Key Takeaways

• Overwatch 2 offers satisfying archery mechanics with Hanzo.
• Destiny 2 showcases stylish sci-fi bows with Exotic weapons like the Wish Ender.
• Skyrim’s archery gameplay offers hilarious ragdoll effects and a deep skill tree system.

Shooting games are a dime a dozen these days and have been a mainstay in action titles for decades. It’s far less common to see the humble bow and arrow, which is a shame as there’s so much you can do with the weapon.

Fortunately, many developers who delve into archery do it justice, and the discipline is depicted in many fantastic ways.

If you prefer a bit of elegance or stealth in your shooting, here’s a great selection of games with archery mechanics you’re sure to enjoy.

10 Overwatch 2

Let The Dragon Consume My Enemies

Say what you like about Overwatch 2, but it does have a diverse cast with unique quirks, weapons, and abilities.

Hanzo is one of the most well-known characters in the game, and he uses a bow as his primary weapon. Archery in Overwatch 2 feels satisfying for a few reasons. The draw time is just right, and the arrow has a travel time that takes many games to master.

The reward for landing your hits is a ridiculous amount of damage, especially if you land a headshot, and Hanzo even has a panic volley ability for close-range combat.

Honestly, it’s been a hot minute since I played Overwatch 2, but Hanzo was an absolute menace during my time with the game. Losing your head to one of his tree trunks (sorry, arrows) was infuriating during a team fight, especially as a squishy healer.

9 Destiny 2

Not Just For Hunters

Archery may be the last thing you associate with a sci-fi looter shooter, but Destiny 2 proves that bows have a place in the genre.

One of Destiny 2‘s biggest strengths is its tight shooting mechanics, making even dull weapons a joy to use. This attention to detail extends to bows. The rate of fire is just right, and every bow lets off a satisfying “crack” as you lob volleys of arrows at your opponents.

The best bows in Destiny 2 are Exotic weapons, like the stunning Verglas Curve in the image above. Bows don’t feel particularly realistic, but I think that’s the point. Sci-fi bows bend the rules of reality, and few games make the weapon type look so stylish.

Some of the best weapons in the game are tied to challenging Dungeons, and they are some of the most fun you can have as a fireteam.

8 Skyrim

Kiss Goodbye To Your Free Time

Skyrim may be over 10 years old but remains an authority in the fantasy RPG space.

If you haven’t played, Skyrim is one of the finest action RPGs on the market, with everything from dragons and skeletons to magic and sorcery.

Combat is a big part of the game, and skill trees are deep enough for any playstyle to be viable. Bows are a part of that and ranged combat feels terrific if you lean into it.

Enemies often ragdoll upon death, which makes some archery kills pretty hilarious, even if that’s not the intention!

I love using a bow in vanilla Skyrim, and it feels absolutely incredible in Skyrim VR if you get the chance to try it with a headset.

7 Monster Hunter World

This Bow Can Take Down Dragons

The Monster Hunter series is renowned for having a master-crafted assortment of weapons, and the Bow is no exception to that rule.

Bow combat in Monster Hunter World feels incredible. You can carefully line up your shots or spam away to let off a dizzying array of different shots. On that note, many bows can use coated arrows to inflict status ailments on monsters, like Poison or Sleep.

You may think you’re safe from attacks as an archer, but don’t be fooled. If you want to deal optimal damage, you still have to stand pretty close, and precision dodging and smart positioning are rewarded.

The crowd-pleaser for any bow user in Monster Hunter is, of course, the Dragon Piercer and Thousand Dragons attack. Both deal ridiculous DPS and fill the screen with dopamine-filled damage numbers.

6 Far Cry 5

For The Silent Assassins

Clearing enemy outposts is a staple of modern Far Cry games, and unless you want to fight an army, a stealthy approach is a good option.

In Far Cry 5, you can snipe from afar, but bows are better if you want to make your infiltrations more personal. Bows are fantastic in Far Cry and feel weighty, with a satisfying draw sound and animation.

Even though there are more guns to choose from, bows are viable throughout the entire game, thanks to several different ammo types. You can swap regular arrows for ones tipped with fire or even explosives!

5 Mordhau

A Medieval Massacre

I rarely hear anyone talking about Mordhau these days, which is a shame because it’s arguably the best at what it does.

Mordhau is a brutal, first-person medieval war simulator. Combat is hefty and visceral, and the best part is that battles are huge multiplayer PvP skirmishes.

Swords and spears are commonplace in Mordhau, but only a fool would underestimate a skilled marksman. Bows are hard to use, with lengthy draw times, but how else will you pierce a suit of armor?

Archery is a viable tactic, and you can ruin siege attempts with a few well-placed shots from a high castle window.

Mordhau is easily the most hardcore game on the list and won’t be for everyone. But for the right player, there are potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay if you want to master the art of war.

4 theHunter: Call of the Wild

Who Needs A Rifle?

theHunter: Call of the Wild is arguably the best hunting game on the market and has been for many years. While rifles are the main focus, there’s a robust section reserved for bow hunting.

If you’ve never played before, theHunter: Call of the Wild is a beautiful hunting simulator set in some of the most picturesque locales I’ve ever seen in a video game.

A decent selection of bows is available from traditional to recurves, along with a wide array of arrows for different-sized targets. Archery is more grounded in reality here, and you have many factors to consider when landing the perfect shot. One false move can be devastating as your prey WILL run away if you miss.

As it’s a hunting simulator, I expect COTW may be a divisive pick, but bow hunting is tense, difficult, and rewarding.

3 Horizon Zero Dawn

Robot Dinosaurs? No Problem!

You can find Bows in many games across multiple genres, but it’s far more unusual for them to be the main focus in combat.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a stunning sci-fi/fantasy adventure game where dangerous robotic creatures patrol the world.

You play as Aloy, and her weapon of choice is, you guessed it, a humble bow. You’ll unlock several bows throughout your journey, each with pros and cons.

For example, the Sharpshooter bow fills more of a sniping role with high damage but a slow draw speed.

Ranged combat is tight and responsive, and fights feel wonderfully satisfying when you’re sprinting around the map, nailing those precision shots.

2 Wii Sports: Resort

TEN!!!

The Nintendo Wii would never have been as successful if it weren’t for Wii Sports, and the sequel added an impressive adaptation of archery into the mix.

Archery in Wii Sports: Resort is wonderfully simple. Hold the Wand controller vertically like a bow shaft and pull the drawstring with the Nunchuck.

It works perfectly, and Nintendo once again shows off its mastery of motion controls. Drawing an invisible bow feels so intuitive that anyone of all ages can do it, and the Motion Plus controller addon makes everything wonderfully responsive.

The only downside is Archery is just a small target shooting activity in Wii Sports: Resort, with limited replayability.

1 Dungeons of Eternity

A New Level Of Immersion

I’ve been a huge advocate for VR gaming for years, and Dungeons of Eternity proves it’s the perfect platform for a top-tier archery experience.

In Dungeons of Eternity, you can draw your bow by reaching over your left shoulder. You can pull arrows from the quiver by grabbing over your right shoulder, and besides the draw weight, shooting a bow feels surprisingly accurate.

Any minor deviations in angle are punished, and you have a fantastic level of control while playing in VR space.

I know VR isn’t for everyone, but you can’t beat it for archery, in my opinion, and Dungeons of Eternity is one of the best places to do it. You can seamlessly swap from bow combat to a sword and even a throwable axe. You feel like a badass when everything falls into place; just make sure you don’t punch through a window or screen if you get into it!