Ever play a game almost too good, in any aspect, and think there is a high bar to pass after? Donkey Kong Bananza, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hallow Knight: Silksong are just a few recent examples of games that are an overall great package. Do those games feature something that some players prefer, inventive combat, to help them stand out?
Best Action Games With Ridiculous Gameplay
These outrageous and over-the-top action games deliver unforgettable, ridiculous gameplay experiences, pushing the boundaries of the genre.
It doesn’t matter if the combat is action-based, turn-based, or anything in between. For some players, they want fresh combat that will be a trendsetter for other games moving forward. The combat is so good that anything even remotely close will feel like a bag of coal. That’s how good combat is in the following games.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Mask Of The Ninja
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a FromSoftware game that is not quite a Soulslike, but it certainly is challenging like one. It puts players on the offensive in combat, forcing them to learn enemy attack patterns to counter to do massive damage.
Players essentially have to learn the ways of the ninja to master the combat, which has a steep learning curve, but between the blade and Wolf’s various arm gadgets, it flows nicely, and it also punishes those who mess up.
Devil May Cry 5
Grappling With Demons
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 great thing about Devil May Cry 5 is that it switches between three protagonists periodically, each of whom plays differently, so that no one character will dominate the playtime. Nero has a sword, gun, and a cybernetic arm he can use to grapple opponents, and if anyone is the star, it’s him.
V sits back and only takes action after his familiar lays waste to monsters, and Dante is a heavy hitter with more massive weapons, like a literal motorcycle. The Devil May Cry series often sets the bar high for action games, and this latest sequel is no different.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Here’s Web In Your Eye
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has two heroes, Peter and Miles, and they share a lot of the same talents, such as web-slinging in battle and in the sky, gliding, and quick reflexes. Peter uses more gadgets, and Miles has a few extra superpowers, like electricity.
The most fun character to control in combat is after Peter syncs his body with Venom and takes on the iconic black Spider-Man costume, which opens up his powers greatly, from stronger punches to tentacled whips. It’s the one reason why this game excels above the previous two Insomniac games in terms of combat.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Use The Force, Cal
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Released
- April 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Soulslike, Sci-Fi
Cal was merely an apprentice in the previous game, but in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, he is a full-blown Jedi who is ready and willing to clean up the galaxy. Between droids and Stormtroopers, nothing can stand in his way, and every slice gets excellent feedback.
Greatest Action Fantasy Games Of All Time
Fantasy games are pretty commonplace, as are action games, but seeing the two combined so effectively in these games is something special.
The various stances and lightsaber forms can alter combat, alongside how players use the Force to take their enemies down. It’s a more robust system built on what made the first game so good, but now with flashier moves that let players imagine they are reenacting a movie.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Midgar Might
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
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth improves on Final Fantasy 7 Remake in some fantastic ways, and it’s the best action RPG set within the Final Fantasy universe to date.
Every character is unique, from Cloud’s weighted sword attacks to Barret’s long-range arm cannon to Tifa’s fast a brutal melee strikes, and that’s not even bringing up specific character abilities or magic through Materia either. The best additions were the Synergy attacks, which allow two party members to team up for attacks like Tifa jumping onto Cloud’s blade to get an air boost.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Deal With These Attractions
Kingdom Hearts 3
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Kingdom Hearts 3 is the latest addition to the series and also the game with the best combat. Instead of whacking enemies endlessly with Keyblades and magic, there are two new additions to make gameplay more exciting.
First, depending on combos, Sora’s Keyblade can turn into other weapons like a gun or hammer and end with devastating finishers. Also, in certain areas, players can summon Disney attractions, like the teacup ride, to rock through enemies, all of which looks silly but is incredibly fun.
Chrono Trigger
Double And Triple Techs
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger was released in 1995 for the SNES, and even though it is three decades old, the combat system is still something to admire. When characters learn skills or magic, they have an area of effect like Crono’s Cyclone.
Positioning it just right can hit more enemies, which adds a bit more strategy to battles. On top of that, characters can perform double or triple attacks, like Lucca can add her Flamethrower to Cyclone to give Crono a fire tornado-like attack in battle called a Fire Whirl. Overall, Chrono Trigger is still turn-based perfection.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Parry And Counter
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is another turn-based game that doesn’t have an ordinary combat system. Every character has a different set of rules for their attacks, like Lune can get elemental charges based on her attacks and then use those charges to use more powerful spells in exchange.
Best Games That Are All Action No Talk
If all you want is gameplay that doesn't use up time dwelling on a story, these action-focused games check all the boxes.
Learning to use each character in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be fun, but the real kicker to combat is the dodge and parry system. If timed correctly, players can counter enemies for high amounts of damage, and after patterns are learned, it can start to feel like a rhythm game akin to WarioWare.
Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
A Master Of Elements And Weapons
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
- Released
- February 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has a combat system that is almost too good, and sadly, it somehow didn’t rise to the occasion to become as trendsetting as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Every weapon controls well, especially the chakrams, and switching between them and skills is easy. Whether players are trying to shoot enemies with poison arrows from their bow or make them quake beneath their feet with an earth attack, the flow of this game is ridiculous and is the best part without a doubt.
Guacamelee
The People’s Elbow
Guacamelee!
- Released
- April 9, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Beat 'Em Up
Most Metroidvania games have pretty standard melee, magic, or gun-based gameplay, but Guacamelee stands above the rest thanks to its wrestling mechanics. As players make their way through the game, they will unlock new moves in combat, from different grapples to suplexes.
Players will get addicted to trying to perform the coolest combos on demon skeletons as possible to rack up points alone or with friends in combat. Who would have ever guessed a wrestling Metroidvania would have worked this well?
Upcoming Action RPGs With Combo Systems
Pick up your swords, spears, whips, and everything in-between for these upcoming combo-breaking RPGs.