Near-Perfect Third-Person Shooters You Forgot Exist

By Evan Regan Published Jul 27, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Evan is a Communications student based in Edmonton, Alberta. Formerly a sports writer, he was drawn to Game Rant by his longtime passion for video games. An avid gamer since the age of 13, Evan has played and enjoyed games across all genres and platforms. He is also an avid binge-watcher and reader, and prefers his music on CD or vinyl. He has two cats that frequently plot ways to ruin his day. Sign in to your GameRant account Not that long ago, the third-person shooter genre was all the rage. Buoyed in large part by the success of Gears of War and Uncharted, these games provided equal parts action and story, with more character than first-person shooters because you could actually see your character. From Vanquish to Max Payne to Resident Evil 4, third-person shooters have played a major role in video game history. However, because of their popularity, there are a ton of great third-person shooters that many have forgotten about. They're not revolutionary games or anything, but they're excellent examples of the genre at its best, experimenting with new mechanics, telling cool stories, and generally making you feel like a badass while playing them. These next games are just a few examples of such games. They may have been forgotten, but they're still worth your time today. Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order. Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10) Start Back Give Up Submit Results — — — Play Again Back More Games Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order. Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10) Start Your Order Back Give Up Submit Results — — — Play Again Back More Games Dark Sector Beloved By Those Who Played It, Forgotten By Everyone Else Close Dark Sector Released March 25, 2008 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY DIGITAL ESRB M // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Digital Extremes Genre(s) Action Powered by Expand Collapse Talk to anyone who played Dark Sector, and they'll sing its praises for as long as you'll let them. For everyone else, it's like this game vanished into the ether. Not only was it hyped upon release, but it also received strong reviews, and word of mouth was extremely positive, but for whatever reason, that never translated into widespread popularity. The initial moments in Dark Sector play a lot like Gears of War, but once you get access to the glaive, everything changes. It's essentially a giant mutated ninja star that flies like a boomerang. You can use it to slice the limbs off of enemies — even several at once — as well as solve some puzzle and traversal challenges. The glaive really makes the game, but Dark Sector is only an 8–10 hour commitment, and with the constant stream of powerups you unlock (and one of the best shotguns in gaming) you definitely won't get bored. Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy Psychic Powers, Shooting, And Both At Once Close Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy Third-Person Shooter Systems Released June 14, 2004 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Midway Games Genre(s) Third-Person Shooter Powered by Expand Collapse I'm always amazed at how rarely we see psychic powers in games. Control had 'em, Scarlet Nexus had 'em, and you usually get some form of telekinesis in The Elder Scrolls, but where are all the psychic-powered spy thrillers like Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy? This is not a game that you tune into for the story, even though it's a good time in a cheesy B-movie sense. No, you're here for the gameplay, and it's bloody awesome. You can, of course, fling enemies around the room at will. You can even hold them in the air and then shoot them with your gun. That's fun, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. You'll have to psychically stack objects to reach high places, or stand on them and then float around the room like Magneto. You can mind-control enemies to make them open doors you can't reach, and even disembody yourself to scout ahead and plan your assault. The psychic powers in Psi-Ops are really, really cool, and it's a shame that this game wasn't a big enough hit for us to see more of them. Scarface: The World Is Yours Say Hello To My GTA Clone Close Scarface: The World Is Yours Released July 25, 2006 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY PHYSICAL ESRB m Developer(s) Radical Entertainment Genre(s) Action-Adventure Powered by Expand Collapse Developed by Radical Entertainment, the studio behind Prototype and The Simpsons: Hit & Run, Scarface: The World Is Yours is a direct sequel to the movie. You may be asking: "Didn't Tony Montana die at the end of Scarface ?" Yes, he did, but in this version, even a dozen bullet holes can't stop him forever. Instead, he escapes through a secret underground passage in his mansion and emerges into Miami just in time to watch his empire crumble. Naturally, your goal throughout the game is to reclaim what Tony lost, and that often involves killing those who took it from him. For the most part, Scarface: The World Is Yours is a GTA clone, but it elevates that formula in several ways. First is the Balls meter, which rewards you for performing dangerous or cocky moves (driving the wrong way, taunting guys after killing them, etc.) with an invulnerability state. This snaps you into first person and gives you an auto-aim feature and unlimited ammo. You can imagine how that plays out. There's also the option to buy (or take over) properties to then use as fronts for drug dealing. It's very simply just a fun game that does a great job of situating you in the world of Scarface, from the gameplay to the voice acting to Tony's animations. Any fan of the movie should check this one out. Lost Planet 2 That's A Big Bug Close lost planet 2 Giant Spider Vital Suit Lost Planet 2 Lost Planet 2 7 /10 Released May 11, 2010 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY SUBSCRIPTION PHYSICAL ESRB T For Teen // Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Capcom Genre(s) Third-Person Shooter Powered by Expand Collapse Lost Planet 2 got a lot of hate for some very odd design choices, such as not letting you pause the game unless you made your session "unjoinable" by online players. This was back when Capcom didn't quite have its flow going, and so these weird decisions made a lot of otherwise great games alienate players. Fair enough, those design choices are frustrating. That said, this is a list of "near-perfect" games, and none embody that concept more than Lost Planet 2. Once you're actually playing the game, either solo or with friends in co-op, you won't be able to put it down. It's like a cross between Monster Hunter and Attack on Titan. You've got these giant alien enemies that you have to take down with what are essentially modern-day weapons (at first), and you have a grapple that lets you launch around the environment to help you accomplish that. Occasionally, you also get a mech, which are stand-out moments to be sure. Lost Planet 2 is brave enough to try something new, and while not every piece of the puzzle fits, the ones that do are on another level. Stranglehold Hong Kong In Slo-Mo Close Stranglehold Third-Person Shooter Systems Released September 5, 2007 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY PHYSICAL ESRB M Developer(s) Midway Games Genre(s) Third-Person Shooter Powered by Expand Collapse If you're a fan of Hong Kong action movies or the Max Payne series, then Stranglehold is right up your alley. There is no "slow and steady" in this game; you can't even reload. Instead, your only goal is to head towards each level's exit while killing every single fool who dares to step into your path. You can do this with dual pistols, a shotgun, a rocket launcher, and plenty more. The method isn't as important as the madness, and there's plenty of it here. Critical to the action is "Tequila Time," named after the protagonist, Detective Tequila, which allows you to slow time for some extra precision and cinematic awesomeness. It's not a long game, but you'll probably spend well over half of it in slo-mo, both because it's useful and because it looks so damn cool. The story, beyond being a sequel/spiritual successor to the classic John Woo film Hard Boiled, is largely irrelevant. What's important here is blasting away and looking like a badass while doing it. Evil West Cowboys, Vampires, And A Giant Electric Gauntlet Close Evil West 7 /10 Released November 22, 2022 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY SUBSCRIPTION DIGITAL PHYSICAL ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Flying Wild Hog Genre(s) Third-Person Shooter, RPG , Action , Adventure Powered by Expand Collapse If you've ever heard the phrase, "They don't make video games like they used to," then Evil West is the exception to that rule. It's a game about cowboys fighting vampires, and it doesn't try to be anything more than that. In many ways, it's a throwback to the era of experimental third-person shooters which produced many of the games on this list, but with a bunch of modern design choices that make for a smoother experience. True to the setting, you have access to an array of period-appropriate weapons like a revolver and a shotgun, but you also have a massive mechanical gauntlet that lets you punch vamps so hard their heads fly off (yes, really). A variety of other upgrades that you unlock as you progress follow this same theme of "advanced tech with a Western twist." None of it is meant to be taken too seriously, but that's what makes it so fun. It's not trying to be the next epic; it's just trying to be a cool video game, and it succeeds with flying colors. Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy Oh my God, that's Jason Bourne Close Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy Action Shooter Stealth Systems Released May 30, 2008 ESRB T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence Developer(s) High Moon Studios, Inc. Genre(s) Action , Shooter, Stealth Powered by Expand Collapse If you've seen The Bourne Identity, then you know the basic plot of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy. Thankfully, the plot isn't really the draw here. Sure, if you're a huge Bourne fan, then there's plenty to sink your teeth into, and even some Easter Eggs and extra content that will tickle your fandom bone. The main appeal for anyone else, though, is getting to play as Jason Bourne, and that feeling is captured perfectly. While this is a third-person shooter at its core, the best part of The Bourne Conspiracy is the hand-to-hand combat, which boasts the same improvisational brutality that Matt Damon's live-action Bourne showcases. You have your typical light and heavy attacks, but landing these fills up an adrenaline meter. Once one section is full, you can use a takedown move. Depending on where you're standing at any given moment, Bourne will grab something from the environment to use as a weapon: a book, a mug, the corner of a desk, or even a pencil. It never gets old, largely because the game isn't long enough to wear out its welcome. It's a fantastic combat system, and I truly hope it's innovated upon in Saber Interactive's upcoming John Wick game. The Suffering Jailhouse Rock Close IGDB The Suffering Survival Horror Shooter Systems Released March 9, 2004 Where to play Close WHERE TO PLAY PHYSICAL ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Surreal Software Genre(s) Survival Horror, Shooter Powered by Expand Collapse There's one caveat when it comes to recommending The Suffering : please ignore the opening cutscene. It's awful, and does little to capture the actual tone of the game. Thankfully, it's very short, and after that you're thrown into a prison overrun by horrific monsters that are just itching to take a bullet. Good news: you're also in there and more than happy to oblige. Equal parts action game and horror game, The Suffering features some genuinely fantastic, heavily M-rated enemy designs that each behave in unique ways. Some enemies crawl on the ceiling, while others emerge from puddles of blood. They're all inspired ideas like this that force you to observe your surroundings closely, and it never fails to ratchet up the tension. The combat works well in the horror sections, but it thrives during the action sequences, when you get to throw off the restraints and enter a "Rage Mode," transform into a giant monster, and rip those initially terrifying enemies to shreds. It's also worth noting that, unlike almost every other game on this list, the story here is really solid and largely delivered through gameplay, with very few cutscenes breaking up the pacing. Close