The action game genre is not a single category — it is an umbrella covering dozens of distinct sub-genres, each with different mechanics, pacing, and skill requirements. Action horror, roguelike, hack-and-slash, character action, action MMORPG, action RPG, and action platformer are all distinct experiences with their own best titles. This guide breaks down every major action game sub-genre with the best games in each category across PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam, and classic platforms.
For the best open world and survival action games on Xbox and Game Pass, see our guide to the best open world and survival games for Xbox — complete Game Pass guide.
What Is an Action Game?
An action game is a video game genre defined by real-time gameplay requiring hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and physical skill. The player controls an avatar or character and must defeat enemies, overcome obstacles, and complete objectives through direct engagement rather than strategic planning or puzzle-solving. Action games are the broadest genre in gaming — including sub-genres from platformers to shooters to fighting games. The key distinguishing factor from other genres is the emphasis on reactive, skill-based physical gameplay rather than turn-based mechanics or pure puzzle logic.
Best Action Horror Games
Action horror games combine combat-forward gameplay with horror atmosphere, enemy design, and tension — distinct from pure survival horror (which emphasizes avoidance and scarcity) by giving players meaningful offensive tools while still creating genuine dread. The best action horror games:
| Game | Platform | Why It’s the Best |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023) | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Definitive action horror — over-the-shoulder, tight combat, horror atmosphere |
| Alan Wake 2 (2023) | PS5/PC/Xbox | Psychological horror with shooter combat; stunning visuals |
| Dead Space Remake (2023) | PS5/PC/Xbox | Strategic dismemberment combat in terrifying space setting |
| The Evil Within 2 | PS4/PC/Xbox | Open-level action horror; best pacing in genre |
| Returnal | PS5/PC | Roguelike action horror; challenging third-person shooter |
| Resident Evil Village | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Action-forward RE game; high production; great boss fights |
| Control (Remedy) | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Telekinetic combat in brutalist SCP-style setting |
Best Action Roguelike Games
Action roguelikes combine permadeath run-based structure with real-time combat — each run is different, builds evolve through unlocks and choices, and death sends you back to the start with permanent meta-progression. This is currently one of gaming’s most popular sub-genres.
| Game | Platform | Why It’s the Best |
| Hades II | PC (Early Access) | Best combat roguelike ever made; top-down; incredible build variety |
| Hades | PS4/PS5/Switch/PC | Original masterpiece; hack-and-slash roguelike with story |
| Dead Cells | PS4/PS5/Switch/PC | 2D action roguelike; fluid combat; massive content |
| Returnal | PS5/PC | 3D third-person shooter roguelike; brutal but rewarding |
| Risk of Rain 2 | PS4/PS5/Switch/PC | Third-person roguelike; scaling difficulty; co-op |
| Vampire Survivors | PC/Switch/Mobile | Auto-action roguelite; hypnotic; extremely accessible |
| Gunfire Reborn | PC/Console | FPS roguelike; RPG elements; excellent co-op |
| Enter the Gungeon | PS4/Switch/PC | Top-down bullet hell roguelike; dense gun humor |
Best Hack-and-Slash Action Games
Hack-and-slash (also called beat ’em up or slasher) games focus on combat against large numbers of enemies using melee weapons, special moves, and combo systems. The sub-genre ranges from simple button-mashers to technically deep combat systems requiring extensive mastery.
| Game | Platform | Why It’s the Best |
| Devil May Cry 5 | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Best hack-and-slash mechanics; S-rank system; expressive combat |
| God of War Ragnarök | PS4/PS5 | Epic Norse hack-and-slash with cinematic storytelling |
| Bayonetta 3 | Switch | Character action at its peak; absurd style; excellent variety |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Precision sword combat; posture system; From Software |
| Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | PC/PS3/Xbox 360 | Blade Mode cutting; extremely stylish; underrated |
| Nier: Automata | PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox | Hack-and-slash with bullet hell and deep story |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity | Switch | Musou-style hack-and-slash in Zelda universe |
Character Action Games — What They Are and the Best Examples
‘Character action game’ is a term coined by critics and developers to describe a specific type of hack-and-slash where the player character is stylized and expressive — with extensive move lists, style meters, and combat that rewards showmanship over raw power. Think Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising. Character action games are defined by their emphasis on performing stylishly rather than simply surviving.
- Best character action games: Devil May Cry 5 (PC/PS5), Bayonetta 3 (Switch), Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (Switch), Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PC), Astral Chain (Switch), Nier: Automata (PS4/PS5/PC)
Best Action MMORPG Games
Action MMORPGs replace the tab-targeting combat of traditional MMOs with real-time action combat — requiring player skill rather than stat-checking. The genre has become the dominant MMORPG style in modern gaming.
| Game | Platform | Notes |
| Lost Ark | PC | Best action MMORPG gameplay; isometric; deep endgame |
| Black Desert Online | PC/PS4/Xbox | Best combat mechanics in MMORPG; visual showcase |
| Final Fantasy XIV | PC/PS4/PS5 | Best story MMORPG; hybrid action; massive content |
| Guild Wars 2 | PC | Active dodge/combo combat; no subscription |
| TERA (classic) | PC | Pioneered action combat in MMOs; free to play |
| Throne and Liberty | PC/PS5/Xbox | New action MMORPG 2024; cross-platform |
| Aion Classic | PC | Classic action MMORPG revived |
Best Action RPG Games — PS4, PS5, PC, and Steam
Best Action RPGs on PS4
- Elden Ring — Best action RPG of the generation; open world FromSouls
- Bloodborne — PS4 exclusive; Gothic horror action RPG; From Software
- God of War (2018) — Norse action RPG with deep story
- Nioh 2 — Samurai action RPG; deeper loot system than Dark Souls
- Final Fantasy VII Remake / Rebirth — Real-time action RPG hybrid
Best Action RPGs on PS5 / Current Gen
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (expansion) — 2024’s best RPG content
- Black Myth: Wukong — Chinese mythology action RPG; stunning visuals
- Final Fantasy XVI — Pure action RPG; best boss fights in series history
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — Massive action RPG sequel
Best Free Action RPGs
- Genshin Impact — Free action RPG gacha; massive world; regular updates
- Path of Exile 2 — Free isometric action RPG; deep build system
- Warframe — Free third-person action RPG; best-in-class movement
- Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis — Free action MMORPG on PC/Xbox
Best Action RPGs on Steam
- Elden Ring — Best action RPG available anywhere
- Hades / Hades II — Action roguelike RPG
- Deep Rock Galactic — Co-op action RPG shooter
- Monster Hunter: World — Best co-op action RPG hunting game
- Path of Exile 2 — Free isometric action RPG
Best First-Person Action Games
First-Person Action RPGs
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — Classic first-person action RPG; still dominant
- Cyberpunk 2077 — First-person open world action RPG; best narrative
- Dying Light 2 — First-person parkour action RPG zombie game
- Prey (2017) — First-person immersive sim action RPG
- Outer Worlds — First-person action RPG in space; Fallout-inspired
First-Person Action Adventure Games
- Half-Life: Alyx — VR first-person action adventure; masterpiece
- Dishonored 2 — First-person immersive action adventure; stealth/combat
- Bioshock Infinite — First-person action adventure shooter
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus — First-person action shooter with story
Best 2D and 3D Action Games
Best 2D Action Games
- Hollow Knight — 2D action platformer; best in genre; Switch/PC/PS4
- Celeste — 2D precision action platformer; emotional story
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Beautiful 2D action platformer
- Dead Cells — 2D roguelike action game; exceptional combat
- Cuphead — 2D run-and-gun; stunning art; punishing difficulty
Games Like Cuphead
Cuphead’s combination of challenging run-and-gun action with 1930s cartoon art style is unique, but these games capture similar energy:
- Blazing Chrome — 2D run-and-gun with similar difficulty and style
- Shovel Knight — 2D action platformer with retro charm
- Contra series — Classic run-and-gun action; spiritual predecessor to Cuphead
- Tiny Thor — 2D action platformer with Norse mythology; similar polish
- Metal Slug series — Arcade run-and-gun action; Cuphead’s closest gameplay relative
Best 3D Action Platformers
- Astro Bot (PS5, 2024) — Best 3D platformer ever made; GOTY 2024
- Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) — 3D action platformer at its creative peak
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart — 3D action platformer showcase for PS5
- A Hat in Time (PC/Console) — Indie 3D collectathon platformer
Action Games on Classic Platforms — PS2, PSP, GameCube, NDS
Best PS2 Action Games
- Shadow of the Colossus — Iconic boss-fight action game
- God of War (original) — Third-person action; one of PS2’s best
- Ico — Puzzle action adventure; art house classic
- Kingdom Hearts — Action RPG; Disney + Square Enix
- Devil May Cry 3 — Best hack-and-slash on PS2
Best GameCube Action Games
- Metroid Prime — First-person action adventure; genre-defining
- Viewtiful Joe — 2D action game with VFX mechanics
- Resident Evil 4 (original) — Revolutionary over-the-shoulder action
- F-Zero GX — Action racing at extreme speeds
Best PSP / PPSSPP Action Games
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta — Full God of War on portable
- Daxter — 3D action platformer; best PSP exclusive
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII — Action RPG prequel
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep — Action RPG; essential KH story
Best NDS Action Games
- Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia — 2D action RPG Metroidvania
- The World Ends with You — Unique dual-screen action RPG
- Contra 4 — Hardcore run-and-gun on NDS
Best Action Games With Physics — Top Games With Best Physics
Games where physics systems create emergent gameplay moments — not just visuals:
- Teardown — Destructible environments; every surface breakable; heist planning
- Besiege — Build siege weapons; real physics simulation
- Garry’s Mod — Physics sandbox; infinite creative and action potential
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — Most realistic character and horse physics in any game
- Half-Life: Alyx — VR physics interaction that sets the standard
- Kerbal Space Program 2 — Orbital mechanics; real physics learning
- Noita — Pixel physics simulation; every particle simulated; action roguelike
Greatest Action Games of All Time
| Rank | Game | Why It’s Essential |
| 1 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Defined 3D action adventure |
| 2 | Elden Ring | Best open world action RPG; masterclass design |
| 3 | God of War (2018) | Peak action storytelling; incredible combat |
| 4 | Half-Life 2 | Best first-person action game; physics-based combat |
| 5 | Devil May Cry 5 | Best combat mechanics in any action game |
| 6 | Hades | Best roguelike action game; incredible execution |
| 7 | Resident Evil 4 (original) | Invented modern third-person action combat |
| 8 | Super Mario Bros. | Defined the action platformer genre |
| 9 | Dark Souls | Redefined difficult action RPG design |
| 10 | Bayonetta | Most expressive character action combat system |
Action Games for Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch has an exceptional action game library spanning both exclusive Nintendo titles and third-party ports:
| Category | Top Switch Action Games |
| Action RPG | Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Octopath Traveler II, Triangle Strategy |
| Hack-and-Slash | Bayonetta 3, Hyrule Warriors, Astral Chain |
| Action Roguelike | Hades, Dead Cells, Slay the Spire |
| 2D Action Platformer | Hollow Knight, Ori series, Metroid Dread |
| 3D Action Platformer | Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) |
| Action Adventure | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime 4 |
| Character Action | Bayonetta 3, Astral Chain, No More Heroes 3 |
Action Adventure Games on PC — Steam Picks
- Elden Ring — The standard against which all action RPGs are measured
- Hades / Hades II — Best action roguelike available
- Control — Third-person telekinetic action adventure; Epic Games Store
- A Plague Tale: Requiem — Action adventure with stealth and story focus
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — Precision samurai sword combat
- Disco Elysium — Action RPG-adjacent with deep role-playing
- Black Myth: Wukong — Stunning Chinese mythology action game
For the best open world and survival action games on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass, see our guide to the best open world and survival games for Xbox — Game Pass guide 2026.
For action game rankings and reviews, see Metacritic — action game rankings. For action game community recommendations, see IGN — best action games.
For the best Nintendo Switch games across all genres including action and adventure, see our guide to the best Nintendo Switch games of all time — complete ranked list.
Action Adventure Games on PS3 and Classic Consoles
The PS3 era produced some of the most memorable action adventure games — many are available via PlayStation Now or on PC through emulation. The best PS3 action adventure games include Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (the franchise’s peak — third-person cinematic action adventure), Batman: Arkham City (open world action adventure; still the best Batman game), Red Dead Redemption (original; open world Western; masterpiece), The Last of Us (survival action adventure; narrative benchmark), God of War III (Greek mythology hack-and-slash epic), Infamous 2 (superhero open world action), and Metal Gear Solid 4 (stealth action with overwhelming cutscenes). These games defined the modern action adventure template — cinematic presentation, cover-based shooting or melee combat, and environmental traversal that later games iterated on throughout the PS4 and PS5 eras.
Mods That Turn DnD PC Games Into Action Adventure
Tabletop RPG games like Baldur’s Gate 3 are turn-based by default, but modding communities have created action-oriented modifications that transform the combat experience. For Baldur’s Gate 3 specifically: Action Combat mods replace the turn-based system with real-time action combat similar to Dragon Age: Origins or Neverwinter Nights 2 — characters move, attack, and cast spells in real time rather than waiting for turns. The BG3 Workshop on Nexus Mods contains several active real-time combat overhauls. For Divinity: Original Sin 2, similar action combat conversion mods exist. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a commercially released example of a tactical RPG with an optional action combat mode. If you want a native DnD-style action game without mods, Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance (on Xbox/PS/PC) plays as a direct action brawler using DnD characters and settings.
Action Games on Steam — Best Steam Action Picks
Steam’s action game library is the most comprehensive in gaming — thousands of titles across every sub-genre. The best action games on Steam by category: For action RPG on Steam — Elden Ring (highest-rated game on Steam for weeks after launch), Hades and Hades II (both overwhelmingly positive reviews), Monster Hunter: World and Rise, Path of Exile 2, Deep Rock Galactic. For hack-and-slash on Steam — Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (remastered). For action roguelike on Steam — Hades, Dead Cells, Risk of Rain 2, Noita, Enter the Gungeon, Vampire Survivors. For 2D action platformers on Steam — Hollow Knight, Celeste, Dead Cells, Ori and the Blind Forest, Shovel Knight. Steam’s action genre filter contains over 10,000 titles — sorting by ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews and filtering to ‘Action’ genre narrows to the highest-quality options. The Steam Deck compatibility filter (‘Verified’ or ‘Playable’) is useful for finding action games that work well in portable mode.
Bottom Line
| Best action horror | Resident Evil 4 Remake — defines the sub-genre |
| Best action roguelike | Hades II (PC) or Hades (all platforms) |
| Best hack-and-slash | Devil May Cry 5 — best combat mechanics |
| Best character action | Bayonetta 3 (Switch) or DMC5 (PS5/PC) |
| Best action MMORPG | Lost Ark (PC) or Black Desert Online |
| Best action RPG | Elden Ring — all platforms |
| Best free action RPG | Genshin Impact or Path of Exile 2 |
| Games like Cuphead | Metal Slug, Blazing Chrome, Contra |
| Best Switch action game | Hades, Bayonetta 3, Tears of the Kingdom |
| Greatest action game ever | Elden Ring / God of War / Ocarina of Time |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are action horror games?
Action horror games combine real-time combat with horror atmosphere, scary enemy design, and tense settings. Unlike pure survival horror (Amnesia, Outlast) which emphasizes avoidance, action horror games give players meaningful weapons and offensive tools while maintaining genuine dread. The best action horror games include Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023), Alan Wake 2, Dead Space Remake, and Control. The sub-genre is distinct from action games with horror elements — in true action horror, the horror is integral to the experience, not just cosmetic.
What are the best action roguelike games?
The best action roguelikes are Hades II (PC Early Access — best roguelike combat ever designed), Hades (all platforms — the original masterpiece), Dead Cells (PS4/PS5/Switch/PC — 2D roguelike with fluid combat), Returnal (PS5/PC — 3D third-person shooter roguelike), Risk of Rain 2 (all platforms — scaling co-op roguelike), and Vampire Survivors (PC/Switch/mobile — auto-attack roguelite, extremely accessible). Roguelike action games are defined by permadeath runs, procedural generation, and meta-progression unlocks between runs.
What are the best hack-and-slash action games?
The best hack-and-slash games are Devil May Cry 5 (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox — deepest combat mechanics in the genre), God of War Ragnarök (PS4/PS5 — cinematic hack-and-slash epic), Bayonetta 3 (Switch — most expressive character action), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4/PS5/PC — precision sword combat), and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PC — extremely stylish blade combat). Hack-and-slash games focus on defeating groups of enemies through melee combat chains, combos, and special attacks.
What are character action games?
Character action games are a specific hack-and-slash sub-genre where the player character is expressive and stylized, with style meters rewarding flashy play over efficient play. Examples: Devil May Cry 5 (style meter grades your combat performance S/A/B/C/D/E), Bayonetta (grace and glory meter), Metal Gear Rising (parry-focused stylish combat), and Astral Chain (Legion-based combo system). The term distinguishes these games from simpler hack-and-slash titles by their emphasis on performing skillfully and expressively rather than simply winning.
