One of the most famous recent examples of a game using parrying has to be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Inspired by JRPGs, the title became one of 2025\u2019s biggest releases, selling 8 million copies and earning worldwide acclaim. Of course, that success isn\u2019t due solely to its parry-based combat system \u2013 its visuals, story, and music have all earned widespread praise \u2013 but I think the fact that even a game with a turn-based RPG battle system adopts parrying speaks to just how popular the mechanic has become. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other prominent action games featuring parries released in recent years include DOOM: The Dark Ages, Resident Evil Requiem, and indie hits such as Nine Sols, Sifu, and Lies of P. At this point, it may actually be harder to find an action game without<\/em> a parry system. So why has parrying become so widespread? Before answering that question, let\u2019s first think a bit about what a \u201cparry\u201d actually is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether in action games or RPGs, combat systems can generally be divided into several broad categories, such as offense, defense, healing, and support. Parrying belongs to the \u201cdefense\u201d category. Let\u2019s break down parries and similar mechanics in more detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first is the \u201cdeflection.\u201d This is an action that simply blocks an opponent\u2019s attack from connecting. Whether or not the opponent loses their balance afterward is a separate matter entirely. It resembles a parry, but it\u2019s actually a different system. A famous example is Street Fighter III\u2019s \u201cblocking\u201d mechanic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second is the \u201ccounter.\u201d This is when the player avoids an opponent\u2019s attack while retaliating, allowing them to deal greater-than-normal damage. At first glance, this seems closer to the \u201cattack\u201d category of combat systems, but because it is fundamentally a reactive action (striking back in response to an opponent\u2019s attack), I would still classify it as defensive. In RPGs, counters are often triggered after taking damage, automatically retaliating against the attacker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This refers to exploiting an opening to throw the opponent off balance. The opponent doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be in an attacking motion, but openings naturally tend to appear during attacks. The primary function here is canceling the opponent\u2019s action \u2013 dealing damage isn\u2019t required. After being interrupted, the opponent becomes vulnerable, allowing the player to follow up with further attacks. This mechanic could arguably also be considered part of the \u201coffense\u201d category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we have the \u201cparry.\u201d This is the act of knocking back an opponent\u2019s attack using a weapon or shield. Because the attack is knocked away, damage does not go through, making it a defensive action. And because the opponent\u2019s attack is unexpectedly interrupted, they either lose their balance or stop their attack altogether. Strictly speaking, this comes from the real-life logic that, if your attack gets knocked aside, your posture naturally breaks. But depending on the game, the enemy\u2019s attack doesn\u2019t necessarily have to stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, deflection, interruption, counters, and parries are all distinct mechanics. However, many games lump them together under the broad label of \u201cparry.\u201d Breaking them down like this makes it easier to understand why individual games selectively incorporate certain elements into their own \u201cparry-like\u201d systems. Now that we\u2019ve developed a clearer understanding of how parries function, let\u2019s move on to the history of parry-focused game design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As I mentioned earlier, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most prominent recent examples of a game featuring parrying. Its developers incorporated the mechanic after receiving inspiration from FromSoftware\u2019s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, according to an interview published by Dengeki Online<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We wanted to create a game with a unique new turn-based combat system, but we were running out of ideas. Then, by chance, I played Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the parrying felt incredibly satisfying.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is far from the only game whose developers turned to Sekiro when they ran into difficulties coming up with interesting combat ideas. The highly acclaimed indie game Nine Sols also found inspiration in it, as described in an interview with Video Game Journalist Search<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, there were times when we felt quite lost and ran into dead ends. Fortunately, during these moments, Sekiro inspired us. Our vision became much clearer with the question, “What would a 2D Sekiro feel like?”<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, Sifu was also influenced by Sekiro, and so was DOOM: The Dark Ages, as shared by the developers in interviews with IGN<\/a> and VICE<\/a>, respectively. Looking at these examples, it\u2019s hard to deny that Sekiro is at the center of the modern wave of parry-focused games. It therefore makes sense to examine the history of parrying with Sekiro as a central point of reference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Game design, after all, is also a process of “imitation and selection.” When borrowing ideas from another game, designers select the elements that suit their own project, and in doing so, create a different gameplay experience. Even Sekiro didn\u2019t suddenly emerge with a design centered on parrying out of nowhere. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki had already incorporated parrying into Demon\u2019s Souls, the first entry in the Souls series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s unclear exactly how the mechanic evolved from the Demon\u2019s Souls style of parrying, which deflects an attack and renders the opponent vulnerable, to Sekiro\u2019s approach, which involves repeatedly parrying attacks to deplete an enemy\u2019s posture before eventually breaking it. One thing we can say, however, is that this evolution grew out of a concept Miyazaki has consistently championed \u2013 the sense of accomplishment that comes from confronting and overcoming adversity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDeconstructing parrying and related mechanics<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Deflection <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Countering <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Interruption (JP: kuzushi<\/em>) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Parry <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The history of games built around parrying<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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