First-person games throw players straight into the fray giving them a point of view that is unrivaled in terms of immersion in video games. While many first-person experiences can be exhilarating, arguably none are as rousing as those that feature first-person melee combat.
Whether it is with swords, axes, or even simply one's own fists, the best first-person melee games get players up close and personal with their opponents with few places to hide from the action. While aim isn't usually as important as it is in shooter games, melee combat games tend to involve block, parry, and riposte mechanics, all of which make awareness and timing key to success.
7 Chivalry 2
Chivalry 2 is a multiplayer game that prides itself on bringing the combat seen in medieval movies to video game screens and does a wonderful job of it. The first-person melee combat is engaging and nuanced, but newer players are still able to catch up to the existing player base by taking onboard advanced tips for Chivalry 2​​​​.
With an array of deadly medieval weapons, players can feint, thrust, slash, and parry their way to victory, all while sounding the battlefield with long drawn-out battle cries. Kicking and dodging also play vital roles in the combat of Chivalry 2 and players will want to mix up their attacks against skilled opponents.
6 Fight Night Round 3
While most players will probably play EA Sport's 2005 boxing game Fight Night Round 3, in the third-person, there is a first-person option for those who want to see what it's like to be punched in the face by Muhammad Ali.
The experience is like nothing else as players enter the ring themselves in one of the best boxing games of all time. Paired with the fact that the game features many famous boxers and gives players the opportunity to create their own, this is definitely a classic to try out again.
5 Overwatch 2
For the most part, Overwatch 2 is a first-person shooter game, but everyone can melee and there are a few heroes who incorporate melee combat into their kits in a large way. For example, when Reinhardt isn't protecting his whole team and the payload with his gigantic shield, he is smacking down foes left, right, and center with his equally big hammer.
Other heroes whose mains likely see Overwatch 2 partly as a melee game include Brigitte, Genji, Doomfist, and of course, Winston when he is angry. Thankfully for both players new and old, this list of melee heroes includes some of the easiest and the hardest heroes to play in Overwatch 2​​​.
4 Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 is a first-person zombie survival game that doesn't take itself too seriously but nonetheless has great melee combat. In their attempt to survive, players will use a variety of innovative weapons created from bits and pieces to take down the hordes of zombies that would do them harm.
With plenty of humor and a great soundtrack raging in the background, players will have fun coming up with creative ways to kill zombies with their makeshift weapons. The combat feels weighted and realistic, giving players an insight into what it might be like on the front lines of a zombie apocalypse. There are also many secrets waiting for players to find in Dead Island 2​​​​​.
3 Mordhau
Mordhau is a game that is designed around its first-person melee combat, and players wanting to experience medieval duels firsthand in an online environment can hardly ask for more. Players who want to hack and slash at random won't find much success in Mordhau as the game requires more skill with an emphasis on directional combat that involves feints, parries, and much more.
Mordhau also boasts a wide variety of weapons from poleaxes and zweihanders to maces and frying pans, all of which should easily satiate the appetite of any medieval fan. Players can even mount up in certain game modes and charge down enemies with a lance or other weapon of choice.
2 Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 is one of the best open-world zombie games ever made and also happens to feature some of the best first-person melee combat seen in any type of game. The combat is smooth with every moment hanging on a knife's edge as players weave in and out.
In particular, the two-footed dropkick is one of the most fun abilities to use in any game and never grows old. Dropkicking is so fun in fact, that Dying Light 2 held a weekend event all about this beloved feature.
1 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is arguably the greatest medieval game ever made and also ranks among the most immersive historical open-world games. One of the many things that make this game so great is its first-person melee combat, which replicates the combat of the late Middle Ages as best as possible. In duels, players will find that the fighting style revolves around guard positions and directional hits.
Unlike other games, there is no slashing through hordes of enemies at once and if the player finds themselves outnumbered, especially by armored opponents, it is best to mount up and ride for the hills. One of the most immersive aspects of Kingdom Come Deliverance is that if the player pulls their visor down in combat, they will have limited vision just like a knight would have, making for one of the most immersive first-person experiences in any game.