Summary
Ranged combatis one of gaming’s oldest thrills, andElectronic Artshas published some of the most refined, chaotic, and creative takes on it over the years. From precision headshots delivered through a high-tech visor to wild sprays of plant-powered projectiles, EA’s catalog of shooters and action titles has consistently pushed boundaries in how it feels to fight from afar.
Whether it’s fighting necromorphs in claustrophobic corridors, grappling across walls with an auto-loaded carbine, or hurling Force-infused lightsaber throws, these games show just how versatile and satisfying ranged combat can be when done right.
When the originalGarden Warfarewas released, no one expected a family-friendly spin-off of a tower defense game to become a cult favorite multiplayer shooter. ButPlants vs. Zombies:Garden Warfare 2took that wild idea, watered it, gave it sunlight, and watched it grow into one of the most unhinged yet finely-tunedclass-based shootersaround.
Every character—whether it’s the dual-Uzi-wielding Z7-Mech zombie (a parody ofTitanfall) or the over-caffeinated Kernel Corn with his full-auto butter blasters—has a totally distinct kit. Unlike the first game, this sequel gave the plants and the zombies equal campaign content and let players switch between both in either solo or co-op play, adding much-needed balance and variety.
The gunplay might seem lighthearted, but there’s a surprising amount of depth under the mulch. Precise projectile travel times, unique hitboxes, and layered mobility options like teleporters and jetpacks make for a fast-paced, competitive experience.PvZ2isn’t just for kids—it’s a genuinely creativethird-person shooterwith some of the most original ranged weapon designs EA has ever greenlit.
“Can it run Crysis?”might be the internet’s favorite tech meme, butCrysis 2is where the series stopped being a glorified benchmark and started dialing in its gunplay. Set in a nanovirus-ravaged New York City, this follow-up ditched the tropical island sandbox for vertical combat arenas filled with collapsed buildings and alien stalkers.
What makes the ranged combat click here isn’t just the satisfying punch of weapons like the SCAR rifle or the explosive K-Volt—it’s the flexibility of the Nanosuit 2.0. Players can instantly shift between stealth cloaks and armor boosts, giving shootouts a rhythm of ambush, reposition, and overpower. It feels like a mix of a tactical shooter and a superhero fantasy, and it still looks incredible thanks to CryEngine’s overachieving lighting and destructible environments.
Though not as open as the original,Crysis 2delivered some of the series’ most memorable set pieces and urban skirmishes. Fighting off Ceph invaders from a rooftop using a mounted cannon while the nanosuit warns that it’s low on energy is peak sci-fi drama.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivordidn’t just let Cal Kestis grow a beard—it let him channel full action-hero energy with one of theslickest lightsaber-and-blaster hybridsthis side of Coruscant. Unlike its predecessor, this sequel finally introduces ranged options that aren’t just Force pulls and droid hacking.
Players can unlock a dedicated blaster stance that complements Cal’s lightsaber with precision pistol shots. It’s not just fanservice either—the ranged combat inJedi:Survivorhas actual mechanical depth. Using the blaster charges tied to saber strikes creates a momentum-based combat flow, where mixing melee and range becomes a necessity, not just flair.
On top of that, boss fights are significantly improved, with human and alien enemies alike forcing Cal to use his entire arsenal. Late-game duels against bounty hunters often turn into full-on firefights, with players dashing between cover, redirecting rockets, and lining up blaster shots mid-air. It’s a power fantasy that somehow still keeps its soul.
It’s rare for a free-to-play shooter to have gunplay this refined, butApex Legendsmakes every bullet feel like a choice. It’s a game where movement is king, and ranged combat is designed to complement that. Every weapon—from the pinpoint Wingman revolver to the devastating Kraber sniper—has its own distinct recoil, reload feel, and situational strengths.
What elevatesApexis its attachment system. Scopes, stocks, and barrels genuinely alter how a weapon performs, and players are constantly evolving their loadouts based on what the ring forces them into. That tension—between scavenging and surviving—makes even early-game skirmishes tense.
Then there’s the mobility. Sliding downhill into a firefight while popping shots with a Peacekeeper shotgun is peakApex. Toss in legends like Vantage with her recon sniper, or Fuse with his grenade-launching cluster madness, andApex Legendsbecomesa battle royalethat rewards smart, adaptive ranged play in every match.
Shepard’s second outing turned away from dice rolls and cooldowns and toward something far more immediate: bullets. The firstMass Effecthad its charms, butMass Effect 2brought tight cover-based shooting to the forefront, and with it, a refined sense of impact in every firefight.
Weapons like the M-96 Mattock or the Revenant light machine gun feel meaty and powerful, and each class builds around different styles of ranged engagement. Snipers like the Widow are slow but surgical, while Vanguards combine shotguns with biotic charges for close-range chaos.
The loyalty missions also showcase just how varied the combat can get. Garrus’ rooftop defense mission, or Thane’s stealth assassination sequence, both force players to adapt their arsenal and tactics, and thanks to the thermal clip system, the annoying overheating mechanic from the first game was finally tossed into a black hole.
There’s something brutally elegant about firing a bolt-action rifle across a fog-drenched war zone and watching the shot arc into a distant target.Battlefield 1took a gamble by goingback to WWI,but it paid off with some of the most grounded and satisfying gunplay in the entire franchise.
The slower pace of its weapons, from the Gewehr 98 to the M1907 SL, makes every shot feel more deliberate. No endless spray-and-pray here—Battlefield 1rewards those who learn its recoil patterns and master bullet drop. When it all clicks, especially in Operations mode, it feels like controlled chaos on a cinematic scale.
Even gadgets like the flare gun or rifle grenades added new layers to long-range play, and elite classes like the Tank Hunter turned every life into a potential kill streak. When paired with DICE’s Frostbite engine and the series' iconic destructible environments, few things feel as visceral as sniping someone through a collapsing church wall.
Dead Spacenever pretended to be a conventional shooter, but that’s exactly why its approach to ranged combat is so unforgettable. Instead of aiming for headshots, players are trained to shoot off limbs with surgical precision. The 2023 remake doesn’t mess with that formula—it perfects it.
Every weapon, from the Line Gun to the Force Gun, serves a surgical function.The Plasma Cutter remains the MVP, not because it’s flashy, but because it lets players dismember with clean, brutal efficiency. The alt-fire modes aren’t gimmicks—they’re often the only thing standing between Isaac and an untimely death.
What the remake adds is modernization: weapon upgrades with branching paths, tighter hit reactions, and adaptive difficulty via the Intensity Director. And when Isaac finally gets the Contact Beam and starts vaporizing Necromorphs into smoldering chunks? It’s horror, but with style.
The secondTitanfalldidn’t just refine EA’s best shooter—it created one of thefinest FPS campaigns of the last decade.It’s hard to talk about ranged combat without talking about movement, andTitanfall 2fused the two into a symphony of speed and precision.
Players aren’t just running and gunning—they’re chaining wallruns, slides, grapples, and double jumps while headshotting enemies from mid-air. Weapons like the Alternator and R-201 Carbine are built to be hip-fired while in motion, and smart pistols track targets in a way that feels futuristic without being broken.
Then there are the Titans themselves. Every class—Ronin, Northstar, Legion—brings unique long-range options, whether it’s precision railguns or shotgun blasts from a distance. It’s not about who has the bigger mech, it’s about who’s faster, smarter, and deadlier at range. And with a multiplayer mode that’s still beloved years later,Titanfall 2proves that great ranged combat can be both a ballet and a brawl.
