The best action-adventure game of the current generation, ranked

When it comes to action-adventure games for the modern era, Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S gamers won't be left out. There are plenty of backwards compatible titles to enjoy on the current three systems, which are still great, but today the focus will be on what this current generation has brought to the table.

New games like Pragmatics, Donkey Kong Bananaand Hollow Knight: Silk Song all leading the pack. How do they stack up against the others on the list, and why are they so good? They will be ordered based on their overall qualities, including gameplay, story, graphics and more.

10

Pragmatics

A modern megaman

Pragmatics is set on the moon after a disaster strikes its space station, where Hugh Williams and his crew are attacked by an AI robot army. In order to survive, he teams up with a young robot girl, Diana, and together they must try to escape.

The game is a good mix of platforming, puzzles via hacking mini-games, and the combat is also interesting, as players have to hack robots at the same time as they shoot them. While not perfect, this could be the start of a new big franchise for Capcom, and hopefully not just a one-off, as the bond between Hugh and Diana is adorable.

9

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

Leading the way to restoration

Kena: Bridge of the Spirits was one of the earliest PS5 exclusives, and it felt like a combination of Okay, Pikminand Zelda game. As the titular Kena, players had the power to control small creatures called Rot that could do a variety of commands, such as building bridges.

There were plenty of climbing and platforming challenges too in a rich set of ruins and lush jungle environments. Combat wasn't its strongest element, but it was satisfying enough. The heartfelt story of Kena trying to reclaim the land from a curse and the Pixar-like visuals were the strongest parts of Kena: Bridge of the Spirits.

8

Split Fiction

A genre-bending adventure

Split Fiction is a great action-adventure game to play with a partner because it's co-op only, and it will be a thrilling ride with minute-to-minute action that surpasses some of the best of all time. As Mio and Zoe, players will be trapped in a simulator that takes their sci-fi and fantasy story ideas and turns them into games.

It's about typical set pieces like handling dragons or riding futuristic motorcycles, which are cool levels, but it's the odd ones that make Split Fiction sing. These include snowboarding and wave racing, Tron-like shooting segments, going through pinball-like mazes and so on.

7

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Don't forget your hat

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle beats the last few movies by a country mile, and it's also one of the best Indiana Jones games of all time. The great thing about it is that it's a completely new story, while also having some nostalgic bits thrown in for fans to enjoy, like the opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. In first person, players can explore large open areas like the Vatican, dive into catacombs, tombs and more.

Combat is also first-person, but there are segments where the perspective switches to third-person, such as swinging and climbing walls. Although there is more weight in Dr. Jones' movement compared to a modern hero like Nathan Drake from Uncharted series, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is still a great action-adventure game from one of the best action-adventure movie franchises of all time.

6

God of War Ragnarok

Enjoy the sequel, boy

God of War Ragnarok was the second game in the reboot saga, set in the world of Norse mythology instead of Greek mythology. This time, Kratos and Atreus were split between adventures, with Kratos working behind the scenes to try and stop whatever Odin was planning with Ragnarok, while Atreus had a sort of coming-of-age journey.

The game traveled through familiar landscapes from the first game, along with new ones, and it wouldn't be one God of war games without bombastic death games and brutal action. To describe God of War Ragnarok anything less than epic would be an insult.

5

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Blurred reality

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is slightly more light-hearted, but that doesn't mean it's a less rich experience than the other games. The Ratchet & Clank Games may look like they're designed for kids, but they're some of the most sophisticated platformers out there, rivaling Mario's greatest 3D adventure.

In this game, players will do the usual platforming challenges, rail grinding and shooting galleries with unique weapons, but there is a twist. They can also hop between dimensions, as this is a multiverse story complete with alternate reality villains and heroes, all working together to either stop reality from collapsing in on itself or trying to make it happen, leading to some out-of-this-world experiences.

4

Donkey Kong Banana

The reason to own a switch 2

Donkey Kong Banana is one of the must-have games on the Switch 2 that completely justifies the system's existence. As Donkey Kong, players will travel through a series of underground biomes, each open and more distinct than the last.

There's a seaside resort with floating melons in the sky, a world made entirely of food, a frozen wonderland about to be engulfed by a volcano, and so on. The locations are wonderfully realized, but it's the action that is the real highlight as DK can smash through anything, be it a wall or a mountain, giving players a greater sense of freedom than in most modern platformers.

3

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Across The Gates

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a classic travel example of an action-adventure game where players start in Mexico, are tasked with reconnecting underground bunkers to a network, and then must move on to Australia. The overall goal is to reconnect the world by delivering packages, but how the players do it is up to them.

The options are more varied than the first game, with plenty to keep the hero, Sam Porter Bridges, well prepared, from vehicles to weapons to gadgets. Make no mistake, this is still a Hideo Kojima game too, so fans can expect the unexpected with wildly different action moments, landscapes and boss battles, including taking on ghostly, larger-than-life titans.

2

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

The poison of it all

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is everything a Spider-Man fan wants in a modern video game, including not one but two heroes: Peter Parker and Miles Morales. The bond between mentor and protégé is unbreakable, even as the relationship is tested, along with the relationships between other characters and villains.

It's a great Spider-Man story full of heartfelt moments and brutal action, but the traversal elements and combat mechanics are also fantastic. Swinging between buildings, weaving together villains and gliding through New York City has never felt better.

1

Hollow Knight: Silk Song

A Mini Modern Metroidvania

Hollow Knight: Silk Song was in development for a long time, and some thought it would never come, but for those who were patient, the wait was worth it. It was everything fans could want in a sequel and then some. The hand-drawn visuals were gorgeous, the level design was inventive, and the Hornet, as a character, was much faster than The Knight was in the original game.

The challenge level was raised, which created debate. That said, those who fought through the tough times got to experience an all-time great from a small team and in 2D too. Yes, 2D games can be better than 3D adventures, and Hollow Knight: Silk Song is evidence.