Third-person shooters are perfect for players who crave constant action, cinematic shootouts, and adrenaline-fueled gameplay.
With a clear view of your character and the battlefield, these games blend fast-paced combat with tactical movement, cover systems, and immersive worlds.
The Best Third-Person Shooters You Should Play
From open-world crime sagas and emotional westerns to survival horror and co-op chaos, the third-person shooter genre offers unforgettable experiences across many different settings. Below are some of the best TPS games that every action fan should try.
Grand Theft Auto V
An open-world crime epic set in the sprawling city of Los Santos and its surrounding regions.
Grand Theft Auto V
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Genres: Shooter, Racing, Adventure
Multiple protagonists and blockbuster-scale action
GTA V lets you experience the story from three perspectives—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor—each with unique personalities and abilities. From chaotic shootouts to perfectly planned heists, the game delivers nonstop action alongside an enormous, living world.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A story-driven third-person shooter set in the dying days of the Wild West.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Release Date: October 26, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Cinematic gunfights inside a deeply immersive world
As Arthur Morgan, you’ll experience intense shootouts, robberies, and pursuits, all grounded in a realistic and emotionally rich setting. The slower pace makes every gunfight feel weighty and impactful.
Days Gone
A post-apocalyptic action game filled with infected creatures and hostile survivors.
Days Gone
Release Date: May 18, 2021
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Survival tension amplified by massive enemy hordes
Days Gone shines when you’re overwhelmed by Freaker hordes. Managing ammo, planning escapes, and adapting to unpredictable threats makes combat both chaotic and thrilling.
Resident Evil 3 (Remake)
A modern reimagining of a classic survival horror shooter set during a zombie outbreak.
RESIDENT EVIL 3
Release Date: April 03, 2020
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Relentless pressure and fast-paced horror encounters
Playing as Jill Valentine, you’ll fight your way through Raccoon City while being hunted by an unstoppable threat. Tight shooting mechanics and constant danger keep tension high at all times.
Orcs Must Die! 3
A colorful third-person shooter mixed with tower defense mechanics.
Orcs Must Die! 3
Release Date: July 23, 2021
Genres: Shooter, Puzzle, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Strategic chaos with traps, spells, and co-op fun
Orcs Must Die! 3 encourages creative mayhem. You’ll mow down waves of enemies using weapons and elaborate trap setups, either solo or with a friend in cooperative play.
Max Payne 3
A gritty action shooter focusing on cinematic storytelling and stylish gunplay.
Max Payne 3
Release Date: May 31, 2012
Genres: Shooter
Bullet-time gunfights with unmatched intensity
Max Payne 3 perfects slow-motion combat, turning every shootout into a deadly dance. The game’s dark tone and fluid mechanics make it one of the most satisfying TPS experiences ever made.
Control
A supernatural third-person shooter set inside a mysterious government building.
Control
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Gunplay enhanced by telekinetic powers
Control blends traditional shooting with reality-bending abilities like levitation and object manipulation. Combat feels dynamic and visually striking, constantly encouraging experimentation.
Gears 5
A sci-fi shooter built around cover-based combat and explosive firefights.
Gears 5
Release Date: September 09, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Classic cover mechanics with modern pacing
Gears 5 refines the series’ signature combat, delivering brutal gunfights, co-op play, and a more open structure that adds variety to the action.
The Division 2
A tactical third-person shooter set in a post-pandemic Washington, D.C.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Genres: Shooter, RPG, Tactical, Adventure
Cover-based combat with RPG-style progression
The Division 2 combines precise shooting with loot systems and cooperative gameplay. Careful positioning and teamwork are essential, especially during high-level encounters.
Final thoughts
Third-person shooters continue to thrive because they deliver spectacle, control, and intensity in equal measure. Whether you’re looking for story-driven adventures, open-world chaos, or cooperative destruction, the genre has something for every kind of action fan.
Explore these titles to find your next adrenaline rush—and prepare for cover-hopping gunfights, cinematic moments, and unforgettable action sequences.