Summary
- Games like Pizza Tower offer over-the-top action packed with color and variety that result in immensely satisfying gameplay.
- Maximum Action focuses on style over challenge, championing exaggerated action and expressive combat encounters.
- Titles like ULTRAKILL and Devil May Cry 5 are known for non-stop, over-the-top action, offering expressive controls and satisfying combat.
There's plenty of action present in myriad genres across gaming. However, all too often, players are subject to a focus on realism, experiences grounded in reality. While these more realistic, down-to-earth games have their place, there's something to be said for those that channel a more heightened reality.
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These games champion exaggerated styles and explosive visuals, but their presentation remains consistent enough to never feel out of place. Expressive animations are also common with these games, resulting in gameplay that's often satisfying.
1 Pizza Tower
An Action-Packed Platformer
Pizza Tower
- Released
- January 26, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Pizza Tower is an action-packed platformer that plays at a breakneck pace. In the game, players barrel through tightly constructed levels at high speeds, attempting to string together endless combos as they make a break for the end goal.
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The exaggerated animations and over-the-top presentation make Pizza Tower's action an extravagant affair packed with color and variety. In addition, the over-the-top action and animations allow Pizza Tower to be an immensely satisfying experience, elevated by truly expressive controls.
2 Maximum Action
A Cinematic FPS With A Focus On Style
MAXIMUM Action
- Developer(s)
- George Mandell
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Maximum Action takes clear influence from games such as FEAR and Max Payne as much as it does the action cinema of the 80s and 90s. In keeping with its influences, Maximum Action champions over-the-top action over anything else, forgoing any attempt at narrative.
Synergizing with its exaggerated action is a focus on style over challenge. Maximum Action provides an action sandbox that allows players to express their style in tight, expressive combat encounters. This results in a gameplay loop less concerned with progression and more with pure style.
3 Anger Foot
Non-Stop FPS Gauntlets
Anger Foot
- Released
- July 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Similarly to games such as Post Void, Anger Foot provides a slew of fast-paced FPS gauntlets, packed with claustrophobic environments and deadly enemies. Anger Foot also excels, however, with its hand-crafted levels and unique zones.
The fast pace and lethal nature of most enemies ensures high-octane action, elevated by explosive gunplay and exaggerated animations. Furthermore, players will spend plenty of time separating doors from their hinges with fierce kicks that can take out enemies in a similar fashion. All this results in tremendous over-the-top action that's great for fans of bite-sized game sessions.
4 ULTRAKILL
Hyper Action With Expressive Controls
Ultrakill
- Released
- September 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Fans of fast-paced shooters and character action games alike are more than likely to enjoy ULTRAKILL's blend of FPS action and score-centric design. ULTRAKILL is driven by expressive movement controls, tight combat arenas, and frantic gunplay, providing an adrenaline rush fueled by an ever-present score system that motivates efficient play.
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ULTRAKILL's action is decidedly over-the-top, especially in its violence, offering buckets of pixelated gore alongside its meaty explosions and punchy gunplay. It's non-stop, expressive, and replayable, though not for everyone.
5 Devil May Cry 5
Stylish Character Action With Satisfying Weaponry
Devil May Cry 5
- Released
- March 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
The Devil May Cry franchise is a decidedly over-the-top series of games, packed with exaggerated action and larger-than-life characters. Devil May Cry 5 is no exception, offering a multitude of combat encounters that have players juggling enemies in the air with expressive combos.
Though the game can lack challenge at times, the overall experience is driven by a score system that motivates improvement. Even the presentation of this score system is over-the-top, blending perfectly with the game's ridiculous weaponry and combat.
6 DOOM (2016)
Fast-Paced Combat In Expressive Arenas
DOOM
- Released
- May 13, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- FPS
2016's DOOM is a frantic first-person shooter that excels with its expressive combat arenas and diverse weaponry. More important, however, are the "glory kills" that control the flow of combat. All are incredibly over-the-top, perfectly stringing together each exchange between player and demon.
DOOM's gunplay, presentation, and even its environments are exaggerated; almost no restraint was exercised here, instead offering players an unabashed action game that takes full advantage of its bombastic tone.
7 Resident Evil 5
Survival Horror Where Action Takes Center Stage
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Always known for its B-movie charm but beloved for its survival horror gameplay, Resident Evil didn't always provide players with over-the-top action. Resident Evil 5, however, most certainly does, offering up a variety of exaggerated melee moves and an unhinged tone that goes beyond the silliness of its predecessor.
Most notable are the myriad melee attacks, each performed with action-movie physicality by both of the game's protagonists. This over-the-top action can be experienced in single-player, but it's arguably best when enjoyed with a friend in online co-op.
8 Hi-Fi Rush
Exuberant Action That Oozes Style
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
With its heartfelt narrative, vibrant visuals, and stylish combat, Hi-Fi Rush provides players with an exuberant adventure supported by an ensemble cast of lovable characters. Though its story is somewhat grounded, the rhythm-based action of Hi-Fi Rush provides consistently over-the-top encounters exploding with brilliant color.
While it has its frustrations, the character action of Hi-Fi Rush blends perfectly with its invigorating soundtrack. Furthermore, Hi-Fi Rush provides both style and substance with its meaningful narrative and memorable cast, offering a rare adventure worth having.
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