The most interesting action games released in 2009
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Action
January 13, 2009
An action game set in the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The game shows a vision of the aforementioned universe inspired by the movie trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. Developed by Pandemic Studios, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest allows the player to participate in a number of battles determining the fate of Middle Earth. One can side with the forces of good and fight side by side with the characters from the books and movies, or join Sauron as he conquers consecutive territories and enslaves the peoples of Middle Earth. The gameplay mechanics have been based on the formula featured in the first two installments of the Star Wars: Battlefront series. During the battles, one controls standard units diversified in terms of their specialties - the players can become warriors, archers, scouts, or mages. Occasionally, one can also assume the role of giants and characters known from the movie adaptations. The two available single-player campaigns (one per each faction of the conflict) have been divided into several diverse missions - the multiplayer experience, however, features three game modes – Skirmish, Conquest, and Capture the Ring. The game delivers high-quality visuals - the player is bound to appreciate the character models highly resembling the actors who starred in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
The Maw
Action
January 21, 2009
The Maw is an action adventure game created by the independent development studio Twisted Pixel. The plot depicts the adventures of a pair of friendly aliens who try to escape from an inhospitable planet and avoid meeting with prize hunters. Players take on the role of Frank, but the key to success is to make the most of the unique properties of the title Mawa. The game was awarded the audience award during the Penny Arcade Expo fair in 2010.
Karma Online: Prisoners of the Dead
Action
January 22, 2009
Betting on multiplayer FPS set on an alternative vision of history, in which the Second World War still lasts in the 1950s. Two factions take part in the conflict: Axis and Allies. The game offers both traditional Deatchmatch and Free for All, as well as more ingenious modes such as sabotage. There is also the equivalent of zombie modes, in which we have to face hordes of mutants.
Noby Noby Boy
Action
January 29, 2009
A very original arcade game designed by Keita Takahashi, the creator of the series Catamari Damacy. We play the role of a worm-like hero who has the ability to stretch his own body incredibly. At each level, the goal is to maximise the elongation of the form we control.
AC-130: Operation Devastation
Action
January 29, 2009
AC-130: Operation Devastation is an airborne target sight shooter produced by the Frozen Codebase studio. The player plays the role of an artiller operating an AC-130 aircraft and his task is to destroy enemy units and targets in several missions inspired by authentic military operations carried out in Vietnam, Iraq and Panama.
Crimson Road
Action
January 31, 2009
Crimson Road is an arcade shooter produced by Media Contact studio. The plot of the game depicts the struggle with a dangerous virus, which turns people into bloodthirsty beasts. The player controls an armored combat vehicle, and its task is to destroy hordes of mutants and protect a handful of survivors of the planet who have managed to withstand the epidemic.
Rygar: The Battle of Argus
Action
February 3, 2009
Rygar: The Battle of Argus is a conversion of an action adventure game, Rygar, released in 2002 on a PS2 console. However, compared to its prototype, the Wii version has been slightly improved and adapted to support the unique Nintendo product controllers. More emphasis was also placed on the battle aspect of entertainment, although the adventure part was not neglected. On the Japanese market, the new Rygar operates with the Muscle Impact subtitle.
District Wars
Action
February 4, 2009
A dynamic action game with a view of TPP, telling the story of gang wars. As the last member of the Scorpions' gang we set off to take revenge and liquidate the murderers of our colleagues. The structure of the game and the gameplay are very similar to GTA, because we can move freely around the big city. The graphics look good and the whole thing has been completed with a multiplayer mode.
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Action
February 10, 2009
A direct sequel to F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon – the warmly received combination of first-person shooter and survival horror, developed by Monolith Productions. This time you don’t play as the Point Man, the protagonist of the first game, but as Michael Becket, a member of the anti-terrorist squad called Delta. His main objective is to arrest the head of Armacham Technology Corporation. In the game you cross paths not only with various enemy soldiers, but also with Alma Wade – a young woman with paranormal abilities, who is directly responsible for the unexplained events taking place around you. The gameplay core in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is combat. Skirmishes take place both inside buildings and across the devastated city. In battles you make use of a rich arsenal of weapons – from time to time you can even control a battle mech. What’s more, in order to give yourself a leverage, once again you can make use of the bullet-time mechanics. Apart from the single-player story-driven campaign, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin offers expansive online multiplayer. Another of the game’s assets is high-quality graphics.
The House of the Dead: Overkill
Action
February 10, 2009
The House of the Dead: Overkill is a bloodthirsty horror first person shootout of the genus "viewfinder". (rail shooter). The player takes on the role of one of the special agents, sent to Bayou City, Louisiana to exterminate a hordes of living corpses. In terms of storytelling, the game created by Headstrong Games studio is a prequel to The House of the Dead series.
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
Action
February 17, 2009
The first major expansion for Grand Theft Auto IV - a sandbox developed by Rockstar Games. In order to launch it, the base game is required. Similar to the core game, the story of the expansion is set in Liberty City. This time, the player assumes the role of Johnny Klebitz, the leader of a biker gang known as The Lost. Apart from having to deal with a competitive group known as Angels of Death, the protagonist has to deal with internal power struggle and the insane former boss of The Lost. The player's base of operations is the hideout of the gang, where key figures can be met, and different mini-games can be played. The essence of the gameplay comes with the story missions however, the completion of which in most cases requires the player to reach a designated location, exchange fire with enemies or chase them in a spectacular fashion. As a biker gang leader, Johnny rides a bike for the most part, and he is often accompanied by other members of The Lost. Additionally, the expansion features several new vehicles, weapons, radio stations and multiplayer modes.
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Action
February 20, 2009
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is another game signed by a popular American rapper. Previous production with his participation was subtitled Bulletproof and was very well received by the players. Blood on the Sand does not continue the story of the previous game. This time the script will entangle the black musician in the fight against the international gangster network.
Tomb Raider: Underworld - Beneath the Ashes
Action
February 24, 2009
A DLC pack for Tomb Raider: Underworld, an installment in one of the most popular arcade game series of all time. Beneath the Ashes is centered on a previously unknown adventure of Lara Croft. This time the famous archaeologist discovers an entrance to underground tunnels located underneath her mansion. In this maze, full of crypts and caves, Lara's father has hidden an artifact which allows its wielder to summon undead creatures and control them with words. The gameplay focuses mostly on the use of logic and skill to solve puzzles, and on exploration—combat rarely happens. Lara gets through obstacles not only by climbing and jumping, but also by using various pieces of equipment, e.g. a grappling hook. The DLC adds 3–6 hours worth of gameplay to the game and includes several new unique outfits for Lara.
Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop
Action
February 24, 2009
Remake of the popular third-person action game from Xbox 360, developed by Capcom especially for Nintendo Wii owners. The action takes place in a small American town Willamette, where the local mall has been overrun by hordes of bloodthirsty zombies. During the game we play as a photojournalist Frank West, who hoping to make the most important material in his career, stands up to unequal fight with mutants infected with bloodthirsty virus.
Quake Live
Action
February 24, 2009
A free-to-play installment of the popular series of first-person shooters developed by id Software. The title is a modified version of the third installment and the Team Arena expansion. The title focuses mostly on multiplayer competitions played in one of the standard game modes on maps that are well known to the fans of the series. Quake Live was developed for players of various skills and the basic aspect that makes it different from the third installment of the series is the increased focus on social aspects. This can be noticed on the dedicated website through the option to create friend lists, advanced online statistics and various tournaments with valuable rewards. The game is distributed for free, but the users are forced to watch commercials implemented into the game by IGA Worldwide.
Killzone 2
Action
February 25, 2009
A direct sequel to the futuristic first person shooter released on PlayStation 2, created by Guerilla Games as an answer to the successful, and mostly Xbox exclusive, Halo series. Killzone 2 takes place on the home planet of Helghan, two years after the events shown in the first game in the series. This time, the player becomes a completely new character – Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko – and is tasked with a counterattack against the enemy Helghan faction and capturing their leader, Visari, so he can be brought to justice. As the game debuts on next generation of consoles, the sequel offers great improvement in terms of visual quality, fully destructible environment, dynamically changing weather conditions and improved artificial intelligence – both of enemies and our allies on the battlefield. In comparison to the first Killzone, the number of available weapon types is larger and new vehicles were added.
Yakuza 3
Action
February 26, 2009
The third installment of a popular series of action games about the Japanese mafia. The story presented in Yakuza 3 once again focuses on the character of Kazuma Kiryu. The protagonist once again finds himself in the middle of the gangster accounts - this time in defense of an orphanage he founded, which attracted the interest of corrupt politicians associated with the title Yakuza.
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
Action
February 27, 2009
A dynamic action game with a view of TPP, in which we direct the fate of Matt Hazard - a fictional hero of electronic games from years ago. The production has a rather unusual and innovative plot, in which programmers are given the task of removing a superhero. Taking the matter into our own hands we go through various dynamic levels and diverse environments to fight for our survival. The game has a nice audiovisual setting.
NecroVision
Action
February 27, 2009
Produced by the Polish studio The Farm 51 FPS with a plot set during the First World War. However, the creators did not strengthen historical realism and introduced supernatural elements, thanks to which we fight against demons, vampires and zombies. The game is based on joyful combat and fun consists mainly in clashes with large groups of enemies.
Armed Forces Corp.
Action
February 27, 2009
Polish first person shooter, in which we play the role of mercenaries associated in a certain organization. Soldiers are sent to a skyscraper seized by terrorists to retrieve priceless information. The campaign consists of 8 stages. In the game you will find several types of weapons and various accessories (e.g. night vision goggles).
SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off
Action
March 3, 2009
SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends: Unite! is an action game produced and released by THQ with the protagonists of the popular cartoon in the lead roles. This time, SpongeBob and his friends must unite to face the Evil Syndicate pact and destroy the Doomsday machine that the sinister Professor Calamitous uses to travel to other worlds.
Watchmen: The End Is Nigh
Action
March 4, 2009
Watchmen: The End Is Nigh is a third-person perspective (TPP) action game based on Alan Moore's popular comic book series and the movie "Watchmen" directed by Zack Snyder. However, in contrast to the sources of inspiration, the developers from Deadline Games studio decided to present the title group of superheroes in the period of their greatest glory. Players can impersonate Nite Owl, Captain Metropolis or Mothman and take part in spectacular clashes with villains.
Resident Evil 5
Action
March 5, 2009
A TPP action game, another entry in the popular horror game series. Resident Evil 5 takes place 10 years after the destruction of Racoon City. Main hero – Chris Redfield – travels to Africa to investigate origins of the mysterious T Virus that changes humans into zombies. Gameplay combines dynamic shooting sequences with gory horror, as the player has to deal with hordes of enemies using various weapons: from pistols, shotguns and machine rifles, to knives and grenades. Resident Evil 5 offers several modes, including multiplayer cooperation for two players.