The 10 Best Action Games of the Last Decade

 Blood, explosions, and over-the-top violence is what makes most action games great. Throw in some occasional humor and interesting leads and you'll have some memorable games. Over the last decade we've been graced with some slick action games such as Ninja Gaiden and the Devil May Cry series. We also got some seriously bad ones such as Bomberman: Act Zero, which was originally a puzzle game series that wanted to go the action game route but miserably failed. Fortunately, in this Top 10, we'll be focusing on the best action games of the 2000's. Without further delay, here's my favorite action games of the last decade.


Ninja Gaiden (2004)

Killer reflexes.

 Immediately the first thing when I think of an action game is developer Tecmo's 2004 action hack-and-slash, Ninja Gaiden. Ryu Hayabusa is a lone ninja out for revenge after an evil entity named Doku destroyed his home village. Along his short journey, he'll meet scantily clad beauties and fight ugly, demonic fiends all while pulling of a string of seriously bloody ninja combos. It's also needs to be mentioned that the game isn't a cake walk; it demands ninja-level reflexes. Even the weakest of enemies can kill you when you least expect it, and you must be cautious of the environment since the often archaic camera can get into the way sometimes. Nevertheless, it delivers the action and in bloody amounts, if you want to nonstop action and have a shot at the way of the ninja, then Ninja Gaiden has got you covered.


Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005)

"Let's Rock, baby!"

 After the dull combat, dull characters, and dull action of Devil May Cry 2, Capcom thought to make amends with Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and the result was an instant classic that surpassed even the original Devil May Cry in sheer over-the-top action. Taking the role of a younger, more wild demon hunter Dante, who's out on a quest to destroy the demon tower that has been erected to ravage the world and defeat his twin brother, Vergil. Right off the bat, the combat was amazing with a plethora of enemies to kill and some tough-as-nails bosses to beat. Throw in some new gameplay refinements such as the style system and explosive action sequences and you have a recipe for a fantastic action game.


Crysis (2007)

Maximum crysis.

 Crysis was once considered to be among the best action first-person shooter at the time though sadly the series went under the radar after a while. Playing as a soldier who is in control of a unique combat suit called the "Nanosuit", you're dropped into the Lingshan islands to combat an alien threat and some North Korean soldiers along the way. Using an assortment of weapons such as assault rifles and pistols, and accompanied by the nanosuits' abilities, you're practically a one-man army against the game's slew of enemies. Crysis was lauded for its sceneries and action, with some claiming it to be "one of the best first-person shooters". As a fan of the series, I consider Crysis to excel the most in terms of immersive compared to the others, then again all games are fun and action-filled. It's just sad to hear that series developer Crytek, has chosen the free-to-play genre after Crysis 3.


Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (2004)

Devil May Cry's mecha counterpart.

 Zone of the Enders 2 improved on many aspects of the original Zone of the Enders. An area where the original could have benefited from was more action; this is exactly what we got in ZOE2. The action is more fluid and hectic, controlling Jehuty feels like a dream and the different weapons you can outfit it had you blowing up enemies in all sorts of manners. The most memorable aspect of the game were the boss fights, which ranged from manageable to insane and had you on your toes at all times. By the end of the ride, you'll be suffering from some action overload and I believe it redefines the series' slogan of  "High Speed Robot Action".


Half-Life 2 (2004)

Cause some havoc while stopping an alien invasion.

 Developer Valve's second entry in the outstanding Half-Life series, Half-Life 2, shocked many players when it was announced. Realistic and responsive physics, an immersive narrative, and many action-oriented moments made it one of the most iconic games of the last decade. Gordon Freeman is back again, this time he must face an alien threat known as the Combine. Armed with a slew of capable weapons such as the trusty crowbar, powerful shotgun, and the essential Gravity Gun, you'll be battling and destroying enemies in all sorts of fashion left and right. The game's enemy AI is pretty smart and will make for some varied encounters as well.


God Hand (2006)

Give danger a hand.

 Clover Studios (now known as Platinum Games) final outing was a little beat-'em-up called God Hand, released during the final period of the PS2's lifecycle. We follow the adventure of a young martial artist named Gene as he must face a demon lord who wishes to conquer the world. You'll have to play it to believe the insane amount of humor and over-the-top action sequences the game packs. In a faced-paced style, Gene'll be chaining down attacks as he beats wave after wave of enemies. The bosses will have you at the edge of your seat while also having a laugh on how absurdly funny they are. It's a fun and addictive beat-'em up and a criminally underrated one as well.


God of War (2005)

decimate legions of enemies all in the name of vengeance.

 Ditch the humor and laid-back tone and instead have a shot at all-out action. Santa Monica Studio's God of War is a bloody hack-and-slash adventure starring Spartan Kratos as battles the Olympian gods who have forsaken him. God of War has you ripping, stabbing, and gouging your enemies throughout the game via quick-time events, which the game is filled of. There are the occasional puzzle segments, but they're pretty simple which allows you to get back into the action quickly. If you're looking for a serious action game with a serious characters and gameplay, then God of War is a serious recommendation.


Ikaruga (2001)

Put your reflexes to the test in

this action-filled shooter.

 The cult hit Ikaruga is a classic example of an action-filled, bullet-hell shoot 'em up done right. Taking control of a young pilot named Shira on a mission to destroy an alien threat while shooting hordes of enemies on the spaceship "Ikaruga" is still as tense and entertaining as it ever was. The insane amount of explosions and bullets on screen can make for some
intense action moments which demands sharp split-second timing and reflexes. It's a visual treat for action lovers since it keeps on giving.


Halo 2 (2004)

Chief is back with more guns this time.

 Following on the hot success of its predecessor, Halo Combat Evolved, Halo 2 puts players back into the shoes of the iconic Master Chief as he battles the alien Covenant again. Improving on the original by introducing a new game engine, new weapons and abilities, and an online component, Halo 2 was considered to be among the best action first-person shooter of its time. The campaign is filled with many explosive action sequences that make for a fun ride. Throw in the fact that Halo 2 comes with an online component that's full of non-stop action and you can tell why it's among the best of the original Xbox's library of games.



Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

Escape deadly situations in flashy manners.

 Easily considered to be one of the best action-adventure games of the last generation, Uncharted 2 sees the return of charismatic protagonist Nathan Drake as he takes on another adventure in Asia to uncover the secret behind a fabled stone while avoiding mercenaries along the way. Uncharted 2 boasts a longer campaign that has you shooting and blasting your way through enemy waves across various locales. Throw in some humorous banter between the leads and it's certainly a hooking and thrilling action-adventure game that you shouldn't miss out on.

 And that's all for the best action games of the last decade. I know I'm bound to have left some other action-packed games that I didn't mention, so be sure to comment leave your list of favorite action games of the previous decade. Until next time.