Games With Combat That Only Rewards Pure Aggression

Games handle combat in many different ways. Some emphasize sneaking and quiet takedowns, while others focus on direct, action-packed battles. Many games, like the exciting Ghost of Yotei, even let you switch between stealth and direct combat, giving you options for how to play.

If you enjoy games filled with enemies and challenging yourself to achieve higher scores through fast-paced combat, then focusing on relentless offense is the way to go. These games are fantastic for letting off steam and enjoying some exciting mayhem, and we’ve gathered a few of the best ones for you here.

Bloodborne

The Rally Mechanic Can Be A Lifesaver

Okay, so let me tell you, just running in and wildly hitting buttons in Bloodborne isn’t going to work. Seriously, if you just charge into a crowd of enemies or a boss without thinking, you’re gonna get wrecked – and fast. To actually survive in Yharnam, you have to learn to dodge and pay attention to what the enemies are doing. A lot of the time, I find myself dodging through attacks to get an opening and keep the pressure on. This is super important, especially when I’m using Skill weapons like the Blade of Mercy – timing those dodges is key!

Bloodborne rewards quick reactions. If you take damage, hitting back immediately refills some health. Unlike other games, you can’t hide behind a shield, and getting close to enemies is key to landing powerful Visceral Attacks after a successful firearm parry. It’s a challenging game that requires skillful play.

MadWorld

Survival Of The Most Imaginatively Violent

If you’ve played MadWorld or even just watched a bit of it, you know it’s an incredibly aggressive game. You play as Jack Cayman, who’s forced to participate in a deadly game show called DeathWatch, where the goal is simply to eliminate everyone else. It’s a unique title for the Wii, and as a game developed by PlatinumGames, it offers surprisingly complex and stylish action.

Okay, so as Cayman, I need to get super creative with takedowns to really boost my score. It’s not just about killing enemies, it’s how I do it. The game wants me to use everything around me – like traps and stuff – alongside my own abilities. And the real trick is grouping enemies together for massive score multipliers. It might take a couple tries on each level to figure out the best strategy – thankfully, the game lets me replay stages after I beat the main story – but once I do, I can unleash a seriously awesome and brutal combo streak!

Curse Of The Dead Gods

Mastery Of The Game’s Combat Means No Worries About Stamina

Roguelike games usually focus heavily on fighting. Players aim to create powerful character builds using randomly selected options and then battle their way through challenges. These games often let you improve your character between attempts. Curse of the Dead Gods is a great example of this, drawing inspiration from Aztec mythology and featuring an adventurer similar to Indiana Jones. As he explores dangerous temples, he faces frightening enemies and a persistent curse that changes the gameplay, sometimes even affecting what the player can see.

Managing stamina is key to successful combat. While dodging and attacking use up stamina, the game actually rewards aggressive play. Skilled players can regain stamina by perfectly dodging attacks – or through items they’ve collected – allowing them to stay on the offensive and avoid damage. Simply hitting buttons randomly won’t work, but consistently landing attacks feels great and is even more effective thanks to a combo system that offers bigger rewards for quickly defeating enemies one after another.

Doom (2016)

Taking Rip And Tear As Far As It’ll Go

If you’re into super fast-paced, aggressive games, the Doom series is pretty much the gold standard – seriously, one blast from the BFG and you’ll get what I mean. So when they rebooted Doom in 2016, it was crucial they kept that same energy. I noticed in Doom: The Dark Ages that Doomguy uses a little more defense, but mostly, this game is all about constant movement, chaining together Glory Kills as quickly as possible to stay alive and keep the ammo flowing. It’s a blast!

In a typical fight, the player causes massive destruction, and that’s exactly what makes Doom so satisfying. If you’re aiming for a high score in Arcade mode, you’ll need to play quickly, aggressively, and strategically. When played well, Doom becomes a fast-paced, brutal, and almost graceful dance of destruction.

Streets Of Rage 4

Don’t Drop That Combo!

I’ve always loved beat ’em ups because they’re so accessible – anyone can jump in and start hitting buttons! But the really good ones have a surprising amount of depth. You can mash buttons and win, sure, but to really get good, you need to learn all the moves and how the scoring works. The new Streets of Rage game from Dotemu really nails this. It makes keeping your combos going super important, and it has this cool system where, if you use a special move and then quickly attack enemies, you can get back the health you spent! It reminds me a bit of the Rally system in Bloodborne, which is a neat touch.

What I really like about this game is that it pushes you to mix up your attacks – using both your basic moves and your character’s special abilities. It keeps things interesting, you know? Fighting games can sometimes get repetitive, but this one avoids that. It’s super satisfying to keep enemies in the air, bouncing them off everything – the floors, the walls, even stuff in the environment – to build up massive combos. It adds a lot of depth and makes each fight feel unique.

Anger Foot

A Fast, Furious FPS With A Hilarious Twist

First-person shooter games are known for having lots of guns, and while Anger Foot certainly delivers on that front, its main character—a rebellious vigilante—has an even more unusual and powerful weapon: their own shoes.

This game lives up to its name – a simple kick is surprisingly powerful, used to break down doors or defeat enemies. Like Hotline Miami, enemies fall quickly in a fast-paced and visually striking way. The key to success is carefully planning how to combine your attacks to clear levels as fast as possible. It’s a chaotic, action-packed experience that focuses on relentless offense, leaving little room for defense.

Bayonetta 3

What Time Is It? Witch Time

The Bayonetta games, created by PlatinumGames, further demonstrate the studio’s skill in delivering thrilling action experiences. Players control Bayonetta, a powerful witch with incredible strength and speed, who fearlessly battles angels, demons, and anyone else who opposes her.

Bayonetta fights with punches, kicks, guns attached to her hands and feet, and other weapons she can unlock, including a powerful chained anchor called Cassiopeia. The combat is smooth and stylish, but a big part of the Bayonetta games is striving for top scores in each level. To do this, players need to master the combo system, chaining attacks together quickly before the combo ends. Perfectly timed dodges activate Bayonetta’s signature Witch Time ability, which slows down time – it’s both a great defensive move and a powerful way to attack, and it’s central to the fast-paced combat the series is known for.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

An Intricate And Super-Aggressive Combat System

When Raiden first showed up in Metal Gear Solid 2, a lot of fans – myself included – were pretty shocked! We were all expecting Solid Snake, and it took some getting used to. Because of that, it was really important to make Raiden his own character, focusing on how fast and nimble he was, what weapons he used, and his personal history. That groundwork ended up being perfect when PlatinumGames made Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in 2013 – and honestly, the extra weapons they gave him in that game were awesome!

Raiden faces off against Desperado Enforcement, a group trying to create worldwide chaos for their own gain. Luckily, Raiden is an incredibly skilled and precise fighter with his blade, able to cut through almost anything with accuracy. The game is famous for its unique Blade Mode, which changes the camera angle and lets players carefully target specific enemy parts. This allows Raiden to exploit weaknesses, bypass armor, and even heal himself using components from defeated enemies. Blocking attacks is key to survival in Revengeance, resulting in a fast-paced and visually impressive game where the goal is to constantly destroy robots.

2025-12-12 06:08