6 Disturbing Third-Person Shooters

Highlights

The third-person shooter genre has shifted towards darker themes and narratives, reflecting the rising popularity of horror games and psychologically nuanced storytelling.

Games like

Alan Wake

and

Max Payne

offer dark and gripping experiences, featuring psychological thrillers, crime stories, and intense gameplay.

Days Gone

and

The Last Of Us Part 2

The trend of darkness persists, delving into the realms of time loops, post-apocalyptic universes, and moral uncertainties, purposefully testing the players' viewpoints and ethical orientations. In line with its first-person counterpart, the third-person shooter genre has gradually embraced the shadowy elements during the past twenty years. As horror games gain increasing popularity and game narratives evolve to explore deeper complexities of the human psyche, the inclination towards a darker aesthetic arises organically.

6 Alan Wake

With the abundance of light-hearted games across various genres these days, it is evident that the landscape of released third-person shooters has undergone a significant transformation. A shift towards darker narratives, a decrease in white knight heroes, and an overall embrace of moral ambiguity now characterize many games in this genre.

Alan Wake

Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Release Date: February 16, 2012

Developer(s): Remedy Entertainment

Genre(s): Third-Person Shooter, Survival Horror

ESRB Rating: T for Teen - Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

Alan Wake, developed by Remedy Entertainment, embodies the essence of a psychological thriller within the gaming world. With its episodic format, the game resembles a dark and suspenseful TV series. While it stays on the fringes of survival horror, Alan Wake fully immerses players in a thrilling and chilling experience.

5 Mafia: Definitive Edition

Alan Wake depicts the story of an author who embarks on a vacation to consult a renowned psychologist, only to find himself immersed in a series of intense encounters with chilling creatures. Throughout the game, the protagonist remains uncertain about the boundaries between reality and fiction. With its predominant third-person shooter mechanics rather than relying heavily on horror elements, Alan Wake appeals to enthusiasts of sinister shooters, particularly with the highly anticipated sequel on the horizon.

Mafia Trilogy

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One

Release Date: May 19, 2020

Developer: Hangar 13

Genre: Action

ESRB Rating: M For Mature 17+

Content Warning: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

The Mafia series centers around a taxi driver in the 1930s, who joins the Salieri crime family and climbs the ranks through a series of criminal activities. This gripping and dark narrative offers a twisted tale for players to immerse themselves in.

Mafia has recently been remastered as a definitive edition, reigniting the interest of numerous players in its captivating gameplay. The game showcases a gripping and sometimes chilling narrative, from the shocking revelation of Tommy's secretly saved acquaintances being murdered, to its melancholic ending that reflects the state of the world. Undoubtedly, Mafia offers a dark yet enthralling gaming experience worth exploring. Furthermore, there is a plethora of outstanding games similar to the Mafia franchise to choose from.

4 Max Payne

Max Payne

Platform(s): PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS

Release Date: July 23, 2001

Developer(s): Remedy Entertainment

Genre(s): Third-Person Shooter

ESRB Rating: M For Mature 17+ (due to Blood, Violence)

Max Payne is a game that immerses players into a dark and gritty world of crime, conspiracies, and intrigue. Opening with the protagonist's family brutally murdered by junkies, the game draws inspiration from hard-boiled detective novels and features stylistic graphic novel panels throughout.

3 Returnal

Max Payne is an exceptional franchise known for its distinctive style that immerses players in a world marked by pervasive darkness. From navigating intricate secret societies to enduring repeated false accusations of murder, Max's journey is filled with gripping suspense. Moreover, the game uses drug-induced nightmare sequences to ensure that the theme of darkness remains at the forefront of the player's mind throughout the experience.

Returnal

Platform: PS5

Release Date: April 30, 2021

Developer: Housemarque

Genre: Third-Person Shooter

ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Blood, Mild Language, Violence)

Returnal is a game that stands out for its unique and unusual concept. The story revolves around Selene, an explorer and pilot, who finds herself stranded on an alien planet after following a mysterious signal. As she explores, Selene makes a shocking discovery - multiple versions of her own dead body. What makes this premise even more haunting is the fact that each time Selene dies, time resets, and she is forced to relive the crash all over again.

2 Days Gone

Returnal operates on a roguelike concept, which means that whenever players meet their demise, Selene is transported back to the crash site. The game is emotionally wrenching, reaching a point where Selene manages to escape the planet, lives a full life on Earth, succumbs to old age, only to awaken once again on Atropos during the crash. Returnal immerses players in a world of darkness and profound themes that force them to question everything.

Days Gone

Days Gone is an open-world, action-adventure game developed by Bend Studio, available on PS4 and PC. It was released on April 26, 2019. The game explores a post-apocalyptic setting, where a pandemic has ravaged the world, leaving darkness and terror in its wake. Players follow the protagonist, Deacon St John, as he embarks on a journey to find his presumed-dead wife. The game is rated M for Mature due to its depiction of blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, sexual themes, and strong language.

1 The Last Of Us Part 2

The story of Days Gone presents a consistently brutal subject matter, woven with instances of cults and betrayal at every twist. This grim backdrop is further intensified by the overarching narrative surrounding NERO's research and their knowledge of mutated freakers. Although there are occasional glimmers of brightness, the overall tone and setting of the game rank among the darkest in recent gaming history.

The Last of Us Part 2

Platform: PS4

Release Date: June 19, 2020

Developed by: Naughty Dog

Genre: Action, Adventure

ESRB Rating: M for Mature - Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

As one of the most unsettling and controversial games of recent years, The Last Of Us Part 2 takes a unique approach. While not strictly a shooter, the game incorporates elements of third-person shooting, stealth, and survival horror. Instead of solely focusing on the relationship between Joel and Ellie, the main duo from the first dark game in the series, Part 2 delves deeper into the somber post-apocalyptic world, delving into the consequences of Joel's past actions.

This resulted in the emergence of Abby, a character seeking vengeance against Joel, who had killed her father in the initial game. As a consequence, a relentless and brutal conflict unfolds, with players assuming the roles of both Abby and Ellie at different stages as they pursue each other. Throughout their quest for revenge, both characters partake in dreadful acts, pushing the boundaries of players' moral values and causing discomfort due to the game's unyielding darkness.