Although TPS games aren’t as numerous as the FPS games for PC, those games are still immersive and full of action-packed levels. In third-person shooter games, you are controlling a character from over the shoulder, so you can completely see him. Unlike FPS games, where you can see only character’s point of view, third-person shooters offer a little less immersion, at the cost of bigger possibilities. Usually, these games are cover-based and include complex animations of the characters, which are sometimes absent from FPS games. If you don’t mind bullets flying over your head, and explosives blasting around you, my list of Best Third Person Shooter Games for PC is below.
1. GTA V
GTA V is an all-in-one game. For those who like shooting, they can do that, and for those who like fast cars, there are some pretty badass cars here! On top of that, GTA V offers some amazing visuals, great open world and lots of stuff to do. Both singleplayer and multiplayer components of the game are top notch, especially the singleplayer part, which left quite a mark on me. It’s truly a remarkable game that will provide you with lots of fun and has a great replayability value.
2. Tom Clancy’s The Division
Shooter games are often a combination of several genres, and that’s the case with The Division. This challenging third-person shooter melds role-playing elements, as well as survival elements into a punishing and unforgivable experience. This game is ruthless and puts you in a role of a Division member, that needs to survive in the harshest conditions of post-apocalyptic New York. The Division also sports some jaw-dropping visuals, and the special attention is put into very small details, which amazed me. The Divison is surely one of the best Ubisoft games out there, and if you want to play it, you better get yourself a powerful PC; otherwise, it will wipe the floor with your old machine.
3. Max Payne 3
Max Payne series is one of my favorite action games series. This game has it all! From good visuals to smooth gameplay and some unforgettable moments. Max Payne 3 nails it with a big nail, directly to the center, in both presentation and the execution. The game shifts from that dark and grim setting and environment, from the more colorful Brazil. Max Payne returns more badass than ever, with his depressing mood, sarcastic one-liners, and that bullet time feature. It’s not the newest game on the list, but nothing wrong about that old-school shooting mechanics, right?
4. Sniper Elite 4
Sniper Elite 4 also improved upon its predecessor. While Sniper Elite 3 had more linear levels, Sniper Elite 4 offers huge maps to explore and do missions. There are also side missions that you can do, in order to make the main missions easier. Although most of the missions are like “kill that officer, kill the general, escape the area, get to a particular area, etc” there aren’t more satisfying things than putting the bullet through the officer’s head. That X-Ray, slow-motion scene always gets me, with the details that it offers. Oh, and if you download DLC you can kill Hitler. And yes, he has one nut; I’ve checked on the internet, so they didn’t mess it up.
5. Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line is an outdated game, both in terms of gameplay and graphics, but not the story. If you ever played this game, you know what I mean. The game boasts a very serious story, that’s all about morale and fooling your brain into thinking that right is wrong and wrong is right. Spec Ops features thrilling moments and twists that will stay in your mind forever! I’m still surprised to see much analysis on the internet regarding the story, even after five years from release. This third-person shooter will change your perspective on the whole genre when you finish it!
6. Gears of War 4
Microsoft’s exclusives are hit and miss. As Quantum Brake didn’t sell so well due to its poor optimization and story, Gears of War 4 is quite the opposite. Actually, it’s one of the most brutal shooters I’ve ever played. Although it’s played from the third-person perspective, the game managed to immerse me in the story, creating a memorable experience. On top of that, the game is very well optimized, although you’ll need a stronger machine to play it. The multiplayer component is stellar, but I suggest focusing on singleplayer campaign.
7. Watch Dogs 2
This game doesn’t offer anything aside open world, hacking, shooting, parkouring and solid story. Wait, this isn’t that small, right? Watch Dogs 2 is a game that offers a lot, but it’s often neglected and is poorly sold, which is a pity for Ubisoft. The new protagonist here isn’t that badass as Aiden Pierce, but isn’t boring and fits well here. As for the in-game world, it’s colorful and lets you explore it and hack stuff, leading to some interesting and sometimes funny moments.
8. Just Cause 3
Just Cause 3 is released last year, and well… what can we say? First, this game isn’t for everyone. It’s a game that requires some serious experience with the genre, as the action is the main priority here. The game looks stunning, but you won’t have that much time to admire it, as missions involve high-speed chases, flying, shooting and dodging the enemies, as well as destroying every single object in the city. The destruction mechanics work well and make the player feel like a badass every time he shoots with an RPG into the object, as bricks fly around and everything falls apart.
9. Star Wars Battlefront 2
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is finally here. Yikes! I was so excited about the game, and I’m glad that I can play it. But, what can you expect from the game? Well, the game is good, the gameplay is smoothest as it can be, and visuals… I mean, Frostbite engine is used here, and that’s all I’m gonna say. The new set of maps is awesome, and new game modes are also here, but I dislike the introduction of microtransactions. Why do you have to pay additionally for the items, when the game costs sixty bucks? Essentially, it’s a pay-to-win game, but if you are okay with that, then you got yourself a great shooter game.
10. Ghost Recon: Wildlands
The open world of Bolivia never looked so great, and this game proved that it’s a great setting for a shooter game. Ghost Recon: Wildlands will take you on an epic journey as you try to gun down every single Narco cartel in the area. Be careful, those pricks are dangerous as hell! You and your Ghost members have everything at disposal from powerful weapons, motorcycles, cars, which adds a certain amount of freedom in the game. If you decide to go the stealth way, you can do that too, and if you are spotted in the middle of the base… well, you’re not going to enjoy it.
11. PUBG
What was that badly optimized game full of glitches that everyone is playing? Oh, it was PUBG? Although there are some technical problems with the game, PUBG offers SO MUCH fun that you’ll want to play it forever! Seriously, if you don’t control yourself, this game can take over your life, and that’s not good. Basically, it’s a survival game, where you search for the items and hope to stay alive as much as you can. The goal here is to be last man standing. Are you smart enough for such thing? Find out in PUBG.
12. Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is the best game in the series, although not the newest. Andromeda wasn’t that good game, so I decided to skip it. This one, however, has everything you want from your TPS game. Good story, solid voice acting, great graphics and powerful weapons. There’s so much to do in this game, from exploring planets, killing reapers and making important decisions, especially at the end of the game. Oh, my God, that ending left me so frustrated… damn you BioWare!
13. Hitman
Hitman is released in 2016, and it brings back that unforgivable stealth gameplay, combined with the open world. If you didn’t know, open-world and stealth genre function very well, IF done right. Luckily, Hitman nails every single aspect. Its huge, open missions give you the freedom to explore, but also kill in many ways. You can use the environment to your advantage, as well as listen to NPCs to find opportunities for the kill. If you want to go guns blazing, Hitman is an almost unbeatable game, but you can do that too if you dare!
14. Sleeping Dogs
Let’s just stray away from the classic American setting, and head straight to Hong Kong. If you like GTA V, you’ll like Sleeping Dogs too. It offers great fighting mechanics, shooting, driving, high-speed chases and a very complex story. Parkouring is also possible here, and it’s one of the highlights of the game. Although the game is very similar to GTA, you’ll never get that GTA feeling when playing it, and it’s quite cool. Sleeping Dogs is an underrated gem in the TPS genre.
15. Rise of the Tomb Raider
Good graphics? Check. Great level design? Check. Beautiful protagonist? Woah, wait a minute, is Lara Croft in the game? Count me in! Rise of the Tomb Raider is an amazing TPS game, that offers much more than beautiful graphics. This game is about exploration, shooting and surviving in a harsh in-game world that tries its best to kill you. If you are brave enough, you might learn the secret of immortality with Lara, and if you aren’t, then you’ll be forgotten for good!
16. Mafia 3
Mafia 3 brings the whole new setting in this game, and it’s New Orleans. On top of that, the new protagonist Lincoln Clay is such a badass, and I’m glad that developers decided to put a black protagonist in the game, so zero racism from them! In the game, however, there is a serious story about mafia as well as the racistic movements that were active during the post-Vietnam era, which perfectly encapsulates the whole experience. It’s an emotional game, but also a game that requires lots of effort to be beaten.
17. Dead Space 3
Dead Space 3 leaves no room for mistakes! It’s a survival horror game, and the atmosphere in this game literally breaths horror and dread. It immediately throws you in an action sequence, as you fight your way through the hordes of Necromorphs in order to survive. The game isn’t that claustrophobic like the previous entries, and it’s more focused on shooting now. The horror elements are less prominent here, unlike in previous games in the Dead Space series, but the game will still manage to scare the hell out of you, and that’s what I want from a horror game.
18. Alan Wake
Alan Wake will wrap up our horror part of the list for today. It’s a psychological horror that takes a little laid-back approach, unlike Dead Space 3. Alan Wake is a famous writer that works on a book that he can’t finish, and look at that! Everything from the book is becoming true, and Alan Wake must find a way to put an end to that books in order to survive. In the beginning, the game isn’t that frightening, but as you progress, this game will often send shivers down your spine. Don’t you worry, stay in the light and you’ll be fine!
19. Warframe
Congrats to Warframe, for being a free game, yet amazing effort! Warframe is a multiplayer game that is far more complex than it seems. It requires a bit of a grinding to get stuff done, but it also relies on teamplay and tactics. Each class in the game has a unique set of abilities that you can change and combine with your friends in order to finish the missions. For example, you can be the defensive character, while your friend can blast the way through the enemies. The best of all is that it’s a coop game, so no, you won’t have to kill your lovely friend.
20. Splinter Cell: Conviction
Splinter Cell series is known for some hardcore stealth games, but Conviction took a different turn. This game is still a stealth game, but you won’t get punished for going guns blazing, and the game often forces you to do so. As I am a fan of the stealth genre, I often tend to go the stealth way, but Splinter Cell: Conviction is a satisfying experience, regardless of your style of playing.