Upcoming Games All About Combat

Everyone loves a well-designed combat system in a video game. There’s a special satisfaction in controlling a character who can use powerful weapons and perform impressive combos against enemies and bosses. That’s why many gamers consider combat to be the most important feature when choosing a new game.

The next few years look incredibly exciting for gamers, with a lot of promising new games on the way. Many of these games, no matter the specific style – like fast-paced action, challenging ‘Souls-like’ games, or large-scale battles – really emphasize combat. Here are some of the most anticipated titles that put the focus on fighting.

Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment

The Warriors And Zelda Franchises Cross Over For The Third Time

Release Date: November 6, 2025

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a highly anticipated exclusive title for the new Nintendo Switch 2. It’s the third spin-off game in the Hyrule Warriors series, developed in collaboration between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo. This installment serves as an official prequel to the 2023 game Tears of the Kingdom, revealing what happened to Princess Zelda while she was traveling through time in ancient Hyrule.

Okay, so as you’d expect from a classic ‘Musou’ style game, Age of Imprisonment is all about the combat. You get to play as awesome characters like Zelda, Rauru, Sonia, Mineru, and a bunch more, and each one has their own special moves and weapons. Basically, you’re mowing down hordes of Ganondorf’s baddies! Look, it’s probably not going to be the most complex Legend of Zelda game ever, but honestly, the super-fast, action-packed combat is going to be worth playing it just for that.

Let It Die: Inferno

The Unexpected Return Of Suda51’s Strange Soulslike

Release Date: December 4, 2025

Suda51, known for creating unique and strange action games, has announced a sequel to his 2016 free-to-play game, Let it Die. Called Let it Die: Inferno, the new game will be another challenging action game in the style of Dark Souls, featuring a bold visual style and wild, energetic gameplay.

In Let it Die: Inferno, you play as a character exploring a monster-filled, ruined Earth. You’ll collect weapons and items, and even if your character dies, you can simply choose a new one and return to the spot where you fell to recover your lost gear. This makes learning the game’s challenging combat system essential to avoid constantly losing valuable items. This gameplay loop proved very popular in the first Let it Die, so the sequel promises to be equally engaging and fun.

Nioh 3

The Long-Awaited Third Entry In This Fast-Paced Soulslike Series

Release Date: February 6, 2026

The Nioh series is a highly acclaimed and popular action RPG, known for its quick, engaging combat that successfully combines elements of challenging ‘Soulslike’ games with the fast-paced action of hack-and-slash titles. After a considerable wait, Nioh 3 is expected to release in early 2026, and everything shown so far suggests it will be the peak of Koei Tecmo’s development over the last nine years.

Okay, so the biggest thing about Nioh 3 is definitely the combat. They’ve built it around two different styles: Samurai and Ninja. The Samurai style is all about hitting hard and going toe-to-toe, while Ninja is faster, more about dodging, and using special moves. The cool part is you can switch between them on the fly, which really shakes up the gameplay. Trust me, this is going to be a lifesaver in boss fights – and those fights are still as intense and awesome as ever, whether you’re battling Yokai or other warriors.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games’ New, Violent Superhero Project

Release Date: Fall 2026

Insomniac Games has become well-known for its excellent Spider-Man games. Before they begin work on the next Spider-Man title, however, they’re finishing up Marvel’s Wolverine. Recently revealed at a State of Play event after years of waiting, the game looks incredibly promising.

Unlike Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, Marvel’s Wolverine will be a much more violent and gritty experience, fitting for the character’s famously fierce nature and adamantium claws. The game’s combat is expected to be a key feature, blending the intense action of the God of War reboot with the fluid fighting system of the Batman: Arkham series. Players can also anticipate encounters with other well-known X-Men characters like Mystique and Omega Red, likely as challenging boss battles during Wolverine’s solo journey.

Onimusha: Way Of The Sword

Capcom Brings Back One Of Its Most Important Hack-And-Slash Franchises

Release Date: 2026

While often compared to Devil May Cry, Onimusha is a truly important and memorable action game series. Capcom has recently been re-releasing the original games, but the new Onimusha: Way of the Sword will be the first completely new installment in over two decades.

Compared to past games in the series, Way of the Sword will feature a grittier, more realistic look and feel. While the new camera angle and slower pace might remind some players of Soulslike games, it’s clear this will still be a fast-paced, action-packed hack-and-slash experience. The game will emphasize skillful sword fighting, showcasing Miyamoto Musashi’s ability to slice through nearly anything – both enemies and the environment. He’ll also have access to the iconic Oni Gauntlet, a key element of the Onimusha franchise. Given the success of Devil May Cry 5, Onimusha: Way of the Sword looks poised to be a big hit and successfully revive this beloved series.

Kingdom Hearts 4

The Next Entry In This Beloved Action RPG Series

Release Date: Unknown

The Kingdom Hearts series is famous for its fun blend of Square Enix and Disney characters, but at its core, it’s still an action role-playing game. As fans eagerly anticipate the Disney worlds featured in the new Kingdom Hearts 4, the updated combat system will be just as important to the overall experience.

The first trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 shows that the game will continue the series’ exciting action RPG style, but now Sora can create massive objects, like whips and drills, using his Keyblade. The director, Tetsuya Nomura, has also announced the return of Reaction Commands, which should make battles feel even more dramatic and rewarding. While we don’t know when Kingdom Hearts 4 will be released, it’s shaping up to be one of the best action games available on current consoles.

Phantom Blade Zero

A Dark, Cinematic Action Game With Impressive Fight Choreography

Release Date: Unknown

Phantom Blade Zero, a new action RPG from Chinese developer S-GAME, is generating a lot of excitement. It stands out with its impressive graphics, a dark and serious story, and a combat system that appears to be both innovative and challenging.

Phantom Blade Zero features fluid, cinematic, and intense combat. Players will need quick reflexes and precise timing to successfully block or dodge attacks. While it shares some similarities with Soulslike games, the core experience centers around fast-paced action and stunning sword fighting, promising exciting and unforgettable boss battles.

Tides Of Annihilation

An Original IP With A Promising New Mechanic

Release Date: Unknown

Tides of Annihilation is a new hack-and-slash game currently in development by Eclipse Glow Games. The game’s reveal trailer quickly gained attention from fans of the genre thanks to its stunning visuals, original story idea, huge bosses, and smooth, fast-paced combat.

What makes Tides of Annihilation stand out from other action games is its unique combat system where you summon spectral knights to fight alongside the main character, Gwendolyn. These knights have their own moves and abilities, similar to the gameplay in Astral Chain. If the developers can execute this well, Tides of Annihilation has the potential to be a top-notch new hack-and-slash game.

2025-10-21 16:11