10 Awesome Mechanics That Make ALL Video Games Better

8. Parrying

Just cause 4
Rocksteady

Parrying feels like it should be a default feature of every video game with a major focus on combat, because the joy of successfully nailing a perfectly-timed parry and responding with a flurry of attacks is just... the best.

Some of the more robust parrying mechanics in modern games appear in Batman: Arkham series, Ghost of Tsushima, and basically anything produced by FromSoftware, where fending off an incoming attack with split-second timing is ultra-fluid and intuitive.

Some games handle parrying better than others, and it can sometimes be frustrating figuring out a given enemy's timings, but when it clicks, it clicks.

Nothing will make you feel like an S-tier badass quite like fearlessly deflecting incoming attacks and responding with your own salvo - especially if the game rewards you for parrying with a buff or even a time slowdown.

It's certainly nice to have a bevy of options during combat, but there's nothing quite like some well-honed parry mechanics.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.