Action games have been one of the most popular video game genres for decades. In more recent years, however, many popular action games have been hybrids with other genres, like RPGs, and because of that, they’ve been less focused on action.
That said, there are still plenty of games focused on pure action. Many of these games, like Moonscars, are heavily inspired by retro classics, but there are also tons of titles that feel completely modern. It’s an amazing time to be an action game fan, and these games are the best of what the genre has to offer.
Moonscars Is Inspired By the Castlevania Games
Moonscars gameplayImage via Humble Games
Moonscars takes heavy inspiration from older pixel-art action games like Castlevania, and it nearly matches those titles in sheer difficulty. Like many of the hardest games of the ’90s, the combat and platforming aren’t forgiving, and there are constant hazards that players need to avoid.
What’s great about Moonstars is how its story motivates players to push forward. It takes place in a kingdom scarred by repeated invasions. Grey Irma, the protagonist, sets out to find the Sculptor, a godlike figure who might finally give her the power to break her homeland’s cycle of suffering.
The story is consistently interesting, and the game gives players a constant sense of progress. Defeated enemies grant resources that boost health and magic, which become more and more important as the challenge ramps up. That steady growth helps balance out the punishment and makes sticking with Moonscars worthwhile.
Moonscars
Systems
Released
September 27, 2022
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
Developer(s)
Black Mermaid
Engine
Unity
Skul: The Hero Slayer Feels Like a Lost Classic
Skul_ The Hero SlayerImage via Southpaw Games
Skul: The Hero Slayer is set in a bright, colorful fantasy world that’s ironically ruled by demons. The star is Skul himself, a tiny skeleton soldier who ends up taking on the huge job of stopping the so-called heroes invading the Demon King’s realm.
The setup is playful and a bit quirky, and that tone carries into the action. Skul: The Hero Slayer has roguelike elements, and its stages are procedurally generated, so runs rarely feel the same. That randomness keeps the combat fresh and lets players tear through enemies in quick bursts.
If players do well, they’ll be rewarded with items that make progressing through the game a breeze. Skul: The Hero Slayer is one of those games that actively rewards its players for their efforts at defeating the hardest enemies, and taking on the game’s extremely challenging bosses.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
Systems
Released
January 21, 2021
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
SouthPAW Games
Publisher(s)
Neowiz
Engine
Unity
Once Upon a Katamari Is One of the Best Entries in the Franchise
Once Upon A KATAMARI King CosmosImage Via Nintendo
Like the original Katamari Damacy, Once Upon a Katamari has players rolling a Katamari ball with the Prince, son of the King of All Cosmos, a ruler with a bad habit of accidentally wiping out the universe’s stars. Katamari Damacy is one of the weirdest PS2 games of all time, and this one is just as bizarre, with a perfect blend of puzzle and action elements.
Each level is about rolling up as much stuff as possible, turning random clutter and junk into a Katamari big enough to become a new star. The bigger the pile, the better the cosmos looks by the end. Ideally, the King leaves these stars alone for a while.
At its core, Once Upon a Katamari sticks closely to the classic formula, but it’s hard to complain when that formula is this satisfying. Few action games are as instantly readable and oddly relaxing as Katamari, and that makes the whole experience feel special.
Once Upon a Katamari
Systems
Released
October 24, 2025
ESRB
Everyone / Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Tobacco
Developer(s)
RENGAME
Publisher(s)
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Prequel(s)
Touch My Katamari
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Is One of the Most Stunning Action Games Ever
A festival being held in Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess.Image via Capcom
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is set around the fictional Mt. Kafuku, a once-beautiful village devoted to the goddess who watches over it. That peace doesn’t last, as supernatural forces corrupt the mountain and drain it of its purity. The warrior Soh steps in to cleanse the land and protect the goddess from further harm.
Visually, it’s one of the most gorgeous action games of the last decade, but there’s more to it than looks. Strategy plays a big role, and there’s a clear tower-defense element throughout the game. Holding back enemy waves before they reach key points on Mt. Kafuku is a core part of the experience, and it keeps players thinking as much as fighting.
Scale is another thing the game has going for it. Few recent action titles feel this broad in scope as Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, both in presentation and design. There aren’t many action games that have rivaled its size and ambition in the years since its 2024 release.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Systems
Released
July 19, 2024
ESRB
Teen // Violence, Mild Blood, In-Game Purchases
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
Engine
RE Engine
Hi-Fi Rush Is One of the Best Action Games Ever
Hi-Fi Rush feels like a spiritual cousin to Jet Grind Radio, with a similar colorful, futuristic vibe. The story follows Chai, a self-proclaimed future rock star who ends up with a music player fused into his chest thanks to the shady Vandelay Technologies. The company’s up to some ugly experiments, and it’s on Chai and his new crew to shut them down.
The result is one of the best games of the 2020s so far, and from a pure fun perspective, Hi-Fi Rush is hard to beat. The characters are likable, the cutscenes are full of personality, and honestly, the game would still be a blast even if the story took a back seat.
What really sets Hi-Fi Rush apart is the rhythm-based combat. Everything moves to the beat, which gives fights a flow that few games can match. By the end, Hi-Fi Rush lives up to its name, and players will be locked in from start to finish.
Hi-Fi Rush
Systems
Released
January 25, 2023
ESRB
Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
Developer(s)
Tango Gameworks
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
