From Swashbuckling Adventures to Soulslikes – The Best Action Games of 2024

Part of what makes the Action genre so great (as well as somewhat hard to pin down and define) is the way that it encapsulates several subgenres of gaming under its umbrella. Everything from classic action-adventure titles to shooters, soulslikes, hack-and-slash ARPGs, metroidvanias, and beyond can fit snugly under the blanket term of "Action", which casts a wide net when it comes to determining which games were the best action-oriented titles in a given year. With no other major game releases on the horizon between now and the end of 2024, it's a good time to look back on the best action games of the year. With the benefit of hindsight, it's now obvious that the past 12 months have been some of the best the genre (and its many subgenres) has seen in years.

The year would prove to start strong with the excellent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (which I also pinpoint as one of the year's best metroidvanias) thanks to its snappy and responsive combat. But ultimately, 2024 ended up being the year that the Soulslike genre reached what's arguably peak saturation. Several highly anticipated games in the subgenre of action RPGs that borrow elements of FromSoftware's Dark Souls trilogy (aptly nicknamed "soulslikes") finally seemed to clear the hurdle other titles had struggled to before, managing to break out from underneath FromSoftware's shadow to push the envelope for both soulslikes and action games as a whole. And while not all of them were great, the ones that were are truly spectacular.

• Release Date — July 11, 2024
• Publisher — Devolver Digital
• Developer — Free Lives
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 94% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC

Free Lives' Anger Foot is perhaps the first "Booter Shooter", taking the frantic and fast-paced twitch gameplay of the FPS titles of yore and swapping guns for a good old-fashioned kick in the head. Anger Foot's excellence within the action genre should come as no surprise to anyone who has played Free Lives' equally great Broforce, but the title immediately stands out on its own thanks to its undeniable sense of humor, style, and fun. There are elements of Hotline Miami in Anger Foot's gameplay, which make trial-and-error a natural part of the process. But when Anger Foot finally "clicks" and players enter that sought-after flow state where they're moving effortlessly through waves of cartoonish goons, it instantly earns its place alongside the year's best action games.

• Release Date — May 15, 2024
• Publisher — Epopeia Games, HAMMER95
• Developer — HAMMER95
• Review Aggregate Score — 88% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 97% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC

Similar to Anger Foot, Mullet Madjack is a fast-paced boomer shooter that is absolutely bursting with style. What sets the two apart, though, is Mullet Madjack's emphasis on momentum. Thanks to the rules of Mullet Madjack's world, if you stop, you die. This turns each level into a race to the finish in which players must never stop moving while also continually taking out enemies, transforming each stage into a whirlwind of speed, violence, and sense-assaulting visuals.

Mullet Madjack's obvious homage to 80s sci-fi and anime is on full display in every facet of the title's gameplay, and it happens to back up all of its excellent style with plenty of substance by being both one of the year's best boomer shooters and one of its best roguelikes. Like I said in my review of Mullet Madjack, it's a non-stop dopamine and adrenaline rush that never comes close to wearing out its welcome.

• Release Date — August 29, 2024
• Publisher — ININ, Edigger, NatsumeAtari
• Developer — NatsumeAtari
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 75% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S

The original Shadow of the Ninja on NES is one of the console's many hidden gems, an excellent action-platformer from Natsume that often gets lost in the shuffle when stacked up against more prominent titles like Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania. As it turns out, the game was somewhat of an unfinished project, with the developers needing to make concessions to ship the title for the NES instead of the then-new SNES as originally planned. Amazingly, those same original developers came back 3 decades later to remake Shadow of the Ninja as they had always imagined it. Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is an old-school action-platformer that ticks all the right boxes for fans of the genre, with some best-in-class combat and a fair difficulty curve that's far less frustrating than some of the game's original NES contemporaries.

• Release Date — April 26, 2024
• Publisher — Bandai Namco
• Developer — ILCA, Inc.
• Review Aggregate Score — 71% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 87% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Two of the final contributions from the late, great Akira Toriyama before his untimely passing were the anime and video game adaptations of his lesser-known Sand Land manga, a post-apocalyptic comedy in which humans and demons must work together to avert an ecological crisis. And while Sand Land's perfect visual encapsulation of Toriyama's work is a triumph in and of itself, the title's gameplay also earns it a spot on a list compiling 2024's best action games thanks to its absolute nailing of vehicular combat. Sand Land might get a little long in the tooth when it comes to the title's runtime and its open-world sandbox elements, but the Twisted Metal-style vehicular combat that serves as the foundation for much of its gameplay is way more fun than it has any right to be.

• Release Date — October 31, 2024
• Publisher — PlayStation Publishing LLC
• Developer — Guerilla Games, Nixxes Software
• Review Aggregate Score — 85% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 76% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5

Despite being the butt of several jokes (understandably so, given how Sony seemingly loves to remaster games that don't need it), Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is a technical marvel that takes one of the best open-world action-adventure games of the last decade and reimagines it using the visual fidelity and subtle changes to art direction from its excellent sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. The original release of Horizon Zero Dawn still looks great even in a modern context but Remastered really hones in on the finer details of what makes Guerilla Games' hugely successful series so compelling. The robotic monsters are expertly detailed and fearsome to fight, the open-world elements never get in the way of the excellent combat and action, and the sci-fi story still hits all the high notes. All these years later, Horizon Zero Dawn still rings true as a modern masterpiece.

• Release Date — May 29, 2024
• Publisher — RedCandleGames
• Developer — RedCandleGames
• Review Aggregate Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 95% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

While its metroidvania elements might fall just a bit flat thanks to its linearity, Nine Sols' combat undoubtedly elevates it to being one of the year's best action games. The only way to describe Nine Sols is as a 2D take on FromSoftware's Sekiro, and that it so perfectly nails the deflection and parry-heavy combat of its primary inspiration in just two dimensions is nothing short of a miracle.

RedCandleGames is an incredibly talented studio with some excellent titles under its belt, but nothing can prepare you for how great Nine Sols simply feels to play until you get your hands on it. Other metroidvania games have attempted to incorporate elements from Dark Souls, but Nine Sols is the first Sekiro-like game in the subgenre. It's such a home run that it'll probably be a long time until we get another because, when Nine Sols exists, there's simply no point.

• Release Date — April 25, 2024
• Publisher — Aggro Crab
• Developer — Aggro Crab
• Review Aggregate Score — 78% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 94% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

As anyone who has played Another Crab's Treasure can attest, the game does a great job of pulling the rug out from under you. If you had come to me earlier in the year and told me that one of 2024's most challenging and rewarding soulslikes would be a little indie game about a crab, I would've rightfully written you off. But as it turns out, Another Crab's Treasure is somehow both endlessly charming and maddeningly difficult, bringing an honest-to-goodness soulslike along with its clever send-up of the subgenre. Combat in Another Crab's Treasure is incredibly satisfying, and its boss fights are the right amount of challenge and mechanical complexity that one would expect from a soulslike. And when you least expect it, Another Crab's Treasure will hit you right in the feels with its surprisingly heartfelt and poignant narrative.

• Release Date — May 6, 2024
• Publisher — Supergiant Games
• Developer — Supergiant Games
• Review Aggregate Score — N/A
• Steam User Score — 94% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC (Early Access)

That Hades II is as great as it already is in Early Access is impressive. Of course, fans of Supergiant Games and the first Hades know to expect no less from the studio, which has consistently raised the bar for quality across each subsequent title it's released. Like the original Hades, Hades II is an ultra-precise and satisfying action roguelike with some best-in-class combat, excellent art direction and character designs, strong writing and narrative payoff for progression, and a slew of meaningful upgrades and abilities that transform how players approach each run. And approach you will, as Hades II is every bit as addictive as its predecessor. It would be easy to write off Hades II as just "more Hades", but the uniqueness of Melinoe's moveset in comparison to Zagreus' would prove that to be a critical misnomer.

• Release Date — February 8, 2024
• Publisher — PlayStation Publishing LLC
• Developer — Arrowhead Game Studios
• Review Aggregate Score — 82% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 75% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5

The first Helldivers was remembered fondly for being an excellent top-down shooter with a great sense of humor and some fantastic co-op play, but absolutely nothing could have prepared gamers for how its sequel would take the industry by storm in 2024. From the game's reveal trailer, it was obvious that Helldivers II was stepping things up in terms of its perspective shift and higher quality presentation, but the addictive qualities of its gameplay and the fervent nature with which its community approach and maintain the game's momentum are truly something to behold. Helldivers II is a satirical take on sci-fi akin to the classic films of Paul Verhoeven, but its gameplay backs up its excellent setting and atmosphere with some of the best co-op bug-and-automaton-killing action of the year. For Super Earth!

• Release Date — January 18, 2024
• Publisher — Ubisoft
• Developer — Ubisoft Montpellier
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 85% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

AAA metroidvania titles are a rare occurrence, with mostly indie developers stepping up to deliver new experiences in the genre. But, like Metroid Dread before it, Ubisoft Montpellier's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown delivers a metroidvania so good that it's a wonder why more AAA developers don't put their resources behind more of them. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, like the other games in the Prince of Persia franchise, stands firm on a foundation of swift and precise platforming along with some satisfying and snappy combat, mixing in plenty of traversal and fighting challenges throughout the game's large and varied map that helps the experience stay fresh throughout its runtime. Along with some "a-ha" moments in solving its myriad puzzles and some of the best boss battles in the genre, The Lost Crown is the series reboot Prince of Persia needed.

• Release Date — March 22, 2024
• Publisher — Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Developer — Team Ninja
• Review Aggregate Score — 76% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — N/A
• Platforms — PlayStation 5

Team Ninja has been knocking it out of the park with game after game over the last decade, from both titles in the Nioh series to the excellent Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and this year's somewhat overlooked Rise of the Rōnin. Rise might shift gears to be a historically accurate tale of Japan's Bakmatsu period and an open-world adventure, but its combat is Team Ninja through and through. In fact, when Rise of the Rōnin's open-world segments threatened to cause me to give in to "open-world fatigue", it was the combat that ultimately carried the experience and kept me playing. Like Team Ninja's other games, Rise's combat system is incredibly complex, with multiple stances for each weapon, summonable companion allies that draw aggro from powerful enemies, and a fun "poise-breaking" system that creates opportunities for devastating finishers.

• Release Date — April 26, 2024
• Publisher — Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Developer — Shift Up
• Review Aggregate Score — 81% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — N/A
• Platforms — PlayStation 5 (PC in 2025)

Like another of 2024's best action games, Stellar Blade is an amazing title that mixes elements of soulslikes and character action games. As a result, Stellar Blade's combat is faster-paced and rewards aggressive playstyles more than most games in the soulslike subgenre, giving the experience a rapid-fire pacing that seemingly never lets up from beginning to end. And while much of the attention given to Stellar Blade is for its characters and impressive visuals, the game's mechanical depth and satisfyingly rewarding progression and combat are what elevate the title to being one of the year's best. All the more impressive is that Stellar Blade is the debut AAA title from the new studio Shift Up.

• Release Date — September 9, 2024
• Publisher — Focus Entertainment
• Developer — Saber Interactive
• Review Aggregate Score — 82% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 82% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

The first Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was a cult classic third-person shooter that, despite its flaws, earned itself a devoted following of fans. Those same fans would prove to be essential in raising the sequel's profile, hyping up Space Marine 2 to become one of 2024's most anticipated games. Saber Interactive really knocked it out of the park, with Space Marine 2 delivering on everything fans of the first loved and then some. On top of its interesting setting and lore courtesy of the Warhammer 40,000 license, Space Marine 2 is a full-throttle rollercoaster ride of an experience that only gets better when playing in co-op with friends. And when you're done with the campaign, you have an equally excellent PvP mode waiting for you.

• Release Date — August 19, 2024
• Publisher — Game Science
• Developer — Game Science
• Review Aggregate Score — 81% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 96% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5

Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong is the type of debut game that only comes around every so often, bursting onto the scene and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the games that inspired it while hoisting up its developer to be one of the industry's rising stars. But to play Black Myth: Wukong makes its success totally unsurprising, as it features some of the best combat and boss fights of any action game from the last decade, much less this year. Not quite a soulslike and not quite a character action game, Black Myth: Wukong strikes a nice balance between the two, allowing its combat and progression to give the player a satisfying power curve before truly testing their skill in the game's back half. And that's to say nothing of how the game utilizes Chinese mythology and culture to deliver one of the year's most visually impressive titles.

• Release Date — December 8, 2024
• Publisher — Bethesda Softworks
• Developer — MachineGames
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 90% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, Xbox Series X/S (PlayStation 5 in 2025)

MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a triumph on so many levels. Not only is it the best video game adaptation of Indiana Jones, but it's also one of the greatest licensed games ever and arguably the best action game of 2024. Most of us likely expected Great Circle to be a first-person action-adventure game, but what MachineGames has done with its crack at the Indiana Jones license is actually closer to something like Warren Spector's Thief or Arkane's excellent Dishonored games. But Indiana Jones and the Great Circle surpasses all of its inspirations and comparisons to simply be a wholly satisfying and original good time, perfectly capturing the tone and sense of adventure central to the Indiana Jones films.