Melee (game terminology)

The term melee has been adopted and popularized in wargaming, table top, and video games to encompass all forms of close combat, usually hand-to-hand combat specifically, along with other forms of combat that involve direct physical contact and interaction with an opponent. This can either involve striking an opponent at ranges generally less than a meter, especially using martial arts or melee weapons, or different forms of grappling, such as grabs and throws, which occasionally are also considered melee attacks. This term is especially used in comparison to other strategies, such as ranged combat or magic (where applicable) when the game offers multiple methods of combat.