Last Updated on June 3, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
If you’re looking for action games that put combat front and center with little downtime between fights, you’ve come to the right place. This list covers the cream of the crop when it comes to titles that emphasize frenetic, fast-paced gameplay over narrative exposition or thoughtful strategy. Whether you prefer shooting enemies with precision weapons, slashing foes with melee blades, or using flashy superpowers to take down hordes of opponents, these 5 games will keep the action flowing at a breakneck pace. From classic franchises to newer indie hits, there’s something here to satisfy any appetite for intense, rollercoaster-like combat. Without further ado, let’s check out the best action games for fast and furious close-quarters combat.
Doom (2016)
Id Software’s seminal franchise helped define the first-person shooter genre with its intense, up-close combat. The 2016 reboot brings that trademark mayhem into the modern era with buttery-smooth gameplay and even more demonic enemies to eviscerate. As the unnamed Doom Slayer, you’re an unstoppable killing machine armed with guns, chainsaws, explosives and your bare fists. Rip and tear your way through hordes of Hellspawn across Mars and beyond at a breakneck pace. With its high mobility, wide arsenal and satisfyingly gory combat, Doom is the gold standard for action purists looking for relentless, frenetic slaughter.
Table of Content
Devil May Cry 5
Capcom’s over-the-top hack-and-slash series is the pinnacle of stylish action, and the latest entry is its best yet. Choose from three playable characters – fan favorites Dante and Nero, plus newbie V – each with their own unique weapons and fighting styles. Switch between melee swords and firearms on the fly to chain together increasingly elaborate and rewarding combos. Dante in particular feels like an absolute joy to control with his extensive moveset. Stylish rankings and challenging enemy encounters encourage experimentation and expertise. With pulse-pounding boss fights, spectacular set pieces and fluid acrobatic combat, DMC5 makes every second count in its breathtaking battles.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
PlatinumGames put their signature extreme action spin on the Metal Gear franchise with stunning results. As cyborg ninja Raiden, you slice and dice robot soldiers and mechs with your high-frequency blade. Precision parries and counters are key to surviving against brutal foes, stringing attacks into complex chains to build your scoring multiplier. The gameplay loop of analyzing enemies for weaknesses, then fluidly dismantling them is deeply satisfying. Boss battles like the Sam fight push player skills to their limit in the most exhilarating way. Despite the more lighthearted tone compared to stealth-focused MGS games, Revengeance is a masterclass in fast, intense and spectacular melee combat that never lets up until the end.
Bayonetta
PlatinumGames’ genre-defining witch action series delivers over-the-top supernatural combos and moves pulled straight from the depths of anime. Bayonetta is both beautifully stylish and aggressively nimble, weaving through hordes of Angelic enemies with her signature guns and magics. Mastering Witch Time bullet dodging and juggling foes with aerial prowess is immensely satisfying. As you progress, opening paths to new abilities and weapons, combat becomes an escalating dance of inventive violence. The set pieces rival any blockbuster for pure scale and imagination. Both games are masterpieces, but Bayonetta 2 in particular pushes all aspects to greater heights. For fast-paced action where every enemy is but a plaything, Bayonetta reigns supreme.
Ninja Gaiden Series (Xbox/PS3/PC)
Long before flashy spectacle fighters entered the scene, Team Ninja’s reboot trilogy for Xbox/PS3 set the standard for grounded, brutal and challenging melee action. As legendary ninja Ryu Hayabusa, you dispatch relentless waves of foes with your versatile ninja tool arsenal. Realistic hit trading gives each nail-biting encounter palpable weight. Later games upped the difficulty to masochistic levels, but provided the tools for skilled players to slice through challenges with technique alone. Subsequent entries like Ninja Gaiden Sigma added flashier elements without sacrificing the core visceral combat. Even a decade later, the Ninja Gaiden games stand alone for focused, gritty and punishingly deep swordplay that prioritizes moment-to-moment mastery over flashy presentation.
Conclusion
Whether you prefer guns, swords or magic, there’s a game on this list tailored for your taste in fast and frenetic action gameplay. From iconic franchises that helped birth genres to relatively newer entries still pushing boundaries, these titles represent the pinnacle of their respective styles. More than most other genres, action games live or die on the quality and intensity of their combat gameplay loops. The games featured here understand that completely, keeping players engaged in a never-ending stream of intense, satisfying battles from start to finish. With so much variety on offer, you’re sure to find several all-time favorites to get your combat fix. So pick your warrior, load up and get ready to dive headfirst into some of the best action gaming has to offer.