DualShockers’ 2025 Game of the Year Awards: Best Action Games

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2025 was a fantastic year for gaming, offering something for everyone. No matter what kind of games you enjoy—horror, role-playing, open-world adventures, or fast-paced action—there were plenty of great options. Action games, in particular, really stood out, delivering some of the most exciting and well-made titles in years, with thrilling gameplay and compelling stories.

With the year winding down, we’re excited to share our picks for the best action games! It was tough choosing from so many great titles, but after collecting votes and careful consideration, the TopMob team has selected the 10 games that truly stood out this year.

Let’s get right to it – here are TopMob’s picks for the 10 best action games of 2025. These games not only delivered on their promises but also innovated within the genre, showcasing the very best of what gaming has to offer.

Although each ‘Game of the Year’ list is written by an individual TopMob writer, the games included and their order were decided by a vote of all TopMob writers. This means the list represents the collective opinion of TopMob, and may not perfectly reflect the views of any single writer.

10. Monster Hunter Wilds

A Better Hunting Experience

The announcement of Monster Hunter Wilds at the 2023 Game Awards was met with huge excitement, and it’s easy to see why. The initial reveal showed off a stunning new world and promised challenging new monsters to hunt. Now that the game is available, it’s clear just how good it is. Monster Hunter Wilds boasts the best combat the series has ever seen, and the incredibly addictive monsters keep players coming back for more.

Monster Hunter Wilds builds on what players love about the Monster Hunter series, but with a smoother, more polished feel. A standout new feature is the wound system, which lets you inflict lasting scars on monsters and then focus your attacks on those weak points for extra damage. It’s a subtle change, but it adds a new layer of strategy and makes each hunt feel different.

Wilds focused more on crafting a compelling story with engaging cutscenes, making the Monster Hunter world feel vibrant and immersive, going beyond simply being a hunting game.

9. Split Fiction

Exciting Co-op Action

Hazelight Studios creates unique cooperative games, letting players team up for adventures unlike any other. Their game It Takes Two became a major success and was even named Game of the Year in 2021, marking a high point for the studio.

Split Fiction is back with another fantastic co-op adventure, four years after its debut! Each level feels fresh and distinct, offering tons of fun, especially when played with a friend or loved one.

Split Fiction keeps players engaged with its constantly changing gameplay – one minute you might be snowboarding down a mountain, the next skydiving, or even becoming a mythical creature! The game also features a touching story about two writers with very different ideas about what their book should be.

I’m so excited about Split Fiction! Basically, you play as someone who has to help these authors escape from the worlds they wrote – it’s a really cool concept. The game is packed with fun puzzles, gorgeous environments, and some awesome platforming challenges. Seriously, it’s a great adventure! Grab a friend and jump in – you won’t regret it!

8. Silent Hill f

A Mesmerizing and Horrific Story

Fans of the Silent Hill series had been waiting a long time for a new game. While they recently enjoyed a great remake of Silent Hill 2 and a free game called Silent Hill: The Short Message, it had been 13 years since a completely new Silent Hill title was released. Thankfully, NeoBards delivered with Silent Hill f, a truly unsettling and original story that lives up to the series’ reputation. It’s one of the best action games of the year and a must-play for horror fans.

Silent Hill f masterfully combines psychological horror with striking visuals, creating an experience that stays with you long after the credits roll. Instead of providing easy answers, the game uses clever symbolism and impactful scenes to guide players toward understanding the story’s true meaning. This sense of mystery is central to what makes a Silent Hill game special. Beyond its compelling narrative, the game also features engaging and enjoyable combat.

7. The First Berserker: Khazan

Outstanding Boss Design

Okay, so I’ve been playing The First Berserker: Khazan, and let me tell you, this game is seriously tough. It’s one of the most hardcore Soulslike experiences I’ve ever had. The bosses? Forget about it. I’m a pretty skilled player, and even I was dying to some of them like, 20 times. Honestly, that might even be an optimistic estimate!

Despite its high difficulty, The First Berserker: Khazan features truly outstanding boss battles. Each boss is carefully crafted with impressive and challenging moves that are comparable to those found in FromSoftware games – they’re genuinely spectacular encounters.

Beyond its exciting boss battles, The First Berserker: Khazan lets you really customize your character with a huge range of options. With nearly 70 weapons, many different armor sets, and lots of skills to learn, the game is designed to be replayed with different character builds and playstyles.

Once you get the hang of the combat and create a character build you enjoy, the game becomes incredibly engaging with its quick and exciting action. If you love challenging action RPGs, you should definitely check this game out – it’s easily one of the best action games released this year.

6. Wuchang: Fallen feathers

The Best Soulslike This Year

Among the many “Souls-like” games released recently, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers most closely resembles the original Dark Souls in how its levels are structured. Each area is designed to reward exploration, with secrets, hidden routes, weapons, important items, and even optional minibosses waiting to be discovered.

As a huge fan of action games, I have to say Wuchang: Fallen Feathers totally blew me away! The world is so cool to explore, and the combat is incredibly fast and satisfying. Seriously, it’s easily one of the best action games I’ve played all year, and if you’re into Soulslike games, you absolutely need to check it out – you won’t regret it!

Though character customization options are limited, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers makes up for it with satisfying weapons and spells that encourage diverse gameplay. The game also features thrilling boss battles with impressive designs that will test even experienced players of Soulslike games. Plus, a rich story, compelling characters, and a detailed world provide plenty of lore for dedicated fans to discover through exploration and side quests.

5. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

Retro Fun

Marvel Cosmic Invasion was a standout game of 2025. This fast-paced beat-em-up lets players take control of their favorite Marvel heroes in a series of exciting battles. The game keeps you constantly engaged with non-stop action, making you feel strong and capable throughout the entire experience.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion features a diverse cast of characters, making each playthrough feel fresh and encouraging players to try different strategies. The game is a success because it prioritizes fun and demonstrates that exciting, large-scale action is still possible even with 2D graphics.

What I really love about Marvel Cosmic Invasion is its awesome retro style – it totally feels like playing an old arcade game! It’s rare to find a game that blends that classic feel with a modern touch, and as a gamer, it’s cool to see how far games have come. It just proves there’s still a big demand for these retro-inspired titles, especially since it’s got a really positive rating on Steam with over a thousand reviews!

4. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Bigger and Better Than the Original

When Death Stranding first came out in 2019, it was unlike anything I’d ever seen in a game. The whole idea of just… delivering packages in a broken-down America was definitely different! Some people, myself included, found it super addictive – there was something really satisfying about completing those deliveries. But I totally get why others didn’t click with it; it could get pretty repetitive if you weren’t into that kind of gameplay.

Clearly, enough players enjoyed the first game to justify a sequel, and we’re very grateful to Kojima Productions for making it – it’s truly excellent.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach successfully builds upon the original game, refining nearly every aspect for a more enjoyable experience. It’s easier to pick up and play thanks to simplified controls, but still retains the challenging delivery gameplay that fans appreciate. And, staying true to Hideo Kojima’s style, the game features a compelling story with emotional depth and unexpected turns, making it one of the best narratives of 2025.

3. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

A Remake of a Classic

Okay, so Metal Gear Solid is, like, a total legend in gaming – seriously, the storytelling is incredible and it pretty much defined the stealth genre. It’s been ages since we’ve gotten a new game, which was rough, but thankfully we finally got a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 this year, and honestly, it blew me away. It was everything I hoped for and more!

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a top action game this year because it successfully combines the classic gameplay fans love with modern improvements. It keeps the tactical elements that made the original great, but adds refined controls, beautiful graphics, and a more engaging experience overall.

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This game perfectly showcases why the Metal Gear series is considered one of the best ever. It highlights how innovative the series was in its storytelling, a vision largely driven by the creative genius of Hideo Kojima, who was instrumental in the original game’s development.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater delivers a gripping and addictive experience, letting players creatively eliminate enemies using stealth and feel like a skilled mercenary. It’s not just a top action game of 2025; it’s also one of the best remakes ever made, successfully building upon the original while staying true to its core identity.

2. Ninja Gaiden 4

Exhilarating Combat

It’s been 13 years since the last major Ninja Gaiden game, so fans were eagerly anticipating Ninja Gaiden 4. Thankfully, the game lived up to the hype! It delivers the high-quality action the series is known for, with challenging boss battles and a wider range of moves that let players create incredible combos. PlatinumGames did an amazing job, and Ninja Gaiden 4 is a fantastic return for this beloved franchise.

Ninja Gaiden 4 features both a new hero, Yakumo, and the returning Ryu Hayabusa. Players can switch between them during the story, which is great because each character fights in a completely different way, offering varied gameplay experiences.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a very challenging game, but succeeding and learning the combat is incredibly rewarding, just like in previous games. What really stands out is the improved enemy AI – enemies are smarter and more unpredictable than ever before. This all adds up to make Ninja Gaiden 4 one of the best action games released in 2025.

1. Hades 2

The Best Action Game of 2025

In 2024, most people would have named Hades as the greatest roguelike game ever made. Now that 2025 is here, its sequel is taking that title. Hades 2 builds on everything that made the first game so incredible, offering a larger, more polished, and even more captivating experience – it’s simply a better game in every way.

Everyone loved the original Hades, but Supergiant Games managed to make something even better. Hades 2 is incredibly addictive – once you start, it’s hard to put down, thanks to its perfect design. It’s easily the best action game of 2025, and no other game comes close.

While bigger isn’t always better, Hades 2 shows that it can be. The sequel successfully expands on the original with distinct new areas to explore, deeper customization options through crafting, and a cast of memorable characters, each with their own personality.

The biggest improvement in the sequel is how well-balanced everything is. The first game had issues where some power-ups weren’t useful, pushing players to stick to a few popular strategies. Hades 2 solves this – now, almost any combination of power-ups can create a strong build, which really encourages players to try out different approaches.

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2025-12-22 17:13