Games That Are All Hype, Little Substance

Video games offer a wide variety of experiences. Sometimes players enjoy immersive games with compelling stories and intricate gameplay, which can be incredibly satisfying. But other times, gamers simply want a quick, exciting experience, even if it doesn’t have a lot of depth.

It’s not always a negative thing if a game is purely enjoyable without much depth. Video games often provide a welcome break from everyday life, and many players – especially adults – simply want something fun and rewarding they can play in short sessions. While many games prioritize spectacle over substance, the following titles strike the right balance.

God Of War

Kill Monsters From Greek Mythology With A Satisfying Combat System

The original God of War is a great example of a straightforward, yet satisfying, action game that’s easy for anyone to pick up and play. Instead of being brutally difficult like many games of its time, it prioritizes making the player feel powerful and enjoy the experience.

Later God of War games explore Kratos’ personality and growth in more detail (particularly the recent two games), but the original focuses on a straightforward quest: Kratos wants revenge on Ares. To achieve this, he battles waves of iconic Greek mythological creatures like gorgons and minotaurs. The game’s combat is fantastic, blending Kratos’ signature Blades of Chaos with action-packed Quick-Time Events that deliver brutal finishing moves against enemies and bosses.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

It Feels Like Controlling A Theatrical Film

When high-definition gaming became popular with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, developers started creating games that looked and felt like movies. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was a standout title, and it quickly became known for its impressive graphics and immersive storytelling. In the game, you play as Nathan Drake, a brave adventurer searching for the legendary lost city of El Dorado in the South Pacific.

Okay, so playing the first Uncharted is just pure fun. It’s basically a mix of shooting, climbing, and driving, but it’s all wrapped up in these crazy, over-the-top moments that feel like you’re in an action movie. Later Uncharted games get pretty story-heavy, but the first one? It’s all about that adrenaline rush and making you feel like a total badass.

Resident Evil 5

Abandoned Its Survival Horror Roots To Become A Fast-Paced Action Game

Resident Evil 5 often feels stuck between two extremes. Its predecessor, Resident Evil 4, is widely praised as a groundbreaking and one of the best games in the series, while Resident Evil 6 is generally considered the weakest. Resident Evil 5 lands right in the middle, not quite reaching the heights of 4, but avoiding the lows of 6.

While not as frightening as the previous installment, this game boasts a more exciting and over-the-top third-person combat experience. Chris and Sheva’s adventure across West Africa is filled with spectacular action sequences and massive bosses that can take a lot of damage – though the story is admittedly a bit silly (including a moment where Chris punches a boulder!). Resident Evil 5 might not be the most refined Resident Evil game, but it’s definitely one of the most fun.

Vanquish

PlatinumGames’ Frenetic Sci-Fi Shooter

PlatinumGames is famous for its exciting action games, filled with fast combat and huge boss battles. Among their impressive library, Vanquish truly stands out for its thrilling, high-energy gameplay. The developers drew inspiration from classic anime they enjoyed growing up, creating a unique and incredibly fast-paced third-person shooter experience.

Zipping around the battlefield in powerful armor and blasting robots with awesome weapons is incredibly satisfying. Vanquish isn’t a groundbreaking or overly complicated game, and that’s its strength – it’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying a few hours of pure action. While other games from PlatinumGames might be more technically impressive, they often come with intense challenges or complex stories. Vanquish cuts right to the chase, offering straightforward, thrilling gameplay.

Lollipop Chainsaw

Suda51 And James Gunn’s Zombie Masterpiece

Games like Killer7 and No More Heroes felt meaningful, even with their unusual style and violence. Lollipop Chainsaw, however, is a straightforward, but fun, action game where you play as a cheerleader fighting zombies with a chainsaw – and that’s perfectly okay!

Okay, so you play as Juliet Starling, this super cute but kinda ditzy cheerleader, and she’s gotta save the world from a huge zombie invasion! The fighting isn’t super hard, but honestly, it’s SO satisfying, especially the boss battles – they’re amazing. Plus, the game is hilarious! It’s got this really cheeky, over-the-top sense of humor, which makes sense when you find out James Gunn (from Guardians of the Galaxy!) actually wrote the story. Suda51 knew what he was doing bringing him on board!

Hyrule Warriors

An Accessible Musou Game, Full Of Fan Service For Zelda Fans

The Dynasty Warriors series, and similar “Musou” games, often get criticized for being more style than substance – they let you easily defeat huge numbers of enemies. While many good Musou games exist, Hyrule Warriors stands out. It’s a great starting point for anyone new to the genre, and it’s also a charming tribute to The Legend of Zelda series.

Hyrule Warriors lets players take control of a wide range of beloved characters from across the Zelda series – including Link, Zelda, Impa, and Ganondorf – as they battle huge hordes of enemies like Bokoblins and Lizalfos. Though the game isn’t very challenging, it’s packed with fun references and exciting, fast-paced action that will delight any longtime Zelda fan.

DOOM (2016)

An Excellent FPS About Killing Hellish Fiends

The 2016 game DOOM successfully brought the classic first-person shooter series back to its roots. It’s known for its fast-paced, brutal action, and that’s immediately clear – the game starts with the player character, the Doom Slayer, smashing a monitor to avoid any lengthy introductions or story explanations.

The original DOOM delivers incredibly fast-paced and brutal first-person combat, made even better by the wide variety of weapons, skills, and finishing moves the player has at their disposal to defeat demons. While its sequels, Doom Eternal and Doom: The Dark Ages, experimented with more complex gameplay and storytelling, the first DOOM remains refreshingly simple and fun to play.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

A Wonderful Crossover Experience, But A Bare-Bones Fighting Game

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the latest game in the popular Super Smash Bros. series, is famous for bringing together characters from many different video game worlds. This award-winning fighting game lets players battle as iconic heroes and villains from franchises like Mario, Pokémon, Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mega Man, Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Kingdom Hearts, and tons of others.

It’s amazing to see so many famous gaming characters interacting, and the new fighting system is a great step forward. However, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is still best described as a fun, party-style fighter, not a hardcore competitive one. Compared to games like Tekken or Street Fighter, Ultimate isn’t as complex or difficult to master. This was a deliberate choice by the developers, who wanted a game that’s easy to pick up and enjoyable for any fan of the characters included.

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2025-10-29 10:37