:Third-person shooter

File:Shooter person views.png

A third-person shooter is a game structured around shooting,Nate Garrets, The Meaning and Culture of Grand Theft Auto: critical essays (McFarland, 2006), [https://books.google.com/books?id=Woct9TuzNNoC&dq=%22Third-person+shooter%22+film&pg=PA159 159]. and in which the player can see the avatar on-screen in a third-person view.Anne-Marie Schreiner, "[http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/leonardo/v034/34.3schleiner.html Does Lara Croft Wear Fake Polygons? Gender and Gender-Role Subversion in Computer Adventure Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092927/http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=%2Fjournals%2Fleonardo%2Fv034%2F34.3schleiner.html |date=4 March 2016 }}" Leonardo Journal, Vol. 34, No. 3 (2001): 222. Third-person shooters are distinguished from other shooter games that may present the game from a third-person view such as shoot 'em ups, as the game is presented with the player's avatar as a primary focus of the camera's view.{{cite book | title = The Routledge Companion to Video Game Studies | editor-first = Bernard | editor-last = Peron | publisher = Taylor & Francis | date = 2014 | isbn = 978-1-136-29050-3 | chapter = Chapter 31: Shooting | first = Gerald | last= Voorhees | pages=251–258 }} Third-person shooters are analogous to first-person shooters in terms of immersion, but simply displace the camera from being at the eyes of the character to a point slightly above and behind them in most cases.{{Cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2015/10/09/games-know-your-genres-third-person-shooters/|title=Know Your Genres: Third-Person Shooters |website=news.xbox.com|date=9 October 2015|language=en-US|access-date=24 July 2018}}

It is a 3D genre that grew to prominence during the 2000s, especially on game consoles. It features shooter game elements, sometimes combining these with the jumping and climbing elements of puzzle-based games and brawlers. Third-person shooter games sometimes incorporate an aim-assist feature to compensate for the difficulty of aiming from a third-person camera. Many include some form of first-person view, which allows precise shooting and looking around at environment features that are otherwise hidden from the default camera. In early examples of the genre, the player would often be required to stand still to use first-person view, but newer titles allow the player to play like a FPS.

These games are closely related to first-person shooters, which also tie the perspective of the player to an avatar,{{cite book|last=Rollings|first=Andrew|author2=Ernest Adams |title=Fundamentals of Game Design|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=2006|url=http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_gamedev_1/54/14053/3597646.cw/index.html}} distinguished only in a minor change of position of the player camera.Geddes, Ryan, [http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/914/914918p1.html Beyond Gears of War 2], IGN, 30 September 2008, Accessed 2 April 2009 While the first-person perspective allows players to aim and shoot without their avatar blocking their view, the third-person shooter shows the protagonist from an "over the shoulder shot" or "behind the back" perspective.Blache, Fabian & Fielder, Lauren, [http://uk.gamespot.com/features/tombraider_hist/p4_01.html History of Tomb Raider] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011214254/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/tombraider_hist/p4_01.html |date=11 October 2012 }}, GameSpot, Accessed 1 April 2009 Thus, the third-person perspective allows the game designer to create a more strongly characterized avatar and directs the player's attention as in watching a film. In contrast, a first-person perspective provides the player with greater immersion into the game universe.Hutcheon, Linda, A Theory of Adaptation (CRC Press, 2006), pp. 55-56

Third-person shooters allow players to see the area surrounding the avatar more clearly. This viewpoint facilitates more interaction between the character and their surrounding environment, such as the use of a tactical system in Gears of War,{{cite web | url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15644342 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219185507/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15644342/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 19 February 2015 | author = Levi Buchanan | title ='Gears of War' is next-gen at its best | publisher = NBC News | date = 10 November 2006 | access-date = 2 March 2009 }} or navigating tight quarters.{{cite web | url = http://reviews.cnet.com/playstation-2-games/socom-us-navy-seals/4505-9581_7-20697786.html | title = SOCOM: US Navy Seals (PlayStation 2) | author = Ryan Donald | date = 27 August 2002 | access-date = 2 April 2009 | website = CNET }} As such, the third-person perspective is better for interacting with objects in the game world, such as jumping on platforms, engaging in close combat, or driving a vehicle. However, the third-person perspective can interfere with tasks that require fine aiming.{{cite book | publisher = Charles River Media | year = 2002 | title = Game Design Perspectives | author = François Dominic Laramée | isbn = 978-1-58450-090-2 }}

Third-person shooters sometimes compensate for their distinct perspective by designing larger, more spacious environments than first-person shooters.{{cite web |last=Määttä |first=Aki |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/gdc-2002-realistic-level-design-in-i-max-payne-i- |title=GDC 2002: Realistic Level Design in Max Payne |work=Game Developer |date=8 May 2002 |access-date=6 April 2009 }}

The boundaries between third-person and first-person shooters are not always clear. For example, many third-person shooters allow the player to use a first-person viewpoint for challenges that require precise aiming, while others simply allow a player to freely switch between first and third-person perspectives at will. The first-person shooter Halo: Combat Evolved was actually designed as a third-person shooter, but added a first-person perspective to improve the interface for aiming and shooting.{{cite web | url = http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ArticleID=2336 | publisher = Inside Mac Games | title = Halo Move to First-Person Shooter Confirmed | date = 15 March 2001 | access-date = 2 April 2009 }} The game switches to a third-person viewpoint when the avatar is piloting a vehicle, and this combination of first-person for aiming and third-person for driving has since been used in other games.{{cite web | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/star-wars-battlefront/551084p1.html | title = Star Wars: Battlefront (PC) | author = Sal Accardo | date = 24 September 2004 | publisher = GameSpy | access-date = 2 April 2009 }} Metroid Prime is another first-person shooter that switches to a third-person perspective when rolling around the environment using the morph ball.{{cite web | url = http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18021.htm | title = Metroid Prime Review | author = Louis Bedigian | date = 23 November 2002 | access-date = 2 April 2009 | publisher = GameZone | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604220034/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18021.htm | archive-date = 4 June 2009 }} Many games in the genre such as the ARMA series and its descendants (including the popular battle-royale shooter PUBG) allow players to freely transition between first and third-person perspectives at will.

Alexander R. Galloway writes that the "real-time, over-the-shoulder tracking shots of Gus Van Sant's Elephant evoke third-person shooter games like Max Payne, a close cousin of the FPS".Alexander R. Galloway. Gaming: essays on algorithmic culture (U of Minnesota Press, 2006), [https://books.google.com/books?id=z8LibpVNIZ4C&dq=%22over-the-shoulder%22+%22video+games%22+%22Third-person+shooter%22&pg=PA60 60].

2D third-person shooters have existed since the earliest days of video games, dating back to Spacewar! (1962);{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Steven E.|title=The Meaning of Video Games: Gaming and Textual Strategies|date=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-90218-6|pages=83–84|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jq6TAgAAQBAJ&q=%22third+person%22|language=en | quote = Clearly this early third-person shooter [Spacewar] paved the way for the FPS proper. The rockets are drawn on the screen against a 2-D backdrop of stars.}} third-person perspective shooting is also featured in its clones, Galaxy Game (1971) and Computer Space (1971).{{cite book|last1=Voorhees|first1=Gerald A.|last2=Call|first2=Joshua|last3=Whitlock|first3=Katie|title=Guns, Grenades, and Grunts: First-Person Shooter Games|date=2015|publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4411-9144-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AIh1Tir2gyYC&q=%22computer+space%22+%22third+person%22&pg=PT3 | language=en|quote = "Some of the earliest video games, such as the mainframe game Spacewar! (1962) and commercial games based on it like Galaxy Game (1971) and Computer Space (1971) also involved shooting . . . [T]hese games featured shooting from a third-person perspective."}} Arcade shooters with a 3D third-person perspective include Nintendo's Radar Scope (1979),{{cite book|last1=Stanton|first1=Rich|title=A Brief History Of Video Games: From Atari to Xbox One|date=2015|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group, Hachette Book Group|isbn=978-1-4721-1881-3|page=114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUFIBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA114|language=en|quote=Radar Scope owed much to the popularity of Space Invaders and Galaxian, but nevertheless felt original thanks to its 3D third-person perspective.}} Atari's Tempest (1981),{{cite journal |last=Therrien |first=Carl |date=Dec 2015 |title=Inspecting Video Game Historiography Through Critical Lens: Etymology of the First-Person Shooter Genre |url= http://gamestudies.org/1502/articles/therrien|journal=Game Studies |volume=15 |issue=2 |access-date=16 October 2017 | quote = "[Tempest] corresponds to a third-person shooter, by contemporary standards."}} Nihon Bussan's Tube Panic (1983),{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=32709|title=Tube Panic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=32709|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} Sega's Space Harrier (1985),{{cite web|url=https://www.gamezone.com/originals/sega_franchises_that_deserve_the_platinum_games_treatment/ |title=Top 10 Sega Franchises That Deserve Platinum Treatment |work=GameZone.com |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=25 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010142434/http://www.gamezone.com/editorials/item/sega_franchises_that_deserve_the_platinum_games_treatment/|archive-date=10 October 2010}} Atari's Xybots (1987),{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11604|title=Xybots|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11604|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} and Square's 3-D WorldRunner (1987).{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1136|title=3-D WorldRunner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1136|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} and JJ (1987){{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14936|title=JJ: Tobidase Daisakusen Part II|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14936|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} Third-person shooters for home computers include Dan Gorlin's Airheart (1986){{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40637|title=Airheart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40637|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} and Paul Norman's Beyond Forbidden Forest (1986).{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=3023|title=Beyond Forbidden Forest|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=3023|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}}

Konami's run & gun shooter Contra (1987) featured several third-person shooter levels where the player trudges through indoor enemy bases.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071023201005/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=260 Game of The Week: Contra], GameSpy Konami's Devastators (1988)Kurt Kalata, [http://hg101.kontek.net/konamirunnguns/konamirunnguns.htm Konami Run 'n Guns], Hardcore Gaming 101 is a third-person shooter{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9910|title=Devastators|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9910|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} where, rather than moving forward automatically, the player walks forward by holding the Up direction, as the background slowly scales toward the screen. Devastators also featured various obstacles that could be used to take cover from enemy fire, as well as two-player cooperative gameplay.{{KLOV game|7573|Devastators}} A similar shooter released that same year was Cabal (1988),{{cite web|url=https://hg101.kontek.net/cabal/cabal.htm|title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Cabal / Blood Bros.|website=hg101.kontek.net|access-date=26 December 2018}} which inspired many of its own "Cabal clones", such as NAM-1975 (1990) and Wild Guns (1994).{{cite web|title=Wild Guns|url=http://hg101.kontek.net/wildguns/wildguns.htm|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|access-date=24 April 2012}} Kurt Kalata of Hardcore Gaming 101 cites Sega's Last Survivor (1988), released for arcades and then ported to the FM Towns and FM Towns Marty, featuring eight-player deathmatch. He notes that it has a perspective and split-screen similar to Xybots, but with entirely different gameplay and controls.{{cite web|url=https://hg101.kontek.net/lastsurvivor/lastsurvivor.htm|title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Last Survivor|website=hg101.kontek.net|access-date=26 December 2018}}

In 1993, Namco released a two-player competitive 3D third-person shooter vehicle combat game, Cyber Sled.{{cite web|url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9856|title=Cyber Sled|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9856|archive-date=1 January 2014|website=AllGame}} A year later, Elite Systems Ltd. released Virtuoso on the 3DO. This was an early example of a home console third-person shooter which featured a human protagonist on-foot, as opposed to controlling a vehicle, and made use of polygonal 3D graphics along with sprites in a 3D environment.{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/virtuoso|title=Virtuoso for 3DO (1994)|website=MobyGames|access-date=26 December 2018}} Fade to Black (1995) was also a fully 3D third-person shooter released around this time, but as well as featuring an on-foot protagonist rather than a vehicle, utilised entirely polygonal 3D graphics.{{cite news|last = Dominguez|first=James|url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/blog/screenplay/deadlight-an-unsatisfying-flashback-20120821-24l3s.html|title=Deadlight, an unsatisfying flashback|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=22 August 2012|quote = "Even Flashback's own sequel, Fade to Black, was a fully 3D third-person shooter." }}

Tomb Raider (1996) by Eidos Interactive (now Square Enix Europe) is claimed by some commentators as a third-person shooter,Anne-Marie Schleiner, "[http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/leonardo/v034/34.3schleiner.html Does Lara Croft Wear Fake Polygons? Gender and Gender-Role Subversion in Computer Adventure Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092927/http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=%2Fjournals%2Fleonardo%2Fv034%2F34.3schleiner.html |date=4 March 2016 }}" Leonardo Journal, Vol. 34, No. 3 (2001): 222.Jonathan S. Harbour, Microsoft Visual Basic game programming with DirectX 2002Peter Cohen, "Bring out the big guns.(The Game Room)", MacWorld, 1 September 2003Dickey, Christopher; Scanlan, Marc; Lee, B. J. "Let the Games Begin.(World Cyber Games 2001)", Newsweek International, 24 December 2001{{cite magazine|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3056|title=REVIEWS: PC|magazine=Computer and Video Games|date=13 August 2001|access-date=4 August 2009}} and Jonathan S. Harbour of the University of Advancing Technology argues that it's "largely responsible for the popularity of this genre". Other commentators have considered it influential on later third person shooters such as BloodRayne (2002), The Contra Adventure (1998),Bobba Fatt, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607143354/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/368/c-the-contra-adventure/ The Contra Adventure], GamePro, 9 January 2004, Accessed 4 August 2009 MDK (1997),{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mdk-review/1900-2542499/|title=MDK Review|first=Jeff|last=Sengstack|date=6 May 1997|website=gamespot.com|access-date=25 March 2018}} Duke Nukem: Time To Kill (1998),{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/duke-nukem-time-to-kill/reviews/reviewerId,3250/|title=Duke Nukem: Time to Kill (1998) PlayStation review - MobyGames|website=MobyGames|access-date=25 March 2018}} Burning Rangers (1998),{{cite web|url=https://thesegasource.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/burning-rangers-review/|title=Burning Rangers Review|date=21 August 2010|website=wordpress.com|access-date=25 March 2018}} and Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K. 2 (2000). The game eschewed the popular first person perspective of games such as Doom, instead making use of "third person" viewpoints, wide 3D environments and a control system inspired by Prince of Persia.{{cite book |title=Trigger Happy |last=Poole |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Poole |year=2000 |publisher=Arcade Publishing |location=New York |isbn=1-55970-539-6 |page=30 }} Mega Man Legends (1997) by Capcom is another early 3D third person shooter which took a different approach to the genre, mixing this with a role-playing game influence. Around the same time, Deathtrap Dungeon (1998) by Eidos Interactive and MediEvil (1998) by SCE Studio Cambridge (then Millennium Interactive) were some of the first 3D games in the genre to include third person shooter influences in a fantasy setting, with fictional or alternative weapons achieving the same effect as a gun for the player. Die Hard Trilogy (1998) by Fox Interactive was met with critical acclaim at the time of its release,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/die-hard-trilogy-review/1900-2547309/|title=Die Hard Trilogy Review|first=Hugh|last=Sterbakov|date=1 December 1996|website=gamespot.com|access-date=25 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/22/die-hard-trilogy|title=Die Hard Trilogy|author=IGN Staff|date=21 November 1996|website=ign.com|access-date=25 March 2018}} and the section of the game based around the first Die Hard film in the trilogy was another early take on a 3D third person shooter.

File:Ratchet & Clank Going Commando gameplay.png features third-person combat with several types of firearms. The current ammunition is visible in the top left of the HUD.]]

Syphon Filter (1999) by Eidetic (now Bend Studio) combined the perspective of Tomb Raider with action elements of games such as GoldenEye 007 (1997) and Metal Gear Solid (1998).Gerstmann, Jeff, [https://archive.today/20120716022207/http://uk.gamespot.com/ps/adventure/syphonfilter/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Syphon Filter Review], GameSpot, 12 February 1999, Accessed 1 April 2009 Richard Rouse III wrote in Game Developer that the game was the most popular third person shooter for the PlayStation.{{cite web |last=Rouse |first=Richard III |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/postmortem-the-game-design-of-surreal-s-i-the-suffering-i- |title=Postmortem: The Game Design of Surreal's The Suffering |work=Game Developer |date=9 June 2004 |access-date=1 April 2009 }} The Nintendo 64 version of Army Men: Sarge's Heroes by The 3DO Company was released the same year as Syphon Filter, and is an early example of a popular third person shooter which introduced the player being allowed to control aiming of their weapon themselves by means of two control sticks. In Tomb Raider and Syphon Filter, on the other hand, the protagonists automatically aimed at antagonists. Forcing or allowing the player to control aiming themselves, either using control sticks or a mouse, would go on to become commonplace in later games in the genre, such as Oni (2001), Max Payne (2001) and SOCOM (2002). Max Payne (2001) was acclaimed as a superlative third person shooter, inspired by Hong Kong action cinema.Kasavin, Greg, [http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox/action/maxpayne/review.html Max Payne Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120716154946/http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox/action/maxpayne/review.html |date=16 July 2012 }}, GameSpot, 11 December 2001, Accessed 2 April 2009 Several platform games with third-person shooter elements were also released during that time; examples included Ratchet & Clank and most of the games in the Jak and Daxter series, both of which were designed for younger audiences than most third-person shooters.

Resident Evil 4 (2005) was influential in helping to redefine the third-person shooter genre,{{cite web|title=Decade in Review: The most influential video games since Y2K|date=30 December 2009|author=Daniel Kaszor|work=The National Post|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2009/12/30/370674.aspx|access-date=24 January 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100609234921/http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2009/12/30/370674.aspx|archive-date=9 June 2010}} with its use of "over the shoulder" offset camera angles, where the camera is placed directly over the right shoulder and therefore doesn't obscure the action.{{cite web |last=Dobson |first=Jason |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/post-gdc-cliff-bleszinski-says-iteration-won-i-gears-of-war-i- |title=Post-GDC: Cliff Bleszinski Says Iteration Won Gears of War |work=Game Developer |date=12 March 2007 |access-date=2 April 2009 }} An important gameplay mechanic that helped revolutionize third-person shooters in the past decade was the cover system. Koei's WinBack (1999)Brian Ashcraft, [http://kotaku.com/5452654/how-cover-shaped-gamings-last-decade How Cover Shaped Gaming's Last Decade], Kotaku has a cover system. Kill Switch (2003) features the cover system as its core game mechanic,[http://www.play-mag.co.uk/opinion/why-vanquish-will-make-gears-of-war-obsolete/ Why Vanquish will make Gears Of War obsolete], Play along with a blind fire mechanic.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511231436/http://www.ign.com/articles|archive-date=11 May 2012|title=Articles|website=IGN|access-date=25 March 2018}} Gears of War (2006) employed tactical elements such as taking cover,Marc Saltzman, "[https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2006-11-30-gears-of-war_x.htm Microsoft turns out gorgeous, gory shooter with 'Gears of War']," USA Today (30 November 2006). influenced by Kill Switch,{{cite news| url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-07-cliffy-b-disassembles-gears-mentions-sequel/1100-6167213/ |title=GameSpot - GDC 07: Cliffy B disassembles Gears, mentions sequel| newspaper = Gamespot| access-date = 5 July 2007}} using off-center viewpoints inspired by Resident Evil 4. The game also employed grittier themes than other titles and used a unique feature which rewarded the player for correctly reloading weapons.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Ernest |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-designer-s-notebook-ten-years-of-great-games |title=The Designer's Notebook: Ten Years Of Great Games |date=26 November 2007 |access-date= 6 April 2009 |work=Game Developer }} Gears of War, as well as games such as Army of Two (2008), place a greater emphasis on two player cooperative play,{{cite web |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6176029/index.html?tag=result;title;0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719155121/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6176029/index.html?tag=result;title;0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-19 |title=Lock and Load: Upcoming Military Shooters of 2007 |work=GameSpot |date=4 August 2007 |access-date=1 April 2009 }} as does Resident Evil 5 (2009).Faylor, Chris & Breckon, Nick, [http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=52819 Resident Evil 5 to Sport 2P Co-op, Cover System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526093336/http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=52819 |date=26 May 2008 }} (22 May 2008), Shacknews, Retrieved on 22 May 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/09/tgs-2008-resident-evil-5-goes-split-screen|title=TGS 2008: Resident Evil 5 Goes Split Screen|first=John|last=Tanaka|date=9 October 2008|website=ign.com|access-date=25 March 2018}} As of 2009, the third-person shooter genre has a large audience outside Japan, particularly in North America.{{cite web |last=Nutt |first=Christian |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/console/that-tecmo-flavor-kikuchi-and-shibata-on-surprising-the-audience |title=That Tecmo Flavor: Kikuchi And Shibata On Surprising The Audience|work=Game Developer |date=8 January 2009 |access-date=1 April 2009 }} Vanquish (2010) by PlatinumGames featured a gameplay style reminiscent of bullet hell shooters, with bullets and missiles coming from all directions.[http://www.torontosun.com/tech/games/2011/01/06/16781371.html Vanquish an intense sci-fi shooter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906022146/http://www.torontosun.com/tech/games/2011/01/06/16781371.html |date=6 September 2017 }}, Toronto Sun

The third-person shooter genre is still quite popular in contemporary gaming circles. In 2012, Rockstar Games released Max Payne 3, which was praised for its refined gameplay. In 2015, Nintendo published multiplayer third-person shooter game Splatoon for the Wii U, which was followed by two sequels for Nintendo Switch in 2017 and 2022 respectively, with Splatoon 2 being one of the console's highest selling games and Splatoon 3 becoming one of the fastest selling Switch games. In the late 2010s, the third-person shooter battle royale game Fortnite Battle Royale saw huge popularity. The survival horror games Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis were remade in 2019 and 2020 respectively, featuring third-person shooter gameplay similar to Resident Evil 4.

• List of third-person shooters
• Shooter game

{{reflist}}

{{Video game genre}}

Category:Video game genres