Best Action Games: The Most Satisfying Combat in Modern Gaming
The best action games, stylish character action, soulslikes, action RPGs, and the specific games that nail the satisfaction of precise combat.
"Action game" is broad enough to cover everything from Devil May Cry to Elden Ring to Halo. The unifying thread is combat that rewards skill, games where what matters most is the moment-to-moment flow of fighting. Here's what's genuinely worth your time in 2026 across the whole action game spectrum.
What are the best character action games?
The best character action games in 2026 are Devil May Cry 5, Bayonetta 3, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Ninja Gaiden Black/Sigma, and Astral Chain. These titles emphasize deep combo systems, style rankings, and fast reflexes, rewarding players who master advanced mechanics and push for flashy, high-execution play.
Devil May Cry 5 is the peak of modern character action. Three protagonists, deep combat systems, ridiculous style.
Bayonetta 3 is Platinum Games at their stylish peak.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is cyber-ninja parry-focused action.
Ninja Gaiden Black/Sigma defined modern character action difficulty.
Astral Chain from Platinum lets you control two characters simultaneously.
What are the best soulslike games?
The best soulslike games are Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne, Dark Souls III, Lies of P, and Black Myth: Wukong. Each delivers punishing but fair combat built around learning enemy patterns, with Elden Ring offering the biggest open world and Sekiro perfecting the parry-focused formula.
Elden Ring is the genre's biggest modern hit. The games like Elden Ring post has more.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is parry-focused perfection. The games like Sekiro post has more.
Bloodborne is aggressive gothic action. The games like Bloodborne post has more.
Dark Souls III is the series' most polished entry.
Lies of P is the modern parry-focused soulslike.
Black Myth: Wukong is the 2024 Chinese action hit. The games like Black Myth Wukong post has more.
What are the best action RPGs?
The best action RPGs combine skill-based combat with deep progression systems. The Witcher 3 leads for narrative-driven action, Dragon's Dogma 2 excels at open-world exploration with Pawn companions, and Nioh 2 delivers the deepest weapon mechanics. Stellar Blade and Wo Long round out a strong lineup.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt combines action combat with narrative depth. The witcher 3 tips post has more.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is open-world action RPG with Pawn companions.
Nioh 2 is Team Ninja's Japanese soulslike with deep weapon systems.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is Chinese-set action from Team Ninja.
Stellar Blade is stylish post-apocalyptic action. The games like Stellar Blade post has more.
What are the best action-adventure games?
The best action-adventure games blend satisfying combat with cinematic storytelling. God of War (2018) and Ragnarok deliver Norse mythology with emotional weight, Ghost of Tsushima nails feudal Japan samurai fantasy, and The Last of Us Part II pairs brutal action with stealth in a gripping narrative.
God of War (2018) and Ragnarok are Norse mythology action with emotional weight.
The Last of Us Part II has action combat that rewards skill and stealth.
Ghost of Tsushima is feudal Japan samurai action.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is cinematic action with Naughty Dog polish.
Red Dead Redemption 2 has action combat inside its massive open world. The rdr2 tips post has more.
What are the best fast-paced action games?
The best fast-paced action games prioritize speed, reflexes, and replayability. Hades and Hades II set the standard for roguelike action, Sifu delivers a unique kung-fu aging mechanic, Returnal blends third-person shooting with roguelike loops, and Hotline Miami and Katana ZERO offer intense short-session thrills.
Hades and Hades II are roguelike action at its peak. The games like Hades post has more.
Sifu is Chinese kung-fu action with aging mechanic. Brilliant.
Returnal is third-person shooter roguelike. The games like Returnal post has more.
Hotline Miami is top-down murder-puzzle action. Short and intense.
Katana ZERO is 2D time-manipulation action.
What are the best indie action games?
The best indie action games are Hyper Light Drifter, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, Nine Sols, and Neon White. These smaller-studio titles punch well above their weight with tight combat mechanics, rewarding progression, and creative design. Dead Cells and Hollow Knight especially stand out for deep, replayable action.
Hyper Light Drifter is atmospheric pixel-art action-adventure.
Dead Cells is metroidvania roguelike action. The games like Dead Cells post has more.
Hollow Knight has tight action combat. The games like Hollow Knight post has more.
Nine Sols is 2D action platformer with strong combat mechanics.
Neon White is first-person movement-action with card mechanics. Incredible.
What are the best fighting games right now?
The best fighting games right now are Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, and Guilty Gear Strive. Street Fighter 6 leads with its modern control scheme and Drive System, Tekken 8 is the peak of 3D fighters, and Guilty Gear Strive delivers high-execution anime combat with gorgeous visuals.
Street Fighter 6 is fighting game excellence.
Mortal Kombat 1 is fatal-focused fighter.
Tekken 8 is 3D fighter peak.
Guilty Gear Strive is high-execution anime fighter.
What are the best shooter-action hybrids?
The best shooter-action hybrids merge FPS gunplay with action game intensity. DOOM Eternal is the gold standard for action-combat FPS, its 2025 follow-up DOOM: The Dark Ages adds medieval flair, Titanfall 2 has one of gaming's best campaigns, and Ultrakill channels Quake-speed aggression into a modern package.
DOOM Eternal is action-combat-FPS perfection.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the 2025 entry with medieval-flavored combat.
Titanfall 2 has one of gaming's best action campaigns.
Ultrakill is Quake-speed action FPS.
What are the best recent action game releases?
The best recent action game releases include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Helldivers 2. These newer titles push the genre forward with cinematic production values, deep combat systems, and fresh takes on action RPG and co-op shooter formulas.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is turn-based action RPG with heavy narrative. The games like Expedition 33 post has more.
Final Fantasy XVI is cinematic action RPG.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has action combat with JRPG depth.
Helldivers 2 is co-op action shooter. The games like Helldivers 2 post has more.
What we make at Choost
Choost Games makes action titles built on the same "every decision matters in a fight" philosophy that drives the best games on this list. Our bullet heaven game Granny's Rampage channels that intensity into a different pace, and our blog covers action sub-genres in dedicated deep dives.
Granny's Rampage is our bullet heaven action game, different pace from character action classics but shares the "every decision matters in a fight" philosophy. For more action-genre specifics, the best soulslike games, best roguelike games, and best fps games posts have more.
What is the best action game overall?
The single best action game depends on the combat fantasy you want. Devil May Cry 5 wins for character action, Elden Ring for soulslikes, Sekiro for parry-focused play, and DOOM Eternal for shooter-action. The table below breaks down the top pick for every major action sub-genre.
| Sub-Genre | Top Pick | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Character action | Devil May Cry 5 | Three protagonists, deep combo systems, ridiculous style |
| Soulslike epic | Elden Ring | Biggest open world, rewarding exploration and build variety |
| Parry-focused | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Tightest deflect system in gaming |
| Action RPG | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Best blend of narrative depth and action combat |
| Indie action | Hades or Sifu | Roguelike perfection (Hades) or kung-fu brilliance (Sifu) |
| Fast-paced shooter | DOOM Eternal or Ultrakill | Pure action-combat FPS intensity |
| Action-adventure | God of War Ragnarok | Cinematic combat with emotional storytelling |
Action is gaming's most varied genre. What unifies the best action games is commitment to making combat feel good moment by moment. Every recommendation here has that commitment. Pick based on the specific combat fantasy you want and dive in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best action game to play in 2026?
The best action game depends on what you want. Devil May Cry 5 is the peak of character action, Elden Ring is the top soulslike, Sekiro perfects parry-focused combat, and DOOM Eternal leads shooter-action hybrids. For action-adventure, God of War Ragnarok is the top pick.
What are the best soulslike games like Elden Ring?
The best soulslike games alongside Elden Ring are Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne, Dark Souls III, Lies of P, and Black Myth: Wukong. Each offers punishing but fair combat built around learning enemy patterns, with different settings and mechanical twists on the formula.
What are the best indie action games on Steam?
The best indie action games on Steam are Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, Hyper Light Drifter, Nine Sols, and Neon White. All five deliver tight combat mechanics and high replayability from smaller studios, with Dead Cells and Hollow Knight standing out for deep, skill-rewarding action.
What are the best fast-paced action games with roguelike elements?
Hades and Hades II are the best roguelike action games, offering fast combat with varied weapon builds across repeated runs. Returnal blends third-person shooting with roguelike loops, Dead Cells combines metroidvania exploration with roguelike replayability, and Sifu adds a unique aging mechanic to kung-fu action.
