Shooting games are a dime a dozen these days and have been a mainstay in action titles for decades. It’s far less common to see the humble bow and arrow, which is a shame as there’s so much you can do with the weapon.
Fortunately, many developers who delve into archery do it justice, and the discipline is depicted in many fantastic ways.
If you prefer a bit of elegance or stealth in your shooting, here’s a great selection of games with archery mechanics you’re sure to enjoy.
10Overwatch 2
Let The Dragon Consume My Enemies
Overwatch 2
Say what you like aboutOverwatch 2, but it does have a diverse cast withunique quirks, weapons, and abilities.
Hanzo is one of the most well-known characters in the game, and he uses a bow as his primary weapon. Archery inOverwatch 2feels satisfying for a few reasons.The draw time is just right, and the arrow has a travel time that takes many games to master.
The reward for landing your hits is a ridiculous amount of damage, especially if you land a headshot, and Hanzo even has a panic volley ability for close-range combat.
Honestly, it’s been a hot minute since I playedOverwatch 2, but Hanzo wasan absolute menaceduring my time with the game. Losing your head to one of his tree trunks (sorry, arrows) was infuriating during a team fight, especially as a squishy healer.
9Destiny 2
Not Just For Hunters
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Archery may be the last thing you associate with a sci-fi looter shooter, butDestiny 2proves that bows have a place in the genre.
One ofDestiny 2’s biggest strengths is itstight shooting mechanics, making even dull weapons a joy to use. This attention to detail extends to bows. The rate of fire is just right, and every bow lets off a satisfying “crack” as you lob volleys of arrows at your opponents.
The best bows inDestiny 2are Exotic weapons, like the stunning Verglas Curve in the image above. Bows don’t feel particularly realistic, but I think that’s the point.Sci-fi bows bend the rules of reality, and few games make the weapon type look so stylish.
Some of the best weapons in the game are tied tochallenging Dungeons, and they are some of the most fun you may have as a fireteam.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrimmay be over 10 years old but remainsan authority in the fantasy RPG space.
If you haven’t played,Skyrimis one of the finest action RPGs on the market, with everything from dragons and skeletons to magic and sorcery.
Combat is a big part of the game, and skill trees are deep enough for any playstyle to be viable. Bows are a part of that and ranged combat feels terrific if you lean into it.
Enemies often ragdoll upon death, which makes some archery kills pretty hilarious, even if that’s not the intention!
I love using a bow in vanillaSkyrim, and it feelsabsolutely incredible inSkyrim VRif you get the chance to try it with a headset.
7Monster Hunter World
This Bow Can Take Down Dragons
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
TheMonster Hunterseries is renowned for having a master-crafted assortment of weapons, and the Bow is no exception to that rule.
Bow combat inMonster Hunter Worldfeels incredible. you’re able to carefully line up your shots or spam away to let off a dizzying array of different shots. On that note, manybows can use coated arrowsto inflict status ailments on monsters, like Poison or Sleep.
You may think you’re safe from attacks as an archer, but don’t be fooled. If you want to deal optimal damage, you still have to stand pretty close, andprecision dodging and smart positioningare rewarded.
The crowd-pleaser for any bow user in Monster Hunter is, of course, the Dragon Piercer and Thousand Dragons attack. Both deal ridiculous DPS and fill the screen with dopamine-filled damage numbers.
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6Far Cry 5
For The Silent Assassins
Clearing enemy outposts is a staple of modernFar Crygames, and unless you want to fight an army,a stealthy approach is a good option.
InFar Cry 5, you can snipe from afar, but bows are better if you want to make your infiltrations more personal. Bows are fantastic inFar Cryand feel weighty, with asatisfying draw sound and animation.
Even though there are more guns to choose from,bows are viable throughout the entire game, thanks to several different ammo types. You can swap regular arrows for ones tipped with fire or even explosives!
A Medieval Massacre
I rarely hear anyone talking aboutMordhauthese days, which is a shame because it’s arguablythe best at what it does.
Mordhauis a brutal,first-person medieval war simulator. Combat is hefty and visceral, and the best part is that battles are huge multiplayer PvP skirmishes.
Swords and spears are commonplace in Mordhau, but only a fool would underestimate a skilled marksman.Bows are hard to use, with lengthy draw times, but how else will you pierce a suit of armor?
Archery is a viable tactic, and you can ruin siege attempts with a few well-placed shots from a high castle window.
Mordhauis easilythe most hardcore game on the listand won’t be for everyone. But for the right player, there are potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay if you want to master the art of war.
4theHunter: Call of the Wild
Who Needs A Rifle?
theHunter: Call of the Wild
theHunter: Call of the Wildis arguablythe best hunting gameon the market and has been for many years. While rifles are the main focus, there’s a robust section reserved for bow hunting.
If you’ve never played before,theHunter: Call of the Wildis a beautiful hunting simulator set in some ofthe most picturesque localesI’ve ever seen in a video game.
A decent selection of bows is available from traditional to recurves, along with a wide array of arrows for different-sized targets.Archery is more grounded in realityhere, and you have many factors to consider when landing the perfect shot. One false move can be devastating as your prey WILL run away if you miss.
As it’s a hunting simulator, I expectCOTWmay be a divisive pick, but bow hunting is tense, difficult, and rewarding.
3Horizon Zero Dawn
Robot Dinosaurs? No Problem!
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
You can find Bows in many games across multiple genres, but it’s far more unusual for them to be the main focus in combat.
Horizon Zero Dawnis astunning sci-fi/fantasy adventure gamewhere dangerous robotic creatures patrol the world.
You play as Aloy, and her weapon of choice is, you guessed it, a humble bow. You’llunlock several bowsthroughout your journey, each with pros and cons.
For example, the Sharpshooter bow fills more of a sniping role with high damage but a slow draw speed.
Ranged combat is tight and responsive, and fights feel wonderfully satisfying when you’re sprinting around the map, nailing those precision shots.
2Wii Sports: Resort
Key Information
Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U
Release Date
The Nintendo Wii would never have been as successful if it weren’t forWii Sports, and the sequel added animpressive adaptation of archeryinto the mix.
Archery inWii Sports: Resortis wonderfully simple. Hold the Wand controller vertically like a bow shaft and pull the drawstring with the Nunchuck.
It works perfectly, and Nintendo once again shows off itsmastery of motion controls. Drawing an invisible bow feels so intuitive that anyone of all ages can do it, and the Motion Plus controller addon makes everything wonderfully responsive.
The only downside is Archery is just asmall target shooting activityinWii Sports: Resort, with limited replayability.
1Dungeons of Eternity
A New Level Of Immersion
Meta Quest (Steam VR is due Q4 2024)
October 2023
I’ve been a huge advocate for VR gaming for years, andDungeons of Eternityproves it’s theperfect platform for a top-tier archery experience.
InDungeons of Eternity, you may draw your bow by reaching over your left shoulder. You can pull arrows from the quiver by grabbing over your right shoulder, and besides the draw weight,shooting a bow feels surprisingly accurate.
Any minor deviations in angle are punished, and you have afantastic level of controlwhile playing in VR space.
I know VR isn’t for everyone, but you can’t beat it for archery, in my opinion, andDungeons of Eternityis one of the best places to do it. You can seamlessly swap from bow combat to a sword and even a throwable axe. You feel like a badass when everything falls into place;just make sure you don’t punch through a windowor screen if you get into it!
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