Who doesn’t love video games that blend the explosive excitement ofActionwith the expansive exploration ofAdventure? The selection only gets larger with each generation, and already, there are numerousremarkable Action-Adventure games to choose from. Trying to find the perfect one to meet a player’s taste can be tricky. What sets every Action-Adventure apart is its setting, characters, gameplay, and most importantly, stories.
10 Best Video Games Set Under the Sea
Take a journey under the sea as we plunge into the topmost video games set in the deep blue.
Some of the best video games of this genre have taken players on all sorts of journeys – and not just to new places. After spending hours becoming attached to the world and characters, it’s hard not to get emotional upon reaching the conclusion. So when selecting your next Action-Adventure game, keep these games in mind when you want something that’ll blow your mind and tug on your heartstrings.
10Batman: Arkham Knight
A City of Fear Rises
Batman: Arkham Knight
The Scarecrow has returned. A new villain has emerged with an army of mercenaries under his command. The worst of Gotham have banded together with one purpose: Kill Batman and destroy his legacy. Often criticized for its lack of boss battles and overuse of the Batmobile, at its core,Batman: Arkham Knightrepresents some of the best writing in the series and stands as an epic conclusion to the Arkham games.
The progression is great, like how Batman’s suit takes damage throughout the story or how the police department’s jail cells fill with criminals because of your actions. Having the Scarecrow take the role of the main villain was a breath of fresh air, especially after the Joker hogged the spotlight for so long. Most of all, the story explores Batman’s greatest fear when he becomes exposed to the Fear Toxin.
Violence, Betrayal, & Death Over an Empty Lot
Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, a fledgling Kazuma Kiryu ventures into the mean streets of Tokyo to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, a disgraced Goro Majima struggles to earn his way back into the yakuza life when he’s given an offer he can’t refuse, though it may cost an innocent woman her life. Though separate, these two fighters are thrown into a criminal conspiracy of chaos and murder centered around a tiny piece of useless land dubbed the Empty Lot.
10 Best Prequels in Video Games
In a gaming world oversaturated with sequels, it’s time to give prequels their moment in the spotlight and see which ranks top.
Taking place during the late ’80s,Yakuza 0follows two protagonists, Kiryu and Majima, in this prequel to the games. True to the Yakuza series, the game is an action-packed playthrough featuring an adrenalin-pumping soundtrack and tear-jerking moments. Plus, it doesn’t matter if you’re a new fan, Yakuza 0 is the perfect game to start for anyone wanting to experience the series.
8Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The Origin Story of Big Boss
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Before he became the father of Liquid and Solid Snake, Big Boss was a young American soldier loyal to his country. InMetal Gear Solid 3, a mission of grave importance sends him into the jungles of USSR territory to sabotage a weapon that could spell the end of the Cold War. Once finished, his final mission is to assassinate the one who defected to the Soviet Union, The Boss, the mentor who taught him everything.
From the mind of groundbreaking visionaryHideo Kojimahimself, comes a story of tactical espionage. Set in 1964, the story captures the feeling of a spy thriller with one of the best intros in the series, all while juggling themes of loyalty, politics and the changing of times. All this and more in a game featuring boss battles with a Russian cowboy and a man who fights with bees. Stop laughing.
7Mass Effect 2
A Suicide Mission into the Unknown
Mass Effect 2
Entire colonies of humans are disappearing out in deep space. With the ruling governments doing nothing to help, it falls on Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew to investigate the cause and put a stop to it. It can’t be done alone, though. Shepard will have to search the galaxy and recruit the best of the best – doctors, engineers, assassins, convicts – whatever it takes. They’re calling it a suicide mission. Prove them wrong.
When it comes to outstandingRPGs, look no further thanMass Effect 2. The first game may have been great, but the second takes the award for putting the franchise on the map. The phenomenal combat and gameplay aside, the story and characters are the glue that holds this gem together. Hanging out with colorful companions, going on adventures across the stars and falling in love, what more could you want?
6The Last of Us Part 1
Finding Happiness in a Depressing Apocalypse
The Last of Us Part I
Society has all but ended after a parasitic infection turns the population into mindless murderous hosts. After surviving twenty years in a hopeless world, Joel takes a job escorting a young girl named Ellie who is immune to the infection. Despite their wayward differences, they’ll have to rely on each other to make it across post-apocalyptic America in what will be a brutal journey.
Praised as thebest horror game set in the post-apocalypse, everything aboutThe Last of Us Part 1is a triumph. As far as zombie apocalypses go, this is one of the most depressing stories in that genre. From the opening all the way to the ending, the game tears out your heart and takes it on a voyage of emotions. No wonder this game’s story was strong enough to inspire the HBO series.
5NieR: Automata
“Become As Gods”
NieR: Automata
2B and her partner 9S are androids sent to the ruins of Earth to battle a new form of invading machines in what seems like a proxy war without end. From the cover and screenshots alone, many players considerNieR: Automatato be nothing more than a game about a sword-wielding heroine and her tech-savvy sidekick busting up killer robots. That is utterly false. This is one of the most thought-provoking and heart-wrenching stories in video games that deals with themes of creation, existentialism and despair.
Along with the majestic and sometimes operatic music is a heartbreaking tale that leaves players jaw-dropping at the conclusion. Then it does it again in the second conclusion. Yes, this story has multiple endings, and you must complete them all to reach the final conclusion. There’s a hopeful ending buried somewhere; it only depends on how hard you’re willing to fight for it.
To get the “True Ending,” you have to keep playing until you defeat the End Credits. No, seriously.
4God of War
The Burdens of Godhood & Parenthood
God of War
Years after his war against the Greek Gods, Kratos has found a new life in Midgard. But when his second wife Faye passes away, he and his son Atreus embark on a journey to scatter her ashes from the highest peak. Their quest takes a downward spiral when their actions catch the attention of the Norse Gods, sparking a conflict that will forever impact the nine realms.
If there’s one word to describeGod of War, it would be powerful. The gameplay, the battles and the score all feel powerful, but so does the story. Considered one of thebest reboots in video games, the plot shows fans of the original series and new ones another side to Kratos, from a vengeful tyrant to an angry yet wiser God, which is reflected in his interactions with Atreus, making it one of the best father-and-son stories in gaming.
3Marvel’s Spider-Man
Be Responsible & Be Amazing
Marvel’s Spider-Man
With the Kingpin behind bars, Peter Parker was convinced that the crime wave in New York would change for the better. Unfortunately, the power gap allows a gang called the Inner Demons to move in. Led by a Mr. Negative, they are hellbent on seizing and releasing a biological hazard known as Devil’s Breath. With villains old and new on the loose, Spider-Man is going to have his hands full.
There have been plenty ofSpider-Mangames over the years, butInsomniac Gamespresents an original story that captures every major perk that makes the wall-crawler amazing. The burdens of Peter Parker’s double life, the quips he uses against villains and the inspiration Spider-Man gives to the people of New York. At the same time, the story perfectly captures the tragic downfall of Otto Octavius as you watch him change from a good man into a supervillain.
2The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Witcher vs. Witcher
The Witcher 2
Blamed for the death of King Foltest, Geralt is branded a kingslayer and arrested. With a rogue Witcher on the loose slaying kings, Geralt has no choice but to hunt down the true killer and prove his innocence. If only it were that simple. His search will lead him into a kingdom-wide conspiracy that makes monster hunting seem easy.
AlthoughThe Witcher 3stands on top as the pinnacle of adventure and gameplay, when it comes to who possesses the greater story,Witcher 2has that honor. There’s no Wild Hunt, no White Frost and no Ciri, just one big mystery that unravels over the course of the game. Geralt remains the focus as his lost memories slowly return, revealing his connection to the kingslayer Letho. Every act adds a new twist or turn as your choices shift how the story plays out, especially for those you choose to assist along the way.
Honorable Mentions: Bioshock, Half-Life 2, and Halo 2 are groundbreaking adventures with breathtaking stories. Unfortunately, this list can only hold ten.
The Tragic Tale of an Outlaw
Red Dead Redemption 2
Step into the boots of an outlaw and take a ride into the Wild West. After a robbery goes wrong, Arthur Morgan and the rest of the Van der Linde gang are on the run. With the law hunting them around every corner, they’re going to need a lot of money to get back on top. In a land where greed and treachery are always afoot, however, Arthur will be fighting tooth and nail to keep his family from falling apart.
There’s no other Action-Adventure game likeRed Dead Redemption 2. Everything about this story is perfect and captured flawlessly in the gameplay. Every minute feels like an adventure out of a hit series, only you are the star. Even the customization is fantastic, as your look and honor level impact how cutscenes play out. Just make sure you keep a box of tissues close at hand – because you’ll need them.
10 Best Games Based on Books
Throw on your reading glasses, because it’s time to check out great games based on some real page-turners.
