Action RPGs Worth Playing Just For Their Combat

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I’m really into ARPGs, and it’s easy to see why they’re so popular right now. People want games that are fun to play over and over, but also have a cool world to get lost in. A lot of games do some things well, but the best ones really nail the combat. When the fighting is that good, honestly, everything else almost fades into the background – the story, the leveling, all of it. It just becomes about those awesome battles!

The stories and worlds in these games are excellent, but the gameplay is strong enough to stand on its own. Creating such impressive combat takes a lot of work – developers must focus heavily on customization, diverse fights, challenging enemies, and many other details. The goal is to create an experience so fun that players can lose themselves in the action and not even worry about the story.

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Elden Ring

Toppling Giants And Taking On Dragons

Details:

  • Signature soulslike combat
  • More options and diverse gameplay styles

Elden Ring is already famous, and like other games from FromSoftware, its combat is incredibly fun and well-done. It’s so engaging that you can sometimes forget just how amazing the game’s world is. Each attack and block feels powerful and precise, and players can customize their fighting style with a huge variety of weapons – from quick daggers to massive hammers that can defeat enemies with a single hit.

The bosses are the highlight of the game, each offering unique challenges that encourage players to experiment with different strategies and improve their skills. While the game can be tough, much of the difficulty depends on how much players explore. Venturing off the beaten path not only makes players more powerful, but also unlocks amazing optional boss fights that are as good as—or even better than—those found in the main story.

NieR: Automata

Stylish And Fluid At All Times

Details:

  • Fast aerial and ground combos
  • Customizable ability chips

NieR: Automata combines PlatinumGames’ signature exciting action with the depth of RPG customization, creating a combat system that’s both beautiful to watch and fun to play. Battles are fluid, shifting between close-range attacks, aerial combos, shooting with support pods, and quick dodges. Players need to skillfully balance aggressive attacks with patient timing to succeed.

The Plug-in chip system lets players customize their character’s skills and stats, letting them focus on speed, toughness, or powerful attacks – whatever best suits their playstyle and the situation. Even without a deep story, the combat is incredibly fun and satisfying, standing out as one of the best in the genre.

No Rest For The Wicked

Weighty And Methodical

Details:

  • Deliberate attacks and parries
  • Tactical stamina focus

No Rest For The Wicked makes combat slower and more strategic. Every attack feels powerful, and success depends on carefully managing your stamina and finding the right position. Instead of just rapidly pressing buttons, players need to think through each move and time their attacks carefully.

Each weapon type feels unique, offering fresh strategies that can dramatically change battles and how players interact with the game world. While the game’s world is impressively detailed, many players focus more on mastering combat – perfecting blocks and discovering powerful ability combinations – than on following the storyline.

The Ascent

Twin-Stick Action Goodness

Details:

  • Build-driven combat variety
  • Responsive and precise gunplay

The Ascent offers fast-paced, twin-stick shooting combined with RPG elements, making players feel like they’re constantly improving their skills and advancing the story. Combat is quick and responsive, featuring cover and vertical aiming for more strategic firefights. Even with all the action, smart positioning is key to success in every encounter throughout the game.

Players can really customize their experience with a wide range of weapons and upgrades, letting them create everything from powerful, traditional builds to energy-based setups. Each choice feels meaningful and offers clear advantages. This creates a uniquely satisfying gameplay loop of movement, shooting, and fine-tuning your character, helping the game stand out in a crowded market.

Last Epoch

Constructing The Perfect Build

Details:

  • Expansive skill customization
  • Clear combat feedback

Last Epoch stands out with its detailed skill trees and class systems, allowing for deep character customization. The combat is engaging because your abilities change and grow, unlocking unique combinations and strategies that feel rewarding from the very beginning.

The gameplay feels smooth and responsive, with impressive visual effects for spells and clear warnings before enemies attack, making every encounter exciting no matter your skill level. Even without understanding the complicated story about time travel, players will be immediately hooked by the fast-paced action and the thrilling adventure that awaits.

Path Of Exile 2

Ruthless Complexity

Details:

  • High ceiling but heavily rewarding
  • Mechanically demanding bosses

Path of Exile 2 is an action RPG with incredibly deep and challenging combat. It achieves this through complex, interconnected systems and extremely difficult fights. Players build powerful abilities by combining skills with support gems, allowing for a huge amount of customization. This level of creative freedom is essential, as you’ll face overwhelming numbers of enemies and tough bosses.

How well you play is just as important as how you plan your character. Even the best character setup won’t save you if you can’t react quickly. Once you finish the main story, the game really comes alive with a rewarding cycle of fighting and improving your gear, keeping you hooked for many hours.

Diablo 4

Streamlined Yet Satisfying

Details:

  • Polished and impactful combat
  • Distinct class identities

Diablo IV builds on the classic action-RPG gameplay with a beautifully designed and impactful combat system. It’s easy for newcomers to pick up, yet still offers a rewarding experience for longtime fans. Every ability feels powerful, and the game’s difficulty increases gradually, keeping you engaged without feeling unfairly challenging.

The game offers building options that are easy to use but still allow for plenty of creativity and experimentation. While it’s more streamlined than previous games, it remains incredibly satisfying to play, with a wealth of weapons and enemies to keep players engaged for hours on end.

The First Berserker: Khazan

Aggression On Another Level

Details:

  • High-risk, high-reward gameplay
  • Huge combo chains on both sides

Khazan blends fast-paced, aggressive combat with the careful, strategic gameplay of soulslike games. Success isn’t about rushing in – players need to precisely time their dodges, blocks, parries, and attacks to survive.

Honestly, what really grabbed me about this game is the weapons and how you can customize them. You start with pretty basic skills, but it doesn’t take long before you’re unlocking a ton of abilities. What’s cool is how you can combine these abilities to create your own style – you can focus on defense, offense, or a mix of both. It really puts you in control of every battle, right down to the very last, incredibly tough fight!

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2026-02-16 14:38