Best Fencing Games, Ranked

As long as life has existed on Earth, there have been individuals who have needed to settle their differences. All too often, this happens through fighting. Humanity's uncanny talent for finding new ways to cause harm to others has led to a variety of dueling practices, many of which have been turned into sports. One such practice is the art of fencing. In its simplest definition, this is a contest in which two or more participants fight with lightweight single-handed swords.

Fencing has captured imaginations for centuries. Authors like Alexander Dumas loved to tell stories of epic duels. The swashbuckling hero has been a staple of Hollywood since its beginning, with actors like Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. Any movie about pirates will inevitably have at least one big fencing scene. That is also true of video games. Fencing can be difficult to adapt into an interactive format, due to its complex techniques and strategies, but giving players the opportunity to participate in a fencing duel is a great selling point.

Related

10 Open-World Games With The Most Bustling Metropolises

Some of the best open-world games create bustling metropolises that players can't help but marvel at.

Posts

By  Chris Harkin

7 Sea of Thieves

What Else Could Be Expected From Pirates?

Being a pirate game, it makes sense that Sea of Thieves would let players wield cutlasses, and it was inevitable they would start dueling with them. Swordfights are common in Sea of Thieves, so the game includes some basic fencing mechanics. Players can attack, block, and dodge, using various combos to great effect. However, since most duels are performed between players who lack fencing experience, they can be a tad anti-climactic.

While the basic mechanics are solid, players can easily end up running around in circles and missing each other. There is also the fact that, this being a game centered on piracy, getting a fair fight is easier said than done. Some pirates may decide to "cheat" by employing firearms. While this does fit with the idea of being a scoundrel on the high seas, Sea of Thieves might not be the best choice for players looking to channel their inner Errol Flynn.

6 Nidhogg

A Weird Mix of Fencing and Racing

Another multiplayer entry, Nidhogg is a two-player sidescroller in which multicolored characters engage in a duel. The basic gameplay involves a simplified parry/strike system, where both characters can change the height of their weapon to block or attack. This particular aspect does give the feeling of a duel one might find in a swashbuckling adventure. However, it does come with some notable twists to the format. A big one is instant kill attacks, something not usually intended with traditional fencing.

Related

The 5 Best Open World Games Set in the Past, Ranked

The best open-world games set in the past find innovative ways to use their settings, enriching their stories with historical figures and locations.

Posts 7

By  Tom Bowen

The objective is not to defeat the opponent (who will respawn after being killed), but to reach the end of an obstacle course and get eaten by the Norse serpent Nidhoggr (which is apparently a desired outcome in this context). While this can create an engaging experience, it does mean players can treat it more like a platformer and avoid fighting all together. The experience of fencing depends on the opponent's preferred strategy.

5 Assassin's Creed

Stealth Overshadows Basic Fencing Mechanics

For a franchise known for emphasizing stealth, the Assassin's Creed series has a solid combat system. Melee combat has been a big part of the series from the beginning, but almost every game between II and Unity showed some obvious swashbuckler influence. The series started to move away from this in Syndicate, which shifted towards a Gangs of New York-esque brawling combat style.

However, given the series' prioritizing of stealth, melee attacks were simplistic and typically reserved as a defensive measure. With a few exceptions (usually boss fights), fencing was more a means of warding off nearby enemies long enough to get a good escape window, or a reaction to stealth going wrong. This led to fencing coming in the form of simple button combos without much focus on strategy.

4 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Experiments with a Fencing Sequence During its Climax

Combat in the Uncharted games usually emphasizes either guns or hand-to-hand brawling, often both. It wouldn't normally be associated with swordsmanship, but that didn't stop Uncharted 4: A Thief's End from experimenting with it. During the climax, Nate has to confront his nemesis Rafe Adler, and both have their guns taken. In a thematically appropriate move for a story about hunting for pirate treasure, the two pick up cutlasses and face off. This one also adds the twist of an unevenly matched fight. Nate lacks Rafe's fencing experience, putting him (and by extension, the player) at a disadvantage.

While it is an interesting thing to experiment with, and a shift from the norm, it could be argued the fencing mechanics are underused. They only appear in the one scene right at the end, and it takes time to get there. While the player can strike and parry, and has some freedom of movement, the sequence also relies on quick-time events (usually the player pushing a button to keep Rafe's sword off of Nate). The use of an extremely narrow room also makes it feel a bit restrictive. This is, however, something a future Uncharted game could have the potential to refine and improve.

3 Princess Peach: Showtime

Peach Fences Against Giants

Peach dons several costumes throughout Showtime, each one coming with a unique persona and variations in gameplay. As Swordfighter Peach, she gets to take on the role of a dashing heroine in a play about a heroic duelist. The level takes full advantage of her new sword, allowing her to battle her way through enemy knights and a plant monster. She gets to test her fencing skills against two bosses, with one unusual twist: both are significantly larger than her. The first is a Ghost Knight whose weapon blurs the line between a rapier and a lance. The second is the Dark Swordfighter who challenges her to a swordfight.

However, while this sequence is quite memorable, the fencing mechanics are affected by the fact that it is a play telling a scripted story. The basic enemies go down with ease, presumably because they are actors directed to do so. The two bosses present a challenge, but they focus heavily on dodging. While agility is a crucial skill for a good fencer, both opponents rely on dodging until an opportunity is found and then striking. This would be a legitimate strategy, but it means Peach doesn't get a lot of room to use more advanced tactics.

2 Sid Meier's Pirates

Simple But Effective Mechanics For Settling Differences

This classic adventure game casts players as an up-and-coming pirate in the Caribbean. Naturally, fencing becomes a regular occurrence. Plundering a ship will require the player to duel its captain. Sometimes the player may encounter duels in other areas, such as dealing with romantic rivals, stopping a jerk from harassing a barmaid, or facing enemies with a more personal connection to the hero. They can even challenge real pirates from history.

Related

Star Wars: 14 Best Lightsaber Duels, Ranked

Star Wars is full of tense and emotional battles, but not all of them are as iconic as others. Here are the best lightsaber duels from the franchise.

Posts

By  C.M Edwards

The game employs a simplistic but informed dueling system. The player can choose from three dueling swords (longsword, cutlass, or rapier), which each have different advantages. The player gets two simple moves: blocking, and thrusting at different angles. The key to success is knowing the right moment to block and when to strike. This approach has the advantage of being accessible without sacrificing the need for strategy, though some players might find it repetitive.

1 En Garde

Take on Tyrranny Like Errol Flynn

En Garde is an homage to classic swashbuckling films, so it's no surprise that fencing is a central mechanic. Even the title is a phrase associated with the practice. Throughout the game, protagonist Adalia De Volador has to take on a variety of enemies in her ongoing feud with the tyrannical Count-Duke. At different times, she has to take on different numbers of enemies, which can range from fighting one-on-one to dealing with whole armies. With different types of enemies, she has to adopt different strategies and sometimes switch between them.

What makes En Garde different from others on this list is its emphasis on the tactical side of fencing. It's not just a button combo; players need precise timing to know exactly when to strike and parry, and how to break an opponent's guard. This gives game a fluid combat that has the advantage of being easy to learn but can still be challenging when tested.

MORE:

12 Games Where You Get To Break Out Of Prison

Countless video games feature prisons, but not all of them give players the chance to escape from one. Here are some great titles that do.

Posts

By  John Alexander Hitchcock