All it takes is for a game to have an innovative combat system that others can follow. Sometimes the games don't have to be 10/10 masterpieces either, and even subpar or average games can have cool combat systems worth looking into, like the hip-hop sword game Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked.
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Not many games copied Samurai Champloo: Sidetrackedbut some modern games can leave an impression that lasts forever. With Hades 2 finally landing on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S this month, we see a masterclass in how to develop action combat. But does Melinoë's magically heavy kit really outperform the big ones? From the kinetic perfection of Ghost of Yotei to the recently updated weapon mechanics i Monster Hunter Wildshere are the combat systems that define the modern era.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Start
8
Tekken 8
Argument in the Family
For a series that started in the arcades in 1994, Tekken 8 proves that Tekken franchise has a lot more to give to fans of fighting games. Old school players will be met with the same array of punches, kicks, grabs and specials they've come to expect from this series, from classic characters like Hwoarang and Nina Williams to newcomers like Reina. In addition to new characters, two new mechanics can create huge ripples in the fighting game community.
First, players can recover, depending on the type they face, as long as they go on the offensive. Second, the new Heat system uses a bar that, when activated, can increase attack power, health recovery, and level-up combos. Both of these functions do Tekken 8 more brutal and satisfying than many of the previous entries.
7
Monster Hunter Wilds
Take advantage of wounds
Monster Hunter Wilds is more or less the same action RPG Monster Hunter experience that Capcom has been pumping out since 2004. That said, the things that haven't changed are what make it compelling, like how all fourteen weapons are viable for a character build from the bow to the harder to control insect glaive.
On top of that, each weapon has a massively branching upgrade tree for players to craft different types of the same weapon, so they can be prepared for any monster they encounter. What's new in this game is the Wounds system, which allows players to open up areas of monsters during battle, which they can lock onto to deal extra damage, which can also lead to bonus items. Players can also call for help from hunters from the camp, controlled by the AI, so if players don't want to engage in multiplayer, they don't have to.
6
Ghost of Yotei
Everything is a weapon
Ghost of Yotei level up samurai action from the previous game seven times. Instead of relying only on stealth takedowns and katana games, the protagonist of this adventure, Atsu, can use more weapons, from spears to scythes on chains. Each weapon has a skill tree that can unlock new abilities, and there is a hierarchy for weapons where one will be more effective against another, forcing players to constantly switch between stances.
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Although difficult, these games are also deeply rewarding because they respect your skill and resilience and test your strength properly.
On top of that, enemies can also drop weapons that players can use to throw back at opponents, plus there are ranged weapons like bows and guns to further increase Atsu's range. Atsu is on a quest for revenge, and her motto is to use basically anything at her disposal to get the job done.
5
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Master your Mek Forms
Xenoblade Chronicles 3at its core, can best be described as having an MMO-style combat system. Players can run around the open world with their party, and if they lock onto an objective, everyone will attack automatically. Players have a hot bar of abilities they can use that rely on cooldowns, and if players choose the right ones to hit party members, they can create a chain effect.
This has essentially been the style of play for Xenoblade series since the Wii, but Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has a new trick up his sleeve. Specific male and female duos can lock onto each other, fuse and become mech-like entities for a short period of time called ouroboros. These Ouroboros forms can effectively turn the tide of any battle, whether it's a boss or a large overpowered creature on the map.
4
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Learn your party's quirks
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has an active turn-based system that took from previous games like Mario's RPG series, but still managed to put a twist on things. In combat, players can choose to avoid or counter an enemy attack, and sometimes players can issue a group escape or defend against larger attacks. Each character has a ranged attack or weapon that they can use freely at the start of battle to perhaps lock onto an enemy's weakness to throw them off.
Otherwise, each character performs differently in battle, going beyond just different weapons and class archetypes, which is what really sets the game apart. For example, attacking with Verso will increase his rating, and at higher ratings he can use stronger skills. Lune, on the other hand, can generate magic blobs from attacks, which can be used to cast magic in many forms.
3
Nioh 3
From Samurai To Ninja
This third entry in the series goes for the gold as Nioh 3 introduces a class system. In previous entries, players could build their samurai hero in several ways, from equipping light or heavy armor to using nimble weapons versus elongated ones. IN Nioh 3players can switch between a samurai and a ninja on the fly, and this switch, when timed correctly, can even counter strong enemy attacks.
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The Samurai class works in much the same way as previous entries, giving players a slow but steady warrior to control, while the Ninja build is much faster and has exclusive weapons. Having a Soulslike with fast, visceral action and a way to switch between builds this quickly should hopefully influence the genre going forward. Generally, Nioh 3 at least squashed the ninja vs samurai debate as players could live in both forms.
2
Hades 2
A blessing for every occasion
Hades 2
- Released
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September 25, 2025
Hades 2 builds on the first game and improves upon it in almost every way. Players will start with a magic staff, but they can then unlock twin daggers, or a gun that can shoot skulls, just to name a few examples. Each weapon has multiple attack patterns between different buttons, and regardless of whether players are holding down those buttons or not, and there are also alternate forms for each weapon that will unlock later in the game.
Collecting blessings from the gods on a run will also change how weapons or even movement work, such as having a wave follow the heroine, Melinoe, around as she runs, or hitting enemies with a weapon can also summon lightning. With a handful of weapons, tarot cards to create buffs, and nearly hundreds of boons, there are so many builds players can create that the possibilities seem endless, making Hades 2 a highly customizable roguelike.
1
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Midgar Combo Breaker
Beyond combat, there are many things to praise Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthbut let us stick to battles. Each character has a unique weapon and their own play style, such as Cloud having stances, Yuffie's ability to use ninjutsu magic, and Barret having long range thanks to his gun arm. Materia returns from the original entry, which can give characters magic to use, new skills to attack with, or a way to increase stats.
Finally, there are attacks called synergies that allow characters to combine with each other, such as Cloud being able to boost Tifa with her sword so she can perform an attack on an aerial enemy. In many ways, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthas the second remake in what will become a trilogy for Final Fantasy 7has created the new gold standard for action JRPGs, and revitalized the series as a whole.
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