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Image via NEOWIZ

10 Best Action Games of 2023

We had an action-packed year!

Action games have always been some of my favorite genres of video games, with fast-paced combat sequences, high stakes, and lovable heroes. We received plenty of great action games throughout the year, but here's a look at some of the very best.

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Top 10 action games of 2023

With so many amazing games released in the past year on all platforms, it's hard to narrow it down. However, a few stood out from the rest, with amazing gameplay and epic battle scenes that truly define the action genre. Here are our top 10.

Lies of P

Image via NEOWIZ

Lies of P is a stunning action game that fits comfortably in the soul-like genre but twists it uniquely, making it more forgiving for everyone to enjoy and not just seasoned souls-like players. Plus, not only was the combat challenging and intense, but every weapon and ability looked and acted differently, allowing it to feel realistic and seamless. Perhaps the best part about it is the storyline; it's a classic fairytale we all know but reimagined in a way we never would have seen coming.

Dead Island 2

Image via Deep Silver Dambuster Studios

If you're a fan of zombie games, then Dead Island 2 might be on the top of your list as well, and for good reason. Dead Island 2 is a stunning visual display with smooth combat animations and kill moves that will make your jaw drop. The world is immersive and intriguing; despite being in sunny downtown LA, you are surrounded by deadly creatures trying to kill you. There is plenty to do and see, even if you just want to kill as many zombies as possible, and you can even bring a friend in a cinematic co-op, allowing up to three players at a time.

Related: How to play Dead Island 2 Co-Op Multiplayer with Friends

Spider-Man 2

Image via Insomniac Games

Spider-Man is arguably one of the best superheroes, not because he's all-powerful, but because he's witty and relatable. With the spider-verse being integrated, Spider-Man is even more relatable than ever, with all kinds of Spider heroes swinging in, including Miles Morales. Spider-Man 2 was a highly-anticipated Spider-Man game of the series, released exclusively on PlayStation, allowing players to play as the epic duo of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. It definitely did not disappoint, with some of the speediest fast travel we've ever seen, plenty of epic abilities to try out like the Web Wings, and plenty of bad guy butts to kick, including the notorious, Venom.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Image via CD PROJEKT RED

Despite not being a full game release, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty felt like a brand-new experience and delivered everything we could want from an action game: high-stakes undercover missions, challenging enemies, and plenty of destruction. As always, it featured fantastic character design and personalities, a well-written storyline that felt immersive and original, and so much content to explore. It was definitely one of my favorites of the year.

Starfield

Image via Bethesda Game Studios

Starfield was one of the biggest releases we got in the past year, with tons of hype behind it that left us excited and anticipating greatness. It can reasonably be one of the best action games, allowing us to create and utilize our own spaceship designs in stressful space battles. Plus, Bethesda delivered, once again, an immersive world full of discoverable enemies and quests that can be endless opportunities and replayability.

Street Fighter 6

Image via CAPCOM

Street Fighter 6 introduced us to a new way to play Street Fighter, with open RPG-style gameplay, allowing you to explore your surroundings, complete quests, and fight anyone and everyone you come across. This opened up so many more opportunities where we could create our own unique characters and learn different combat techniques from the Street Fighter legends. With an intriguing storyline with plenty of action and the option to play online and battle it out with other online players, it was one of the year's best games.

Final Fantasy XVI

Image via Square Enix

Final Fantasy is one of the most well-known action RPG franchises that there is, and they continue to release hits year after year. Final Fantasy XVI was our taste for action for the past year and was genuinely satisfying. It delivers nonstop action as you play Clive, an unbending hero ready to lay waste to every obstacle before him to free mankind. It also has optimization options that allow even beginner players to enjoy the action.

Related: Is Final Fantasy XVI coming to PC or Xbox?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Image via Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom brought us back to the nostalgic world where we once again can step into Link's shoes and save the day. It was terrific for nostalgia and offered so much more than your usual Zelda experience. In this gigantic open world, there are endless possibilities to discover, from enemies and dungeons to quests and secrets hidden all around. Plus, for the first time, you can put your building cap on and start crafting your own crazy contraptions to use anywhere in the world.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

Image via Ubisoft

The Assassin's Creed games were always some of the best action games available, with epic assassination animations, hidden blades, and challenging missions. Assassin's Creed Mirage successfully brought us back to that classic action adventure that we all know and love but with exciting new features. We are introduced to a new character, Basim, a street thief, and a new city that will become our playground. You can expect greatness visually and mechanically.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Image via SEGA

The Yakuza franchise is a classic action, beat 'em-up experience with thrilling storylines and chaotic battle sequences. Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a refreshing twist from the usual backdrop into a historical adventure. Visually, this game is stunning and immersive, but more importantly, the combat is fluid and enjoyable. You can still see your favorite characters from the series appear in subtle cameos as well.

These were only a few of the amazing games we received throughout 2023, but there were plenty of others that brought the action as well. What were some of your favorites? Get ready for plenty more exciting upcoming games in the new year!

Looking for more best games to play? Check out Best games that support Ray Tracing or Best Games with Multiple Endings on Pro Game Guides.


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Author
Image of Abby Smith
Abby Smith
Abby Smith is a super nerd and video game fanatic who grew up playing games on a variety of platforms. She likes to spend her free time binge-watching Netflix, reading all genres of novels, and playing all the best new video games. She is currently a full-time Staff Writer for Pro Game Guides, and as an alumni from Full Sail University, also enjoys dabbling in creative writing such as short stories, scripts, and comics on the side.