Games

Best Games That Masterfully Blend Third-Person Shooting And Puzzles

Published

4 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Christoph Rediske

best games that masterfully blend third person shooting and puzzles

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents

Puzzles in third-person shooting games aim to balance challenges and enhance gameplay without player frustration.
Notable gaming series like
Remnant
,
Uncharted
,
Resident Evil
, and
Tomb Raider
are celebrated for seamlessly blending shooting mechanics with intricate puzzles.
Each of these games presents a unique mix of engaging combat and thoughtful puzzle-solving, ensuring that players can enjoy both intense action and moments of quiet thinking.

When implemented smartly, puzzles can elevate any game — whether it’s a third-person shooter, an action-adventure rich with platforming, or a survival horror where players must both fight and survive. The key for developers is maintaining a delicate balance: puzzles shouldn’t be so long or difficult that they frustrate players or drag down the pacing.

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When done right, the blend of third-person shooting and puzzles offers the best of both worlds. Some gaming series are celebrated for mastering this approach, including Resident Evil, Uncharted, and Tomb Raider. Let’s take a look at some of the best games that perfectly combine third-person action with intricate puzzle-solving, without leaning too much on either aspect.

1 Remnant 2

Each Weapon Feels Distinct, Often Hidden Behind Intricate Puzzles

Soulslike

Third-Person Shooter

Remnant 2 stands out as a rare soulslike shooter, boasting exceptionally well-crafted gunplay and a wide array of unique ranged weapons that players can discover or craft. Each gun serves a specific purpose and feels distinct, adding significant variety to the gameplay based on individual preferences.

The game is also renowned for its diverse and mysterious worlds, each brimming with puzzles — many of which are notoriously difficult to solve. The developers enjoy challenging the community, even going as far as hiding secrets within the game’s files or designing puzzles that take days or weeks for players to crack. Solving these complex challenges often rewards players with some of the best weapons or gear available.

2 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

A Perfect Blend Of Lighthearted Adventure, Shooting, And Puzzle-Solving

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Systems

The Uncharted series is a go-to for any action-adventure fan who enjoys shooting, platforming, and puzzle-solving, wrapped in a flawless cinematic narrative. The Lost Legacy, though smaller in scope compared to the main Uncharted titles featuring Nathan Drake, is still a must-play.

Uncharted Feature Chloe Nadine Nathan drake

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Building on the strengths of Uncharted 4, The Lost Legacy offers some exhilarating time with strong shooting mechanics and some of the largest, most intricate puzzles in the series — requiring both strategic thinking and platforming skills.

3 Alan Wake 2

Detective And Reality-Bending Puzzles Coupled With Remedy’s Signature Action

Released: October 27, 2023

While Alan Wake 2 may not be as puzzle-heavy as traditional survival horror games, it excels in blending Remedy’s hallmark action gameplay with engaging side activities. With two distinct protagonists, players switch between detective work as Saga, piecing together clues, interviewing witnesses, and solving puzzles like finding passwords or breaking locks.

As Alan Wake, however, things get even more interesting. The writer’s ability to manipulate reality through special artifacts allows him to bend and reshape the story, literally unlocking new paths and progressing the narrative in a unique way.

4 Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

Best In The Trilogy For Balancing Combat And Puzzles

Released: September 14, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the latest in the series, masterfully shifts focus toward the exploration and puzzle-solving that fans of the franchise love. The game emphasizes tomb raiding and solving intricate temple puzzles, with optional challenge tombs offering even more to discover.

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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 an improved level design that encourages creativity, as well as new abilities in Lara’s arsenal. Fans of third-person shooting will still find plenty to enjoy alongside the puzzle-solving.

5 Resident Evil 4 Remake

More Action-Oriented Than Previous Entries, Yet Still Filled With Intricate Puzzles

Resident Evil 4 Remake leans heavily into action compared to earlier entries, yet it 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-heavy, even letting players briefly control Ashley in a suspenseful, combat-free sequence.

Many of the puzzles in the remake are optional, rewarding players with treasures or rare collectibles. Despite the game’s streamlined nature and strong emphasis on its shooting mechanics, few fans are likely to mind, as Resident Evil 4 Remake strikes a solid balance between action and puzzle-solving.

6 Control

The Oldest House: Mysteries And Supernatural Action Await

Control opens the door to the ambitious Remedy Connected Universe, leading to Alan Wake 2 and the upcoming Control 2. While the game primarily focuses on its fast-paced third-person shooting and supernatural abilities, there’s no shortage of puzzles hidden within the mysterious Oldest House.

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These puzzles often revolve around traversal challenges, requiring players to navigate shifting environments, avoid traps, and uncover secrets using their abilities like telekinesis. Figuring out how to unlock new areas or survive the ever-shifting architecture adds an extra layer of intrigue to the game’s already thrilling action.

7 Dead Space Remake

Playing as a Space Engineer Provides a Unique Horror-Puzzle Balance

Systems

Released: January 27, 2023

Inspired by Resident Evil, Dead Space delivers an exceptional take on space survival horror, with a fresh twist: the protagonist, Isaac Clarke, is not a hardened soldier but a skilled engineer. This adds a unique dynamic, as players not only need to survive the horrors of the abandoned TSG Ishimura mining vessel but also repair the ship and its systems to ensure escape.

One of the game’s most creative features is its arsenal, composed largely of engineering tools like lasers and plasma cutters, which allow for strategic dismemberment of necromorphs. Although players can use an assault rifle, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as utilizing these engineering tools to surgically dismantle enemies.

8 Remnant: From The Ashes

The Original Remnant Still Shines Despite Being Outpaced By Its Sequel

Although Remnant 2 surpasses it in nearly every way, Remnant: From The Ashes remains highly worth playing today, showcasing all the strengths that fans have come to expect from the series. The game offers a wide array of weapons to find, craft, and upgrade, each providing unique gunplay.

While its 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 the sequel improves on even further.