The Best Open-World Games That Prioritize Projectiles In Combat

Shooting has been a prominent mechanic in video games since the early days. From arcade shooters like Space Invaders and Galaga to modern FPS titans like Call of Duty, ranged projectile combat has proven an extremely popular way for video game fans to approach a fight.

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As the gaming industry continues to evolve, fans see gameplay mechanics meld and combine in fascinating new ways. Projectile-based combat goes well with just about any sort of game with an action-oriented playstyle, including many open-world games. Here are some of the best open-world games that prioritize a ranged approach to combat.

8

Far Cry 3

Going Coastal

Systems

Released

November 29, 2012

Ubisoft has a lot of open-world games in its catalog, but Far Cry 3 is easily one of the best. This iconic island adventure sets players loose on a fictional tropical archipelago, where they must battle the ruthless pirate lord Vaas Montenegro.

Along the way, protagonist Jason Brody will upgrade his arsenal with an expanding catalog of powerful firearms, from silenced pistols and sniper rifles to bombastic shotguns and rocket launchers, not to mention this game’s iconic bow and arrow. Far Cry 3 stresses freedom in how players can approach each challenge, and the wide variety of weapons in the game is a testament to this.

7

Fallout: New Vegas

Playing For Keeps

Systems

Released

October 19, 2010

Fallout: New Vegas‘ gameplay and graphics might be showing their age a bit, but the title is still a must-play for open-world fans and RPG players alike. The game adapts and enhances the gunplay introduced in Fallout 3 with several upgrades, such as a mod system to customize weapons and even different ammo types to shake up how players approach gunfights.

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While Fallout: New Vegas does have a robust catalog of melee weapons for fans who’d prefer that option, the gunplay is where the game really shines, especially thanks to the franchise’s time-honored VATS system. Fallout: New Vegas offers a refined, tactical, and thoughtful gunfight experience.

6

Halo Infinite

New Horizons

Systems

Released

December 8, 2021

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

As the first properly open-world game in the illustrious Halo franchise, Halo Infinite stands out. The game’s free multiplayer offering has been criticized for a lack of ongoing content, but the campaign still allows the iconic Master Chief to freely wander for the first time.

The gunplay that made the Halo franchise such a legend of the industry is still present, and the addition of a grappling hook opens up countless new options for exploration and strategy in combat. The series’ iconic firearms return here and are just as satisfying in combat as ever.

5

Red Dead Redemption 2

Vintage Shootouts

Rockstar’s iconic Red Dead Redemption 2 is famous for a lot of things, from its epic tale of tragedy and betrayal to the grand, sweeping portrayal of the American Southwest during the decline of the Frontier age. But the game is also known for its intense attention to detail and realism, and this extends to its firearms as well.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has an appropriately large catalog of guns, and shootouts in the game are intense and exciting, with the series’ trademark Dead Eye mechanic giving players a deadly advantage. However, gun-based gameplay in RDR2 extends well outside combat. Fans must constantly take care of their firearms and give them regular cleanings to maintain their performance, just like in real life.

4

Cyberpunk 2077

Staying Alive In Night City

Despite a turbulent launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has developed into a remarkable open-world game that brings the iconic setting of Night City to lurid, neon-drenched life. Protagonist V’s increasingly desperate attempts to save themselves from the malfunctioning chip in their head takes them to all corners of this flashy dystopia and brings them face-to-face with plenty of unsavory characters.

The gunplay in Cyberpunk 2077 is enhanced by a wide range of various damage types, some of which will be more or less effective against different enemies. In true cyberpunk fashion, players can also enhance their character’s cybernetics, which in turn makes them more effective against various enemies. Players can even install “smart” cybernetics that will cause even rapid-fire machine guns to lock onto various enemies.

3

Fallout 4

Building A Better Gun

Systems

Released

November 10, 2015

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Fallout 4 has an arguably weaker storyline than Fallout: New Vegas, but the gunplay has come a long way. Fallout 4 massively expands on the mods introduced in New Vegas, allowing fans to virtually build their own firearm however they’d like. There are countless potential combinations and modifications for every weapon in the game.

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Firefights in Fallout 4 are fast and exciting. The ever-present VATS system gives players the chance to turn the tide, and the fact that the game lets them equip explosives as a secondary weapon means they are never more than a button press away from escalating things to the point where bullets start flying.

2

Horizon Forbidden West

Sharp Shooting

Systems

Released

February 18, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Horizon Zero Dawn established protagonist Aloy’s considerable skill as a hunter and archer, and the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, expands her arsenal of ranged weapons. With a wide array of elemental damage types and status conditions, players have a lot of choices in how they take down the game’s intimidating robotic beasts.

Combat in Horizon Forbidden West is a very strategic affair. Players must aim carefully to exploit opponents’ weak points and pierce their bulky armor. The machines in Forbidden West are large and heavily armed, meaning the odds are constantly stacked against Aloy. But one well-placed shot can turn the battle against even the most intimidating robotic menace.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

Crime And Punishment

Systems

Released

September 17, 2013

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a game that needs no introduction. As one of the best-selling video games of all time, this open-world crime drama is nothing short of a paragon of the video game industry, thanks largely to its immersive open-world design and its intense story of crime and despair.

The gunplay in Grand Theft Auto 5 is heightened by the three player characters’ special abilities, each of which enhances their skills in a tight spot. In true Grand Theft Auto fashion, gunfights are often frantic and intense, and the stakes for all three characters remain direly high throughout the main campaign.

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