Summary
- Some action games offer non-stop gameplay, thrilling set pieces, and intense combat experiences.
- Titles like Bulletstorm, ULTRAKILL, and Sifu provide adrenaline-boosting action with no reprieve.
- Games like Just Cause 3, Bioshock Infinite, and Doom offer relentless action with unique weaponry and gameplay.
There are tons of action games on the market that offer high-octane and over-the-top gameplay, consisting of impressive set pieces, fast-paced combat, and spectacular boss battles. Many games split up the action with extended cutscenes, calm moments of exploration, or offer dialogue options to move along the plot and give the player a chance to recover after some particularly thrilling stages.
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Other times, the action relentlessly keeps going, never allowing players a chance to breathe, throwing hordes of enemies at them and keeping the blood pumping during these electrifying experiences. Those who seek hours of adrenaline-boosting action with no reprieve have some stellar titles to turn to, especially with these great action games that are all gas and no brakes.
8 Bulletstorm
Point, Shoot, Repeat
Bulletstorm
- Released
- February 22, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
A game where killing is an art form, Bulletstorm is an excellent first-person shooter for those who just want to switch off their brain and destroy swathes of enemies. The vast arsenal of weaponry is rather unique and easily makes players feel powerful, such as the Boneduster, a shotgun capable of either firing four rounds at once or vaporizing multiple enemies simultaneously with the alternate firing mode.
Playing as space pirate Graysun Hunt, there are some snippets of a narrative, but the main attraction of this game is the gameplay and the creative methods for destroying foes. Players are even rewarded for their innovation, especially when performing slow-motion "Skillshots," which earn them points to spend at the "Dropkit" locations.
7 ULTRAKILL
Ultraviolent With Old-School Graphics And Gameplay
Ultrakill
- Released
- September 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Still in early access and stylized as ULTRAKILL to really get the point across, this game is not for the fainthearted. Set in a world where machines dominate now that humanity has gone extinct, these aggressive robots must bathe in blood to refuel, and so they venture into hell to farm the precious crimson liquid.
Clearly inspired by shooters like Doom and Quake from the 1990s, Ultrakill even features graphics reminiscent of those boundary-pushing and ultraviolent classics. When moving through the levels of hell, it’s important to stay mobile and utilize the wide variety of weapons in order to build impressive combos and keep soaking up the blood of victims.
6 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Impressive Set-Pieces And Expanded Combat
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
- Released
- November 1, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
The entire Uncharted series is a relentless onslaught of action from start to finish, with Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception standing out among the bunch. Often cited as having the best combat, which has been significantly expanded from its predecessors, this game includes many more options for melee combat, plus the ability to duel-wield smaller firearms.
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Allowing players to live out their Indiana Jones fantasies, Nathan Drake is constantly on the move throughout the game’s runtime, escaping almost impossible situations by the skin of his teeth. Action is sometimes split up by puzzles that need to be solved, but they generally don’t provide too many problems, and a gunfight is never too far away.
5 Just Cause 3
Rapidly Traverse Across An Island And Cause Destruction
Just Cause 3
- Released
- November 30, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Known for its destructive environments and absurd gameplay, Just Cause 3 provides players with a large island to use as their playground. The fictional Mediterranean island of Medici is the home of series protagonist Rico Rodriguez, and his ultimate goal is to liberate it from the grips of a dictator and his militia.
Rico has many tools at his disposal to quickly maneuver around the island, which is deliberately quite vertical so that players can use grappling hooks and wingsuits. Chaos is the main currency in this game, with players being encouraged to cause untold damage to everything in the world and use tethers or grappling hooks to mess with NPCs and general infrastructure.
4 BioShock Infinite
Threats From All Sides In A City In The Sky
BioShock Infinite
- Released
- March 26, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
After a very brief introduction to the beautiful setting of Columbia, things take a turn very quickly in BioShock Infinite. Taking control of Booker DeWitt, a detective with tremendous gambling debts, players find themselves in the middle of an imminent civil war yet spend the entirety of the game being hunted by both the loyalist Founders of the city and the rebellious Vox Populi.
As in the other BioShock games, players battle their way through groups of enemies using both guns and a form of magic, such as firing crows or lightning from Booker’s hands. Battles are often broken up with very brief moments of peace, but even then, there is an urgency to get to the next area. Fortunately, Elizabeth is there to hold her own and even lend a helping hand.
3 Sifu
Beat 'Em Up With No Breaks
Sifu
- Released
- February 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sloclap
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Beat 'Em Up
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
There are over 150 unique moves to master in Sifu, where gameplay is inspired by Bak Mei kung fu. Set in China, the game is a story of revenge for the murder of the eponymous sifu, who also happens to be the protagonist’s father.
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The action in Sifu is non-stop, featuring a seemingly constant stream of enemies for players to engage in combat. The environment can be utilized to cause more damage, but death results in the protagonist being resurrected with more powerful strikes, less health than before, and also older. Each playthrough is unique, and there are permanent upgrades that can be unlocked, plus information gathered in each run is carried over to the next.
2 God Of War 3
Kratos Has Gods, Monsters And Titans To Kill
God of War III
- Released
- March 16, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
Throughout the original run of the series, Kratos hacked and slashed his way through countless enemies as he sought revenge for various misdemeanors carried out by others against him. In God of War 3, Kratos is perhaps the angriest and most aggressive he’s ever been, and this game is the most relentless in terms of going from one battle to another against Gods, monsters, and Titans.
While the later games focus more on Kratos’ relationship with his son, 3 is an all-out battle from start to finish, featuring very few breaks in the action and certainly no calm moments for the titular God of War. Racking up combos and executing quick time events against a stream of mythological beings is certainly a way to get blood pumping.
1 Doom
Battle Hell’s Demonic Forces
DOOM
- Released
- May 13, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
A reboot of the popular series, Doom features everything that is beloved about the franchise, from super-fast combat and brutal animations to a hard-hitting soundtrack that really adds to the overall atmosphere. Immediately in the first level, the Doom Slayer is thrown into combat with a bunch of demons on the surface of Mars, and the action never lets up from there. Optional permadeath makes things even more exciting for those thrill seekers who really love a challenge.
Upgrades, the breakneck speed of gameplay, and the array of weaponry all lead to an experience that never grows stale. Weakening enemies sufficiently even allows for Glory Kills, which are extremely satisfying when they pay off and make players crave more.
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