Great Games That Are Immediately Fun

Older games are often less complex in how they’re designed and built. While not always easier to pick up and play, they usually get straight to the action. This is because developers had simple ideas and a lot of freedom to try new things when these games were first created.

Unlike many modern games that are packed with extra features, these older games get straight to the point. Players quickly learn the basics and are immediately immersed in the game world. It’s a shame this simple approach was lost for a while, as many games tried to do too much. Fortunately, we’re now seeing a return to this classic style, and the indie game scene is full of fresh, instantly enjoyable experiences.

We are going to focus on “modern” games and not include classics like Super Mario Bros.

10. Doom Eternal

No Wasted Time, You Are Doomguy

Most Doom games, aside from Doom 3, immediately jump into the fast-paced action without a lot of setup – just like the original game. The 2016 Doom title does this perfectly, throwing you right into hell for classic FPS gameplay, although its first level isn’t the strongest. The Dark Ages also starts strong, but its more open levels and color-coded enemy weaknesses might take some time for longtime fans of the series’ typically straightforward design to adjust to.

Then there’s Doom Eternal, which built upon the gameplay of the 2016 Doom. While some of the changes were controversial, Doom Eternal immediately feels fantastic – you instantly feel like the powerful Slayer. Unlike some games, you don’t start weak; from the very beginning, you’re strong, lethal, and fully equipped. Both the shooting and movement feel amazing right away.

9. Devil May Cry 5

Quickly Get To The Hacking and Slashing

Many action games start a little slow, often taking an hour or two to really get going. This is usually because players need time to learn the basic controls and unlock some new abilities. Once you get the hang of things, that’s when the game becomes truly enjoyable.

Devil May Cry 5 gets you into the action faster than any previous game, even the highly-regarded Devil May Cry 3. While Nero has depth as a character, his core gameplay is easy to pick up, allowing you to start performing impressive combos almost immediately. The game introduces his Devil Breakers right away, encouraging you to switch between them and providing a lot of variety in combat. The initial levels are also excellent – some of the best the game has to offer – and are designed to be fairly accessible.

This description is written for someone new to the series. However, if you’ve played previous games, especially Devil May Cry 4, you’ll quickly find the 2019 release familiar.

8. Balatro

A Remarkably Accessible Deck-Builder

Balatro stands out as one of the easiest roguelike deck-builders to pick up. It’s built around familiar Poker hands and a simple, high-score-focused structure that’s easy to understand. Within minutes of starting, you’ll appreciate how smooth and intuitive it feels to play, thanks to its responsive controls and satisfying feedback.

Balatro offers a fresh experience that’s surprisingly easy to pick up, even if you’ve never played poker before. Its simple, clean design and helpful features make it very accessible. While you’ll be repeating similar actions, the game encourages different strategies, keeping things interesting and varied.

7. Cultic

A Retro-Style FPS That Gets Straight To The Point

Many indie first-person shooters, both those inspired by classic games and brand new titles, excel at delivering exciting gameplay. CULTIC is a great example of this – it quickly explains what you need to know and then immediately puts you into the action with a concise and effective tutorial.

I’m really getting into CULTIC! It throws you right into the action – within minutes, you’re already exploring creepy locations and blasting cultists. And it doesn’t stop there! Pretty quickly, you unlock workbenches to upgrade your weapons and start messing around with the environment, using hazards to your advantage. It’s a really immersive experience!

6. Resident Evil 5

An Action-Horror Title With An Intense Opening

Within the first few minutes, Resident Evil 5 plunges players into a fast-paced action sequence, pitting them against hordes of infected enemies – immediately setting the tone for the rest of the game. While it may not be as highly regarded as earlier Resident Evil titles, the game truly shines when played online with a friend, letting you team up to overcome challenging and chaotic situations.

The intense opening sequence of Resident Evil 5 is a great way to introduce new players to the game. It quickly challenges their abilities and reflexes, making them learn how to survive under pressure. While it can be quite difficult, especially on higher settings, it offers a thrilling and enjoyable experience for those who embrace the challenge.

5. Terraria

An Accessible & Rewarding Survival-Craft Game

Most open-world survival-craft games start with minimal instructions, challenging players to learn as they go and quickly figure out how the game works. Terraria stands out because it’s immediately enjoyable – its crafting is easy to understand, and exploring its 2D world feels natural.

Terraria is easy to pick up and play, letting you jump right into exploring and building without a steep learning curve. The game makes exploration exciting with its satisfying combat, varied landscapes, and a huge, ever-changing underground world.

4. Left 4 Dead 2

A Fast-Paced FPS That Immediately Fulfills Its Promise

Left 4 Dead 2 immediately throws players into the thick of a zombie apocalypse. The game doesn’t spend much time on story, instead focusing on quick, accessible gameplay and the fun, cooperative interaction between its memorable characters.

Right from the start, Left 4 Dead 2 delivers on its promise of thrilling, fast-paced zombie action. It’s easy to pick up and play, focusing on simple, effective gameplay. The game is intense and rewards players who work together, and it’s especially great for playing online with friends.

3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Classic Arcade Gameplay With A Familiar Feel

If you grew up playing arcade games or classic beat ’em ups, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will likely feel instantly familiar and fun. From the start, the game perfectly captures the lighthearted spirit of the original cartoons with its bright, retro pixel art, fantastic music, and great voice acting, immediately setting a playful mood.

Shredder’s Revenge immediately jumps into the fast-paced action, placing you in recognizable settings to fight the Foot Clan. While the game is full of nods to the classic 80s cartoon, it really shines thanks to its unique level design, diverse bosses, and easy-to-learn controls. Plus, you can enjoy the game with friends locally or online in co-op mode.

Honorable mention to Marvel Cosmic Invasion, which also hits the ground running.

2. Hotline Miami

Instant Adrenaline & Edgy Presentation

Hotline Miami wastes no time, throwing players right into the action after a brief introduction. The game immediately delivers a rush of adrenaline with its fast-paced, violent gameplay and pulsing music, and even dying doesn’t slow you down thanks to instant restarts.

Hotline Miami is a fast-paced, top-down shooter that’s easy to pick up and play. Despite its simple controls, the game throws you into intense, violent action with little breathing room, and you can quickly learn as you go. It mixes disturbing story scenes with quick, brutal levels, offering an immediate and uncompromising gameplay experience.

1. Tactical Breach Wizards

A Cinematic, Stylish, & Tactical Combat Puzzle

Tactical Breach Wizards offers a fresh take on strategy games, combining turn-based puzzles with a cool, modern fantasy world. It draws inspiration from games like XCOM and Into The Breach, but still feels completely original. The game starts with a slick, cinematic style that’s easy to pick up, then quickly ramps up the challenge and adds a healthy dose of quirky fun.

One of the things that makes Tactical Breach Wizards so enjoyable right away is its helpful tutorial, which quickly explains the game’s world, style, and how it works. Players immediately get a feel for what the game offers, and it doesn’t waste time introducing new characters, enemies, and skills to keep the action fast-paced and exciting.

2026-01-17 16:36