In fact, we love action games, but only a few can be called the best action games of all time. They’re the driving force behind so many of our favourite PC games. As a result, we’ve put together this list – to separate the pulled punches from the bestest biffs that PC has to offer. No matter what really gets your adrenaline pumping, there’s an action game for you, whether you’re into pulling off the perfect combo, riding the wave of an explosive set-piece or dodging enemy attacks in slow-motion.
Best Actions Games
It is our aim to create a list of action games that we think you will still enjoy today. However, what we are more interested in is how they feel under your fingers and thumbs than what they look like. As a matter of fact, a great action game is more than just a beautiful game; it’s about having a control system and a game system that is just as enjoyable as it was when it was first released. We have compiled our top 25 picks for action games below.
Fortnite
Fortnite is an online video game developed by Epic Games and was released in 2017. This is available in three distinct game mode versions that otherwise share the same general game-play and game engine. Fortnite: Save the World a cooperative hybrid-tower defense-shooter-survival game for up to four players to fight off zombie-like creatures and defend objects with traps and fortifications they can build; Fortnite Battle Royale a free-to-play battle royale game in which up to 100 players fight to be the last person standing; Fortnite Creative in which players are given complete freedom to create worlds and battle arenas.
Players can use their pickaxe to knock down existing structures on the map to collect basic resources that are wood, brick, and metal. Subsequently, in all modes, the player can use these materials to build fortifications, such as walls, floors, and stairs. Such fortification pieces can be edited to add things like windows or doors. The materials used have different durability properties and can be updated to stronger variants using more materials of the same type. Within Save the World this enables players to create defensive fortifications around an objective or trap-filled tunnels to lure husks through. In Battle Royale, this provides the means to quickly traverse the map, protect oneself from enemy fire, or to delay an advancing foe. Players are encouraged to be very inventive in designing their fortifications in Creative.
Players Unknown Battle Grounds (PUBG)
Players Unknown Battle Grounds also know as PUBG is an online multiplayer battle royale game developed and published by PUBG Corporation, a subsidiary of South Korean video game company Bluehole. The game is based on previous modes that were created by Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene for other games, inspired by the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, and expanded into a standalone game under Greene’s creative direction. In the game, up to one hundred players parachute onto an island and scavenge for weapons and equipment to kill others while avoiding getting killed themselves. The available safe area of the game’s map decreases in size over time, directing surviving players into tighter areas to force encounters. The last player or team standing wins the round.
“Players Unknown Battle Grounds” was first released for Microsoft Windows via Steam’s early access beta program in March 2017, with a full release in December 2017. The game was also released by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox One via its Xbox Game Preview program that same month, and officially released in September 2018. A free-to-play mobile game version for Android and iOS was released in 2018, in addition to a port for the PlayStation 4. A version for the Stadia streaming platform was released in April 2020. “Player Unknown Battle Grounds” is one of the best-selling and most-played video games of all time.
Injustice 2
Injustice 2 is a 2017 fighting video game based upon the DC Universe. It is developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the sequel to 2013’s Injustice: Gods Among Us. The game was initially released in May 2017 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One; a Microsoft Windows version was released later in November 2017. An expanded version of the game, titled Injustice 2: Legendary Edition, was released in March 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Similar to the previous installment, a companion mobile app was released for Android and iOS devices. A prequel comic book series of the same name, written by Tom Taylor, was also released beginning in April 2017.
The core game play remains similar to its predecessor, albeit with minor adjustments to returning game mechanics. Injustice 2 introduces a new feature called the Gear System, a loot-dropping system that rewards players with costume pieces and equipment that can be used to customize characters’ appearances and modify their abilities and stats.
Injustice 2’s storyline centers around Batman and his Insurgency’s attempt to restore society after the fall of Superman’s Regime; however, the arrivals of the newly formed super villain group “The Society” and the alien Brainiac forces Batman to consider freeing the imprisoned Superman to help combat the threats. The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, presentation, improved game play mechanics, abundance of in-game content, and character customization options, while criticizing its random loot and micro transaction systems.
Clash Royale
Clash Royale is a freemium real-time strategy video game developed and published by Supercell. The game combines elements from collectible card games, tower defense, and multiplayer online battle arena. The game was released globally on March 2, 2016.
Clash Royale is a tower rush video game which pits players in games featuring two or four players (1v1 or 2v2) in which the objective is to destroy the most opposing towers, with the destruction of the “King’s Tower” being an instantaneous win. In Clash Royale, players are ranked by their number of trophies. Players level up by gaining Experience (or King Level) points through donating and upgrading cards. The highest possible level is level 13. The December 2018 Update added Star Points for excessive Experience when players reach level 13, and will award Star Points for previously leftover Experience.
Brawl Stars
Brawl Stars is a freemium mobile video game developed and published by the Finnish video game company Supercell. Brawl Stars is a multiplayer online battle arena[2] and third-person hero shooter[3] game where players battle against other players or AI opponents in multiple game modes. Players can choose between characters called Brawlers that they have unlocked through Boxes, the Brawl Pass, the Trophy Road, or purchased through the Shop to use in battles.[4][5]
Brawl Stars has a variety of different game modes that players can choose from, each one having a different objective. Players can invite friends to play with them up to the maximum team size of the game mode.
In addition, it is possible to purchase Skins with Gems or Star Points, or unlock them through the Brawl Pass, which will alter the appearance, animations, and/or sounds of Brawlers.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision. Starting out in 2003, it first focused on games set in World War II. Over time, the series has seen games set in the midst of the Cold War, futuristic worlds, and outer space. The games were first developed by Infinity Ward, then also by Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games. Several spin-off and handheld games were made by other developers. The most recent title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released on October 25, 2019. The next title, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is set for release on November 13, 2020.
The series originally focused on the World War II setting, with Infinity Ward developing the first (2003) and second (2005) titles in the series and Treyarch developing the third (2006). Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) introduced a new, modern setting, and proved to be the breakthrough title for the series, creating the Modern Warfare sub-series. The game’s legacy also influenced the creation of a re-mastered version, released in 2016.
Two other entries, Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and 3 (2011), were made. The sub-series received a soft-reboot with Modern Warfare in 2019. Infinity Ward have also developed two games outside of the Modern Warfare sub-series, Ghosts (2013) and Infinite Warfare (2016). Treyarch made one last World War II-based game, World at War (2008), before releasing Black Ops (2010) and subsequently creating the Black Ops sub-series. Four other entries, Black Ops II (2012), III (2015), 4 (2018), and Cold War (2020) were made, the latter in conjunction with Raven Software. Sledgehammer Games, who were co-developers for Modern Warfare 3, have also developed two titles, Advanced Warfare (2014) and WWII (2017).
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2 is a zombie-themed first person survival horror video game developed and published by Madfinger Games. It was released for Android and iOS devices on October 23, 2013, and for Facebook on February 20, 2014. As with the original Dead Trigger, Dead Trigger 2 is a single-player zombie-themed shooter.
Dead Trigger 2 is a zombie-apocalypse-themed first-person shooter with survival horror and action role-playing elements, currently available on iOS, Android and recently on Windows Phone 8.1 mobile devices. Running on the Unity game engine, the game features a progression system, numerous environments; unlock able and upgradable weapons, and various story-based and quick-play mission types.
Dead Trigger 2 is a free-movement shooter; rather than the on-rails game-play typical of mobile zombie shooters, the player controls the character’s movement like a typical console or PC FPS. The game features two dramatically different control paradigms; with the default controls, the player merely aims at zombies – his or her weapons will attack automatically when a zombie is underneath the cross-hair. The advanced control scheme functions like the first game – the player presses a button to fire the weapon, and an additional button lets the player aim down the weapon’s sights for increased accuracy. Game play typically revolves around completing objectives while killing zombies (occasionally killing zombies is the only objective). The player has a limited amount of health that is refreshed at the start of each mission. The player loses health when hit by zombies or by certain environmental hazards (i.e. radiation). The player can regain health by taking healing pills or getting a health power up from a special zombie.