2025 was a banner year for action games. From the unexpected escape in Soulslike with one of the most powerful and brutal combat systems the genre has ever seen, to the hotly anticipated sequel to one of the most influential roguelites of all time, to the latest installment in a legendary monster hunting series. And let’s not forget that it was also definitely the year of the ninja, bringing us not one but two brand current Ninja Gaiden games (and the long-awaited Ninja Gaiden 2 remaster), allowing fans of Izuna Drop action to take on enemies in both two and three dimensions.
But only one of these fierce games can claim the title of strongest game of the year. Here are our picks – and selected winner – for Best Action Game of 2025.
Second place – First Berserker: Khazan
Fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action isn’t what you’d associate with the Soulslike genre, given its typically methodical combat and incredible, isolating exploration. But First Berserker: Khazan is no ordinary sprite. Set in the world of Dungeon Fighter Online, this revenge-fueled action RPG features one of the best combat systems the genre has ever seen, drawing from Sekiro’s parry-based sword fighting core and adding a few extra layers of depth. The result is one of the most invigorating, action-packed, and certainly one of the most challenging soul games to come out in recent memory.
Second place – Ninja Gaiden 4
Ninja Gaiden 4, like Hi-Fi Rush from 2023 before it, is a breath of fresh air in a genre dominated by endurance-based combat systems with Soulslike elements. This is an action game exclusively for action fans, featuring some of the best close-quarters combat we’ve seen in years, enhanced by aggressive enemy AI, excellent weapon design, and the ability to let your creativity run wild, giving you the freedom to swap out all your weapons on the fly. As you might expect, it turns out that the dream collaboration between Platinum Games and Team Ninja leads to one hell of a fight.
Second place – Monster Hunter Wilds
Regardless of which side you’re on when it comes to the direction Capcom is taking with the Monster Hunter series, or the overall structure of its hunts, there’s no debate that this is still one of the best action games of the year. Few games offer anywhere near the depth of Monster Hunter Wilds when it comes to weapons and monster design, and most of them have the word “Monster Hunter” in the title. Add to this depth the ability for up to four players to experience the thrill of combat together, and you have an excellent, elastic adventure that’s good for both a team of veteran hunters and those coming to the wilderness for the first time.
Second place – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
2D action games also need some love, and we’ve picked the game that deserves it the most: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed by Blasphemous The Game Kitchen, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound reimagines and modernizes the classic style of old-school 2D Ninja Gaiden with a unique hyper-boost mechanic that encourages you to think not only about the order in which you dispatch enemies, but also about the tools they employ. Challenging boss battles, clever level design, and carefully considered enemy placement prove that Ninja Gaiden’s exemplary action is just as powerful in 2D as it is in 3D.
Winner – Hades 2
It’s simple to look at Hades 2 on the surface and think, “Oh, it’s just more Hades.” And while yes, it’s still a roguelite where the child of Hades goes through a series of battle halls, beating up mythological creatures and beasts, all while earning Favors and Blessings from the Pantheon of the Greek Gods, developer Supergiant Games has done a great job of never feeling like we’re simply retreading elderly ground. The all-new champion, Melinoe, plays completely differently from Hades’ Zagreus, with less focus on evasion and immortality and more on charged magical attacks and resource management. The characters you interact with and build relationships with in your base are completely current; almost all enemies, boons and bosses are completely current; progress is treated very differently; the list of significant changes continues to grow.
And even if you look at it from the wrong perspective that it’s just “more Hades”, it’s still Very more Hades. The addition of a ground campaign through the city of Ephyra up to the summit of Olympus essentially means that this second adventure is twice the size of the original, while also featuring its own unique set of enemies, bosses, and goodies to play with.
Hades 2 is quite simply one of the most versatile games we’ve played this year. From the combat, to the story, to the amazing soundtrack and unique graphic style, the game hits on every front, which is why we chose it as the best action game of the year.
But what’s your pick for the best action game of 2025? Do you think it’s Hades 2, one of the other games on our shortlist, or something else entirely? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
