Best Games By Guerrilla Games

Guerrilla Games has never been afraid to shake things up. From intense sci-fi shooters to sprawling open worlds, the studio has consistently pushed hardware limits while delivering unforgettable gameplay. Best known for the Killzone franchise and Horizon series, Guerrilla has spent decades refining its craft, creating technically stunning and mechanically satisfying games.

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While the studio’s catalog isn’t the longest, its quality speaks for itself. These are Guerrilla’s best games, from underrated handheld gems to genre-defining blockbusters.

1

Killzone: Mercenary

A Mercenary’s Playground That Deserved More Love

Systems

Released

September 6, 2013

Developer(s)

Guerrilla Cambridge

ESRB

m

Killzone: Mercenary wasn’t the series’ first handheld outing, but it was the first to bring a full-fledged FPS to PlayStation Vita. Running on a modified Killzone 3 engine, it pushed the handheld’s hardware to its limits with stunning visuals, smooth animations, and tight gunplay that felt surprisingly close to its console counterparts.

What set Mercenary apart was its unique credit-based system—every action, from headshots to stealth kills, earned money that could be spent on weapons, armor, and Vanguard abilities. The campaign also took an interesting angle, letting players fight for both the ISA and Helghast, showing the war from both sides.

Its multiplayer was arguably the best FPS experience on the Vita, with well-designed maps, satisfying gunplay, and a progression system that kept players engaged. If Sony had supported the Vita longer, Mercenary could have been the start of something bigger.

2

Killzone: Liberation

The Liberation That Came Before

Systems

Released

October 31, 2006

ESRB

t

Before Guerrilla Games brought Killzone to the Vita, they tested the handheld waters with Killzone: Liberation on PSP. Ditching the series’ usual FPS format, this 2006 spinoff embraced an isometric, tactical shooter approach that emphasized cover-based combat and strategic movement. Surprisingly, it worked.

Rather than just running and gunning, players had to manage ammo, take cover, and make use of AI squadmates to survive the Helghast onslaught. The game’s story filled the gap between Killzone and Killzone 2, following Jan Templar as he attempted to rescue ISA hostages from a brutal new Helghast commander.

It also introduced vehicular combat, letting players pilot tanks and hovercraft in certain missions. While the lack of a second analog stick made aiming trickier, Liberation proved that Killzone could work outside its FPS comfort zone. It even got a free DLC expansion adding online multiplayer—a rarity for PSP games.

3

Killzone 3

War In The Arctic

Systems

Released

February 22, 2011

ESRB

m

With Killzone 3, Guerrilla Games took the fight beyond Helghan’s cities and into its frozen wastelands. The campaign was a rollercoaster of explosive set pieces, from jetpack combat to a chaotic battle aboard a crumbling space station.

The game refined Killzone 2’s weighty gunplay, making movement snappier and controls more responsive. The brutal melee system also got an upgrade, allowing players to execute enemies with satisfyingly vicious takedowns. While the story wasn’t as strong as its predecessor’s, the addition of Malcolm McDowell as the ruthless Admiral Orlock added some gravitas to the Helghast leadership.

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Multiplayer was a highlight, featuring large-scale battles, class-based warfare, and dynamic Warzone objectives that kept matches unpredictable. It was also one of the first major shooters to support PlayStation Move, though most players stuck with a standard controller. While Killzone 3 marked the end of the franchise’s PS3 era, it went out with a bang.

4

Horizon Zero Dawn

The Dawn Of Something New

Horizon Zero Dawn

Systems

Released

February 28, 2017

ESRB

T for Teen – Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence

Horizon Zero Dawn was Guerrilla Games’ boldest departure yet, swapping sci-fi warfare for a post-apocalyptic world ruled by robotic beasts. The gamble paid off. Released in 2017, this open-world RPG introduced players to Aloy, a hunter seeking to uncover the mysteries of her past and the world’s fall.

Combat was a thrilling mix of archery, stealth, and tactical thinking. Each machine had weak points that could be exploited, and stripping off armor pieces mid-fight felt incredibly satisfying. The game’s world-building was equally impressive, blending tribal societies with remnants of high-tech civilization in a way that felt both unique and believable.

The story, while slow to unravel, delivered one of the best sci-fi narratives in gaming, tying together ancient AI, corporate greed, and human resilience. By the time the credits rolled, Horizon Zero Dawn had cemented itself as one of the PlayStation 4’s standout exclusives.

5

Killzone: Shadow Fall

A Divisive Future

Systems

Released

November 15, 2013

Publisher(s)

Sony Computer Entertainment

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Intense Violence, Strong Language

Killzone: Shadow Fall was a technical showcase for the PlayStation 4, launching alongside the console in 2013. With stunning visuals and a new direction, it aimed to reinvent Killzone—but not everyone was sold.

Set 30 years after Killzone 3, the game followed Lucas Kellan, a Shadow Marshal caught in the uneasy peace between the ISA and Helghast on Vekta. The shift from gritty war zones to sleek, futuristic cityscapes made it feel distinct from previous entries, but the story struggled to match the intensity of its predecessors.

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Gameplay introduced new mechanics, like the OWL drone, which added tactical options for hacking, stunning enemies, and deploying shields. The multiplayer, however, was where Shadow Fall shined, with deep customization and fast-paced action. While it wasn’t the franchise’s strongest entry, it remains an underrated FPS with some of the best visuals of its generation.

6

Killzone 2

The High Point Of The Franchise

Systems

Released

February 26, 2009

ESRB

m

Killzone 2 wasn’t just an improvement over its predecessor—it was a revolution for console shooters. Released in 2009, it stunned players with its gritty, cinematic presentation, weighty gunplay, and dynamic AI that made every firefight feel intense.

The campaign was a brutal march through Helghan, capturing the planet’s oppressive atmosphere with its dust storms, ruined cities, and relentless Helghast forces. Sev and his squad weren’t the most memorable characters, but the Helghast more than made up for it, with Brian Cox’s Scolar Visari delivering one of gaming’s most iconic villain speeches.

Multiplayer was equally groundbreaking, with a class-based system, dynamic objectives, and some of the best map design of the PS3 era. The weighty movement and recoil-heavy shooting weren’t for everyone, but those who mastered it found one of the most rewarding FPS experiences on PlayStation. Even today, Killzone 2 stands as Guerrilla’s finest shooter.

7

Horizon Forbidden West

A World Wilder Than Before

Systems

Released

February 18, 2022

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Horizon Forbidden West expands on everything that made its predecessor great. Aloy’s journey across the post-apocalyptic American West introduced even more stunning environments, new machine threats, and deeper combat mechanics.

Traversal was greatly improved with tools like the Pullcaster and Shieldwing, making exploration smoother and more vertical. The Combat also saw major upgrades, with new weapon types, Valor Surges, and smarter AI that made machines even deadlier.

The story dived deeper into the ancient past, revealing shocking truths about humanity’s last days and introducing new factions with their own agendas. While some players felt the plot wasn’t as tightly woven as Zero Dawn, the world itself was richer than ever, filled with side quests that felt as fleshed out as main missions.

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