The best hand-to-hand combat in open world games

Open world games they're so plentiful these days that every new game needs to find a hook to set it apart from the crowd. While some titles opt for over-the-top weapons, others prefer to strip it all down and focus on hand-to-hand combat. Despite the vast number of open world games, very few titles favor fistfights.

Still, some of the best open-world games ever feature incredible hand-to-hand combat that's a joy to play and watch. If you like the idea of ​​slamming your fists into your enemies and making them regret the day they thought they could take you, check out these upcoming titles.

Technically, hand-to-hand combat does not mean unarmed and can include weapons. However, to keep things simple, we'll focus on open-world games that favor fistfights. That's why not Spirit of Tsushima/Yotei or Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Where the winds meet can qualify once the global server gets the gloves.

7

Graduate

An online brawler with great hand-to-hand combat

I went back and forth on whether to include Graduatebecause his world is small and only half-open. However, the game still gives you the freedom to explore the available zones, whether in singleplayer or multiplayer. Originally offered as Dark souls with fists Graduate he has transcended that description and managed to create a unique identity that is all his own. Focused on martial arts and stances, the combat system is deep and customizable, prioritizing skill and mastery over mere stats.

You basically travel around looking for other martial artists, where you then engage in intense melee action built around timing, positioning and reading the enemy's moment. Graduate it comes with a steep learning curve that can make the first few hours frustrating as hell, but you can feel yourself getting better as you go along.

​​​​​​​​Multiplayer is not so active anymore and singleplayer is basically a tutorial to prepare you for online battles. Still, you can get a few hours out of offline mode.

6

Yakuza 0

A great entry point to the Yakuza series with amazing beat-em-up gameplay

Yakuza 0 is a great entry point for Yakuza series with an amazing story, a great cast of characters, and a fun battle system that will ensure players will have no trouble sinking dozens of hours. The campaign features two playable characters, Kiryu and Majima, who use distinct moves and fighting styles that reflect their personalities. While Kiryu is a straightforward force, Majima is much more unpredictable and plays like a rabid dog.

Players start with little to nothing before eventually unlocking some powerful moves and eventually a hidden fighting style for each character. Stabbing enemies with Majima or suplexing Kiryu is a great reward for the hours players spend earning money and investing in both characters' fighting abilities.

5

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Tifa)

Tifa is one of the most iconic fist fighters of all time

Technically, you could pass the whole thing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth50-odd hours without ever striking; conversely, you can spend 75% of the campaign just throwing punches. The second chapter of the remake opted for a fully open world, a decision that gave birth to the most ambitious and epic (in scale) entry in the franchise. Like the first game, Rebirth allows you to switch between different characters, with Tifa being part of the majority of the story.

While all the characters are solid in their own right, Tifa might be the most enjoyable, at least after Cloud. Her unarmed combat emphasizes placement, fluidity, and combos, almost like a toned down version of the “realistic” systems found in Sleeping dogs or Like a Dragon. Besides being fresh fun, Tifa rewards getting your playstyle right as you have to time your inputs just right.

4

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

The two Spider-Men boast amazing moves in battle

The Webslinger and his protégé went back inside Marvel's Spider-Man 2allowing players to control two Spider-Men to save New York. While they don't handle it differently from each other, Peter and Miles are fundamentally unique enough to allow them to shine, and their combat systems were previously deep enough to carry two separate games. Peter is far more aggressive, while Miles favors stun and burst damage.

While more polarizing overall, the 2023 sequel undeniably improved the combat, bringing more depth while remaining accessible and stylish. The Symbiote and Iron Arm abilities are gratifying, and the addition of parry adds a new dimension to combat. Enemy AI is a bit smarter than previous games, with more unpredictable behavior. Unlike most games that revolve around melee combat, Spider-Man 2Hand-to-hand action rewards aerial movements and ensures players can take on hordes of enemies in style while in a state of flow.

3

A lost trial

The most polished real-time combat from RGG Studio

Along the main line Yakuza series switched to a turn-based combat system, the Judgment spin-offs kept RGG Studio's stellar melee for a while, with A lost trial being final input. since Yakuza went back to melee for a few games but A lost trial still represents the pinnacle of this fighting style.

Yagami may not boast the same charisma as the other protagonists in Yakuza series, but that shouldn't detract from his vicious fighting moves. Players can change stances on the fly, perform heat moves, or juggle enemies with advanced attacks. Once players upgrade Yagami's moveset, there's nothing stopping this detective from punishing any unfortunate thug who crosses his path.

Honorable mention Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradiseanother Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio game with great head-to-head combat.

2

Sleeping dogs

A brutal hand-to-hand combat system heavily inspired by the Arkham series

Sleeping dogs proved that you can frame a GTA-stylish melee sandbox, at least when the game is fantastic. Inspired by Hong Kong action blockbusters, the game tells the story of a police officer that is ripped from the 90s, along with visceral action that is satisfying to execute and look at.

One of the best parts Sleeping dogs is a satisfying melee combat system that takes a lot of cues from Arkham games, but with a brutal twist. Catching enemies and using environmental takedowns to completely decimate enemies never gets old, and the melee action is complemented by usable ranged weapons that never overshadow the main selling point.

1

Batman: Arkham Knight

The most polished and feature-rich version of Arkham's iconic combat

After Arkham Asylum debuting arguably the most influential melee combat system in gaming history, Rocksteady spent the next two games fine-tuning Batman's core moveset, each item surpassing the last in this area. Although Arkham City is a top game Arkham Knight has a better fight.

With the free flow system perfected to near perfection, the combat allows players to seamlessly chain enemies together and Batman is almost unbelievably responsive. With counters, widgets, animation cancellation and group control Arkham Knight manages to find a balance that allows fights to feel cinematic and precise. Enemies are varied enough to always keep you on your toes, and you power up through practice and education rather than just stat-boosting.