F.E.A.R. is a first-person shooter in which the player's arsenal includes handguns (which the player can dual wield[12]), an assault rifle, submachine gun, shotgun, sniper rifle, nail gun, repeating cannon, rocket launcher, and particle beam.[13][14][15] Each weapon differs in terms of accuracy, range, rate of fire, damage, and weight.[15] The latter characteristic is important, as the more powerful weapons (rocket launcher, cannon, and particle beam) tend to be more cumbersome and slow the player's movement and reaction speed.[12] Only three different firearms can be carried at any one time.[12][16] The player also has access to three different types of explosive – frag grenades, proximity grenades, and remote bombs. The player can carry five of each type and can carry all three at once (allowing for up to 15 explosives), but only one type may be equipped at any one time. Additionally, when using the remote bombs, the player must holster their weapon.[12][16]
Compared to other shooters where melee combat is often a last resort, F.E.A.R.'s melee system is a viable combat alternative.[17] The butts of all firearms can be used in close combat; lighter weapons, although less powerful, allow the player to move around more quickly and increase the chances of a successful melee attack.[15][18][19] Movement speed is maximized if a player holsters their weapon, which allows them to engage in hand-to-hand combat.[15][19] As well as the basic melee attack, players can also perform a jumping kick and a sliding tackle, both of which, if landed correctly, instantly kill regular enemies.[20]