PC has always been the home of fast, precise action, from character-action classics ported years after their console debuts to modern indie standouts that only exist on Steam. With high frame rates, mouse-and-keyboard or controller support and a deep catalog of ports, it is one of the best places to play the genre. These are the action games that define the platform today, from Kratos to kung fu masters.
1. God of War (2018)#
Santa Monica Studio reinvented Kratos in 2018, moving him to Norse lands and pairing him with his son Atreus, and the PC version followed in January 2022. The over-the-shoulder camera never cuts away, the Leviathan Axe feels weighty when it returns to your hand, and the father-son story gives the brutality a human core. On PC it supports unlocked frame rates and ultrawide screens. Combat is slower than in older entries, and the puzzle and backtracking sections can drag the pace. It is still a landmark single-player adventure.
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice#
FromSoftware released Sekiro in March 2019, and it swaps the build-based combat of Dark Souls for a posture system built around deflecting attacks at the right moment. As a shinobi in a fictional Sengoku-era Japan, you use a grappling hook and a prosthetic arm to reach rooftops and ambush enemies. Boss duels are among the best the studio has made, and the game won Game of the Year at The Game Awards. There are no difficulty options, and the parry-focused design can feel unforgiving to anyone who prefers to block or dodge.
3. Devil May Cry 5#
Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 arrived in March 2019 with three playable characters: Nero with his detachable Devil Breaker arms, the returning Dante with four combat styles, and V, who commands spectral creatures. The fights are stylish and readable, and the soundtrack pushes every combo forward. It is among the most polished character-action games on PC, and its combat depth lasts long after the credits. The story is silly and some levels reuse environments, while V plays very differently from the others and may not suit everyone.
4. Hades#
Supergiant Games released Hades in full in September 2020 after a long early-access period, and it turned the roguelike formula into a story-driven action game. You play Zagreus, prince of the Underworld, fighting your way out through rooms of enemies with weapons and boons granted by Olympian gods. Every death moves the narrative forward, and the art and voice acting are excellent. The combat is fast and forgiving in the right places. It is best enjoyed in short sessions, because repeating the same biomes can feel grindy after dozens of runs.
5. Batman: Arkham City#
Rocksteady's Arkham City came to PC in November 2011, weeks after the consoles, and it built on Arkham Asylum by opening up a walled section of Gotham. Its Freeflow combat system lets Batman chain strikes, counters and gadgets in a smooth rhythm, and the glide-and-grapple traversal makes the open world a pleasure to cross. The villain lineup is a highlight. The map is crowded with side quests of uneven quality, and the Catwoman segments feel tacked on. It remains the series high point.
6. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance#
PlatinumGames developed Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance with Konami and released it on PC in January 2014, after its 2013 console debut. You play Raiden, a cyborg ninja who uses Blade Mode to slice enemies and environments into pieces in slow motion. Parrying with precise timing is at the core of its combat, and the boss fights and vocal rock soundtrack are unforgettable. The campaign is short, about six hours, and the camera struggles in tight spaces. It is a pure, stylish action game with very little padding.
7. Bayonetta#
Hideki Kamiya's Bayonetta reached PC in April 2017, several years after its 2009 console debut, and it still plays wonderfully. You control a witch who summons hair-based attacks and slows time by dodging at the last second, a mechanic called Witch Time. The combo system rewards experimentation and the bosses are huge, over-the-top set pieces. The story is confusing, the camera sometimes gets in the way, and the sexualized styling is not for everyone. The PC port runs smoothly and has held up well.
8. Black Myth: Wukong#
Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong in August 2024, a Chinese action game loosely based on Journey to the West. You play the Destined One, fighting with a staff, transformations and spells against an incredible range of bosses inspired by myth. The visuals are some of the most detailed on PC, and the boss design is a real draw. The chapters are linear and uneven in pacing, and the game needs strong hardware for its best settings. It is a striking debut and an unmistakable showcase.
9. Hi-Fi Rush#
Tango Gameworks surprised everyone in January 2023 with Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-action game in which every attack and dodge lands on the beat. You play Chai, an aspiring rock star who fights a corporation in a bright, cel-shaded world, and the licensed soundtrack makes the combat feel alive. It is approachable, inventive and full of charm, with strong boss fights. The humor can feel juvenile, and encounters grow repetitive near the end. It is a joyful change of pace from the genre's grimmer titles.
10. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered#
Insomniac Games' Spider-Man launched on PlayStation in 2018, and Nixxes brought the Remastered edition to PC in August 2022. Web-swinging through Manhattan is the main attraction, and it feels fluid and rewarding. Combat mixes gadgets, acrobatics and quick dodges in a manner inspired by the Arkham series. The story around Peter Parker is warm and well acted. Side activities repeat themselves in the open world, and the stealth sections with other characters are a weaker point. It still delivers a strong superhero fantasy.
11. Sifu#
Sloclap released Sifu in February 2022, a kung fu revenge story in which you fight through five locations with real martial-arts animation. Every time you die, you age, which lowers your health but increases your damage, so skilled play is rewarded and mistakes have lasting consequences. The combat is deep and demands attention to spacing and defense. It is short and brutally difficult for newcomers, and the camera sometimes loses enemies. For anyone who likes martial-arts movies and learning by doing, it is excellent.
12. Ghostrunner#
Developer One More Level released Ghostrunner in October 2020, a first-person cyberpunk slasher in which a single hit kills you or your enemy. You dash, wall-run and slow time to cut through a tower of neon corridors, and each attempt restarts in seconds. The speed and flow are thrilling when everything clicks. Trial and error can get frustrating, and some parkour segments drag the pace. It is a tight, atmospheric action game with a strong synth soundtrack and a clear identity.
13. Streets of Rage 4#
Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games released Streets of Rage 4 in April 2020, reviving Sega's beat-'em-up series with hand-drawn art and tight combat. You choose from brawlers such as Axel and Blaze, chain combos, juggle enemies and call in a special move at the cost of health. Local co-op is a joy and the soundtrack, featuring many well-known composers, is excellent. The main story is short, about two hours, and some will find the enemy variety repetitive. Replay value is high thanks to score chasing.
14. Katana ZERO#
Askiisoft's Katana ZERO arrived in April 2019 with Devolver Digital as publisher. It is a 2D action game where you play a samurai assassin who can slow time and plan each kill as if it were a replay. Every hit kills you, but you try again instantly. The neon pixel art and synthwave score are striking, and the writing gives it a moody, unusual tone. It is short, around four hours, and trial and error can become tedious. It is a stylish, memorable game that deserves a playthrough.
15. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor#
Monolith Productions released Shadow of Mordor in September 2014, and its Nemesis System changed how open-world action games think about enemies. Orc captains remember you, rise in rank after killing you and develop rivalries, which makes each fight personal. The combat borrows its flow from the Arkham series and adds wraith powers. The story is loose with Tolkien lore, and the open-world chores repeat. The Nemesis System is still unmatched in how it creates stories on its own, which makes the game worth playing.