With all theopen-worldgames saturating the market, new titles need something unique to stand out from the crowd. Some achieve this with exceptional worldbuilding, others with rewarding exploration, and a few boast combat systems so satisfying that they alone set the game apart.
In fact, the combat in some of these games is so enjoyable that it makes exploring their vast territories a thrilling experience—you just want to roam and challenge every enemy you come across. Let’s take a look at the 10 best titles that excel in this regard.
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10Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Way of the Blade
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliveranceprides itself on being grounded in reality, and nowhere is that philosophy cemented more than in its combat system. The fighting is visceral, heavy, and relentlessly challenging, unlike over-the-top action sequences common in many other games.
Inspired by authentic medieval fighting techniques, the combat system incorporates directional strikes, feints, and combos, requiring players to carefully analyze their opponent’s stance and movements to execute the perfect counterattack. Every successful strike feels earned, making victories all the more rewarding.
While the combat demands a higher skill level than most open-world games, it offers adeeply satisfying experience, rewarding patience, strategy, and precision.
9Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Meet Your Nemesis and Kill Them
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
While the combat inMiddle-earth: Shadow of Waris undeniably satisfying at every level, it doesn’t offer much that feels mechanically groundbreaking compared to other open-world titles.
At its core, it’s an execution of the free-flowing combat style with a fantasy twist. What truly sets it apart, however, is how the Nemesis system enhances the entire experience.
For the uninitiated, the Nemesis System is a mechanic that allows the Orc generals of the Dark Lord’s army to rise through the ranks, develop rivalries with each other, and clash with the protagonist based on the player’s actions.
These nemeses grow stronger over time, gaining new skills and resistances that force players to adapt their strategy with every encounter.
Talion has to exploit the environment and the entirety of his arsenal of abilities to exploit the specific strengths and weaknesses of each of his foes. To make things worse, more powerful orcs might show up during a duel, forcing Talion to face multiple threats simultaneously.
When that happens, the fight often devolves into chaotic, bloody action—creating a level of chaos that not only feels thrilling at the moment but also makes for a great story.
8Sleeping Dogs
Kung-fu Galore
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogsis often mentioned whenever the topic of underrated games comes up, and combat is a big reason for this.
This open-world action game set in Hong Kong offers one of the tightest and most satisfying martial arts combat systems ever featured in an action game.
Even today, its fluid, dynamic fighting still holds up, though titles like Sifu have certainly raised the bar in recent years.
Every fight in Sleeping Dogs feels like a cinematic spectacle, full of acrobatic strikes, brutal finishers, and cinematic moments that wouldn’t seem out of place in a John Woo film. The combat flows seamlessly, keeping you engaged from start to finish.
For anyone who missed it the first time around, Sleeping Dogs is an absolute gem, especially with theremastered edition often available at a bargain price.
7Lost Judgment
Pinnacle of Martial Arts Combat
Lost Judgement
Speaking of martial arts combat systems that really raise the bar, we can’t leaveLost Judgmentout of the conversation.
While the Yakuza series has always been known for its solid combat design, Lost Judgment—despite being a spin-off—definitely stands as the high point of the series when it comes to satisfying, hands-on fighting.
The game builds on the strengths of the previous title, making the combat feel even more dynamic and fluid. There’s barely a dull moment, and you’re constantly treated to jaw-dropping combat moves that keep things fresh.
Switching between stances is smoother than ever, which gives Yagami a versatile set of moves and strategies to take on his enemies. A combat experience that’s absolutely thrilling from start to finish.
6inFAMOUS 2
The Most Shocking Fights
inFAMOUS 2
While the martial arts-based combat systems in the previous two games are fantastic on their own, inFAMOUS 2 stands out because it makesbrilliant use of its open-world setting.
Fighting ininFAMOUS 2feels like unleashing a force of nature on your enemies. Cole has an expansive range of melee and ranged abilities that are perfectly suited to the vast environments and his impressive movement abilities.
Whether he’s soaring through the air to crash down on enemies, using lightning hooks to take out ranged foes, or just going to town with his Amp, every fight feels thrilling and dynamic.
The combat is enhanced by a constant cinematic feel, with slow-motion moments that make each takedown more exhilarating and a sound design that pulls you right into the action.
It’s combat that truly utilizes the scale and freedom of its open-world design to the fullest.
5Batman: Arkham Knight
Learn From The Bat
Batman: Arkham Knight
When the freeflow combat system was first introduced inBatman: Arkham Asylum, it really changed the game. It was fast, intuitive, and fun, creating some of the most memorable combat feeling to date.
The system was so successful that it became a staple in action games, including many on this list. Over time,it’s been refined with each Batman game, but it truly reached its peak inBatman: Arkham Knight.
Like the previous games, Arkham Knight lets Batman chain attacks, counters, and dodges while keeping the action fluid, even when surrounded by enemies.
What makes the combat even better this time around is how seamlessly gadgets are integrated into the flow of battle, plus the added impact that makes each punch or kick feel stronger.
A real highlight is the new Dual Play feature, which lets you switch between Batman and allies like Robin, Nightwing, or Catwoman during combat. This brings a fresh layer to the gameplay, allowing for new strategies and dynamic combos that keep things exciting.
4Ghost of Tsushima
Sneaky or Stabby?
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
Combat doesn’t always have to be about intense, face-to-face brawls. Sometimes, the challenge comes from having multiple ways to approach a fight—whether it’s an honorable duel, stealth, or using a few clever tricks.Ghost of Tsushimaweaves this philosophy seamlessly into its combat system, making the experience truly rewarding.
No matter which path—or combination of paths—you choose, the result is always the same: a combat system that’s deep, fluid, and strategically complex, encouraging players to use every tool at their disposal.
Ghost of Tsushima strikes a perfect balance, offering an experience that’s both rewarding for veteran players and accessible for newcomers. It’s an experience that truly stands out in the open-world genre.
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3Horizon Forbidden West
Facing Mechanical Giants
Horizon Forbidden West
No matter how often you do it, hunting down giant robot dinosaurs never gets old. It was a blast inHorizon Zero Dawn, and it’s even more thrilling inHorizon Forbidden West.
Just like the first game, taking down those huge, dangerous enemies is still the best part. On higher difficulty levels, you’ll really have to think ahead—setting traps, planning your approach, and moving fast to come out on top.
Forbidden West takes it to the next level by making enemies smarter and giving you more tools to use in combat. The close-quarters fighting is more complex, with new combos, weapons, and gadgets that expand Aloy’s arsenal.
And now, you’re able to even fight robotic dinosaurs underwater.What’s not to love?
2Elden Ring
A New Kind of Soulslike
Elden Ring
The Souls series essentially created its own genre, and its combat—defined by slow, calculated movements where you need to commit to every attack—became a trademark of that genre.
For a long time, fans wondered how this style would translate into an open-world setting.Elden Ringanswered that question brilliantly.
In an open world where battling multiple enemies at once is common, a combat system like the one in the Souls games might not have worked. FromSoftware could have easily abandoned the traditional formula, but instead, they chose to expand and adapt it to fit the open-world environment.
The result is one of the most satisfying combat experiences in FromSoftware’s catalog. With an extensive arsenal of weapons and spells, plus the introduction of Ashes of War and the return of Power Stance.
Elden Ring offers a combat system that truly encapsulates the spirit of the series that came before while still making it work in the new setting—rewarding for long-time fans while offering new ways to approach every encounter.
1Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Amazing Turn-based Combat
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
completely took the gaming world by surprise. No one expected the creators of one of Japan’s most iconic action series to flip the script and turn it into a JRPG.Luckily, the gamble paid off, andLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthtook everything great about the first game and improved it—including the combat.
The combat in the first game was solid, but it wasn’t perfect. Infinite Wealth takes it to the next level by making your positioning on the battlefield more important. It also introduces interesting new features like Team-Up attacks, which keep every battle feeling fresh, dynamic, and, most importantly, fun.
Some games prove that turn-based combat doesn’t have to be slow and boring—it can be fast-paced and exciting. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a perfect example of how turn-based combat can be both strategic and adrenaline-pumping.
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