Some of the best modern games take a while to get going. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Persona 5 are two good examples of games that need to set up their plots before they let players get into the gameplay. Other games have minimal story options, which are preferable for action-hungry players out there.
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These outrageous and over-the-top action games deliver unforgettable, ridiculous gameplay experiences, pushing the boundaries of the genre.
Narratives in games used to be a secondary feature in Nintendo games, like during the NES and SNES days. For any type of player who wishes to play a modern action game with those old-school sensibilities, these titles are purely action-focused. They either have no direct story or very little of it to get in the way of gameplay.
Hyper Light Drifter
Cyberpunk Fantasy Zelda
Hyper Light Drifter
- Released
- March 31, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Hyper Light Drifter is an indie homage to the Zelda series, a top-down action game set in a dystopian fantasy cyberpunk world. It’s a mishmash of genres, but it works thanks to the clean pixel art aesthetic and bright colors.
The funky thing about the story is that there is no English text ever spoken. Instead, players must interpret what NPCs or vendors are saying, and part of the fun is definitely piecing together the (completely optional) lore by partially learning to read a different language. However, if that doesn't seem interesting, chopping down monsters in stylish combat all day long is certainly an option as well.
Tunic
If Link Was A Fox
Tunic
- Released
- March 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Tunic is another indie homage to the top-down Zelda games of old. It also uses 3D models in a toy-like fashion, and the star is a fox. Another similarity is the language mechanic, which players can find in the form of lost pages in ruins around the map.
Through context clues and expanding the user manual in a fourth-wall-breaking move, players can learn to decipher the language and unlock new pathways. This puzzling language may be more than what players want, so if they just want action, the standard gameplay should suffice as this meta-narrative can be ignored.
Absolver
Kick, Punch, It's All In The Mind
Absolver
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Absolver is a martial arts game with Soulslike elements, such as being dropped into a mysterious world with virtually no background information to go off of. Players will meet masked fighters on their journey who are skilled beyond measure and want to show off their fighting abilities.
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Fight well, because these games aren’t willing to go easy on you and refuse to go slow for a single moment.
This isn’t a simple beat ‘em up from the good old arcade days, though, as players have to watch their enemy's moves and counter them to get ahead in any fight. Defeating enemies can reward players with new combat moves, which can then be worked into their go-to combos. If they’re lucky, they may even run into an ally online, which is just as exciting as meeting a stranger in Journey.
Warriors: Abyss
Top-Down Musou
Warriors: Abyss
- Released
- February 12, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen: Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Action, Roguelike
For anyone who likes the chaotic action of Musou games like Dynasty Warriors, but doesn’t enjoy the cutscenes or mid-mission dialogue, they should check out Warriors: Abyss. It’s a top-down version of the Musou formula mixed with a roguelike, only with far less text. Instead, this game prioritizes action.
Players can earn currency on every run to unlock new heroes, each of which plays differently thanks to their unique weapons and movesets. From swords to spears to whips to guns, there’s a lot to test out. Koei Tecmo has provided lots of fun updates throughout 2025 by adding cameo characters like Ryu from Ninja Gaiden, ensuring Warriors: Abyss has kept its gameplay fresh long past its launch date.
Broforce
The United States Of Action Heroes
Broforce
- Released
- October 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Broforce is a modernized Contra that stars parody heroes based on the biggest action characters of all time. There are explosive characters like MacBrover, melee characters like The Brode, and ranged specialists like Brommando.
Each level is short and randomizes the hero that players use, with new unlocks occurring once hostages are rescued. Each unlock will be fun to laugh at, but these characters are also fun to control. Beyond saving America from terrorists, there’s no story to get in the way of blowing stuff up; just how the bros like it.
Rollerdrome
Tony Hawk With Guns
Rollerdrome
- Released
- August 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Rollerdrome is set in a dystopian future where bloodsports rule the airwaves like the greatest '80s movies. The titular Rollerdrome is a tournament wherein players have to skate and shoot at the same time, or die trying.
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Pulling off sick tricks like in an extreme sports game not only looks cool, but is necessary to earn some time for reloading. The visual style is colorful and gritty, and the action is relentless. Even after the hundredth death, players will want to get up and have another go.
Primal Planet
The Jetsons Meets The Flintstones
Primal Planet
- Released
- 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Platformer
Primal Planet is a survival-themed Metroidvania set in prehistoric times, or at least that’s what it seems. The cover art and title screen give away that there are some sci-fi aspects to the game, but the less players know before going in, the better.
Playing as cave people, there is no speech, but the lead family communicates through gestures and actions. Gathered materials can be used to craft things like torches and food, while slaying dinosaurs and other enemies will net players EXP and grant them skill points. It’s one of the most challenging Metroidvanias in recent memory thanks to the survival elements, but it's hard to put down regardless.
Katanaut
Deep Space Samurai
Katanaut
- Released
- 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Roguelike, Hack and Slash, Metroidvania, Soulslike
Katanaut has a few words to say at the beginning and in between runs, and even when text does appear, it is more like set dressing than the setup for an engaging plot. All players need to know is that they are Naut, a space samurai who gets stuck on a space colony that is suddenly overrun with mutants coming out of voids.
It’s like Aliens meets Samurai Jack, complete with chaotic action on each run. Players can get power-ups like skills and new weapons, along with currency to permanently upgrade Naut. Most of this is the standard for the roguelike genre, but Katanaut still sets itself apart with its setting, just like Primal Planet.
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