Summary
There’s something oddly satisfying about stumbling onto a hidden gem—especially inthe chaotic world of third-person shooters. While everyone’s still talking aboutGears of WarandMax Payne, a few underrated titles quietly gathered dust on store shelves.
These are games that tried something a little different, maybe didn’t quite hit the mainstream, but still packed a punch in terms of creativity and gameplay. Whether they’re experimental, bizarre, or just downright fun, these third-person shooters deserve a second look.
It’s not every day one finds a game where the protagonist mutates into an alien-human hybrid while trying to save the world.MorphX, released in 2010, is a Russian-developed shooter that takes a bold approach tothe usual post-apocalyptic formula. Set in a ruined Moscow crawling with extraterrestrial enemies, it’s a game that blends brutal melee combat with classic third-person shooting.
The core hook? The mutation mechanic. As players progress, they absorb alien DNA to acquire new abilities, like increased strength or regenerating health. It’s not the most polished experience—the graphics are dated and combat can feel a bit clunky—but there’s something oddly captivating about watching one’s character morph into something increasingly inhuman. It’s ambitious, weird, and oddly charming in its roughness.MorphXdidn’t get much love when it launched, but it’s worth checking out just for the sheer uniqueness of its premise.
Launched in 2013 by Tragnarion Studios,Scourge: Outbreakaimed to fill the void of squad-based co-op shooters with a sci-fi twist. Sure, it borrows heavily from theGears of Warplaybook, but it’s hard to deny the appeal ofa four-player co-op campaignwith characters who actually have distinct abilities.
Players take on the role of Echo Squad, a group of mercenaries trying to topple a corrupt corporation while battling mutated soldiers and grotesque alien entities. The gameplay is a mix of cover-based shooting and supernatural powers, with each character wielding unique abilities like energy shields and shockwaves. Despite its repetitive level design and somewhat generic story,Scourge: Outbreakshines when played with friends, where tactical coordination becomes essential. It’s a scrappy little game that’s way more fun than it has any right to be.
Leave it to Bizarre Creations to create a third-person shooter that’s all about speed and style.The Club, released in 2008, takes the premise of a deathmatch and turns it into a twisted underground sport where scoring kills quickly is the key to victory. Gamers can think of it as a cross between a shooter and an arcade racer—points are everything, and stopping to take cover is for chumps.
The story isn’t exactly the focal point here. Instead, players choose from a roster of colorful, vaguely tragic characters and race through industrial environments, racking up points by chaining headshots and executing stylish kills. It’s not for everyone, but those whoclick withThe Club’s relentless pacewill often find themselves hooked. The game’s combo system rewards precision and aggression, making it feel like an oddball cousin ofMadWorldorBulletstorm.
Released in 2003,Kill.Switchdoesn’t get nearly enough credit for beinga pioneer of the cover shooter genre. Developed by Namco, this game came out years beforeGears of Warmade cover mechanics mainstream, but it introduced the now-standard concept of “blind fire” from behind obstacles.
Set against the backdrop of global warfare, the story follows a brainwashed soldier fighting through a series of vaguely connected missions. What makes it stand out is how it forces players to be strategic, using cover not just as a shield but as a tactical advantage. Combat feels surprisingly modern, boasting fluid transitions between shooting and taking cover. Though its narrative is somewhat thin, the gameplay still holds up, and its influence on later shooters is undeniable.
2Stranglehold
When John Woo Took Over The Console
When legendary filmmaker John Woo and action icon Chow Yun-Fat team up for a game, it’s easy to assume that it will be explosive.Stranglehold, released in 2007, is essentially a spiritual successor to the classic filmHard Boiled. Players step intothe shoes of Inspector Tequila, blasting through criminal syndicates in a stylish ballet of bullets and slow-motion dives.
The standout feature? Tequila Time. This slow-mo mechanic allows players to dive, slide, and shoot while everything around them shatters in gloriously exaggerated fashion. The destructible environments are a treat, ranging crumbling pillars to collapsing neon signs. While some might argue that the story is just an excuse to get to the next set piece,Strangleholdembraces its cinematic roots with gusto. It’s chaotic, over-the-top, and as stylish as a John Woo action sequence should be.
In 2004, Free Radical Design (the minds behindTimeSplitters) delivered a game that blended psychic powers with third-person shooting, and somehow, it worked.Second Sightfollows John Vattic, a man who wakes up in a medical facility with no memory of how he got there—or how he suddenly has telekinetic abilities.
The gameplay cleverly mixes gunplay with mind powers, letting players hurl objects, possess enemies, and heal themselves. The plot flips between past and present, slowly unraveling Vattic’s involvement in a covert military project. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful narrative, dealing with themes of guilt and redemption, wrapped in a sci-fi thriller. Despite its somewhat clunky controls,Second Sightmanages to be both intriguing and unique,blending action and storytellingin a way that few shooters of its time dared to try.
