25 Games With The Most Satisfying Parry

Mastering a well-timed parry can completely turn the tide in battle, and many games center their combat around this exciting risk-reward mechanic. Here are 25 games that clearly define how parrying works, including timing, windows of opportunity, and what happens when you succeed. We’ll break down each system’s specific rules – like stances, posture, and how to trigger counters – and also tell you which studios and publishers created them, so you’ll have a complete understanding of how parrying is implemented in each game.

‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’ (2019)

Many modern action games, like those from FromSoftware and Activision, focus on a combat system where skillfully timed blocks weaken an enemy’s defenses. Successfully blocking at the right moment builds up their ‘Posture,’ and when it breaks, you can deliver a powerful finishing blow. These blocks, called ‘Parries,’ need precise timing, even against rapid attacks. You also need to learn enemy patterns to anticipate dangerous attacks, which sometimes require dodging or a special counter move instead of a regular block. Importantly, this system works both ways – if you mistime your blocks, your own defenses can be broken.

‘Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’ (2023)

Okay, so in this game, blocking isn’t enough – timing your deflects is everything. Seriously, it’s how you control the flow of battle. A perfect deflect doesn’t just stop damage, it messes with your opponent’s stamina and refills your own, letting you chain together special moves and even cast spells. You have to deflect those red, critical attacks, or you’re going to take a beating, but nailing the timing also gives you a huge opening to counter. The best part? The deflect timing is the same no matter what weapon I’m using, so once I get it down, it works with everything! It’s a really clean system.

‘Nioh’ (2017)

Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo’s game focuses on managing your Ki (energy), but blocking and deflecting attacks are handled through unique weapon abilities that can lead to counterattacks or changes in fighting style. Special sword techniques, like Haze, allow you to deflect certain attacks and move to a better position, using Ki but letting you recover some with timed button presses. Enemies become vulnerable depending on their Ki level, which is shown by a visible stamina bar. Choosing a Guardian Spirit and fighting stance also affects how risky and rewarding blocking attacks will be.

‘Nioh 2’ (2020)

Team Ninja is adding a new move called Burst Counter, which lets you interrupt powerful red ‘Burst’ attacks if you time your defense correctly. The way Burst Counter works changes depending on which Guardian Spirit you choose – some versions dash forward, others clash directly, and some attack from a distance. Landing a Burst Counter drains an enemy’s energy and can even break down special battlefield effects called Yokai Realms. Traditional parry skills are still available alongside this new, universal Burst Counter system.

‘Bloodborne’ (2015)

In recent FromSoftware games, players can now use firearms to interrupt enemy attacks. Successfully timing a shot right before an enemy hits will stagger them, opening them up for a powerful counterattack. Different guns have different timings – pistols are quick, while blunderbusses have a wider range. You can also recover health by attacking immediately after blocking an enemy’s hit, rewarding aggressive play. Bosses have unique moments where firearm parries are effective, usually during their larger attacks.

‘Dark Souls’ (2011)

In games like Elden Ring, blocking with a shield or off-hand item lets you parry attacks, but each item has slightly different timing. If you parry successfully, you can quickly counterattack for significant damage, which is boosted by your weapon’s stats. Not every attack can be parried – strong, two-handed attacks or certain enemies might be unblockable, so you need to learn enemy patterns. The game balances parrying by making it use stamina and giving you brief invincibility frames, so understanding how each item works is key.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Elden Ring lets you deflect attacks using small or medium shields, and also through special skills called Ashes of War. Guard Counters are a separate way to block an attack and immediately strike back. The timing for deflecting attacks changes depending on the shield or skill you use – for example, some skills like ‘Carian Retaliation’ work differently than a standard ‘Parry’. Successfully deflecting attacks and dealing consistent damage can break an enemy’s stance, opening them up to a powerful critical hit. Keep in mind that many bosses have attack combinations where only certain hits can be deflected.

‘Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike’ (1999)

Capcom’s parry system lets you deflect attacks by quickly tapping forward, completely resetting the situation and allowing you to launch a counter-attack immediately. Parries can block attacks coming from above or below, and even work on attacks from the air with precise timing. A ‘red’ parry offers a tighter window to deflect attacks even while blocking, creating opportunities to punish your opponent. This system works on both projectiles and attacks that hit multiple times, so you need to learn the timing of different attack speeds to master it.

‘Street Fighter 6’ (2023)

In Capcom’s games, the Drive Parry lets you block attacks by using your Drive Gauge. If you time it perfectly, you gain a significant advantage. Using Drive Rush or playing while ‘burned out’ changes how risky parrying is, especially as your Drive Gauge gets low. Successfully blocking attacks isn’t about being invincible, but about positioning and precise timing. Because this parry system works against all characters, knowing your opponent and managing your Drive Gauge are key to landing effective attacks after a block.

‘For Honor’ (2017)

In Ubisoft’s games, blocking attacks with ‘parries’ is more complex than simply pressing a button. Players need to block from the correct direction to succeed. Successful blocks have different effects depending on the character and how strong the attack was – some can leave opponents open for a follow-up, while others break their defenses. The game also includes moves that can’t be blocked normally, forcing players to anticipate and bait out parries. Ubisoft has been refining the timing and responsiveness of these systems to make them fair and engaging, and skillful defense is rewarded with benefits like regaining stamina or building up a special meter.

‘Sifu’ (2022)

Sloclap and Microids’ game focuses on defensive moves like blocking, parrying, dodging, and ducking, all shown by a visible ‘Structure’ meter. Successfully timed parries lessen damage and create opportunities to counterattack, while perfect dodges leave enemies vulnerable. Enemies also have a ‘Structure’ meter, meaning consistent attacks and parries can break their defenses, allowing for finishing moves. The game also features systems where characters age and potentially die, changing their health and damage output as you learn how enemies behave.

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020)

In games like those made by Sucker Punch Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment, players can disarm or stun enemies using precise timing with blocks and perfect parries. Improving these skills unlocks features like slow-motion parries and the ability to frighten enemies, but players need to adapt their fighting style depending on the enemy they face. Certain unblockable attacks require dodging or specific counter-moves instead of simply blocking. Successfully defending builds up a resource that can then be used for powerful special moves and to restore health.

‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ (2019)

In Respawn and EA’s games, blocking attacks isn’t just about defense – it’s a strategic duel. Perfectly timed blocks quickly break an enemy’s defenses and create openings for attacks. The game’s difficulty levels change how forgiving the timing is for these blocks, but don’t change the enemy’s attacks, helping players learn to read their movements. Lightsaber duels against tougher enemies and bosses require even more precise timing, signaled by clear sounds. Using a blaster to deflect incoming fire uses the same timing mechanics, letting you shoot the energy back at enemies from a distance.

‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’ (2023)

Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts are adding more variety to combat stances, each of which impacts how quickly you parry, how much stamina blocking uses, and how much damage your counters deal. Successfully timing a parry will break an enemy’s defenses and can even stun them. When facing multiple enemies, you’ll need to carefully choose your targets and manage the camera to avoid being overwhelmed and having your guard broken. The skill trees allow you to improve your timing and increase the window for successful moves, depending on the stance you choose.

‘Devil May Cry 5’ (2019)

Dante’s Royal Guard style allows players to block attacks with incredible precision, storing the damage received for a powerful counterattack. Successfully blocking a series of consecutive hits builds up a meter quickly. Because enemies attack with varying speeds and wind-ups, players need to anticipate and buffer their blocks rather than simply holding guard. While other characters can deflect attacks in certain situations, Royal Guard is the most reliable and rewarding parry system in the game.

‘Bayonetta’ (2009)

In games like Bayonetta, players can use a special item called the Moon of Mahaa-Kalaa to parry attacks. This means they can deflect both close-range hits and some projectiles if they time their blocks just right. Perfectly timed parries can activate a slow-motion effect called Witch Time, allowing for longer attack combinations. The direction you press on the controller during a parry changes how you counter – pressing no direction results in a simple reflection, while pressing a direction performs an evasive maneuver. Without this item, Witch Time is usually triggered by dodging at the last possible moment, instead of parrying.

‘Katana ZERO’ (2019)

Askiisoft and Devolver Digital’s game lets you deflect bullets and thrown weapons with precise timing. While the game features slow motion, successful parries still depend on accurately judging the speed and distance of incoming projectiles. You can also parry close-range attacks to create opportunities for instant kills, encouraging strategic movement. Clear visual and audio signals help you time your parries, linking success to where enemies are on screen.

‘Dead Cells’ (2018)

In the game, shields from Motion Twin and Evil Empire have clear parrying features – stats like how quickly they activate, the timing window for a parry, and parry bonuses are all shown on the item description. Successfully timing a parry completely blocks damage, sends projectiles back at enemies, and can even stun, cause bleeding, or boost damage, depending on the shield used. You can only get some shield blueprints by parrying certain enemies, encouraging players to use the parry mechanic. And in boss battles, consistently parrying opens up opportunities to interrupt the boss’s attacks.

‘Monster Hunter Rise’ (2021)

Capcom’s Monster Hunter games feature various ways to counter enemy attacks. Each weapon has unique counters – like the Long Sword’s Foresight Slash, Lance’s precise blocks, and the Charge Blade’s guard points. Players can also use Wirebug skills such as Sakura Slash and Serene Pose for different counter timings, though these cost resources. Successfully timing a counter often rewards players with resources that can be used for powerful burst attacks. Monsters give clear signals before attacking, allowing skilled players to time their counters effectively.

‘Samurai Shodown’ (2019)

The new version of SNK’s game lets you block attacks with weapon deflects, and perfectly timed blocks can even disarm opponents. Successfully deflecting an attack builds up a rage meter and opens up opportunities to use special Weapon Flipping Techniques. Because the game rewards accurate timing with a lot of damage, a single well-timed block or counter can quickly turn the tide of a match. All characters use the same basic controls, but each one has unique follow-up moves that determine how much of an advantage you get.

‘Chivalry 2’ (2021)

In games from Torn Banner Studios and Tripwire Interactive, blocking isn’t simple. Successful blocks, called parries, require precise timing and matching the angle of the incoming attack. Players need to carefully watch their opponents because deceptive moves like feints and changes in attack speed can throw off timing. Blocking and parrying also drain stamina, so players can’t just endlessly defend – they’ll need to attack or use other defensive techniques. In team modes, well-timed parries create openings to counterattack and hit multiple enemies with sweeping attacks.

‘Cuphead’ (2017)

In Cuphead, players can deflect pink attacks mid-air, which cancels their jumps and fills a special meter. Many boss fights require quickly deflecting attacks multiple times to reach new areas or dodge obstacles. A special charm can automatically perform these deflections during jumps, and other charms let players prioritize either dealing more damage or moving faster. The game’s ranking system considers how often players successfully deflect attacks, along with their completion time and remaining health.

‘Lies of P’ (2023)

Round8 Studio and Neowiz Games’ game focuses on well-timed blocks, called perfect guards, which minimize damage and wear down enemy weapons. Successfully blocking attacks consistently can damage enemy parts and create opportunities for powerful finishing moves. Players can improve their blocking through upgrades and by customizing their weapons, allowing for precise control over the timing of these blocks.

‘Furi’ (2016)

In this fast-paced action game, players face challenging boss battles focused on precise timing. Successfully blocking attacks (parrying) not only defends you but also advances the fight and disrupts enemies. Parrying works differently depending on the situation – it can deflect bullets or counter close-range attacks. The game gets harder as timing windows shrink, but helpful audio and visual cues signal the rhythm of the attacks. Landing perfect parries builds up power for special moves that help you overcome each phase of the boss fight.

‘Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’ (2024)

In the game, players can perform perfect parries to deflect attacks and send projectiles back at enemies. Landing a perfect parry can lead to special counter moves and openings. Even blocking slightly late will still reduce damage. Players can customize how easy parries are to perform and how rewarding they are using amulets and special abilities. Boss battles require players to learn attack patterns, as not every hit can be parried, emphasizing timing and memorization.

Do you have a preferred parrying mechanic we didn’t mention, or a tough fight that finally helped you master the timing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

2025-11-14 08:51