Action games are a classic and have been a huge part of gaming for as long as most of us can remember – including me! I’ve enjoyed countless fast-paced action games over the years, from quick, simple challenges to intense battles. I’d love to replay them all, which is frustrating when it’s so hard to do so.
Many beloved classic action games have been brought back to life through updated versions and collections, but a lot remain playable only on their original systems. This is often due to licensing issues or simply a lack of interest from the companies that made them. Not every game needs a full, modern remake, but I think all games deserve to be saved in some way, even if they weren’t huge hits.
9. Evil Dead: Regeneration
An Exceptionally Silly Slaughter
| Developers | Cranky Pants Games |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PS2, Xbox, PC |
| Release Date | September 2005 |
The Evil Dead movies are pretty divisive – people either love them or haven’t discovered them yet. What makes them stand out is their unique blend of over-the-top gore and silly humor. Several video games were released during the PlayStation 1 and 2 generations, telling new stories within the Evil Dead universe, and my personal favorite is Evil Dead: Regeneration for the PlayStation 2.
Regeneration reimagines the Evil Dead story with a new timeline. Instead of traveling to the past, Ash Williams is committed to an asylum after the events of the first two films. However, the asylum is run by a sinister doctor who revives the Deadites using the Necronomicon, forcing Ash to fight them off with his chainsaw and shotgun. The game is known for its over-the-top style and features Ash’s new partner, Sam, a sarcastic and partially undead ally.
This game is a simple, action-packed experience – mostly focused on fighting, but with a few puzzles thrown in. The main character, Sam, can’t die, which helps with solving them! It’s a great, lighthearted game for anyone who loves the Evil Dead series or enjoys over-the-top, classic horror films.
8. Incredible Crisis
Daily Life can be Hectic
When we talk about “action” games, we usually think of fighting, but that’s not always necessary. Everyday life can actually be full of little events that could be considered “action,” although most of them aren’t very exciting. The Tanamatsuri family in Incredible Crisis is different – their daily life is anything but typical.
Incredible Crisis is a PlayStation 1 game made up of a series of fast-paced, quirky mini-games. The game follows the chaotic everyday lives of a family of four as they rush to get home for Grandma’s birthday. Each family member faces unique challenges – for example, the dad has to escape a massive rolling statue, the mom tries to sneakily steal a golden piggy bank with groceries, and the son is magically shrunk to ant size. These are just a few of the game’s wild scenarios.
Incredible Crisis is a surprisingly tough game. You have limited lives to beat a series of mini-games before you can save your progress. This difficulty actually makes it fun to watch as a stream, and it’s best experienced through a PlayStation Plus subscription.
7. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
A Spin-off of a Spin-off
Released in 1997, Mega Man Legends is a fan-favorite installment in the Mega Man series that many players would love to see Capcom revisit. The game also introduced Tron Bonne, a popular and memorable villain who went on to star in her own spin-off game, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne.
This PlayStation game is a prequel to Mega Man Legends, and it tells the story of the Bonne family falling into deep debt. To get back on their feet, they resort to crime, which involves everything from exploring old ruins and robbing places to solving puzzles, gambling, and even managing a farm.
Beyond piloting Tron’s powerful mech yourself, you also direct her army of Servbot assistants. These bots can be trained and improved to handle a wide range of jobs. The game blends elements from several different genres, but fast-paced action remains the core experience – as you’d expect from a mech game.
6. Ape Escape 3
Monkey TV
Ape Escape was intended to be a flagship series for PlayStation, and most of the games are still available through PS Plus streaming. However, I can’t understand why my personal favorite, Ape Escape 3 for the PS2, remains unavailable.
Like the previous Ape Escape games, Ape Escape 3 is an action-packed platformer where you journey through different levels, catching monkeys with your net and using cool, high-tech tools. This installment adds a unique twist: each level is designed around a TV show. The story is that the monkeys are broadcasting mind-controlling programs, trying to turn everyone into lazy TV watchers, giving the game a playful, movie-set vibe.
Okay, so the coolest part? I can actually become a bunch of different heroes, and each one has their own unique powers for fighting and figuring stuff out – plus, they all have killer theme songs! It really adds another level to the puzzles and exploration, which were already great in this series. And get this – there’s a hidden mini-game that’s basically Metal Gear Solid, but you play as monkeys! Seriously, monkeys!
5. Spider-Man (2000)
My First Web-Swinging Adventure
Spider-Man and video games have gone hand-in-hand almost since the beginning of gaming, with appearances dating back to the Atari 2600. While he’s been in games for a long time, his first 3D adventure – the 2000 Spider-Man game for PlayStation and N64 – was also how I first got to know the character, and it remains a beloved action platformer.
This game features a brand new story where Spider-Man is falsely accused of stealing from Doc Ock, who claims to have turned good. On top of that, he’s dealing with typical threats like bank robberies and even Venom kidnapping MJ. It’s a tough time to be Spider-Man, but that’s just part of the job!
This Spider-Man game is more straightforward than recent ones, with levels designed around specific goals and boss battles. You’ll have a good selection of moves, like punches, kicks, and web-based attacks, plus the ability to swing, climb walls, and sneak around enemies. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a fun experience, especially for fans of classic Spider-Man comics, and features plenty of witty Spidey dialogue.
4. Viewtiful Joe
Taught Us the Meaning of “Henshin”
When the GameCube came out in the early 2000s, it wasn’t exactly flying off the shelves. Capcom tried to give it a boost with something they called the “Capcom Five” – a set of five new games. It included some absolute classics like Resident Evil 4 and Killer7, and even the very first game from Clover Studio, Viewtiful Joe, which Hideki Kamiya really poured his heart into. It’s a shame Viewtiful Joe doesn’t get as much love as the others, honestly.
Viewtiful Joe is a fast-paced action game where a movie fan named Joe becomes a superhero who can transform and fight to save his girlfriend. It’s heavily inspired by classic Japanese tokusatsu films – think giant robots, over-the-top action, and lots of monsters! Joe has unique powers that let him control time and his own size, letting him slow down enemies or become super strong to defeat them.
Joe has appeared in several sequels, spin-offs, and even fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom 3. However, Capcom doesn’t seem interested in the character anymore, which is disappointing. With the recent reformation of Clover Studio as Clovers, though, I’m holding out hope for a potential remaster.
3. Transformers: War for Cybertron
Curse You, Franchise Licensing
Man, I don’t get it with Transformers games. They always seem to disappear from digital stores! It’s super frustrating because I heard War for Cybertron was actually really good, but now it’s just…gone. I’m guessing Hasbro has really strict rules about who can sell their games, and that’s why we can’t play it anymore. It’s a bummer!
War for Cybertron is a fast-paced, third-person shooter with two distinct storylines – one where you play as the Autobots and one as the Decepticons. As a Transformer, you can run, shoot, and fight up close, but you can also quickly switch to vehicle mode for speedy travel and to navigate difficult environments. Each level lets you choose from several different Transformers, each with unique abilities and roles, which also made the game fun to play with friends online.
Transformers: War for Cybertron was first available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC through Steam. However, it’s no longer available for purchase on Steam, so the PC version is inaccessible unless you already own it. This essentially means your only options are to find a physical copy for the 360 or PS3, making it difficult to play without the original consoles.
2. Kirby: Planet Robobot
Kirby Versus Capitalism
For a long time, Kirby was mostly known as a star on Nintendo’s handheld systems, with fewer big games released on home consoles. After Nintendo stopped focusing on handhelds like the 3DS and switched to the Switch, Kirby returned to consoles, but some of his best games, such as Kirby: Planet Robobot, haven’t been made available on the new system.
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Planet Robobot is a classic side-scrolling Kirby adventure filled with running, jumping, floating, and inhaling enemies to gain new powers. What makes this game special is that Kirby can also pilot powerful mech suits. These mechs not only make Kirby stronger and faster, but also boost his existing abilities. Whether you’re in a mech or not, the gameplay is familiar, but the mechs add a satisfying sense of power to every move.
As far as I remember, Planet Robobot didn’t really take advantage of the 3DS’s special features, like the touchscreen or motion controls. Because of that, I don’t think it would be too hard to remake it for the Switch or the next Switch console. It did have some interesting visual effects you could adjust with the 3D slider, but that’s not a feature that’s essential to include.
1. Kid Icarus: Uprising
Come On, Sakurai, There’s Time Now!
When people talk about great 3DS games, Kid Icarus: Uprising always comes up. Released in 2012, it brilliantly revived a classic Nintendo series thanks to the creative vision of Masahiro Sakurai, and it’s become a highly requested game for a potential re-release. If the Switch 2 were to get ports or remasters, this would be my top pick.
Uprising mixes fast-paced, on-rails shooting – where Pit flies and shoots enemies – with ground-based action where you explore levels using platforming and combos. The controls on the 3DS were a little awkward at times, but the core gameplay was really enjoyable, and the witty conversations between characters like Pit, Palutena, Viridi, and Hades made the experience even better.
Honestly, thinking about this game on the Switch 2 is tricky. It really uses everything the 3DS has to offer, so porting it would be a lot of work, I imagine. But hey, now that Masahiro Sakurai is finished with Kirby Air Ride, maybe he and his team could finally tackle it? I’m really hoping they will!
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2026-03-06 22:42