinumGames. They’re who developed Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and you can expect the over-the-top nature of their games from this as well. I mentioned that Vanquish is fast-paced. By that, I mean really fast-paced. You can slide around the battlefield all the while ripping through enemies with your guns, and there really isn’t any other game that’s similar to this.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
2011’s Warhammer 40k: Space Marine is criminally underrated. There are only a handful of games that offer the level of heavy and tight gunplay mechanics along with incredible hack ‘n’ slash combat. Because of the obvious strength and overwhelming nature of the Space Marines, you’ll often see yourself be the doom of hordes of Orks and other enemies. Also, a sequel for this gem was announced this year and I for one can’t wait for it.
James Bond 007: Blood Stone
James Bond 007: Blood Stone has its fair share of flaws but it’s definitely worth playing. There are high-speed car chases and intense combat situations that will keep the player hooked for hours. It’s a linear game and considering the low number of such games released today, this will be a great game to quench your thirst for a good linear shooter. Because of its level design and good gunplay mechanics, I personally was quite fond of it from the start. Hopefully, you’ll love it just as much when you give it a try.
GUN
GUN was originally released in 2005 as an action-adventure game set in the Wild West. It’s an open-ended game that allows for exploration and completing side missions. The gunplay is surprisingly good by the standards of 2005 and it’s so much fun. There are various abilities, like slowing down time and entering First-person mode, for example. The story is good too, and I really recommend buying it if you’re a fan of Westerns.
The Saboteur
2009’s The Saboteur is a unique open-world shooter game set in Nazi-occupied France. It’s mainly depicted as a black-and-white game and as you liberate each of the districts, they become colored. It’s a unique design choice and the game stands out because of that. Also, the shooting mechanics and climbing are very well executed. There’s also driving and the environments are also rather beautiful.
Binary Domain
Binary Domain is a sci-fi RPG Third-person shooter developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku studio. They’re the studio that made the brilliant Yakuza franchise. It’s a rather unusual game from a developer who focused to made brawlers but it turned out exceptional. You have a squad at your disposal and there are also RPG mechanics that spice up the game tremendously. It looks exceptionally good for its time too, and I highly recommend it.
Spec Ops: The Line
I went into Spec Ops: The Line expecting very little. By the end, my opinion was changed and I really didn’t expect this to be one of the most impactful games I’ve ever played in my life. It’s absolutely beautiful in terms of both environment and the story. I don’t want to spoil anything about this game and I encourage you to play it without giving it a second thought. It’s not just a game, it’s an experience.
Scarface: The World Is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is an alternative ending version of the 1983 classic action movie Scarface. If you haven’t already, I highly suggest watching the movie first and then getting into the game. It’s an open-world crime game that has similarities to the GTA Games. It’s set in Miami like the movie itself was. There are a lot of activities and side missions to do, and it’s one heck of a good time. Plus, it features the likeness of the legendary Al Pacino!
Total Overdose
Total Overdose is a fever dream made into a game. It’s surreal and so funny. Not many things in the gameplay make sense and it’s more than alright. It’s an open-world game like GTA and its combat system is magnificent. It’s similar to Stranglehold but has much more of an arcade feel. There’s a good story and collectibles everywhere on the map. Exploring every inch of the game is very rewarding and will improve your character by a huge margin.
