10 Greatest Action Video Games of All Time

Image via Capcom Published Jul 23, 2026, 7:44 AM EDT Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. Sign in to your Collider account There was a giant craze about how video games caused violence, and while that is mostly debunked, gamers can't help but enjoy playing action video games. The best kinds of games have action in them, from Red Dead Redemption 2 to The Legend of Zelda. However, the action genre in particular is dedicated to delivering the most fluid and engaging combat. This list will rank the ten greatest action video games of all time based on combat, gameplay, influence, critical acclaim, design, and overall quality. Most video games involve action in some shape or form, but actual action games are very different than a fighting game or action-adventure. They are designed purely for thrills and exhilaration through combat gameplay as opposed to some grand journey. Fighting games are similar, but they have their own genre, so they won't be included in this list. 10 'Sifu' (2022) Image via Sloclap Action games come in many shapes and sizes, and perhaps the most unique on this list is Sifu, an underrated indie title that proved to be one of the best. Gamers control a young martial artist who is hungry for revenge after five elite assassins murdered his master. Equipped with a talisman that revives him, he ages every time he dies, needing to kill them all before he dies of old age. In terms of raw and innovative gameplay, Sifu might be at the top of this list. It demands spatial awareness, perfect parrying skills, and improvisation. Sifu isn't just a game about recognizing patterns; players need to embody their inner fighter and use their skills and luck to win. It may be challenging, but mastering the mechanics is an incredibly rewarding feeling that makes players feel like the ultimate badass. 9 'Bayonetta' (2009) Image via Platinum Games Hideki Kamiya is an action connoisseur and legendary game designer who has two titles on this list, and the first is Bayonetta. The titular protagonist is a double-gun-wielding amnesiac witch who finally wakes up after 500 years only to realize she has no memories. Players spend their time shooting through waves of enemies to learn about her forgotten past. In Bayonetta, action is all about flair and style, which combine to create a distinct and kinetic form of combat that is elegant to witness and riveting to play. With the Witch Time mechanic, players need to cut it as close as possible when dodging, making the gameplay a lot tenser and more engaging, especially when Bayonetta delivers her staple flashy combos. 8 'God of War II' (2007) Image via Santa Monica Studio The God of War franchise is one of the most acclaimed out there, and while the 2018 version is arguably the better version, God of War II is the definitive action game in the series. After Kratos is betrayed and killed by Zeus, the Titan Gaia revives him, giving him the chance to travel through time and fight through the underworld to rewrite his fate and kill the King of the Gods. While the franchise entered new territory, and for the better, there is something so cathartic and freeing about God of War II, which delivers an unbridled sense of anger, exhilaration, and action. This mythological epic knows no bounds, highlighting a large, sweeping scale that players can crash right through with their unstoppable rage, proving God of War II is an action masterclass. 7 'Grand Theft Auto V' (2013) Image via Rockstar Games Rockstar Games is a prolific gaming studio that is home to some of the best masterpieces out there, including Grand Theft Auto V. Michael is a retired bank robber, Franklin is a street hustler, and Trevor is a chaotic arms dealer. These three may be entirely different criminals, but they must band together in order to accomplish some of the most high-risk and high-reward heists. Grand Theft Auto V is a unique entry on this list because, while it can technically be an adventure, it is solely an action title for the most part. While everyone is looking forward to Grand Theft Auto VI, they forget why GTA V has endured for over a decade. This open sandbox is a treasure trove of emergent gameplay, which often stems from the countless weapons, vehicles, level design, and characters. 6 'Ghost of Tsushima' (2020) PlayStation houses some of the greatest action games of all time, like God of War II, but they also have modern classics, such as Ghost of Tsushima. Set during the first Mongol invasion of Japan, this game follows Jin Sakai, a warrior who realizes his honorable tactics won't save his island. So, he adopts a darker fighting style in order to save his hometown from destruction. The katana system and overall combat are stellar, giving players free rein over a plethora of in-depth attack systems that are both gorgeous and brutal. Ghost of Tsushima is a cinematic masterpiece that perfectly blends action and stealth, and the result is a stunning action video game, a truly immersive and exhilarating title that effortlessly cements itself as a top-tier gaming experience. 5 'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' (2007) Image via Activision One of the best FPS franchises is Call of Duty, and while a lot of the games are similar, one that stands out is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Playing as either a British SAS squad or the US Marines, players set out on a dangerous mission where they need to stop a Middle Eastern dictator from setting off a global nuclear war. The majority of this list has consisted of melee combat titles, but shooting games, like FPS, are also action games. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the pinnacle of the FPS genre in terms of action, having a tightly paced campaign and snappy gunplay. This title was more than just a cinematic shooter; it was an incredibly influential video game whose legacy can still be felt in shooters today. 4 'Assassin's Creed II' (2009) Image via Ubisoft Ubisoft has come under fire for many poor decisions regarding their games, but at the very least, they handed gamers one of the best action experiences in Assassin's Creed II. Ezio is a newcomer assassin in Italy who hunts down the Templar Order to enact his revenge after they framed his father and brothers for treason and had them executed. The combat itself of Assassin's Creed II is fairly simple, but it makes up for that with stealthy takedowns and compelling parkour to create an action sensation. This defining video game established a tightly designed open-world that fed into the stealth and assassination mechanics, and when paired with parkour, fans feasted on action galore. It's still the best entry in the Assassin's Creed series, a totemic video game that redefined the medium going into the 2010s. 3 'Batman: Arkham City' (2011) Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Some of the best action games are in the superhero genre, and Batman in particular sports some of the most memorable, including Batman: Arkham City. With a portion of Gotham City sectioned off to create an open-air prison, Batman must investigate the hellhole in order to stop the mysterious Protocol 10 while also trying to find a cure for the Joker blood in his system. The first game created the combat system, but Batman: Arkham City perfected it, polishing the free-flow brawling that was so smooth to play that gamers could spend hours taking down henchmen. The combat had a certain indescribable rhythm to it, and the seamless counters and imaginative gadgets only added to the endless possibilities. Batman: Arkham City also had an engaging narrative and shocking plot twist, further immersing players into the magnificent world that made players feel like the Caped Crusader, proving why it is the most essential Batman video game. Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would BeYour Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn't work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back. 🎖️Rambo 🍸James Bond 🏺Indiana Jones 🔧John McClane 🎭Ethan Hunt FIND YOUR PARTNER → 01 You're dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you. ASomeone who already has three contingency plans running and is calmly working through all of them. BSomeone who reads the terrain instinctively and knows exactly how to use it against the enemy. CSomeone who keeps their nerve and their sense of humour when everything is falling apart. DSomeone who knows the history of wherever we are and what we're walking into. ESomeone with the right contact, the right cover identity, and the right exit already arranged. NEXT QUESTION → 02 You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission. AOn foot through terrain no one else would attempt — I move where vehicles can't follow. BOn a motorcycle, a cargo plane, or anything else that gets me there before I think too hard about it. CIn something that belongs to someone else — borrowed, stolen, or improvised under fire. DFirst class, with a cover identity and a gadget that does something I won't explain until it's needed. EBy whatever means are available — I've driven, flown, and once arrived by camel. The destination matters, not the method. NEXT QUESTION → 03 You're pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of. ADisappears into the environment, flanks them silently, and ends it before I've reloaded. BCracks a one-liner, grabs a fire extinguisher or a chair, and improvises something that somehow works. CProduces a gadget specifically designed for this exact scenario and uses it with infuriating precision. DPulls out a whip, a pistol, and an archaeological insight that somehow gets us out alive. ENeutralises the threat with maximum efficiency and minimum words — they were already three moves ahead. NEXT QUESTION → 04 The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are. AA bar with terrible lighting, cold beer, and absolutely no questions about feelings. BThe finest restaurant in the city, a bottle of something expensive, and a conversation that is equal parts brilliant and exhausting. CA local dig site, a museum after hours, or a long story about why that particular artefact matters to human civilisation. DPizza. Bad TV. Falling asleep halfway through a movie neither of you were watching anyway. EA debrief that turns into three hours of contingency planning that somehow becomes the most fun you've had all week. NEXT QUESTION → 05 How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability. APrecise and minimal — tell me what I need to know and nothing else. Every word has a cost. BDeadpan and dry — keeping it light keeps me sharp, even when everything is on fire. CEnthusiastic and slightly chaotic — but always with useful information buried somewhere in the noise. DCalm and controlled through an earpiece, with a plan that covers every variable I haven't thought of yet. EBarely at all — silence is a language and they speak it fluently. NEXT QUESTION → 06 Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership. AInfiltrate their inner circle, learn everything, and dismantle them from inside out before they know we're there. BStudy the historical pattern — every villain of this type has a weakness written somewhere in the past. CGet them talking. The more they monologue, the more time I have to figure out how to beat them. DGo through them. Directly. With as much force as the terrain allows. EFind the one thing they haven't accounted for — there's always one thing — and make sure we're holding it. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Things go badly wrong and you're captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters. ACome in alone, quietly, and get me out before anyone knows they were there. BHave already been working on the extraction since the moment I disappeared — the plan is already running. CCome in loud, come in fast, and worry about the collateral damage later — I'd do the same for them. DUse every resource, every contact, and bend every rule until I'm out — they don't leave people behind. ECharm their way in somehow, bluff through the hard part, and still manage to look good doing it. NEXT QUESTION → 08 What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn't replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn't know you had. ATechnology that shouldn't exist yet and the training to use it under any conditions. BSurvival instinct so refined it borders on supernatural — and the scars to prove it's been tested. CKnowledge of history, language, and culture that makes them invaluable in places where force is useless. DThe ability to walk into any room in the world and immediately become the most trusted person in it. EStubbornness that refuses to accept a situation is hopeless — and the improvisational skill to back it up. NEXT QUESTION → 09 Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together. AA partner who never fully switches off — always watching exits, always calculating threats, even at dinner. BA partner who gets the job done brilliantly but has the emotional availability of a locked filing cabinet. CA partner who makes everything ten times more complicated than it needs to be — but who always comes through. DA partner who gets personally attached to every relic, ruin, and artefact we encounter, which slows everything down. EA partner who was not built for this and knows it — but shows up anyway, every time, without being asked. NEXT QUESTION → 10 It's the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one. AOne line. Absolutely dry. Delivered like the world isn't ending. Then we move. BNothing said at all — just a look that means we both already know what has to happen. CA plan I don't fully understand that somehow accounts for everything, delivered in thirty seconds flat. DA piece of historical context that reframes the entire situation and tells us exactly what to do next. ESomeone who steps forward instead of back — because that's who they've always been. REVEAL MY PARTNER → Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse. RamboYour partner doesn't talk much, doesn't need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you've finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You'll never need to ask if he has your back. You'll just know. James BondYour partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it'll take you a moment to remember what's actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You'll never be bored. You'll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing. Indiana JonesYour partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar's eye and a brawler's instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn't matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you'll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them. John McClaneYour partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren't so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay. Ethan HuntYour partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you've finished reading the briefing, and the plan he's settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn't exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 2 'Devil May Cry 5' (2019) Image via Capcom Earlier in this list, the game designer Kamiya was mentioned as having created Bayonetta, but he is also the one behind Devil May Cry, and the best of the franchise, Devil May Cry 5. When the Demon King Urizen brings a blood-sucking tree to destroy the human world, the only hope for humanity is demon hunters Dante, Nero, and the newcomer V, who must stop him before it is too late. Like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry 5 is an over-the-top, flashy video game that relies on pure spectacle and wonder to accentuate its action. However, that grandiosity and flamboyance are tied into the fabric of the gameplay, with players being encouraged to be as "sexy" as possible. Devil May Cry 5 is absurd in the best way possible, achieving its trademark, larger-than-life approach through an in-depth combat system that supports many different playstyles to experiment with and enjoy. 1 'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' (2019) Image via FromSoftware Fans were probably eagerly waiting to see if FromSoftware had a game on this list, and while there is only one featured among the dozen masterpieces, their best action game is arguably Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Set in a fictionalized version of the Sengoku-era, players are a disgraced samurai who hunts down the clan members who kidnapped his lord. Elden Ring is the better game, but in terms of action, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice easily has it beat. RPG leveling mechanics only get in the way of pure, unfiltered gameplay, or at least that is what Sekiro thought, and the game was better for it. The posture and parry system is demanding, and winning is earned through mastering techniques. However, each battle provides more than a victory; it is a triumph of action gameplay. Sekiro is a video game with no flaws, and that perfect nature, alongside a balance of combat mechanics, is what makes it the greatest action video game of all time.