Key insights
- Puzzles in third-person shooters aim to balance challenges and enhance gameplay without frustrating players.
- Notable gaming series like
rest
,
Unexplored
,
resident Evil
And
Grave robber
are celebrated for seamlessly blending shooting mechanics with intricate puzzles. - Each of these games offers a unique blend of addictive combat and thoughtful puzzle solving, allowing players to enjoy both intense action and moments of quiet reflection.
When implemented intelligently, puzzles can enhance any game – whether it's a third-person shooter, an action-adventure with plenty of platforming, or a survival horror where players both fight and also have to survive. The key for developers is to maintain a delicate balance: puzzles shouldn't be so long or difficult that they frustrate players or slow down the pace.
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When done right, the mix of third-person shooting and puzzles offers the best of both worlds. Some game series are celebrated for mastering this approach, including resident Evil, UnexploredAnd Grave robber. Let's take a look at some of the best games that perfectly combine third-person action with intricate puzzle solving without relying too heavily on either aspect.
1 Rest 2
Each weapon feels different and is often hidden behind complicated puzzles
Soullike
Third-person shooter
Rest 2 stands out as a rare soulslike shooter that features exceptionally well-crafted gunplay and a wide variety of unique ranged weapons for players to discover or craft. Each weapon serves a specific purpose and feels different, adding significantly more variety to the gameplay depending on individual preferences.
The game is also known for its diverse and mysterious worlds, which contain plenty of puzzles – many of which are notoriously difficult to solve. The developers enjoy challenging the community, even going so far as to hide secrets in the game files or design puzzles that take players days or weeks to solve. Solving these complex challenges often rewards players with some of the best weapons or equipment available.
2 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
A perfect mix of light-hearted adventure, shooting and puzzle solving
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
The Unexplored The series is a go-to for any action-adventure fan who enjoys shooting, platforming and puzzle-solving, all wrapped up in a flawless cinematic narrative. The lost legacyalthough smaller in scope compared to the main part Unexplored Title with Nathan Drake is still a must.
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Building on the strengths of Uncharted 4, The lost legacy offers an exciting time with strong shooting mechanics and some of the biggest and most complicated puzzles in the series – requiring both strategic thinking and platforming skills.
3 Alan Wake 2
Detective and reality-bending puzzles paired with Remedy's signature action
- Released
- October 27, 2023
While Alan Wake 2 While it's not as puzzle-heavy as traditional survival horror games, it excels at combining Remedy's signature action gameplay with addictive side activities. With two different protagonists, players switch between detective work as a saga, piecing together clues, interviewing witnesses, and solving puzzles like finding passwords or breaking locks.
However, things get even more interesting as Alan Wake. The author's ability to manipulate reality through special artifacts allows him to bend and reshape history, literally opening up new paths and advancing the narrative in unique ways.
4 Shadow of the Tomb Raider
The best of the trilogy for balancing combat and puzzles
- Released
- September 14, 2018
Shadow of the Tomb Raiderthe latest entry in the series, masterfully shifts the focus to the exploration and puzzle-solving that fans of the franchise love. The game's focus is on looting tombs and solving intricate temple puzzles, with optional challenge tombs offering even more to discover.
3:42
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However, Shadow of the Tomb Raider doesn't skimp on action. Its shooting mechanics are the best in the trilogy, thanks to improved level design that encourages creativity as well as new abilities in Lara's arsenal. Fans of third-person shooters will still have a lot of fun in addition to solving puzzles.
5 Resident Evil 4 Remake
More action-oriented than previous entries, but still full of intricate puzzles
Resident Evil 4 Remake Compared to previous entries, it's heavy on the action, but doesn't stray far from its roots, offering players plenty of puzzles throughout Leon Kennedy's journey. The castle section in particular is the most puzzle-intensive and even allows players to briefly control Ashley in an exciting, combat-free sequence.
Many of the puzzles in the remake are optional and reward players with treasure or rare collectibles. Despite the game's sleek nature and heavy emphasis on shooting mechanics, few fans are likely to mind Resident Evil 4 Remake strikes a solid balance between action and puzzle solving.
6 control
The Oldest House: Secrets and supernatural action await you
control opens the door to the ambitious Remedy Connected Universe that leads to Alan Wake 2 and what is to come Control 2. While the game primarily focuses on fast-paced third-person shooters and supernatural abilities, there is no shortage of puzzles in the mysterious Oldest House.
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These puzzles often involve traversal challenges that require players to navigate changing environments, avoid traps, and uncover secrets using abilities such as telekinesis. Figuring out how to unlock new areas or survive the ever-changing architecture adds an extra layer of intrigue to the game's already exciting action.
7 Dead Space remake
Playing as an aerospace engineer offers a unique horror-puzzle balance
- Released
- January 27, 2023
Inspired by resident Evil, Dead space delivers an extraordinary take on space survival horror with a new twist: the protagonist, Isaac Clarke, is not a hardened soldier, but an experienced engineer. This creates a unique dynamic as players must not only survive the horrors of the abandoned mining ship TSG Ishimura, but also repair the ship and its systems to ensure escape.
One of the game's most creative features is its arsenal, which largely consists of technological tools such as lasers and plasma cutters that allow for strategic dismemberment of necromorphs. Although players can use an assault rifle, nothing beats using these technological tools to surgically dismantle enemies.
8 Remnant: From the Ashes
The original Remnant still shines despite being overtaken by the sequel
Although Rest 2 surpasses it in almost every way, Remnant: From the Ashes is still very worth playing today and shows all the strengths that fans expect from the series. The game features a wide range of weapons to find, craft and upgrade, each offering a unique shooting experience.
While the puzzles may not be as complex as those in the sequel, they can still stump unprepared players, and many hidden secrets are unlikely to be discovered without a guide. Additionally, some of the boss encounters function as puzzles themselves – a feature that will be further improved in the sequel.
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