Highlights
Kirby's Dream Buffet features a strange form of combat where players roll into each other while gobbling up food-based power-ups.
Undertale presents players with a one-of-a-kind combat system that allows them to make choices between killing enemies or engaging in dialogue options. This enthralling experience also involves dodging attacks in a challenging bullet hell scenario.
Everhood seamlessly merges rhythm games with combat, immersing players in a battle arena filled with musical notes. In this innovative gameplay, players must skillfully evade incoming attacks while also leveraging the enemy's fragments as weapons to gain an upper hand.
Combat is a fundamental aspect of video games, both in close-quarters and long-range encounters, as it plays a vital role in most gaming experiences. While many games have adopted similar combat systems, there are exceptions that offer truly distinctive approaches.
Within the limited selection of games featuring truly unique combat systems, there exist a number of peculiar ones. These games may exhibit unconventional controls or present combat in a manner that raises curiosity. In any case, these games with unconventional combat styles unquestionably stand out from the rest.
10 Kirby's Dream Buffet
The Kirby franchise has seen its fair share of intriguing spin-offs, one of which is a party game called Kirby's Dream Buffet available on the Switch. In this game, Kirby embarks on a miniature adventure, engaging in battles against other Kirbys in a four-course feast challenge.
While the competitive aspect of Kirby's Dream Buffet centers around racing, each event concludes with a combat section. In this section, all players must not only attack one another but also strive to consume as much food as possible within a confined arena. The combat mechanics are rather unconventional, as players primarily rely on rolling into each other and utilizing food-based power-ups in their attempts to knock opponents off the battlefield.
9 Undertale
Role-playing games stand out for their ability to create distinctive combat systems, and Undertale is no exception. While drawing inspiration from its predecessors, Undertale manages to craft a combat system that grants players full control over the destiny of their character.
Undertale presents players with a clear choice on their journey: they can either opt to eliminate enemies in the conventional manner or engage in conversation with them. Eliminating enemies requires precise timing, while the pacifist route offers players the opportunity to participate in unique dialogues, all while navigating intense bullet hell scenarios and evading attacks.
8 Everhood
Rhythm games are not typically associated with combat, but there have been instances where the genre has explored this mechanic. Everhood, for example, takes a unique approach by using five columns of musical notes as its primary battleground.
In the quest to retrieve a missing arm, players assume the role of Red, a wooden doll who encounters different characters and is compelled to engage in battles. The enemy's attacks manifest as light fragments moving towards Red within these five columns, and the primary objective is to evade them. However, midway through the game, a new gameplay mechanic is introduced, allowing Red to utilize these fragments as weapons for their own advantage.
7 Gang Beasts
Introducing a unique combat system can be enhanced with peculiar ragdoll avatars. Gang Beasts centers on the idea of friends engaging in battles, with only one person remaining after each round. The ultimate victor is determined by the player with the highest number of wins.
At first glance, Gang Beasts may appear to be a conventional fighting game, where players exchange punches. Nonetheless, the distinctive aspect of its combat system lies in the players' ability to manipulate each arm individually, introducing a gameplay experience that goes beyond mere button-mashing attacks.
6 Rollerdrome
The Rollerdrome game offers a unique and captivating form of combat, unlike anything seen in other games. Not only is it exciting to play, but it is also an amazing spectacle to witness. Set in the near future, athletes put their lives on the line in this roller derby combat sport.
In Rollerdrome, players are in constant motion, requiring swift decision-making skills to navigate the arena, perform impressive tricks, and take down any opponents they can target. Fortunately, players need not worry about the consequences of falling; instead, their main goal is to eliminate everyone in the arena using an array of powerful firearms.
5 Arms
In 2017, Nintendo Switch made its debut, showcasing a remarkable lineup of the company's biggest games. Within this collection was one of the rare new IPs created by Nintendo during this generation called Arms. Arms is a captivating multiplayer fighting game that revolves around the extraordinary abilities of fighters with elongated arms.
This 3D fighter allows up to four players to engage in intense matches, where participants utilize their extendable arms to strike their opponents. These arms possess distinct attachments, each capable of inflicting varying levels of damage, and can be swapped out between rounds. With a diverse roster of 15 fighters and a multitude of game modes, Arms offers an experience that extends beyond traditional fighting gameplay.
4 Your Only Move Is Hustle
Your Only Move Is Hustle is not your typical 2D fighting game. It offers a truly innovative experience where battles are turn-based, giving players the opportunity to plan and strategize every move before executing it.
The game's menu offers a wide range of options for the player's stick figure character. Players can choose from an array of attacks, specials, dodges, and defensive moves. With this level of customization, every match has the potential to create cinematic fight scenes that are unique and thrilling.
3 Paper Mario: The Origami King
The Paper Mario series, known for its straightforward turn-based combat, has ventured into a more imaginative direction, resulting in unconventional choices for combat. A prime example of this is the latest installment, Paper Mario: The Origami King.
Rather than traditional action sequences, The Origami King presents a puzzle-like experience with ring-based battles. Players are tasked with strategically rotating rings to align all enemies in order for Mario to execute his attack effectively. Boss fights require players to navigate a pathway for Mario to reach the boss positioned at the center of the stage.
2 Fight Crab
Get ready to embrace the unique concept of wielding weapons as a crab! Fight Crab is an exceptional 3D action game, where various crustaceans engage in thrilling arena battles, all influenced by physics. The ultimate goal is to outsmart your opponent by toppling their crab over.
Equipped with an array of weapons ranging from knives to swords and even guns, players must master the art of controlling their crab and its limbs effectively. Utilize these tools to charge towards your adversary with precision and skill. Additionally, Fight Crab offers charming settings, including underwater cage matches and even transforming into towering kaijus in the bustling city.
1 Toribash
Toribash, which was launched in 2006, remains popular due to its unique combat mechanics and active community. Players have the ability to manipulate every aspect of their human-like entities, resulting in hilarious moments as the characters flail in specific directions during battles. Mastering these mechanics can be highly rewarding, with the game offering a range of practice modes to explore.
