10 Action Games Most Haven’t Played, But Definitely Should

Action games have historically faced the most competitive submarket in the entire video game industry for a simple reason: they make up the vast majority of available titles.

One way or another, whether it's a shooter or an RPG, most experiences can be categorized within this genre due to their leaning toward violence, which leaves us with countless wonderful, undiscovered titles.

We are all familiar with the major benchmarks of gunfire, brawls, and swordplay, yet the world of products that people haven't tried (or aren't even aware of) is far larger.

Therefore, to shine a light on these productions that offer great value to fans of resolving conflicts through warfare, I invite you to check out this list of ten action games that most people haven't played, but definitely should.

10 Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Frustration with Personality

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Action Adventure 5/10Released March 21, 2014 ESRB M For Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language Developer(s) Spark Unlimited Publisher(s) Koei Tecmo Genre(s) Action, Adventure

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z arrived when the franchise was at its lowest point, especially after a numbered third installment that was disastrous in ways I thought were humanly unimaginable.

Understandably, people steered clear of this spin-off due to its immediate predecessor, but also because of a host of valid criticisms: it's short, lacks variety, and feels like it boils down to mindless button-mashing.

However, as a fan of the Musou genre and of titles that let you switch off your brain and enjoy a bloody, limb-severing spectacle with impressive art direction, I actually ended up liking the game, largely due to my expectations being low.

From the platforming and QTEs to the animations and weapon variety, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is as automated and straightforward as they come, yet it offers a stylized, distinctive twist truly worth experiencing firsthand to see if it becomes your guilty pleasure, just as it did for me.

9 Hotel Barcelona

Multidimensional Bloodbaths

Hotel Barcelona Action Hack and Slash Roguelike Released September 26, 2025 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence, Users Interact Developer(s) White Owls Inc Publisher(s) CULT Games Genre(s) Action, Hack and Slash, Roguelike

For every disastrous thing Hotel Barcelona does, it also delivers something charming and unique, enough to keep you going just to see what kind of eccentricities Suda51 and Swery65 have dreamed up next.

The stellar lineup of creators alone makes this side-scrolling roguelike about serial killers a title worth considering, more so given how distinct it feels compared to its peers.

Yes, it’s technically questionable, lacks any real challenge, and feels a bit light on content, though the doppelgänger mechanic, where your previous playthroughs recur in new attempts as ghosts that aid you in combat, offers a truly intriguing twist worth exploring.

Add to that a glorious art style, iconic cutscenes, and the kind of wild, hysterical story and gameplay systems that could only come from such geniuses, and Hotel Barcelona becomes like trying beer for the first time: you’ll hate it at first, but you’re bound to acquire a taste for it if you give it enough of a chance.

8 Romeo is a Dead Man

Suda51 in His Zone

Romeo is a Dead Man Action Science Fiction 9/10Released February 11, 2026 ESRB Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language Developer(s) Grasshopper Manufacture Publisher(s) Grasshopper Manufacture Genre(s) Action, Science Fiction

Speaking of Goichi Suda, Romeo is a Dead Man has become one of my favorite AA titles of the decade because it harkens back to the blockbusters of the early 2000s: bizarre yet purposeful and charismatic, with a story to tell.

The game blends so many narrative, visual, and mechanical genres that it feels like a cocktail conceived from the best reveals of an early E3 showcase, though that's precisely what makes it feel so distinctive and thrilling.

Romeo is a Dead Man isn't afraid to be weird; instead, it leans into that eccentricity to elevate its core hack-and-slash gameplay, which is combined with third-person shooter mechanics to turn every encounter with zombies (and colossi) into a genuine spectacle in terms of visuals and mechanics.

It is a fantastic subversion of Romeo and Juliet, featuring time travel, references to Suda’s entire catalog, and a classic feel that permeates the whole experience, evoking nostalgia for a bygone era while generating excitement over its refined combat and pacing.

7 Bastion

A Belligerent Fairy Tale

Bastion Action RPG 9/10Released July 20, 2011 ESRB E10 For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Developer(s) Supergiant Games Publisher(s) Warner Bros. Interactive, Supergiant Games Engine Microsoft XNA Genre(s) Action RPG

Ever since the marvelous Hades blessed us with its existence, Supergiant Games has seen a massive surge in popularity, though this is a phenomenon that arguably should have occurred back when they released Bastion.

Despite being their debut title, the Kid's adventure represents a turning point for indie game development, though it's also a magnificent isometric action game featuring a fascinating world and compelling progression systems.

While its glorious visual style is undoubtedly a major draw, the game’s wealth of environments, enemies, and bosses, combined with build-customization mechanics and a vast array of weapons and modifiers, make for an excellent experience from start to finish.

With a story that keeps players engaged throughout, Bastion is a remarkably well-balanced creation that appeals to all types of gamers, a title well worth experiencing for both its quality and its historical significance.

6 Metal: Hellsinger

Rhythmic Shots

Metal: Hellsinger FPS Rhythm Released September 15, 2022 ESRB M For Mature // Blood, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) The Outsiders Publisher(s) Funcom Engine Unity Genre(s) FPS, Rhythm

Games with a strong musical sensibility are common in the action genre, since a well-placed soundtrack works wonders for conveying specific moods, but Metal: Hellsinger goes far beyond—so much so that it surprises me how many people haven't played it (yet).

The songs become an integral part of the gameplay by syncing their rhythm with our ability to deal damage, forcing us to fire in time with the beat to boost our score and take on the hordes of demons standing in our way.

As a result, you get an impressive flow state where you become one with the sound and your inputs while dodging and shooting at anything that moves, creating a tremendous sense of focus and satisfaction that borders on addictive.

Although the soundtrack and gunplay are spectacular in their own right, it's their seamless synergy that elevates Metal: Hellsinger from just another excellent shooter to a unique standout in the action genre.

5 Absolver

Martial Arts at the End of the World

Absolver Indie Action Adventure FX Wiki Wiki Released August 28, 2017 ESRB T For Teen: Violence Developer(s) Sloclap Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Engine Unreal Engine 4 Genre(s) Indie, Action, Adventure

For every bit of praise Sifu receives, Absolver gains a measure of reflected admiration as the foundation upon which that game was built, though it remains forever destined to live in the shadow of what its younger sibling achieved by standing on its shoulders.

Yet, this does nothing to diminish the merit of a bold title that, despite not succeeding in connecting with the community through its multiplayer format, it certainly captivated players with a deep, customizable, and stylized combat system where martial arts lie at the very heart of the experience.

Tweaking your set of stances, attacks, and abilities within Absolver’s desolate world is a process that feels both elegant and delightful, as even the campaign’s formidable single-player challenges demand a level of focus and preparation that fosters a genuine connection to the game world.

I fully understand why it never quite caught on with players, but I can think of few better options when it comes to video games featuring outstanding combat systems.

4 DmC: Devil May Cry

Deceptive Appearances

DmC: Devil May Cry Action 8.5/10Released January 15, 2013 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language Developer(s) Ninja Theory Publisher(s) Capcom Engine Unreal Engine 3 Genre(s) Action

If you weren't around for DmC: Devil May Cry'sannouncement, words fail to describe the sheer vitriol unleashed over Dante’s transformation and the general perception that the game was trying too hard to be "edgy", reactions that caused us to focus on the trees rather than the forest.

Such criticisms are valid and do somewhat diminish the reboot's impact, yet they pale in comparison to the undeniable fact that it remains an impressive hack-and-slash title, boasting combat, music, and level design that rank among the series' best.

The story is embarrassing in its desperate attempt at social commentary, though it offers some substance and a protagonist who evolves over time—a growth evident not only in the narrative but also in the combat, which starts out phenomenal and ends up being nothing short of glorious.

I hate to think of how many people skipped this title due to the unfair criticism it faced at launch, so I want there to be no doubt about DmC: Devil May Cry being fully worthy of its place in the franchise.

3 The Messenger

A Magnificent Tribute

The Messenger Platformer 9.5/10Released August 30, 2018 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Sabotage Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Engine Unity Genre(s) Platformer

When compared to Sea of ​​Stars, The Messenger comes across as a niche indie title that, while it certainly achieved success, falls far short of the level of acclaim it truly deserves.

Many titles attempt to pay formal tribute to bygone eras, but the seamless transitions between 8-bit and 16-bit styles achieved by this imaginative and technical marvel are light-years ahead of most other homages.

Even so, time travel isn't The Messenger's only draw, given it's an outstanding action-platformer featuring polished combat and movement mechanics, evoking earlier generations' sensations yet crafted with a level of care only possible with modern expertise.

Epic bosses, plenty of humor, stunning audiovisual presentation, innovative concepts... The game offers the unexpected, as it's virtually impossible to predict the paths it takes or the sheer brilliance with which it navigates them.

2 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

From Light to Darkness

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Action Adventure Released October 5, 2010 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence Developer(s) MercurySteam, Kojima Productions Publisher(s) Konami Genre(s) Action, Adventure

We all praise MercurySteam for their remarkable work on the Metroid franchise, yet little is said about how they tackled another historic classic, Castlevania, with equally enviable excellence in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Whether you analyze the story, characters, art design, soundtrack, combat, progression, level design, bosses, or puzzles, you encounter a title that simply has no weak points.

Rarely have I played a hack-and-slash game where there was such a gap between its actual quality and its popularity, as the reboot starring Gabriel Belmont is technically worthy of standing among the best in the genre's history.

While its only "sin" is not trying to reinvent the wheel, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow offers a whirlwind of emotions that range from surprise and adrenaline to admiration, so there's never a bad moment to experience it for the first time.

1 Asura’s Wrath

Family Tragedies of Cosmic Scale

Asura's Wrath Action Beat 'Em Up Released February 21, 2012 ESRB T For Teen // Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) CyberConnect2 Publisher(s) Capcom Engine Unreal Engine 3 Genre(s) Action, Beat 'Em Up

Any self-respecting action game prioritizes gameplay above all else, so Asura's Wrath's bold decision to take an opposite path was the final nail in a coffin that was destined to be sealed sooner or later.

Nevertheless, time has allowed us to re-evaluate the aspects where Capcom not only excelled but truly showcased its greatest strengths regarding story, characters, scale, music, and spectacle.

While the game may be a straightforward beat-'em-up that prioritizes visual grandeur over tactile controller feedback, the cosmic-scale family tragedy unfolding within it is so monumental that it rivals any story-driven game in history.

Locking the true ending behind DLC ought to be a crime punishable by prison, though believe me when I say it's worth turning a blind eye to such an offense for the chance to see the story unfold, battle titanic bosses, and experience the most bombastic QTEs ever conceived.

I would never look askance at someone who doesn't even recognize the name Asura's Wrath; instead, I would look with pride upon the charming curiosity of anyone who decides to give it a try and embark on the journey of a lifetime.