Summary
- Some games build momentum, unlocking new skills, mechanics, or layers of story that make every chapter better than the last.
- Arkham City escalates from a tight urban detective storyline to a full rogues' gallery showdown with tactical combat options.
- Control offers a supernatural journey where powers evolve, seamlessly tying into a narrative that reveals Jesse's immense potential.
Some games throw everything at players in the first hour and hope the spectacle carries them to the end. Others do the opposite by starting strong, then quietly evolving into something deeper, faster, and sharper with every passing chapter.
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This list is for the latter: action games that don't peak early but keep building momentum, unlocking new skills, mechanics, or layers of story that make the back half even better than the front. These aren’t just great action games — they’re great journeys, and every step forward makes the last one look like warm-up drills.
7 Batman: Arkham City
Now The Gloves Come Off
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
Arkham City doesn't just get better as it goes — it starts with Batman thrown into a lawless prison district and somehow escalates from there. What begins as a tight urban detective story spirals into a full-blown rogues’ gallery greatest hits, and the deeper players dive into Gotham’s underbelly, the more it reveals just how much Rocksteady had up its sleeve.
Combat, already satisfying in its simplicity, expands dramatically as new gadgets and combo upgrades open up dozens of tactical options. It’s not just about timing punches anymore — it’s about reading a room full of enemies, planning a 10-step takedown chain, and watching it all unfold in brutal slow motion. And once the story hits its late-game turns with Mr. Freeze and the Joker, it becomes clear this isn’t just a sandbox full of thugs — it’s a psychological showdown built on years of tension. The last few hours hit with a weight that makes everything before it feel like a prelude.
6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Miles Ahead Of Expectations
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
What starts off feeling like a scaled-down spinoff quickly proves it’s got more heart and rhythm than many full-sized action games. Miles Morales leans into the idea of growth, not just in skill trees, but in character. The more players swing around Harlem and take on missions, the more Miles comes into his own, moving out of Peter’s shadow in a way that feels natural, earned, and kinetic.
Combat evolves beautifully as players unlock Venom powers that completely change the flow of fights. The electric uppercuts, slams, and mid-air chains give every encounter a spark — literally — and by the end, Miles feels like a completely different kind of Spider-Man than Peter. Not better, not worse, just his own. The progression feels personal, and the final boss fight, backed by a gut-punch of a score, ties everything together with emotional weight that wasn’t even hinted at in the first hour.
5 Nier: Automata
You Think You Get It, But You Absolutely Don’t
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The first time credits roll in Nier: Automata, players might think they’re done. They’re not. Not even close. And that’s where things start getting wild. On the surface, it’s a stylish android-slashing action game from PlatinumGames, with tight controls and flashy combos. But the more time spent with 2B, 9S, and eventually A2, the more the combat, story, and even the interface begin to shift — often in ways that catch even seasoned players off-guard.
Each new playthrough doesn’t just retread old ground, it reframes everything. Mechanics are subtly introduced, then later weaponized — like hacking, which starts as a minigame and becomes central to both combat and narrative. The deeper players go, the more emotionally devastating and thematically dense the journey becomes. What started as an android war turns into a philosophical interrogation of consciousness, purpose, and loss. By the fifth ending, Nier: Automata isn’t just better — it’s unforgettable.
4 Ghost Of Tsushima
A Blade That Sharpens With Every Swing
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Few action games make players feel their own growth like Ghost of Tsushima. At first, Jin Sakai is a samurai bound by honor, limited to duels and frontal assaults. But as his path darkens and the tools of the Ghost come into play — kunai, smoke bombs, silent kills — the gameplay expands into a hybrid of stealth and swordsmanship that rewards improvisation.
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The combat system evolves naturally, with each new stance countering specific enemy types. Fighting a group of Mongols at the start is a scrappy, dangerous affair. But by the final act, Jin doesn’t fight — he hunts, dismantling enemy camps like a force of nature. The world design also feeds into this arc: side quests get heavier, the stakes get personal, and even the weather shifts to mirror Jin’s journey. The game doesn’t just get better, it transforms into a meditation on sacrifice, heritage, and what it costs to become a legend.
3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Pain First, Power Later
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
No game humbles players like Sekiro. At the start, every encounter is a lesson in humility — even basic foot soldiers can ruin players' day if they mistime a parry. But that’s the genius of it. Sekiro doesn't get easier, players just get better. Way better.
As posture mechanics click and enemy patterns become readable, the combat transforms into something almost balletic. Sword clashes have rhythm, counters become instinct, and boss fights like Genichiro or Isshin go from impossible walls to triumphant payoffs. The prosthetic tools also add new strategies, whether it’s setting enemies on fire mid-fight or using a whistle to break their guard. And once players unlock the Mortal Blade and face off against corrupted monks or undead warriors, the game shifts into something near-mythic. Few games reward persistence and growth quite like this one, and the later stages feel like a victory lap built on muscle memory and grit.
2 Control
Telekinesis Never Felt So Good
Control
- Released
- August 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, Supernatural
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
By the time Jesse Faden is yeeting forklifts at psychic abominations without breaking a sweat, it’s easy to forget she started Control with little more than a weird gun and a ton of questions. Remedy’s supernatural action thriller throws players into the deep end of the Oldest House, but it’s not until mid-game that it reveals just how powerful Jesse can become.
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The Service Weapon morphs into different forms — shotgun blasts, precision beams, even a rocket launcher — and each one pairs perfectly with her growing psychic toolkit. Levitation opens up combat vertically, Seize turns enemies into allies, and Launch becomes so devastating it might as well be a superpower all by itself. But what really pushes Control from good to great is how seamlessly all of this is tied into the narrative. As the Bureau’s mysteries deepen, so do Jesse’s powers, and by the time players are flying through the Ashtray Maze with a prog-rock soundtrack blaring, it’s clear the game’s been saving its best tricks for last.
1 Devil May Cry 5
Once The Jacket’s Off, It’s Showtime
Devil May Cry 5
- Released
- March 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Devil May Cry 5 starts stylish, but ends in full-blown chaos opera. The early hours reintroduce Nero, now with a mechanical Devil Breaker arm that lets him rocket-punch demons into the ceiling. But it’s only after unlocking Dante and V that the game goes from good to outrageously fun.
Each character plays completely differently — Nero’s arms give him variety, V commands summoned beasts, and Dante’s weapon wheel is a carnival of destruction. From surfboarding on a hat to comboing mid-air with motorcycle swords, Dante’s toolkit alone could carry an entire game. The combat system constantly layers on new depth, encouraging experimentation with styles, weapons, and timing. By the final mission, players aren’t just fighting demons — they’re performing for style points, stringing together aerial ballets of blood and brilliance. And once Vergil enters the picture, it’s not just a climax — it’s a mic drop.
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