The most interesting action games released in 1997
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Metal Slug
Action 01 January 1997
The first installment of the popular Metal Slug series, which debuted in 1996 on arcade machines. Over the course of time, production went on new platforms, allowing their users to face the soldiers commanded by the sinister General Morden.
Dreams to Reality
Action 01 January 1997
Action adventure game created by Cryo Interactive studio, in which we play the role of Duncan - the chosen one trying to save the land of sleep and the real world from the forces of evil. In Dreams to Reality we observe the protagonist's actions from behind his back - during the game we mainly deal with exploration of the location, solving environmental riddles and fighting with enemies.
RayStorm
Action 10 January 1997
Futuristic 3D shooter with isometric view. Players take control of a ship flying to the top of the screen and their goal is to eliminate emerging opponents and survive their attacks.
Blood
Action 24 January 1997
Action/FPS game is based on engine Build, the same that was used to develop the famous Duke Nukem 3D. The player takes on the role of Caleb, a devilish entity seeking revenge on the evil deity of Tchernobog and the underground organization Cabal, which worships him.
Quake Mission Pack No. 1: Scourge of Armagon
Action 28 February 1997
Created by a group of enthusiasts from Hypnotic Interactive studio, the level pack for the cult FPS shooter Quake has been approved by id Software as an official expansion pack. The expansion, entitled Quake Mission Pack No. 1: Scourge of Armagon, brings with it fifteen brand new levels, divided into three mini-episodes and one original deathmatch map.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Action 20 March 1997
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is an extended game from the famous series about vampire hunters. Two-dimensional platformer belongs also to the species of metroidvanii.
Quake Mission Pack No. 2: Dissolution of Eternity
Action 31 March 1997
The second official expansion for id Software's cult FPS shooter Quake. Developed by Rogue Entertainment team, the expansion called Quake Mission Pack No. 2: Dissolution of Eternity introduces sixteen meticulously detailed maps, divided into two episodes that architecturally surpass even the levels known from the original Quake.
Redneck Rampage
Action 12 April 1997
Redneck Rampage is a first person shooter (FPS) produced by the Xatrix Entertainment development studio. The action of the game was set in a small American town. The player takes on the role of one of the two brothers who set out to rescue their beloved mumps Bessie, kidnapped by aliens. The title is distinguished by an unconventional sense of humour and a relatively high level of difficulty.
Katharsis
Action 15 April 1997
Katharsis is a scrolling shooter produced by Metropolis Software development studio. The action of the game was set in the future. The Earth is attacked by mysterious spacecraft bearing colonists' signs, with whom contact had been lost more than a thousand years earlier. The player plays the role of a fighter pilot defending the planet, and his task is to discover the truth about the origin of intruders and repel the invasion.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Action 10 May 1997
A new chapter in Star Wars, in which, as a mercenary of Dash Rendar, we must stop the evil plans of Black Sun to kill Luck Skywalker, and free the frozen Han Solo from the carbonite sheet.
Shadow Warrior (1997)
Action 13 May 1997
An action game by the creators of the cult FPP shooter Duke Nukem 3D, heavily based on the latter. It utilizes the same engine as its predecessor and features similar gameplay mechanics, but has a different atmosphere and setting. You play as a Japanese master assassin, a member of the Shadow Warriors clan. Betrayed by his employer, who's trying to conquer Japan, Lo Wang has to fight with the overwhelming forces of the enemy.
MDK
Action 21 May 1997
MDK is a well received third-person perspective action game developed by Shiny Entertainment. The player assumes the role of Kurt Hectic, who uses intellect and inventions of doctor Fluke Hawkins to face an alien race that attacks Earth.
Ace Combat 2
Action 30 May 1997
The second part of the air shootout, which neatly combines arcade and simulation elements. Exclusively released on PlayStation 1, the production is a continuation of Air Combat from 1997.
Hexen II
Action 02 June 1997
Another action/FPS game created by Raven Software team. This time, Raven Software developers decided to adapt the engine Quake for the game. Of course, not without minor corrections, after all, the first Hexen was known for the fact that in addition to the traditional portion of devastation, it also offered accents characteristic of adventure games.
Bedlam 2: Absolute Bedlam
Action 04 June 1997
Continuation of the dynamic Bedlam shooter from 1996, in which, as the commander of the RAT unit, we again face the reorganized army of rebellious machines. The rules of the game have not changed, and the creators have limited themselves to designing and giving players a new set of slightly more extensive missions.
Nightmare Creatures
Action 25 June 1997
Nightmare Creatures is an expanded action game with elements of adventure, in which we observe the action from the third person's perspective (TPP view). The whole climate resembles such series as Resident Evil or Castlevania.
Xevious 3D/G
Action 30 June 1997
The fourth part of the popular Japanese shoot'em upów series, and the first installment of the series, which has been presented in a three-dimensional graphic design. Xevious 3D/G made its debut on slot machines, but after a year it also hit the PlayStation 1 console. The title allows us to become the pilot of a spacecraft, which was the last hope of humanity when the Earth found itself on the target of the aggressive Xevian race.
Chasm: the Rift
Action 02 July 1997
Chasm: The Rift is one of many clones already written in the history of Quake's FPS games, introducing some interesting elements to the standards used by the precursor. As a soldier summoned to help mankind, you will face many opponents in several places on earth's globe.
Armored Core
Action 10 July 1997
The first installment of a series of action games with a view of TPP, in which the main role is played by giant robots. Players take on the role of one of the pilots of modern combat machines and undertake a number of different missions.
Ghost in the Shell
Action 17 July 1997
Based on the popular manga and anime Ghost in the Shell, the TPP shooter, in which players control a spider-like combat vehicle and undertake a series of missions. Production focuses on skillful, spectacular duels with enemies.
Cryptic Passage for Blood
Action 09 August 1997
Another addition to one of the most interesting games, based on the popular Engin Build. This time Caleb sets off on a dangerous mission to find an ancient scroll.
Machine Hunter
Action 31 August 1997
A shooting in which we observe the action from a top-down perspective. In Machine Hunter we play the role of a soldier equipped with a special suit allowing him to take control of the robots, which in turn gives him access to the arsenal used by them. This is important as the Eurocom Entertainment Software studio takes us to Mars, and our task is to counter the attack from aggressive aliens.
Treasures of the Deep
Action 31 August 1997
An action adventure game in which we play the role of a mercenary performing underwater missions. The tasks facing us in the Treasures of the Deep include plundering shipwrecks, mitigating the effects of environmental disasters or, for example, crossing the plans of competitors. At the time of the premiere, the title attracted attention mainly due to the high quality of the graphic design.
Time Warriors
Action 07 September 1997
Three-dimensional fight, in which we can participate in a big tournament by playing one of the few dangerous warriors. So practice all the clandestine blows and defeat your opponents.
Redneck Deer Huntin'
Action 12 September 1997
A simple arcade game, created on the basis of the once popular program called Redneck Rampage. You play the role of Leonard, the famous alien conqueror of Hickston, who this time will hunt another animal.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Action 15 September 1997
Sequel the great action game Dark Forces, set in the world of Star Wars, where again as a mercenary Kyle Katarn we have to foil the plans of the Empire by training in the power of the Jedi.
Extreme Assault
Action 15 September 1997
Defend the Earth from alien invasion with a prototype Sioux AH-23 helicopter and a next-generation heavy T1 tank that you are fighting in giant operating areas.
Mageslayer
Action 24 September 1997
A dynamic action game with a view from above. Our task is to break through to the fortress of the evil knight and kill him before his revenge is completed.
Outlaws
Action 27 September 1997
A FPS game from the reliable LucasArts stables with action in the Wild West. The hero of the game, Sheriff James Anderson, must take revenge on the bandits who killed his wife and kidnapped his daughter.
Postal
Action 30 September 1997
Postal is a controversial action game designed exclusively for adult users. The role of the main character is played by a psychopathic murderer (the so-called "Guy from Postal"), exterminating without a blink of an eye all forms of life encountered, with particular emphasis on people.
Rampage World Tour
Action 30 September 1997
Two-dimensional action game, which is a remake of the arcade game Rampage released in 1986. We take control of one of the three giant monsters, demolishing the world's most famous cities.
Mass Destruction
Action 30 September 1997
An action game in which we get into a small tank to do a great thing - to dominate the whole theatre of actions, destroying and killing everything that stands in our way.
Take No Prisoners
Action 30 September 1997
Postapocalyptic 3D shooter, made in classic top view. The action takes place in San Antonio of the future, destroyed after a nuclear explosion. The player takes on the role of a mercenary, who must reclaim a special crystal, necessary to build a dome to protect against contamination.
Maximum Force
Action 30 September 1997
A skillful target sight converted to PlayStation 1 from slot machines, where players take on the role of a counter-terrorist and try to save hostages from the hands of criminals. The title is distinguished by a relatively rare graphic design, with digitised images of actors.
Blood Plasma Pak
Action 01 October 1997
The first official extension to the game Blood, offering one new episode, several premiere villains and increased power of destruction of some weapons.
Fighting Force
Action 18 October 1997
A "walking" brawl, developed by the creators of Tomb Raider - Core Design studio, realized in the third person perspective. In the game we play one of the four characters trying to stop the booming of the crazy Dr. Zening. Disappointed by prophecies about the imminent end of the world, he decides to bring an apocalypse to mankind on his own.
Grand Theft Auto
Action 27 October 1997
A controversial action game developed by the Scotch studio DMA Design. The game takes place in three American cities, based on Miami, New York and San Francisco. The objective of the game is to complete various missions received from mafia bosses. At first the missions are simple (for example, stealing cars), but as player’s reputation increases, the objectives become more complicated and player starts participating in bank robberies, murders and other insolent crimes.
Nuclear Strike
Action 29 October 1997
The fifth installment of the cult cycle of shooting with a view from the top, started in 1992 with Desert Strike. In the game we follow in the footsteps of a terrorist who came into possession of an extremely dangerous atomic head for the world. We have at our disposal 15 different combat machines, headed by a modern Super Apache helicopter equipped with Hydra missiles, Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles.
Time Crisis
Action 31 October 1997
Shooting on rails published by Namco. Production allows players to play the role of a secret agent who tries to save the kidnapped daughter of the president of a fictitious state. The title introduced a revolutionary concept for the genre of hiding behind covers.
Tomb Raider II: The Dagger of Xian
Action 31 October 1997
A sequel to a groundbreaking action-adventure game released in 1996. In the original game, the player followed the adventures of the extraordinary Lara Croft - an archeologist exploring ancient tombs located all around the world, searching for valuable artifacts. In Tomb Raider II created again by Core Design, the plot focuses around the search for a mythical dagger from the Xian temple. The item itself is capable of turning a human being into a powerful dragon.
Critical Depth
Action 31 October 1997
Arcade production based on the assumptions of known from car action games. The title allows you to steer submarines equipped with different weapons and take part in a series of battles.
G-Police
Action 30 November 1997
A dynamic three-dimensional action game in which we play the guardians of the law of the future and sit at the helmets of a futuristic police helicopter. Performing successive missions in the universe inspired by the famous Android Hunter, we also try to discover the cause of the sudden and mysterious death of our sister.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Action 30 November 1997
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a dynamic first person shooter (FPS) based on the popular comic book series. The player plays the title character - a brave barbarian from prehistoric times, defending the Earth against threats from the inhabitants of the Lost Land. He has to face a dangerous race of Campaigners who, with an army of genetically modified dinosaurs, want to take control of the Universe. The game was produced by Iguana studio.
Duke Nukem 3D: Duke it out in D.C.
Action 02 December 1997
The first supplement to the cult game Duke Nukem 3D authorized by 3D Realms. The action is set in Washington and our task is to find and release the President of the United States.
Heavy Gear (1997)
Action 03 December 1997
The first title in the Heavy Gear series released in 1997, showing the fight of pilots armed with Gears and Striders - nimble, combat walking machines. The game is based on the brand, which includes paper RPG and board battle game.
Armored Core: Project Phantasma
Action 04 December 1997
Continuation of the 1997 release of Armored Core, an action game with a view of TPP. The project develops elements of the original, allowing players to try out new types of weapons and mosses on various maps.
Beast Wars: Transformers
Action 05 December 1997
Action game based on the motifs of a series known in Poland under the title of Cosmic Wars. Players take the side of Maximala (descendants of the Autobots) or Predacons (successors of the Decepticons), and the outcome of the conflict taking place on the surface of the prehistoric Earth depends on their choice.
Quake II (1997)
Action 07 December 1997
The sequel to the groundbreaking first-person shooter by id Software that, just like its predecessor released the year before, set new visual standards thanks to the enhanced idTech 2 engine. The action of Quake II takes place in the distant future where humanity established contact with a biomechanical race of the technologically advanced Stroggs. When it turned out that the alien secretly plan to conquer Earth, a special space marine unit was sent into action.