Before the world was obsessed with battle royales and killstreaks, SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs for PlayStation 2 was teaching gamers how to move as a squad, clear a room, and get the job done without alerting half the map. Developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2005, this tactical third-person shooter was the elite answer to mindless run-and-gun chaos.

Command a four-man fireteam through global black ops missions—from the deadly jungles of South Asia to the deserts of North Africa. Plan your loadouts, give real-time commands, and actually use strategy (we know, weird right?) as you complete objectives under heavy fire. For its time, the AI was shockingly solid, and your squadmates weren’t just meat shields—they actually helped. Sometimes.

Featuring a fully fleshed-out single-player campaign and once-massive online multiplayer (RIP, servers), SOCOM 3 was the go-to for players who wanted more brains than bullets—and maybe just a little flexing of tactical superiority on their friends.

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1. Developed by Zipper Interactive, published by Sony Computer Entertainment
2. 14 campaign missions set across three diverse international regions
3. Issue squad commands on the fly or go full lone wolf (good luck)
4. Realistic weapons, gear customization, and vehicle support
5. One of the PS2’s most beloved tactical shooter franchises