The 26 Best Action Games You Need to Play Right Now

The Devil May Cry games are bombastic action games that throw the sliver-haired and silver-tongued Dante against demons that have it out for him. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is the latest entry in the series and it gives players the chance to cut down the demonic resistance with Dante's twin brother, Vergil. Besides those two sword-swinging and firearm-blasting demon hunters are Nero and the mysterious V, who both come with their own powerful abilities capable of tearing up otherworldly foes. If you want to play through the series chronologically, then seek out the Devil May Cry HD Collection and Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition before you hop into this one.

Kratos is the most badass father in all of gaming! His trying days and nights spent as a raging god killer are now behind him here - his main focus is aiding his young son Atreus in becoming better than he ever was. That crucial father-son relationship is disrupted by the Norse gods, which means it's up to you to aid Kratos and Atreus during their battles against those same gods and a collection of mythical beasts. From a third-person viewpoint, you'll navigate through different parts of Midgar and get caught up in some of the fiercest battles you'll ever get embroiled in. Once you've reached the end of your adventure here, be sure to get even more closure in the equally action-packed God of War Ragnarök.

Bayonetta is one of those super cocky "Umbra Witches" that's just so damn cocky - whenever a bunch of angry angels and demons run down on her, she either lambasts them with spirit-breaking commentary or goes into sultry dance number to taunt them even further. Once the gameplay finally kicks in, you'll have a ball slashing, smashing, and blasting everything in your path with Bayonetta's huge arsenal of melee and ranged weaponry. Activating "Witch Time" through last-minute dodging will blow your mind the first time and turn you into a believer in no time flat. Once you've completed your mission here, play the rest of the series on the Nintendo Switch via parts two and three.

Vanquish is off the wall, bullet-riddled mayhem that's an attack on the senses. But once you've gotten used to all the wild shootouts this game entails, you'll get addicted and keep on striving to reach this game's epic conclusion. Players will don the sleek, all-powerful "Augmented Reaction Suit" as Sam Gideon, who's capable of sliding across the battlefield at will, pulling off impactful melee maneuvers, and using a wide range of firearms that tear anything and everything apart. Vanquish is a short and sweet third-person shooter that will blow your mind from the very first level.

So the greatest Terminator game of all time is Binary Domain, which isn't associated with James Cameron's movie franchise in any sort of way. Don't sleep on this joint, good people! This third-person shooter will present you with an onslaught of pissed-off robots that present a huge threat to the futuristic version of Tokyo you'll be running through. The action unfolds at a fast and furious pace where procedural damage plays a huge part in exposing each robot type's weakness. Blasting bots and making important decisions that impact your ultimate outcome are the two biggest pros of this underrated Sega shooter.

Capcom's penchant for putting out quality remakes for the Resident Evil series. The one that's dedicated to the second game is top-notch survival-horror action. Resident Evil 2 features the debuts of franchise mainstays Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who must brave the "bioweapons" breakout caused by the sinister Umbrella Corporation. You'll get scared out of your wits as you attempt to escape the diseased dangers of Racoon City and keep them at bay with your collection of guns in tow. If you want to experience the two games released before this remake, seek out the Resident Evil Origins Collection.

The original Resident Evil 4 is regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made. Thanks to the magical remake ability of Capcom, that game has gotten even better somehow. Leon makes his return in this new survival horror action-adventure that tasks him with rescuing the president's daughter from a village of cult followers. This one has its fair share of shocking scares, but there's a bigger focus on action here as you'll need to wipe out encroaching hordes of cultists that take some powerful gunfire to put down. Tread carefully, make sure you're fully loaded, and blast everyone that tries to get in between you and the president's daughter Ashley Graham.

What we're about to introduce to you right now is one of the better cyberpunk experiences in gaming. You'll not only fall in love with its striking visual palette but you'll also get addicted to its fast-paced gameplay. The phrase "alright, just one more try" rings true here as you can die in one hit and are forced to map out your moves before every run. As Jack the Ghostrunner, you'll explore numerous stages at an insanely swift place and use your blade to eliminate your foes via one single slash. Going slow-mo will make you feel unstoppable at times in Ghostrunner, that's for sure. Keep in mind, though - you can also get killed in one hit, so tread carefully.

Taking down massive creatures such as the legendary "Rajang" and "Alatreon" is all the more enticing when you're given the option to do it alongside three other dominant hunters. Monster Hunter: World offers that type of worthwhile experience with a wealth of monsters to hunt down, defeat, and take apart to get the items needed to craft amazing gear sets and new weapons. The base game and the Iceborne expansion give you a ton of monster hunting to stay busy with alongside your three friends. With an addictive gameplay loop that focuses on following the trail of each monster, using your oversized weapons to weaken them, and getting caught up in an epic final showdown explain why Monster Hunter: World is indeed one of the best action games.

Ryu Hayabusa has been putting his ninjutsu skills to good use since 1988. One of the gaming's most revered ninjas made his way over from the 2D realm to 3D once the franchise he made famous got rebooted on the original Xbox. You can play that first game and the two sequels that followed it via modern means through the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. All three hack 'n slashers are no easy walks in the park - the flood of enemies that try to tear you to shreds can be overwhelming. But once you become a master at utilizing each game's controls, characters, and combat maneuvers, you'll enter a zen-like state as you use Ryu's "Dragon Sword" and his allies' weaponry to cut down everyone that comes your way.

Evil West is such a throwback to the days of AA games that were in abundance during the height of the PS3 and Xbox 360 console lifecycles. And that's a good thing as this beat 'em up/shooter is a straightforward linear gorefest that's better than expected. You'll take control of Jesse Rentier, a member of a revered vampire-hunting organization that must eliminate the rise of demons across the western frontier. Evil West gets its spot here on the best action games thanks to the weightiness of combat that makes every landed blow feel super impactful. Punching demons and blasting theme with a carefully-placed rifle blast never gets old here.

The Dynasty Warriors games have always been pretty simple button mashers, to be fair. But they're still fun in their own right. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty adopts the Romance of the Three Kingdoms storyline adapted for those games and splices in the "Soulsbourne" combat seen in the Nioh games to offer something a bit deeper and more challenging. With your custom warrior, you'll make your way through war-torn portions of China and attempt to save the innocents from the evil Yellow Turban Rebellion army and the demonic entities that have sprung up in their wake. Wo Long's slick parrying system and abundance of weapon styles to master classify this as one of the best action games for gamers that love a tough undertaking.

The original Gears of War is recognized as one of if not THE best games on the Xbox 360. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a remastered version of that genre-defining third-person cover-based shooter, which is the best way to play through Marcus Fenix's struggle against the invading "Locust Horde." Just like the original game, you'll move from cover to cover and pop out of your shielded surroundings to land gunfire on your reptilian foes. With weapons such as the "Lancer Assault Rifle," "Gnasher Shotgun," and "Boomshot Grenade Launcher" in your possession, you'll have a great time blowing the opposing army's troops into bloody chunks.

Katana ZERO looks, sounds, and feels like a lost ’80s neo-noir film that ended up getting adapted for the small screen—and that’s part of the reason why it’s such an incredible action platformer. There are plenty more reasons to give it a full playthrough. The melee mastery of the main character is incredibly fun to wield, the plot is better than one would expect from a retro game of its ilk, and the soundtrack is catchy as hell. If you’ve ever spent any time struggling and ultimately prevailing through the pixelated dangers featured in Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi, then Katana ZERO will quickly become one of your go-to action games.

Speed runners have the perfect choice on their radar here when it comes to the best action games worth considering. Neon White is a super stylish first-person shooter/puzzle platformer where speedy efficiency is the name of the game. You'll take on the role of "Neon White," an assassin who participates in a competition where the winners get to stay in Heaven instead of reverting back to Hell. Clearing out demons and reaching the end goal for every stage in this game as quickly as possible turns into an addiction that's hard to stay away from. Neon White will push you to achieve the best completion times, which is a personal goal you'll be inspired to fulfill on every level possible.

NierR: Automata is one of the most deeply emotional and thought-provoking games you'll ever play. Its plot unfolds in some pretty mindblowing ways and its multiple endings will stay with you long after you've completed them. On the gameplay side of things, PlatinumGames made sure to infuse this action/adventure campaign against rogue machines with some of the coolest-looking and super enjoyable melee combat the genre has ever seen. As the three YoRHa battle android units 2B, 9S, and A2 you'll command, you'll swing a nice variety of small swords and large swords that have unique designs with all three fighters. You haven't lived until you've cut down a horde of machines with some flashy slashes with the "Virtuous Treaty", "Faith," or "Type-40 Blade" in hand.

No need to be worried, ladies and gentlemen - this game isn't attached to any recent Spider-Man film. Goated development studio Insomniac Games delved into years of established Marvel lore and arrived with their own unique take on the dangerous life of the world's most celebrated web crawler. The best way to play this Spidey simulator is through its remastered edition, which includes the base game, all of the DLC costumes, and extra campaigns that focus on Spidey's encounters with even more villains. The first time you swing through New York City and pull off a backflip in midair before you even touch the ground will blow your mind. Once you've wrapped up Spidey's clash with the "Sinister Six" here, hop into Miles Morales' equally "amazing" adventure ASAP!

Raiden has gotten so many Metal Gear Solid fans onto his side due to his transitioning from a hated protagonist into a much beloved one. His cyborg ninja character refresh from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots gets the spotlight in this high-octane slasher developed by the masters of action games, PlatinumGames. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance gives Raiden several bladed weapons to rely on during his crusade against an organization known as "Rival PMC Desperado Enforcement LLC." With Raiden's collection of powerful blades at his disposal, you'll get to assault all sorts of cybernetic baddies and stylishly finish them off via slow-motion cutting sequences.

It doesn't matter which character you choose to start your Scarlett Nexus adventure with - either way, you'll be amazed by the gameplay that unfolds during this lengthy action RPG. As Yuito and Kasane, you'll be empowered by telekinetic powers and bring the fight to deformed beings known as the "Others." With your fellow "Other Suppression Force (OSF)" members by your side, you'll get to use their abilities to power your own and pull off even more devastating maneuvers. Scarlet Nexus feels like you're playing through a wholly new anime, which makes it a valid choice for those of you on the lookout for the best action games that have recently been released.

Nathan Drake has journeyed across every corner of the globe due to his career as a treasure-hunting. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection remasters a trio of his initial international Indiana Jones-inspired adventures and packs them into one neat little package. All three games feature explosive moments, intense gunfights, and wild car/motorcycle chases that erupt into some of the most memorable setpieces in gaming history. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is regarded by many as one of the greatest games of all time - thankfully, it's here in its best graphical presentation to date and is still worth playing today. Be sure to hop into the Legacy of Thieves Collection to experience Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Lost Legacy expansion right after this one!

Hades combines the mechanics of roguelike elements and dungeon-exploring gameplay to put forth a demanding yet enriching experience. As Zagreus, the son of Hades, you'll make a concerted effort to escape his confinement within the "Underworld." During repeated runs, you'll encounter friendly members of the Greek pantheon and be gifted with powers that will help you get closer and closer to your goal. The action that plays out here is fast, so you'll need to stay on your toes and have eyes in the back of your head every time you hop into battle. Death is certain, but victory and freedom are certainly attainable.

Hell's army of bloodthirsty demons has spilled out of their fiery landscape and is now flooding the planet of Mars. The only line of defense that can keep those demons from invading Earth is the world-renowned "Doom Slayer," who gives players the ultimate power fantasy as soon as they take control of him. This reboot of DOOM features the familiar gameplay loop of blasting demons with all types of guns from a first-person perspective. The debut of "Glory Kills" gives you the power to pull off up-close kills that reward you with extra ammo/health recovery items and keep your momentum going at a fast pace. Once you get your hands on the "Super Shotgun" and "BFG 9000," you'll feel like an unstoppable badass!

Before Lords of Shadow arrived, Konami's 3D takes on the fan worshipped Castlevania IP ranged from bad to passable. Then this game surprised many with its shockingly great quality and well-told story that caps things off with a hell of a shocking reveal. We've chosen to highlight Lords of Shadow on this list of the best action games due to the abundance of heavy combat where you feel each and every blow landed by your trusty whip. Gabriel Belmont and his vicious Combat Cross go hand-in-hand with the implementation of light and shadow magic that keeps his supernatural enemies at bay.

Remedy Entertainment crafted an amazing third-person shooter that deals in trippy sci-fi storytelling a la Alan Wake and employs Max Payne-esque shootouts. You take “control” of Jesse Faden, a young woman who ventures inside a mysterious building connected to the "Federal Bureau of Control." While in search of her missing brother, Jesse encounters a dangerous entity known as the "Hiss" and must eliminate them as she makes her way deeper into the strange building she's now trapped within. Getting to the bottom of the FBC’s paranormal troubles involves a whole lot of shooting, levitating, and telepathic powers that make Control’s combat encounters bombastic on every occasion.

PlatinumGames is back on this list of the best action games once again, to the surprise of no one. And one of the better-licensed games to have come out of the Japanese game development studio is dedicated to the 80s version of the famous robots in disguise. Transformers: Devastation lets players command the heavy-hitting melee and ranged offense of the following "Autobots": Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, and Grimlock. And as you navigate vast battlefields ruled by "Decepticons," you'll need to dodge their attacks at the very last second to activate slow-mo so you can get in even more powerful blows. Being able to land finishing moves that employ each character's ability to transform into a vehicle is pretty hype, too.

Before the events of the very first Yakuza game take place, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima get into some wild hijinks during their come-up in late 80s Japan. Yakuza 0 follows both men's rise to notoriety within the criminal underworld of Japan and follows the heated confrontations that erupt between rival Yakuza organizations. Since you can play with both characters, you'll be treated to different styles of fighting and a host of fun minigames that offer something of a cooldown after experiencing this game's more heated moments. Beating up random thugs and Yakuza bosses with Kazuma and Goro's brutal street fighting combos is top-of-the-line action game material here.