There are few things more satisfying in gaming than a smooth combat system. Combat is one of the most common gameplay features, so it can be difficult for developers to make their releases stand out in this regard. However, every now and then, a game will come along with combat mechanics that feel like a hot knife through butter as players seamlessly chain moves together to defeat enemies in cinematic fashion.
The following games on this list all stand out from the crowd with their ridiculously smooth combat that never grows old and is continuously rewarding to pull off.
8 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was developed by FromSoftware and is considered to be part of the company's so-called "SoulsBorne" series that includes games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and the recently released Elden Ring.
Despite being grouped with the SoulsBorne games, Sekiro has a handful of key differences from the other titles, such as its lack of role-playing mechanics, its Japanese setting, and of course, its combat. Sekiro forces players to stand their ground and parry, as opposed to the other SoulsBorne games, which are based around dodging and counter-attacking. The combat has a steep learning curve, but it is incredibly rewarding once it finally clicks.
7 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
As the name suggests, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a spin-off from the popular stealth series Metal Gear Solid. 2013's Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance ditches stealth in favor of over-the-top hack-and-slash action, something that the game's development team, PlatinumGames, are renowned for.
Along with its engrossing fast-paced combat, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is beloved for its soundtrack, which is regarded as one of the best of the 2010s.
6 God Of War (2018)
God of War (2018) was developed by Santa Monica Studio, who made the bold decision to take the legendary hack and slash series in a completely new direction, both in terms of story and gameplay.
The game's story is centered around Kratos and his son, Atreus, and swaps the series' long-standing Greek mythology themes in favor of Norse mythology. As for the gameplay, God of War (2018) implemented a new over-the-shoulder free camera and completely reinvented the combat. The lack of enemy variety prevented the game's combat from reaching its potential, though it still deserves a spot on this list for how satisfying it is to string together a powerful combination that takes down a crowd of enemies or a boss.
5 God Of War 3
One of the reasons why God of War's gameplay changes were so jarring was that the previous main series game, God of War 3, offered one of the best hack and slash gameplay experiences of all time. The gameplay wasn't too dissimilar to the God of War releases that came before it, though that certainly isn't a bad thing.
What stuck out to players the most about God of War 3 was the Titan fights, which were epic visual spectacles as Kratos took down bosses whose fingers were twice his size.
4 Batman: Arkham Asylum
The late 2000s were a great time for the caped crusader, as Batman delighted both film and video game fans by releasing The Dark Knight and Batman: Arkham Asylum in successive years. The Dark Knight's popularity and acclaim put a lot of pressure on Arkham Asylum, though Rocksteady Studios didn't disappoint.
Along with the game's captivating dark tone, variety of gadgets, and memorable voice acting performances, Batman: Arkham Asylum was beloved for its combat system. Arkham Asylum's combat system lets players take-down groups of enemies by chaining punches, grabs, and counters together in quick succession, which gives it a great sense of flow that makes players feel unstoppable when they build up momentum and get a high-combo going.
3 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
After years of hoping and pleasing, Star Wars fans finally got their wish for a new single-player Star Wars game where they get to play at as a Jedi. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order didn't disappoint with its visually stunning 3D Metroidvania stages, great range of enemy types, and of course, buttery smooth combat.
Whether it's fighting other Jedi, giant creatures, or stormtroopers, Jedi Fallen Order's combat is a continuous joy; particularly when landing a well-timed parry to send a bullet flying straight back at an enemy or open up a window of opportunity for a counter-attack.
2 Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta 2 was developed by PlatinumGames, the same team that made the aforementioned Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The game was released exclusively on the Wii U in 2014 before, like many Wii U games, releasing on the Nintendo Switch a few years later.
Like its predecessor, Bayonetta 2's combat lets players pull off a plethora of different moves and combos, which gives the gameplay a steep learning curve for those wanting to pull off every attack. However, once players master the mechanics and know every combo like the back of their hand, the game becomes a cinematic delight.
1 DOOM Eternal
It's not just sword-fighting games that stand out with their smooth combat, as DOOM Eternal proves just how fluid and smooth first-person shooters can be when done right.
Following a long hiatus due to DOOM 4's lengthy spell in development hell and eventual cancellation, the iconic DOOM series returned in 2016 with a reboot simply titled DOOM. The game was a huge hit with fans and critics alike, and DOOM Eternal did a fantastic job of picking up where it left off. Everything about the game feels like it's happening at 100 miles per hour, and the excellent variety in both weapons and enemies ensures that the combat never gets stale.