My Favorite Action Games

This is a list of my favorite action games, divided by subgenres. By action games I mean any games that require mechanical skill and often timing. In contrast to strategy games which do not require such skills, action games often happen in real time.

For each genre I list my favorite games with recommendations for further reading in both German and English (to be added over time). These are games that I recommend wholeheartedly and without reservation. In addition, I list some games that have not made the cut but which are still good games in their own right. I recommend checking these out after you have tried my top recommendations. I only include games that I have (almost) finished and consider worthwhile. Note that all games within a genre are listed chronologically. The order does not indicate a ranking.

I have divided my favorite action games into the following genres based on the games’ perspective. This list of subgenres is not meant to be comprehensive but reflects my taste in games.

• 3D Perspective:
  • 3D Action Games
  • 3D Platformers
• Isometric Perspective:
  • Isometric Action Games
• 2D and 2.5D Perspective
  • 2D and 2.5D Platformers
  • Metroidvanias

3D Action Games

This subgenre mainly includes action adventures which are characterized by exploration, puzzles and some fighting. A famous action-adventure franchise is the Legend of Zelda.

Title	Reviews and Features (German)	Reviews and Features (English)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64 – original release: 1998
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask N64 – original release: 2000
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker GameCube / Wii U – original release: 2003 – HD remaster: 2013
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Wii U / Switch (played on both) – original release: 2017
Horizon Forbidden West PlayStation 5 – original release: 2022

Also considered but not included:

• Star Fox Adventures (played on GameCube)
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (played on Wii)
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (played on Wii)
• Xenoblade Chronicles X (played on WiiU)

Isometric Action Games

This includes hack-and-slay games and roguelikes but also action adventures that take an isometric perspective.

Other games considered but not included:

• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Remake (played on Switch)
• A Short Hike (played on Switch)

3D Platformers

These are jump-‘n’-runs that use all three dimensions. A typical example is Super Mario 64.

Title	Reviews and Features (German)	Reviews and Features (English)
Banjo-Kazooie N64 – original release: 1998
Rayman 2: The Great Escape Multiplatform (played on N64) – original release: 1999
Donkey Kong 64 N64 – original release: 1999
Super Mario Galaxy Wii – original release: 2007
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii – original release: 2010
Super Mario Odyssey Switch – original release: 2017

Also considered but not included:

• Super Mario 64 (played on N64)
• Banjo-Tooie (played on N64)
• Super Mario Sunshine (played on GameCube)

2D and 2.5D Platformers

These are jump-‘n’-runs that primarily use two dimensions only, even if the graphics and assets are 3D (thus called 2.5D). A typical example is Super Mario Bros.

Title	Reviews and Features (German)	Reviews and Features (English)
Super Mario World SNES – original release: 1990
Donkey Kong Country SNES – original release: 1994
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island SNES – original release: 1995
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest SNES – original release: 1995
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble SNES – original release: 1996
Yoshi’s Story N64 – original release: 1997
Limbo Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2010
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Wii U / Switch (played on both) – original release: 2014
Celeste Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2018

Also considered but not included:

• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (played on Gamecube and Wii)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns (played on Wii)
• Rayman Origins (played on Wii)
• Rayman Legends (played on Switch)
• Inside (played on Switch)
• Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (played on Switch)

Metroidvanias

Named after Metroid and Castlevania, Metroidvanias include platforming, exploration and fighting in two dimensions.

Title	Reviews and Features (German)	Reviews and Features (English)
Ori and the Blind Forest Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2015 – Definitive Edition: 2016
Hollow Knight Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2017
SteamWorld Dig 2 Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2017
Yoku’s Island Express Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2018
Ori and the Will of the Wisps Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2020
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights Multiplatform (played on Switch) – original release: 2021

No other Metroidvanias considered.