6 Best Character Action Games Of All Time (2024)

Character action is one of the hardest gaming subgenres to define. These titles fit into the hack-and-slash genre but are more of a specific type of game. Typically, they have fast-paced, stylish combat that usually involves plenty of combos and juggling enemies in the air.

Plus, you can't usually button-mash your way through them as you can in some other action games. You have to put some thought into your hacking and slashing. In fact, your combat skills are often graded after a fight. Devil May Cry is perhaps the most famous series in the character action subgenre. Yet, those games aren't the only great ones, as shown by the following collection.

Back in the '90s, when people were sneaking around Shadow Moses as Solid Snake in the original Metal Gear Solid, nobody thought the series would ever have a game like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Instead of crawling around as a grizzled old soldier, you run up walls and perform flips as a cyborg ninja.

The action and cutscenes are outrageous, as the protagonist, Raiden, proves himself to be as good of a gymnast as he is a swordsman. The game has a bit of stealth, but you're mainly encouraged to run around and slice things into pieces. To make your slicing more efficient, the title has a mechanic that allows you to slow down time and deliver precise swings of your blade. It's a neat feature that doesn't take away from the usual fast-paced combat.

5 Ninja Gaiden Black

Character action games have a reputation for being pretty challenging, but the Ninja Gaiden games take that to another level. Ninja Gaiden Black, for instance, should be considered one of the hardest Xbox 360 games of all time.

As you can probably guess from the game's title, you play as a ninja. His name is Ryu Hayabusa, and he begins the game with basic weapons and skills. Yet, as you make your way through the adventure, you get more impressive techniques. They aren't as wild or over-the-top as some moves you see in other titles in the genre, but they're still exceptional. Plus, the game is very enjoyable, except when you keep dying.

4 Nier Automata

Nier Automata’s status as a character action game could be debated since it has JRPG elements. Yet, the game also has character action gameplay in the form of fast-paced and wild combat. In battle, you mainly face off against machines from another world. You also control mechanical creatures, but yours are human-made androids.

The narrative of the game is much more captivating and profound than the stories you typically see in character action games. In fact, it’s deeper than the average video game narrative. The story is arguably the game’s biggest strength, but the presentation and gameplay deserve praise, too.

3 The Wonderful 101

The Wii U isn't a console known for its action games, but there are some great ones on the system. For example, it was the platform on which The Wonderful 101 was initially released. This game is very different from pretty much any title in both the character action genre and games in general.

This is because instead of controlling a single protagonist or a squad of them, you control an entire horde of heroes. They all run around together in a big pack, and you can have them morph into giant weapons to use against the many enemies you face. It's a unique concept that works well. Other positives of the game are the bright colors and excellent art style.

2 Bayonetta

Character action games are known for being stylish, but Bayonetta ramps the style up even further than most. Just look at the titular main character. She is dripping with style and is one of the best female protagonists ever.

This is partly due to the fact that she has guns on her boots and really long hair that can summon demons. Plus, she can shape-shift into other creatures. All of that should make it clear that this is one of the wildest titles in the genre. It’s also one of the most flashy and captivating, particularly when it comes to combat.

1 Devil May Cry 5

The character action series likely wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for the Devil May Cry series. Dante’s adventures really helped popularise the genre. The magnum opus of the series is Devil May Cry 5. It’s a truly incredible character action game.

The visuals and presentation are beautiful, while the combat is as smooth as it has ever been. At its core, the said combat is classic DMC. Everything is very fast, and you’re encouraged to kill with style. The inclusion of different playable characters adds a bit of variety to the experience, though. They all play differently and are all enjoyable to control.