Some games are enjoyable to play through because they feature excellent gameplay or rich worlds to explore. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that players are still discovering almost a decade after its initial release. While the gameplay and open-world environments are great, there aren’t a lot of what one would call excellent set pieces that dazzle the mind.
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If you don’t have time for compelling stories, these games let you dive straight into the action and never pull you away.
Sometimes, players want to be wowed every second of their experience, which can help them memorize the games they are playing more. It can be likened to a blockbuster film with minute-to-minute action or moments that are unforgettable, and these video games definitely nail that blockbuster feeling.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
A Daring Train Escape
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Released
- October 13, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Adventure
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a great entry point to start with in the Uncharted series, as it significantly improved over the original in terms of gameplay and set design. The game opens with hero Nathan Drake hanging on a train about to go off a cliff, before things reverse.
There are daring city battles, running from cars, jaw-dropping ruins, and a return to that train scene. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves never lets up, as it is a breathless and captivating action-adventure game that boldly goes where even the Indiana Jones series wouldn’t.
Tomb Raider (2013)
An Uncharted Reboot
Tomb Raider
- Released
- March 5, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
The Tomb Raider series was one of the first action-adventure games that tried to capture the magic of an Indiana Jones film. There were cool locations, but not enough action in rapid succession, which is what the 2013 reboot tried to fix.
Tomb Raider was now more like an Uncharted game with protagonist Lara Croft unsafe from human foes and animals, leading to a more visceral combat experience. Even though it is set on one island, there are plenty of thrilling moments, from escaping bloody tombs to planes to battling hordes of villains in shantytowns.
God Of War 3
Climbing Olympus
God of War III
- Released
- March 16, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
God of War 3 is a bookend on the God of War original trilogy, and it knew how to start and end things well. The game begins with Kratos on the back of Gaia as they try to ascend Mount Olympus, but other gods and titans try to stop their revolution.
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The scale of this moment was monumental on the PS3, and it’s still impressive now, along with all of the other locations on Mount Olympus. The boss battles are memorable too, as it’s not all about hacking and slashing since players have to help Kratos deduce the best way to take down seemingly impenetrable gods.
BioShock Infinite
Flying High
BioShock Infinite
- Released
- March 26, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
BioShock Infinite took things to the skies, far above the normal world in a floating city known as Columbia. It’s a stark difference between the dark undersea location of Rapture in the first two BioShock games, as Columbia is brighter, and the air-based location allowed the developers to be more creative.
There are railway systems that connect the various floating cities, which make for thrilling combat moments. Between mechanical monsters, high-speed chases, and utilizing Elizabeth’s powers for some spoiler-filled mechanics, BioShock Infinite will keep you guessing.
Resident Evil Village
The Metal Gear Of Eastern Europe
Resident Evil Village
- Released
- May 7, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
The Resident Evil series can be cheesy and over the top at times, but Resident Evil Village took things to a new level. It was like a celebration of the franchise, with the main bosses of this vague European area all housed in different areas inspired by past games.
The initial village is like the village in Resident Evil 4, Lady Dimitrescu’s castle is like the Spencer Mansion from the first game, and while there is no direct correlation with the haunted doll house, it’s still a marvelous set piece. The bosses themselves are brimming with personality, similar to bosses in Metal Gear games.
Titanfall 2
THE Device
Titanfall 2
- Released
- October 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Titanfall 2 is a fast-paced shooter that rarely puts players in expansive war zones. Instead, the battles between humans and mechs are more intimate in tighter locations to funnel the action and help keep the momentum up throughout the short campaign.
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It’s not every day that players can grapple around giant warehouses filled with premade houses to jumping into a mech, and blast others to scrap. Like BioShock Infinite, there is one incredible set piece that is worth experiencing above all others later in Titanfall 2, but even giving a hint would be a spoiler.
Split Fiction
Minute-To-Minute Set Pieces
Split Fiction
- Released
- March 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Split Fiction is a co-op-focused game, wherein two players have to play it at once, either on the couch or online. Two budding writers, Mio and Zoe, get sucked into an AI-generating machine that is sucking up their ideas and turning them into game levels.
This involves fantasy-based settings with dragons to futuristic settings with high-speed motorcycle chases like in Tron. There are wilder moments, too, involving rolling around as hot dogs, which may sound like a spoiler, but things get even zanier. It is impossible to get bored with the gameplay because Split Fiction never stays on the same idea for long.
Psychonauts 2
Nights Into Dreams
Psychonauts 2
- Released
- August 25, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Psychonauts 2, like the original game, had the advantage of inventiveness thanks to its premise involving dreams and the inner psyche. Raz returns in the sequel, who is now a full-fledged agent of a secret organization that protects and goes into minds.
This leads to wild levels and powers, even going so far as to change the visual style from fully 3D models to more cel-shaded characters players may see in an anime game. Mario may have captured the cultural zeitgeist of the platforming hero, but Psychonauts 2 and developer Double Fine proved there are other developers besides Nintendo out there who know how to work creatively within the genre.
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