New Action RPGs That Surpassed The Genre’s Longtime Kings

Action RPGs began as simple games, similar to the early Ys series, and gradually became a popular genre all their own. Franchises like Tales of and Kingdom Hearts have remained successful, but some games truly stood out, reshaping the genre for years to come.

Released in 2011, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remains popular today. While the game is excellent overall, its combat hasn’t necessarily aged gracefully. Several action RPGs released between 2023 and 2025 have arguably surpassed it in terms of action. These newer games may not all be revolutionary, but they offer impressive and exciting combat experiences.

Avowed

An Elder Scroll

Though created by Obsidian Entertainment, Avowed strongly resembles the feel of Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series. Its combat system is more immersive, offering satisfying feedback when using both close-range and ranged weapons, like pistols.

The magic system is more detailed, letting players learn spells through gameplay or by discovering spellbooks that double as weapons. The world and characters feel much more vibrant and realistic compared to recent games from Bethesda, like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

A Bold Step For The Franchise

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth improves upon the action gameplay of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and stands as the best action RPG in the Final Fantasy series to date. Developing an action game with a diverse cast – in this case, six main characters – each playing uniquely is difficult, but Square Enix successfully achieved this.

The combat is consistently engaging thanks to a mix of close-quarters fighting and magic, but the new Synergy attacks truly make it stand out compared to previous games. Plus, this game is huge, with tons of optional things to do – something older games couldn’t handle due to technical limitations.

Stellar Blade

Bayonetta Meets Nioh

The beginning of Stellar Blade feels a little sluggish, initially giving the impression of a typical, linear Soulslike game. However, once you move beyond the first area and reach the central town, the game world expands and offers more freedom.

As a fan, I’d say the combat is tough, almost like a Soulslike game, but dying never feels punishing. It’s really cool! And honestly, the way Eve moves and fights feels a lot like playing as Bayonetta – super fast and fluid. It takes inspiration from those challenging action games, but honestly, it creates a totally unique experience that I haven’t found in any other Soulslike title.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

From Dozens To One

The Dynasty Warriors games are often criticized for feeling repetitive, with similar combat and a lack of depth. Dynasty Warriors: Origins tries to address this, giving longtime fans a slightly new and refreshing experience.

This game tells a story centered around a single character, and your choices will change how the story unfolds. Missions are connected on a world map. The combat feels familiar to other games in the series, but it’s been improved with more responsive controls for weapons, abilities, and counters. While you might be able to play as fewer characters than usual, the gameplay is a significant improvement overall.

Lies Of P

Bloodborne’s Puppet Successor

Fans looking for a game similar to Bloodborne since its release in 2015 will find a lot to love in Lies of P. It captures the same challenging difficulty and unsettling atmosphere, set in a gothic world populated by creepy, mechanical puppets. It’s a fast-paced action game where quick reflexes and aggressive play are key.

The game isn’t just visually appealing – it lets you creatively combine any weapon parts to build unique tools. These tools can significantly boost your combat abilities, letting you create a Pinocchio character that’s much more powerful than the classic story’s version.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii

Unhinged Sea Life

As a huge fan of the Yakuza series, I’ve always loved the intense, up-close fighting. While the main games have switched to a turn-based style recently, I’m so excited that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is bringing that classic, action-packed combat back! It’s going to be awesome to get back to those brutal melee fights.

This combat system is a bit more chaotic than before, mainly because you’re playing as Goro Majima, who fights with everything he’s got – fists, knives, even guns. You can also discover magical items while exploring that let you summon creatures like sharks, adding a supernatural element. And the ship battles are over-the-top, with things like laser cannons firing at your opponents.

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery Of The Soulless Army

Megami Tensei’s Testing Ground

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is an updated version of a PlayStation 2 game that originally experimented with a new combat system, moving away from the traditional turn-based style of the Shin Megami Tensei series. While that change was well-received initially, this remaster adds so much to the combat that it feels less like a simple update and more like a complete remake.

The game features larger, more open environments and a more complex combat system. Players can now call upon two demons to assist them in battle. While it’s simply a remastered version of the original, this game showcases improvements that Atlus could build upon for future mainline Shin Megami Tensei or Persona titles, making older, turn-based combat feel outdated.

Sand Land

Anime Fallout

Sand Land is inspired by a manga created by Akira Toriyama. It’s set in a dry, desert world where water is scarce and everyone is struggling to survive. The story centers around a team of demons and humans who join forces to search for a new water source. While the premise of searching for resources might remind you of games like Fallout, the world of Sand Land is uniquely captivating.

Players control a variety of vehicles – like cars, tanks, and mechs – to explore the world and battle enemies. You can also fight directly as the main character, Beelzebub, offering different ways to play. While it may not be as expansive as the Fallout series, Sand Land features a more dynamic combat and movement system, something Fallout fans have long requested with the addition of vehicles or rideable creatures.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

A Modern Classic

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an action RPG focused on exciting gameplay. It’s a relatively short experience, but keeps things interesting with fast-paced action and impressive environments – you’ll be scaling massive creatures and firing cannons from your airship! While you can switch between characters during a fight, you need to pick a main leader before you start, which feels a little unusual.

Beyond that, the combat system is special because players can hold onto their skills, letting them become more powerful before using them. Combining this with team-based abilities creates incredibly strong attacks and adds a layer of strategic timing to the typical action RPG experience.

Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden

Tragedy Strikes Everyone

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden blends the storytelling of The Witcher with the gameplay of the Batman: Arkham series. The game centers around a married couple who investigate paranormal activity. A twist occurs when the wife, Antea, dies and becomes a ghost, continuing to work alongside her husband, Ruaidhrigh. Players control both characters, switching between them to solve mysteries and battle ghosts and other undead creatures.

Once a case is finished, players can choose to support either the living or the deceased. Choosing to side with the living is a harsher option, but it rewards players with more power for combat. This is a unique way to make choices affect how the game plays, rather than just the story. Also, the relationship between Ruaidhrigh and Antea is a touching and realistic portrayal of love and loss, something rarely seen in games.

2025-12-11 11:37