It’s an exceptional year for gamers. Particularly, the action genre fans received tons of incredible titles. Let’s pick the best action games released in 2025.
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Action games are arguably the most extensive genre of video games, as they include virtually all titles that offer some sort of physical challenge. Hence, there are action-adventure games that usually combine casual combat and puzzle-solving, action RPGs that are focused on a story and character-building, and many other subgenres.
Best Action RPGs
This year has been particularly fertile for players who love when high-octane gameplay meets a compelling story and character-building. The first massive action RPG release of 2025 was Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, which premiered on February 4. The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance took many players by surprise, but the sequel had to face very high expectations. It not only met but surpassed them, instantly becoming a Game of the Year candidate.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance stands out for its immersive historical setting and remarkable realism. However, fans of fantasy worlds didn’t have to wait long. Monster Hunter Wilds debuted on February 28. The following months continued to deliver thrilling action RPGs, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, a revamped version of the 2006 Game of the Year award-winning classic.
Action-adventure games you shouldn’t miss
The line between action-adventure games and action RPGs is sometimes very subtle because both subgenres combine a gripping plot with high-octane action. There are also titles that focus on pure fan or mix action with puzzle-solving. It makes action-adventure games the most diverse and arguably the most popular type of video games.
When it comes to games that put emphasis on gameplay, Donkey Kong Bananza and Split Fiction stand out. Bananza came out only a month after the launch of Switch 2 as one of its system sellers. Hence, Nintendo did its best to deliver a fun experience for players of all ages. Split Fiction is also a wonderful game for young and old gamers alike, as it’s the It Takes Two successor. Like the surprise 2021 GOTY winner, it offers incredible co-op fun with diverse gameplay and tons of ever-changing mechanics.
Best shooters of 2025
Shooters are another popular subgenre of action games. In 2025, new installments in some iconic FPS franchises came out. With Battlefield 6, Borderlands 4, and Doom: The Dark Ages on the plate, shooter fans can get a headache trying to decide which of them to buy. And if Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 meets the players’ expectations, this choice will be even more difficult.
It’s fun to be afraid – best action horrors
Players who prefer more cinematic experiences also have a wide array of games to choose from. Ghost of Yotei was a worthy successor of Ghost of Tsushima, Mafia: The Old Country brought back a slightly dusty series to its glory, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater introduced the 2004 classic to a new generation of players, and The Alters turned out to be another incredible concept from 11 Bit Studios. And if we classify horror games as a type of action game, we should also add to this list Dying Light: The Beast, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Silent Hill f.
Challenging games are on the rise
2025 is also a particularly good year for players who love challenging gameplay. They could return to the Lands Between and explore its alternate timeline in Elden Ring Nightreign. This spin-off to the beloved Elden Ring didn’t disappoint, nor did Hades II, the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 indie masterpiece. And speaking of indie masterpieces, Hollow Knight: Silksong is arguably one of the best Metroidvanias ever released.
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