Top Ten Best Video Game Combat Systems

Before you vote please note:
1. This list is based on the combat systems themselves not the games they appear in.
2. Therefore don't just dismiss the system for appearing in a bad or overrated game.
The Top Ten
1 Batman: Arkham Series

Or how to drop an entire roomful of people. The combat in these games are based on hand to hand combat, stealth, and gadgets. Essentially hand to hand combat is limited to take downs, a single true attack, counters, acrobatics, and a very strong autotargeting system. Overall, however, it is very fluid, allowing for armies of enemies to be fought at once with little difficulty. Stealth features many different takedowns relative to enemy and player position, with varying "loudness" or levels of "unstealthiness". Gadgets vary and assist both other forms of combat. Overall this system is excellent in allowing the player to toy with many enemies and just be a total beast, but quite bad at making a single man be a threat, relying on stealth and gadgets instead of physical combat. This system has been imitated by the Amazing Spiderman games and the Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Mordor, and is destined to be imitated many more times.

2 Assassin's Creed

Assassin's Creed is far from having the 3rd best combat system on this list. It sucks. It's basically just holding the parry button and waiting until a marker appears above the enemy that's attacking you--yes, I said 'the' enemy, because in this game only one guard attacks you while you're surrounded by a group of enemies. The stealth isn't part of the combat system so you can't use it as an argument.

Specifically the combat in Origins. And especially the variety of weapons, with each type having a different way to use them. The Witcher 3 also has great combat mechanics.

3 Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Fluid, responsive, looks awesome. What's not to like?

4 God of War Series

This is the third person action combat system many were, and often are still, trying to create. The system consists of long ranged varying attacks used in a multiple input combo system. It speciallizes in fighting groups of opponents with brutal efficiency and performing just okay with one on one fights (often reverting to spamming a single combo). However this system is not very good at creating difficulty. Any attempt to do so results in combo stopping and frustration. This system was used in Star Wars: the Force Unleashed with some success.

5 Witcher 3

Everyone bashes this combat system for being too flashy but they haven't really played the game. The combat is very skill based (not as much as the witcher 2 but still very skill based) You can't just casually hack and slash away, you have be careful about when, where, and how you attack because one wrong move can take away huge chunks of your health.

Combat is great, although it looks silly at times. It makes Geralt look like a ballerina.

6 Chrono Trigger

One of the first RPGS to have a non-turnbased system, Chronic Trigger's combat is very deep for its time.

7 Super Smash Bros Series

A.K. A "brawler"
A very unique fighting game format, the Smash Bros combat system is simple, but elegant, as inspired by the Kirby game series. The series takes place in open yet limited 2D environments. Combat is built around two buttons, but the attacks change with direction of movement, position (grounded or aeriel), and whether or not the fighter is running. The system is also unique in deaths being caused by knocking the opponent out of the environment. The series also features multiple techniques (often born from glitches) that vary between games and add complexity, with melee containing the most. This system has been imitated in PlayStation All Stars battle Royale.

8 Soul Series

You will die oh so many times during these games but you keep coming back to take some more pain just because the combat is so very cerebral. Fighting each enemy is like a puzzle and you really have to watch its attack patterns a few time before you can really have a go. It feels unfair at times but the moments of elation when you finally beat a section and are able to go back through with ease makes you feel like a complete bad-ass.

Combat has huge variety, takes strategy to master, and will punish you if you're not careful. Definitely the best combat of all time; while the Arkham series is renowned for its fluent and fast combat, the Souls series has more moves and slightly higher fluency (in 3, at least).

9 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

One of the most fun combat systems I've had the joy of levelling up through. What comes across as almost hack-and-slash, turns into a wide variety of weapon and combat styles that turns the player into an unstoppable force of destruction! Button mapping and combos are easy to change up and implement making the game an absolute joyride.

So many weapons to chose from. Easy to switch between weapons. Ever fought with chakrams? Well you can in this game. The amount of weapons gives a great variaty in builds for you character. I've never head more fun with combat than this game. Shame it wasnt a succes partially because of its release date next to skyrim.

10 The Legend of Zelda
The Contenders
11 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

This games combat is absolutely amazing. There are 6 different classes each with different combat variations. The combat is deep and also challenging. Adding on to that is the magic. The magic in this game is absolutely the best. It actually feels like you are harnessing nature to fight for you

Without a doubt the best combat system ever put to game. Influenced by Dark Souls, but improves on everything that failed in those games. Instead of hacking at the toes of giants, you can climb up them and stick your blade into its eye. Masterpiece.

12 Devil May Cry

The most stylish and fast paced combat you will ever see.

13 Star Wars: Jedi Knight Series (Outcast and Academy)

This is how you truly duel an opponent and fight an army with epic results. This game combat system breaks many conventions by featuring: no auto-targeting, limited flinching, and a character that turns with the camera. However what results is a system where everyone creates his/her own fighting methods. The scope of this system is massive, featuring: legitimate swordplay tied to character movement, the direction you are facing, button/direction combos, opponent position, player position, and style (e.G. fast, strong, dual, staff); early first/third person shooter gameplay with unique guns possessing two settings each; force (magic) powers that vary with astounding complexity (stopping combos, stealing guns, bullettime, x-ray vision, physical enhancement, etc. ); a limited parkour system that is flawed but allows for unique effects (delaying attacks, kicking people into pits); some vehicular combat (ranging from land to space); some rudementary hand to hand combat; and mixes between those systems (e.G. using a lightsaber while riding a speederbike). Online multiplayer usually limits this to swordplay and parkour, but it doesn't matter due to the utter complexity of those systems. Fights can go on without either side being hit while intensity is maintained in a manner similar to real sword fights. License-wise, the fights in this game feel more accurate to the idea than the source material, on it's own it is mind-blowing. No other game has this combat system and as a result the source games are still being modded over a decade after release.

14 Sleeping Dogs

Some of the most brutal hand-to-hand combat in a game to date, Wei Shen knows how to make sure his opponents won't be coming back to the ring.

The awesome martial arts mixed with medium challenging blocks makes this combat sooo awesome.

15 Xenoblade Chronicles
16 Dark Messiah of Might & Magic
17 Lugaru / Overgrowth

An Indy game and it's upcoming sequel demonstrate what happens when you take human animal cross species and put them in the Matrix. In short the combat is quick and visceral, featuring parkour, hand to hand combat, weapons, stealth, and everything in between. The attacks are based off of distance from opponent, character movement, blocking, dodging, countering, opponent position, held weapon, and whether you are in the air or not. Essentially the combat allows for both single and multiple opponent fights without too much frustration aside from personal ability. It currently has no imitators.

18 Undertale

Yes, here it is, and lemme explain why. While not the best, it's definitely one of the most unique combat systems around. Mixing bullet hell with RPG elements actually pays off here.

You have a choice between befriending and killing enemies.

19 Mount & Blade: Warband
20 For Honor

I love that a level 1 can beat a level 55+ if he has mastered this complex combat system better then you. I would love to see this combat system along with the execution abilities in a Star Wars game.

One of the most complex combat systems I have ever seen. Truly amazing. Blocks, dodges, parries, you name it!

21 Red Dead Redemption 2

Amazing ways to execute moves such as lassoing people and hogtieing them

It is also fluint responsive and all around amazing what's not to like?

22 Oni

Yes, I know you have never heard of it. This combat system combines 2d fighting game combat with a third person shooter to create a deliciously anime combat system. The melee attacks are dependent on what position you are in, what buttons you press, where the enemy is located, and what character you are playing as, featuring punches kicks grabs and disarms. The gunplay features varying weapons with overall impotency to highlight physical combat. The system flows well between ranged and physical combat and features combos similar to standard fighting games.

23 Warframe

Sure, the potency of the weaponry is based around what mods you've equipped, but that doesn't change the fact that every weapon has some use in some levels, and that the Stance System is a rather decent way to keep Melee combat from being boring, while the Quick Melee Ability can be chained with gunshots to allow you to increase the potency of the other via Status Procs.

24 Red Steel 2

This is the pinnacle of motion controlled combat. The system features 1-1 precision in both swordplay and gunplay, button and motion combo attacks, motion strength sensitivity, and 4 guns. The system flows between gunplay and swordplay.

25 Mortal Kombat Series
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