Fantasy fans and action fans can sometimes have different priorities when it comes to games. Fantasy fans may enjoy worlds that come alive with rich characters and ever-evolving environments filled with beauty and magic. Action fans may prefer quick movement and brisk combat.
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There are plenty of great fantasy games out there, but are there enough that blend in fast and visceral action to make both types of fans happy? Taking into consideration years of gaming history, let’s take a look and prioritize the action over the fantasy, as that’s merely window dressing for some. As long as the action is good, that’s all that matters, and these games shouldn’t disappoint.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Synergize With Your Party
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth adds a lot more combat options than the previous Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Players have more characters to choose from, and there is a new Synergy element, too. Two characters can combine to execute various combos, like Cloud can lift Tifa into the air to strike airborne foes.
Beyond synergy attacks, each character has a wealth of skills to use in battle, along with magic thanks to the different Materia players find and unlock throughout the world. It’s undeniably one of the greatest action entries in Final Fantasy history.
God of War Ragnarök
Fly, My Mighty Axe!
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
The God of War series was known for its brutal action in the PS2 era, but the 2018 reboot added more visceral feedback than ever before. Like many “first” entries in a series, things were held back a bit in the reboot, but the combat system was better defined in the direct sequel, God of War Ragnarok.
Players have more weapons at the start for Kratos to use, and flipping between the boomerang-like Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos feels so right. Kratos may be a slower character to control than other fast-paced action heroes, but this doesn't detract from the experience. If anything, it makes him feel more brutal.
Bloodborne
Transformative Weapons
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
There are many great action entries within FromSoftware’s series of Soulslikes, but for many, they cannot think of a better game than Bloodborne. Set within a gothic fantasy world, players assume the role of a Hunter and take down creepy monsters across a Metroidvania-like landscape that opens up over time.
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It’s a more active combat system than what's seen in Dark Souls, as dodges and counters take the place of defensive stances, shields, and rolling. The best part of combat, though, is that all weapons can transform during combat, like a cane that transforms into a bladed whip. There’s nothing cooler in a game than transforming weapons, and Bloodborne is loaded with them.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Become The Best
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest Monster Hunter entry, and it too has transforming weapons. For example, the Charge Blade may look like a standard RPG sword and shield combo, but when combined, they form a giant axe where the shield part becomes a grinding buzzsaw-like implement.
There are fourteen weapon types to master in the game, and many more to craft within each branch as players hunt and kill massive beasts and collect their materials. Whether they're playing alone or with a party online, the action in Monster Hunter Wilds never stops.
Diablo 4
Evil Dies Easily
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Diablo 4 doesn’t play dramatically differently from the rest of the Diablo series, but it feels better than ever before. It doesn’t matter if players choose a melee-based class like the Barbarian or a more ranged character like the Sorcerer; all players are going to have a good time.
Pulling off combos by chaining skills together is a blast, even when surrounded by twenty enemies at once. It’s even more fun with other players online, and the new open-world environment, however bleak, adds more to this top-down dark fantasy.
Hades 2
Witchy Vibes
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
Hades 2 is a roguelike where players are a witch in training, Melinoë, who can equip various weapons before each run. Each weapon has a standard list of attacks, all of which can be enhanced in combat once players unlock Boons that are gifted by the gods.
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They can create tidal waves, beams of light, or gusts of wind while battling onslaughts of the damned in the underworld or while battling their way up Mount Olympus. Top-down games may not look as flashy as 3D action games, but Hades 2 will still blow players away.
Okami
Japanese Folklore Brought To Life
Okami
- Released
- September 19, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
Okami is a PS2 classic that has been enhanced several times, and it’s still good with each revision. Taking place within a fantasy version of Japan, players control the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu, in wolf form, who has been tasked with rescuing other animal gods and restoring the land.
Players can initiate combat by attacking a demon seal in the world or a dungeon, which will create an instanced battle arena. Players can then attack with various bite and weapon attacks, along with pausing the game quickly to draw some attacks, like bombs, with Amaterasu's paintbrush. Players can use their celestial brush to solve puzzles as well, which is a big part of the game.
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
Fluid Fantasy
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
- Released
- February 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- 38 Studios, Big Huge Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a game most tend to forget, as it didn’t wow too many when it launched in 2012. However, most who have played it can at least agree that the combat is its best quality and outdoes many fantasy RPGs of its time.
Players are not restricted to one class and can instead choose their perks in various skill trees as they level up. Weapons offer a nice variety, from mid-range chakrams to standard long swords. Interspersed with magical attacks, combat is never dull, and it’s a shame more Western RPGs haven’t learned from the combat system found in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.
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