I play mostly sci-fi games but I enjoy a good ol’ swordfighting once in a while.
What could you suggest as a good single player action game with melee and maybe a dash of spellcasting/“powers” ? It can be TPS or FPS
Although it should (here comes the nitpicking) :
- not be a stealth game or stealth-adjacenr like Assassin’s Creed or Shadow Of Mordor
- not be a souls-like (I play for fun, not to puke blood)
- have health regen (at least out of combat) or any mean to heal without having to look after potions or food while out of combat
If possible a good story would be a major plus, but it doesn’t need to be The Witcher level of good. And I’m more than fine with AA games, or older games as long as the art direction is nice.
EDIT: thanks for the suggestions, I realize I should have mentionned the “similar” games I’ve already played :
- The Witcher trilogy
- Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim
- Dragon’s Dogma
- God Of War (liked the combat, not the difficulty)
- Darksiders
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003 video game)
- Hunted: The Demon’s Forge
- Vermintide (even though it’s not single player, but great game)
I found God of War 2018 and Ragnarok have some similarities with the combat controls of Final Fantasy 16 except 16 is bit faster and easier. FF16 is a dark medieval fantasy. Great story super fun, grand adventure, with ok side quests. Rated M.
Sword fighting and magic a-plenty.
2 hour free demo on PS5 and PC
Thanks, I think I’ll try the demo (a good thing it still exists, even if it’s too rare)
I’ve never understood the deal with the Final Fantasy world : is it medieval fantasy ? Is it sci-fi ? Is it real-time or turn-based ? Is it dark themed or light humor ? It’s kinda all the over the place from an external point of view, but this one could do the trick
The health Regen requirement doesn’t discount Skyrim if you use Health Regeneration potions/enchantments ;)
Un-modded Skyrim has health regen (even during combat) unless you turn on “survival mode” but overall it’s a much better game if you spend the first 30 hours installing mods. In particular the melee combat can be much improved with MCO and related things. Or just pick a wabbajack, I hear Tempus Maledictum is one that people like.
Lunacid! It’s a short first person dungeon-crawler in which you talk to a skeleton and fight giant snails, medieval manuscript style.
Re: healing specifically, there’s checkpoint based healing and healing spells, but no passive health regen. There’s no downside to just running back to the crystals after each fight, though.
Thanks, never heard of it, I’m gonna check that
I really enjoyed Ys VIII (“Lacromosa of Dana”), if you can tolerate the kind of anime-ish story. It’s an action RPG. It’s not especially immersive (very game-y), but it’s got pretty good level design, and the combat is pretty fun, if not particularly challenging (a little button-mashy).
Thanks, I’m not a big fan of anime and this one looks like “over the top” anime ^^’
I remember seeing a ton of Ys games on GOG, the combat looks like fun though, it’s just too much “cliche” for me
I like DBZ games though, I grew up with Dragon Ball
Fair enough. I know that style can be polarizing, it’s why I put that caveat in there.
The Mass Effect Trilogy. And choose the melee class, don’t remember it’s name right now.
Hades is another one but rogue like game (don’t meets the health regen though).
The only Star Wars i can suggest is KOTOR, if you are ok playing old games.
If you can play Nintendo games, Zelda BoTW, TOTK or link’s awakening (2019).
I’ve been getting into Mount & Blade: Warband recently, it’s pretty sim-ish but fits the criteria, although there’s basically no pre-written story to speak of, a story of sorts evolves organically as you play. It’s weird but fun, and better than Bannerlord I’d argue.
I know you said no souls-like, but what about metroidvania type ones?
Nine sols was extremely fun, does have a story mode that has configurable difficulty. The developers describe it as taopunk, mix of Taoism and cyberpunk, they’re a Taiwanese studio, incorporates a lot of mythological elements and ends up in a sort of scifantasy setting. It’s got a lot of hand drawn assets, art style is fantastic. I’d call it more of a sekiro-like as it’s centred around deflections.
Give grim dawn a go too if you’re game for isometric RPGs like diablo, definitely scratched that itch for a diablo2 like game for me. Build system is super intricate and I’ve definitely barely scratched the surface.
I bought Grim Dawn a few weeks ago, but I see it more as a Torchlight/Diablo-like and not a third or first person melee action game (like The Witcher, Dragon’s Dogma, …) and I was looking for something fun / light / even button smashing with good action :)
I’ll check Nine Sols, thanks, but the Sekiro mention scares me a bit ^^’
Oh I didn’t dig sekiro but loved nine sols if that helps any, timings matter but they’re pretty generous and gives you lots of tools.
You’ve already hit most of the ones I’d recommend, dragon age is up there for me, 1st one being more crpg, I came to like veilguard’s combat and enjoyed it, the series probably fits your bill.
Edit: cyberpunk with a katana maybe? Not fantasy at all, but the game is really solid, especially since phantom liberty. I’ve started a run trying to roleplay as Geralt using the witcher gear cdpr gives you, it’s worth playing regardless if you’ve not already.
I want to suggest Daggerfall but it’s very old and has probably aged badly at that.