The most interesting action games released in 2017
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Rise & Shine
Action
January 13, 2017
A combination of a classic platformer with a dynamic shooter. The game was created by Super Mega Team - an independent developer. The player is taken to Gamearth, a planet which fell victim to space invaders who call themselves Nexgen. Rise is the only hope the inhabitants of Gamearth have - he is an 11-year-old boy equipped with a holy artifact - a pistol known as Shine. The gameplay formula in Rise & Shine was based on jumping across platforms, avoiding traps, solving simple puzzles and fighting enemies. The protagonist's weapon undergoes modifications that change the way the pistol works. As a result, the player can use ammunition enriched with electric charge or remotely controlled bullets. The experience comes with a high difficulty level and the player encounters both "cannon fodder" in large numbers and powerful bosses here. All of this is complemented by high-quality 2D visuals characteristic of their cartoonish art style.
Gravity Rush 2
Action
January 18, 2017
A continuation of a third-person perspective action game from Sony, which was originally released in 2012 (in Japan known as Gravity Daze) as one of the first exclusive titles for PS Vita. Four years later a remastered version of the title was published on PlayStation 4. The action of Gravity Rush 2 is set in the same setting as the first installment. The inhabitants of a retro-futuristic metropolis once again have to face a powerful gravity storm. Kat, the main heroine who can manipulate gravity, is there to save the day. Thanks to her abilities, the protagonist can defy laws of gravity at will, fly, walk on vertical surfaces, bounce off environmental elements, and use peculiar types of attacks. Kat uses her skills to help inhabitants of the city and to face hordes of various monsters that appeared on Earth along with the mysterious storm.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle
Action
January 18, 2017
A classic beat'em up game developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is based on the license of the Power Rangers TV series popular back in 1990s. The titular teenagers are the characters the players assume control of in the game, supported by mysterious Zordon. The heroes have to face the forces of evil represented by the ominous Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd - they want to destroy the Earth and try to achieve it by sending in more and more powerful monsters. The game offers five characters the fans of the TV series are familiar with - the heroes differ both in terms of their weapons and special abilities. The player is required mainly to eliminate subsequent enemies and bosses with melee weapons and advanced attacks based on various martial arts. The game comes with cartoonish 2D visuals referring to the aesthetics popular in the 1990s. Both music and dialogues were taken from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series.
Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
Action
January 24, 2017
Seventh major installment in the cult series of survival horrors created by Capcom and launched in year 1996 on the PlayStation console. Subsequent parts of this long-standing series concentrate on a battle the humanity wages against a deadly virus which transforms those it infects into bloodthirsty monsters. The players accompany several characters who appeared in various installments of Resident Evil over the years as well as in many side installments. The game, being faithful to tradition, shows the action in third person perspective and the gameplay is based on exploration, fighting enemies and solving occasional logical puzzles. The game has a horror atmosphere which, across subsequent installments in the series, was gradually reduced in favor of action elements. Resident Evil 7 combines the best aspects of the old and new installments and is the first main Resident Evil game created for the eight generation consoles.
Deus Ex: Breach
Action
January 24, 2017
A standalone free-to-play action game which initially was part of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. In Deus Ex: Breach, we assume the role of a Ripper, a hacker whose task is to retrieve classified information on the biggest corporations of the Deus Ex universe. Mechanics-wise, the production resembles a first-person shooter set in cyberspace. Every server we break into is a visually different location, densely filled with various enemies and security measures. For our successes, we are awarded credits that can be spent on special content packs with equipment: from disposable items, through server mods and Praxis Kits, to new kinds of weapons. Players who would like to develop their character faster can make use of the built-in microtransaction system. Visually, the game offers an unusual style since almost all elements of the environment are composed of polygons.
Double Dragon IV
Action
January 30, 2017
The fourth installment in the legendary beat ‘em up series, developed by Arc System Works. The development was supported by the persons responsible for the cult-classic previous installments of the series, including Takaomi Kaneko, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, Koji Ogata, and Kazunaka Yamane. Similarly to the previous installments of the Double Dragon series, the gameplay focuses on traversing 2D locations and eliminating hordes of approaching opponents. Our means of survival include punches and kicks, as well as numerous melee weapons, with each level ending in a boss fight that requires much more effort from the player. Double Dragon IV received a story mode that can be completed alone, or with the help of another player. Completing the campaign unlocks the Tower Mode, involving the climb on the progressively higher levels of the titular tower, and a 2P Duel Mode, focusing on online 1v1 battes. The game is characterized by simple, pixel-art visuals, which take the player back to the previous installments of the series, known for popularizing the beat ‘em up genre.
Snailboy: Rise of Hermitron
Action
January 30, 2017
Snailboy: Rise of Hermitron is a platform game developed by Thoopid. It is a sequel to the well-received Snailboy: An Epic Adventure. We play as the titular snail who ends up in a mysterious world at the bottom of the ocean. When the evil crab Hermitron, aided by the bureaucrat Harold, prepares himself to take over the underwater land, it is our job to help the citizens of Coral Kingdom in bringing back peace and order. Snailboy: Rise of Hermitron is a typical side-scrolling platformer. Gameplay focuses on venturing through locations by jumping from one platform to another, and on fighting with the encountered enemies. During our adventures we will use our hero's unusual abilities. He can not only jump, but also stick to the environmental elements, and is more than good at firing magic missiles. Power-ups, located here and there through out the locations, will also be helpful in saving our skin.
Bigfoot
Action
January 30, 2017, Early Access
A first-person action game that follows the convention of survival horror. Bigfoot is a debut project of an independent Ukrainian developer, CyberLight studio. As the name suggests, the game focuses on the legendary humanoid creature living deep inside the Rocky Mountains. After a group of tourists goes missing in one of the nearby national parks in, as the police say, the result of an accident, the main protagonist, accompanied by his friends, decides to go to the site and investigate the case more closely. The players are offered a vast open world, in which they can explore lakes, swamps, and creepy caves. The gameplay builds on hunting down the titular adversary. The main protagonists establish their base in an RV, and during their hunt, they use a shotgun, a wide range of traps, and some other pieces of gear. The player can confront the Sasquatch (as Native Americans call it) alone, or in a cooperative mode allowing up to three players to join their forces for the hunt.
Line of Sight
Action
January 31, 2017
An online FPS created by a South-Korean studio known as Black Spot Entertainment. The game is set after the Second World War, but the conflict actually has not ended. Genetically modified soldiers created by Dr Geiger are fighting their American equivalents. Both the sides of the conflict are trying to find the so-called Alpha Child - a being without any genetic flaws, that is the pinnacle of Geiger's achievement. The players choose between the two sides of the conflict and fight one another in different modes available. Dynamic encounters between the players are diversified with use of psionic powers, which places the experience somewhere in-between BioShock and Call of Duty. The game modes included are divided into PvP and PvE variants, though one also has to notice the presence of the so-called Classic Modes (special powers are not accessible here). All of this is complemented by a dedicated ranking system, league matches, clans, and more.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - Sabotage
Action
January 31, 2017
The first official expansion for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which was first delivered to PlayStation 4 owners, with other platforms following a little bit later. This DLC pack offers four new maps for multiplayer gameplay (Noir, Neon, Renaissance, Dominion) as well as a new episode for the zombie co-op mini-campaign: Rave in the Redwoods, set in a wood camp inspired by horror movies of the 90s. Players can take on new variants of the heroes from the original game, who are now aided by film director Kevin Smith. On top of the new additions included in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - Sabotage there are two new opponents (Slasher and Sasquatch), extra weapons, traps, cosmetic elements, and Fortune Cards.
Evil Factory
Action
February 1, 2017
An oldschool shooter game utilizing a top-down point of view, developed by Korean studio Neople Games. The game is set in an unspecified future, after the Alliance defeated the malevolent Kraken organization. Rumor has it that the group was not entirely destroyed and is currently preparing for another invasion. The protagonist, Leo, is a secret agent, who is sent to the former Kraken base in the Arctic to determine if the rumors are true. Since it turns out that Kraken is regrouping there, your task is to stop them from commencing the attack. The gameplay of Evil Factory consists of beating levels in the form of short corridors. You fight single bosses, sometimes accompanied by weaker mooks. As the game progresses, you unlock better weapons and helmets, which give you various bonuses. You can also collect cartridges, which unlock arcade minigames. The game features unique pixel-art 2D visuals.
Xenon Valkyrie+
Action
February 3, 2017
Platformer with RPG and roguelike elements, in which we travel through procedurally generated mazes that swarming with smaller or larger enemies. Also, you have to watch out for traps and other obstacles. The title refers to the roots of the genre through both the visual setting and the sound layer.
Lords of the Fallen (2017)
Action
February 6, 2017
Lords of the Fallen (2017) is a mobile version of the popular action RPG from 2014 developed by CI Games. The game takes us to a fantasy world ruled by the evil queen Acasha. There are three characters available for the players: Harkyn, Yetka and Kaslo. Our task is to face the queen and save all mankind. In terms of mechanics, Lords of the Fallen for mobile devices has almost nothing in common with its PC/console older brother. The game is much more similar to the famous Infinity Blade. During our adventures we will face our enemies in one versus one combat. We have to tap or swipe on our device's screen to avoid enemy attacks, counterattack, and execute combos. Each of the three heroes has unique equipment and as we progress through the game, we get various resources which then we can use to create new armors or useful amulets. The game features stunning visuals with detailed character models, smooth animations, and numerous light effects.
Giga Wrecker
Action
February 6, 2017
The player assumes the role of Reika Rekkeiji and arrives on a world controlled by robots known as Ajeets. Due to an experiment, the heroine is transformed into a cyborg, which enables her to challenge the mechanic invaders. Giga Wreckers presents the action from the side view, and gameplay mostly consists of exploring huge levels, jumping on platforms, and battling more or less dangerous enemies. While in combat, you can make use of the mechanical arm which enables the heroine to control various debris that lies scattered about. During the journey, you collect blueprints necessary for customizing the looks of your weapons. This is a production for solo players exclusively, yet nothing stops you from creating your own levels in the editor and sharing them with the whole community. The amazing visuals inspired by manga and anime are the game’s strong point.
Phoning Home
Action
February 7, 2017
An action-adventure game with survival-oriented gameplay, developed by Ion Lands studio. The player assumes the role of ION, a robot designed to search for resources in remote areas of the galaxy. During one of such travels, his ship malfunctions and crashes on a dangerous alien world. Our job is to survive and find a way to contact the base. Fortunately, ION is supported by the ship AI, as well as ANI, an encountered female repair unit. In Phoning Home, the action is seen from a third person perspective, while the world has an open structure – during our journeys, we traverse forests, canyons, and deserts, or even visit the bottom of the ocean. The planet is full of various dangers – even if ION is resistant to attacks, ANI is much more vulnerable. If we want to defend her, we are often forced to stave off enemies, lay various traps, or sneak outside of their range. The game contains an extensive crafting module, allowing the player to create new items and various upgrades.
John Wick Chronicles
Action
February 9, 2017
A first-person shooter developed with VR headsets in mind. John Wick Chronicles is based on an American action movie from 2014. The virtual adaptation of Chad Stahelski’s and David Leitch’s film was published by Starbreeze AB, the team known for such titles as The Darkness, The Chronicles of Riddick, and Payday. The protagonist is a “retired” murderer for hire, John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves in the movie. A Russian Mafioso messes with the hero and deprives him of the last reminder of his deceased wife. Wick embarks on a merciless vendetta during which blood of criminals flows like a river. While playing, we traverse various locations, interact with characters, and, first and foremost, take part in dynamic shootouts where our survival depends on our ability to avoid enemy fire and use cover. John Wick Chronicles requires a VR headset to work and supports most of the popular devices of this type.
For Honor
Action
February 14, 2017
A third-person action game in a quasi-historical setting, with a focus on online competition. The production was developed by the experienced studio Ubisoft Montreal, whose portfolio includes several cult series, including Far Cry and Assassin's Creed. In the game, three factions are pitted against each other: The Chosen, The Legions, and The Warborn, modeled after the Japanese samurai, European knights, and Scandinavian Vikings respectively. During the game, each party is represented by dozens of warriors, but only four of them are controlled by players and equipped with unique abilities that can turn the tide of the battle. The game puts a great emphasis on a realistic reproduction of individual warriors’ fighting styles, and skirmishes are mostly based on the ability to use melee weapons, proper tactics, and special abilities of heroes. The online mode is complemented by a story mini-campaign that serves as an introduction to the gameplay.
Sniper Elite 4
Action
February 14, 2017
The fourth major installment in the popular tactical first-person shooter series by Rebellion, in which we assume the role of a trained sniper fighting on various fronts of the World War II. In Sniper Elite 4, we control Karl Fairburne, the protagonist of the previous games, who is sent from North Africa to the Apennine Peninsula. His mission is to cooperate with the Italian resistance in order to help the Allied forces that are pushing to the north. As far as gameplay mechanics are concerned, the game develops the ideas of its predecessor, and our task is to efficiently eliminate subsequent targets; how are we going to do it is entirely up to us. The game takes place on vast sandbox maps and, as usual, puts a great emphasis on realistic recreation of bullet behavior depending on the atmospheric conditions. The title is meant to be played solo or in cooperation mode, although it does not lack for other multiplayer features known from its predecessors.
Tank Troopers
Action
February 16, 2017
A multiplayer-oriented action game developed by Nintendo. Tank Troopers is a three dimensional shooter, in which the players assume control of cartoon tanks with an objective to defeat the tanks belonging to the enemy team. The game offers twelve characters, whose abilities and appearance influence the look and the available tactical options. The action is seen from a third-person perspective with first-person perspective aiming. When it comes to modes, the game offers both single player and local area multiplayer for up to six players – Tank Troopers features “Download Play” system that enables a group of players to have a match based on game files distributed from a single console.
theHunter: Call of the Wild
Action
February 16, 2017
The sequel to the 2009 hunting simulation game theHunter by Expansive Worlds. You play as a hunter traversing a large (about 50 square miles) area and completing various missions connected with hunting. In the game, you can encounter a variety of animals: from the main targets, deer and boars, through birds, to insects, which are cosmetic only, but add a touch of realism to the game. Like in the original installment, the game is accurate when it comes to animal behavior and the available range of weapons and hunting accessories. Unlike the previous game in the series, utilizing the free-to-play model, theHunter: Call of the Wild is a paid production, featuring a story campaign and several multiplayer modes.
Homebound
Action
February 16, 2017
Homebound is a VR adventure game powered by Unreal Engine 4. We play as an astronaut who is based on a space station when a catastrophe happens. Firstly, we will have to figure out what to do on the Earth's orbit. After that, we will have to face the dangers of entering the atmosphere. The last thing that awaits us is the emergency landing. In terms of mechanics, Homebound is an action-adventure game that tests our cleverness and reflexes. We will have to explore our surroundings, solve simple logical puzzles, and test ourselves in arcade challenges. The game is presented from a first-person perspective. Finishing one of Homebound's segments takes from a dozen or so minutes and up to one hour. Each of them can be played repeatedly, so that we can try to beat our friends or high scores. Additionally, every scenario is filled with hidden secrets and items. Finding all of the possible ways of killing the astronaut is also quite entertaining.
N.O.V.A. Legacy
Action
February 20, 2017
A remastered version of a popular FPP shooter released for mobile devices in 2009. It was developed by the French studio Gameloft, which did not limit itself to enhancing visuals – gameplay has been enriched with, for example, crafting system that allows the players to upgrade their arsenal and create new weapons with the resources collected throughout the game. Like in the original game, N.O.V.A. Legacy follows the tale of captain Kale Wardin, who is given a task of infiltrating a space station of Xenos – a mysterious and hostile alien civilization. Story campaign is the main dish of the game and consists of nineteen varied stages. There is also a competitive multiplayer for up to six players, as well as Shadow Events (which are special tasks that require eliminating waves of enemies) and Special Ops (strategic missions). The title adopts a free-to-play business model with microtranscations.
Landfall
Action
February 21, 2017
A tactical game created specifically for VR goggles. Landfall is set in the far future, where the Earth was almost completely covered by waters of a gigantic ocean and humans are fighting one another over each and every inch of land. The player takes on the role of a military commander whose task is to defeat the enemy, making use of any means available, such as mechs, bombers, or technologically advanced special attacks. Interestingly, the player can switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. Thanks to VR sets, the player can also look around freely by moving their head. The game offers three modes, including a story campaign comprised of a series of missions, a co-op mode and a competition-based multiplayer. Landfall comes with high-quality, three-dimensional visuals and requires the Oculus Rift VR goggles in order to launch.
Hollow Knight
Action
February 24, 2017
Hollow Knight is a 2D metroidvania game developed by the indie studio Team Cherry. The game takes us to a fantasy underground world located bellow the city of Dirtmouth. The place attracts numerous adventurers, who disappear without a trace when they enter it. We play as an adventurer who decides to face the challenge and find riches, fame, and the answers he is looking for in that underground world. The game is presented from a side-scrolling perspective. Gameplay focuses on the exploration of vast locations, leveling and progressing our character, finding more and more powerful equipment, and fighting with the encountered enemies. During our exploration of the underworld, we will find not only many traps and dangers awaiting us, but also some friendly NPCs that will aid us with their knowledge or useful items.
BRAIN / OUT
Action
February 24, 2017
Multiplier shooter, in which the action is observed from the side. During the game we hit the middle of the fights between NATO and Warsaw Pact soldiers, and our task is to eliminate the opponents. This is how we earn money, which we spend on more and more powerful weapons and gadgets, which in turn increases our combat potential. Production is distributed free of charge (free-to-play).
Horizon: Zero Dawn - Complete Edition
Action
February 28, 2017
A third-person action game with RPG elements created by Guerilla Games, the studio known for Killzone series. The game is set in the distant future, where the world is ruled by intelligent animal-like forms that evolved from the machines responsible for the fall of an advanced human civilization centuries ago; the former rulers of the world survived, but their lifestyle was reduced to that of primitive, isolated tribes. The player takes the role of Aloy – a young girl, who seeks to find secrets of the ancients and discover her destiny. The heroine is not defenseless in this dangerous world. When fighting hostile machines she can count on her skills (developed individually) and loads of futuristic weapons, made up of parts of fallen enemies. The game is set in an open world, and the protagonist is free to choose both the order and method in which she undertakes missions. You can either openly confront your enemies or cunningly exploit their weaknesses.
River City Ransom: Underground
Action
February 28, 2017
A retro style two-dimensional beat'em up game with RPG elements, and a continuation to the cult-classic production for NES released in 1989. The action takes place 25 years after the events from the original title – Alex and Ryan, the protagonists of the previous game, have graduated River City High, but Slick – one of the gang bosses defeated in the past – begins to pose a threat again; you fight as one of eight available characters in order to stop him, and all the other criminal organizations, one more time. The fundamental mechanics featured in the original have not been changed in the slightest. The game offers more than 100 hand-drawn levels with open structure, allowing us to upgrade the character and the equipment the course of the game. The gameplay basically consists of smashing consecutive opponents' faces and each playable character represents a different fighting style. River City Ransom: Underground features multiplayer that was absent from the original title.
Tom Clancy's The Division: Last Stand
Action
February 28, 2017
The third and the final add-on released as a part of the season pass for Tom Clancy’s The Division, a popular online action game developed by Ubisoft Massive. In opposition to the two previous expansions – Underground and Survival, Last Stand was released on all three platforms (PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One) simultaneously. The new add-on does not introduce any major changes to multiplayer mechanics, but picks up the various plot threads that began in The Division, taking place in New York paralyzed by a pandemic of an unknown virus. As the members of Strategic Homeland Division, the players are trying to contain the chaos that has engulfed the city and deal with the terrorists responsible for the attack. The final expansion introduces new types of enemies, as well as a few additional story missions.
Ghost Blade HD
Action
February 28, 2017
Ghost Blade HD is a shoot'em up game developed by indie devs from Hucast Games. We take on the role of the Earth Defense Force's best pilot whose job is to defeat Shira, a rogue A.I. that was installed on an abandoned space station located on the outer rim of the Solar System. In Ghost Blade HD we control one of the three superbly armed combat space ships. Gameplay focuses on eliminating hordes of enemies and gigantic bosses. To win, we have to not only shoot almost all the time, but also avoid the rain of bullets and laser beams fired at us. Along with the primary Story Mode, the game also offers Score Attack, where we have to beat the high scores set by other players from all around the world. We can play alone or in coop with another player. The game features cartoonish, eye-pleasing visuals and a dynamic soundtrack composed by Rafaell Dyll.
Desync
Action
February 28, 2017
An FPP shooter in which the players explore various neon-filled locations and fight hordes of enemies using a vast arsenal of weapons. The protagonist can use pistols, machine guns, shotguns and explosives, with alternative modes for each of them. Additionally, collecting Fragments during the game allow us to get useful upgrades and more weapons for our character. Aside from using guns, victory in Desync requires using environment (including traps) and chaining attacks into effective combinations. The Foregone Syndicate’s work has been developed solely for single player, although online rankings serve as a sort of substitute for multiplayer, letting the players show off their scores. Visuals are one of characteristic features of Desync, with style resembling the one from the classic movie TRON.
Robo Recall
Action
March 1, 2017
A spectacular first-person shooter offering a virtual reality experience, developed by Epic Games. The players are sent to a futuristic city whose all public service duties are performed by special utility robots. A malfunction causes the robots to turn against their masters and wreak havoc in the city. We assume the role of an experienced liquidator that has to cull the robot population and regain control over the metropolis. Robo Recall sees us engage in spectacular combat against numerous opponents. Unfortunately, we cannot move on our own, and have to rely on a teleportation system that allows us to change our location to any available in the nearest vicinity. The game contains a complex combat system, an extensive arsenal, and a large set of available weapon modifications. Moreover, we are given high-quality three-dimensional visuals, as well as a spectacular physics system that sees the robots react dynamically to hits and interact with the environment. The game makes use of motion controllers which offer the ability to perform adrenaline-rushing maneuvers, including shoving opponents or swiping incoming bullets.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Action
March 3, 2017
Another installment in the popular action-adventure game series by Nintendo, and also the first game in the series for WiiU. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you play once again as the main character of the franchise, Link, who gets involved in yet another exciting and dangerous adventure as he tries to learn what led to the downfall of the land of Hyrule. The gameplay is a combination of several genres: adventure, action RPG, and even survival. During the game, you explore the open world, solve puzzles and fight enemies; the combat is arcade-like and requires you to use varied tactics. You also have to gather resources in order to prepare food and drink, which affect your abilities, just like pieces of equipment.
Dragon Quest Heroes I & II
Action
March 3, 2017
Dragon Quest Heroes I & II for Nintendo Switch is a collection of two third-person hack-and-slash games and Dragon Quest series spin-offs developed by Omega Force. Both games are 3D hack-and-slash titles, very similar to the Dynasty Warriors series in terms of gameplay. As we play, we will explore enormous open locations and fight with hordes of enemies. The available heroes have different attacks and special abilities. They can block and evade attacks, which comes in handy when facing the gigantic bosses that require from the players a bit more tactical approach. The Nintendo Switch versions of the games previously released on PlayStation include all DLCs and exclusive content, and brand new characters and scenarios.