Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Action Games of All Time
Filters
Game Status
Search
1
No series matching ""
No series available
Short
Medium
Long
100 of 365
#1 Super Mario 64 (1996) (#7)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
88 lists
#2 Super Mario World (1990) (#10)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~5h
|
80 lists
#3 Street Fighter II (1991) (#22)
Capcom
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
85 lists
#4 Metal Gear Solid (1998) (#24)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
PS
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~11h
|
78 lists
#5 God of War (2018) (#28)
Santa Monica Studio
|
WIN,
PS4
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~21h
|
89 lists
#6 Deus Ex (2000) (#35)
Ion Storm
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Action RPG /
First-Person Shooter /
Stealth
|
~23h
|
71 lists
#7 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) (#36)
Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
|
SAT,
PS
|
Action RPG /
Metroidvania
|
~8h
|
68 lists
#8 Minecraft (2011) (#37)
Mojang Studios
|
3,
X360,
PS3
|
Sandbox /
Survival
|
~65h
|
93 lists
#9 Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) (#38)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~5h
|
63 lists
#10 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) (#41)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
PS2
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~16h
|
56 lists
#11 Hades (2020) (#44)
Supergiant Games
|
MAC,
WIN,
XB1,
XBXS,
PS4,
PS5,
SW
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG /
Roguelike
|
~24h
|
53 lists
#12 Diablo II (2000) (#46)
Blizzard North
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~34h
|
59 lists
#13 Super Mario Odyssey (2017) (#49)
Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8
|
SW
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
73 lists
#14 Super Mario Galaxy (2007) (#53)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
Wii
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~13h
|
50 lists
#15 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#56)
Nintendo R&D4
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
48 lists
#16 Hades II (2025) (#58)
Supergiant Games
|
MAC,
WIN,
SW,
SW2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG /
Roguelike
|
~32h
|
46 lists
#17 Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025) (#69)
Team Cherry
|
3,
XB1,
XBXS,
PS4,
PS5,
SW,
SW2
|
Metroidvania
|
~28h
|
40 lists
#18 Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) (#70)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
Wii
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~13h
|
56 lists
#19 NieR: Automata (2017) (#76)
PlatinumGames, Square Enix Business Division 6
|
WIN,
XB1,
PS4
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~21h
|
62 lists
#20 Astro Bot (2024) (#82)
Team Asobi
|
PS5
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~11h
|
52 lists
#21 Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) (#84)
HAL Laboratory
|
GC
|
Fighting
|
~10h
|
41 lists
#22 Fortnite (2017) (#91)
Epic Games
|
MAC,
WIN,
XB1,
PS4
|
Sandbox /
Survival /
Battle Royale
|
~66h
|
45 lists
#23 Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) (#92)
Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
41 lists
#24 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) (#98)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~8h
|
41 lists
#25 Spelunky (2012) (#99)
BlitWorks, Mossmouth
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3,
PSV
|
Roguelike /
Platform
|
~20h
|
39 lists
#26 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) (#104)
Bandai Namco Studios, Sora
|
SW
|
Fighting
|
~24h
|
54 lists
#27 Mega Man 2 (1988) (#109)
Capcom
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
39 lists
#28 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) (#113)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~9h
|
47 lists
#29 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) (#114)
Kojima Productions
|
WIN,
X360,
XB1,
PS3,
PS4
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~46h
|
60 lists
#30 God of War (2005) (#117)
SCE Santa Monica Studio
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~9h
|
36 lists
#31 Donkey Kong (1981) (#123)
Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~18m
|
36 lists
#32 Assassin's Creed 2 (2009) (#127)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~19h
|
35 lists
#33 Celeste (2018) (#129)
Extremely OK Games
|
3,
XB1,
PS4,
SW
|
Platform
|
~8h
|
57 lists
#34 Pac-Man (1980) (#130)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5,
DOS,
NES
|
Maze
|
~48m
|
38 lists
#35 League of Legends (2009) (#136)
Riot Games
|
WIN
|
MOBA
|
~1162h
|
34 lists
#36 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) (#143)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~13h
|
27 lists
#37 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#154)
General Computer Corporation (GCC)
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Maze
|
~1h
|
30 lists
#38 Dishonored 2 (2016) (#155)
Arkane Studios
|
WIN,
XB1,
PS4
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~12h
|
42 lists
#39 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) (#157)
Sega Technical Institute, Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
29 lists
#40 Dishonored (2012) (#167)
Arkane Studios
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~12h
|
50 lists
#41 Hitman 3 / World of Assassination (2021) (#168)
IO Interactive
|
WIN,
XB1,
XBXS,
PS4,
PS5
|
Stealth
|
~8h
|
29 lists
#42 Street Fighter IV (2008) (#170)
Dimps
|
ARC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
31 lists
#43 PUBG: Battlegrounds (2017) (#171)
PUBG Corp
|
WIN,
XB1,
PS4
|
Battle Royale
|
~101h
|
44 lists
#44 Hollow Knight (2017) (#179)
Team Cherry
|
3,
XB1,
PS4,
SW
|
Metroidvania
|
~27h
|
32 lists
#45 Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) (#184)
Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8
|
SW2
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~19h
|
41 lists
#46 Katamari Damacy (2004) (#185)
Keita Takahashi, Now Production
|
PS2
|
Action /
Puzzle
|
~6h
|
25 lists
#47 Super Meat Boy (2010) (#190)
Team Meat
|
3,
X360
|
Platform
|
~9h
|
34 lists
#48 Soulcalibur (1998) (#191)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~54m
|
25 lists
#49 Dota 2 (2013) (#192)
Valve
|
3
|
MOBA
|
~770h
|
30 lists
#50 Prince of Persia (1989) (#193)
Brøderbund Software
|
6,
DOS,
MAC,
TG16
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#51 God of War Ragnarök (2022) (#200)
Santa Monica Studio
|
PS4,
PS5
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~27h
|
38 lists
#52 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013) (#203)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
X360,
XB1,
PS3,
PS4,
WiiU
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~23h
|
44 lists
#53 Tekken 3 (1997) (#204)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Beat 'em Up /
Fighting
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#54 God of War II (2007) (#205)
SCE Santa Monica Studio
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
22 lists
#55 Thief: The Dark Project (1998) (#206)
Looking Glass Studios
|
WIN
|
Stealth
|
~20h
|
23 lists
#56 Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) (#213)
Looking Glass Studios
|
WIN
|
Stealth
|
~20h
|
22 lists
#57 Donkey Kong Country (1994) (#222)
Rare
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
28 lists
#58 Psychonauts (2005) (#224)
Double Fine Productions
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
24 lists
#59 Gauntlet (1985) (#229)
Atari Games
|
ARC
|
Maze /
Dungeon Crawler
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#60 Another World / Out of This World (1991) (#240)
Delphine Software
|
3,
DOS,
GEN,
SNES,
3DO
|
Action /
Platform
|
~2h
|
20 lists
#61 Super Mario Maker (2015) (#242)
Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.4
|
3DS,
WiiU
|
Platform
|
~5h
|
43 lists
#62 Hitman: Blood Money (2006) (#248)
IO Interactive
|
WIN,
PS2,
Xbox,
X360
|
Stealth
|
~12h
|
17 lists
#63 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005) (#249)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~13h
|
20 lists
#64 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005) (#251)
Capcom Production Studio 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
20 lists
#65 Bayonetta (2009) (#256)
Nex Entertainment, PlatinumGames
|
X360,
PS3
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~12h
|
22 lists
#66 LittleBigPlanet (2008) (#260)
Media Molecule
|
PS3
|
Sandbox /
Platform
|
~9h
|
25 lists
#67 Double Dragon (1987) (#274)
Technos Japan
|
ARC,
NES,
SMS
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
20 lists
#68 Soulcalibur II (2002) (#276)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Fighting
|
~3h
|
17 lists
#69 Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (#277)
Square Enix Product Development Division 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~32h
|
15 lists
#70 Kingdom Hearts (2002) (#279)
Square Product Development Division 1
|
PS2
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG /
Platform
|
~28h
|
18 lists
#71 Yakuza 0 (2015) (#286)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Sega Games
|
WIN,
PS3,
PS4
|
Action-Adventure /
Beat 'em Up
|
~32h
|
25 lists
#72 Alien: Isolation (2014) (#287)
The Creative Assembly
|
WIN,
X360,
XB1,
PS3,
PS4
|
Horror /
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~18h
|
25 lists
#73 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024) (#290)
MachineGames
|
WIN,
XBXS
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~16h
|
30 lists
#74 Super Mario Bros. 2 / Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987) (#293)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES,
FDS
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
17 lists
#75 Mortal Kombat II (1993) (#295)
Midway
|
ARC,
DOS,
AMI,
GEN,
GG,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#76 Street Fighter III (1997) (#298)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~42m
|
11 lists
#77 Nights Into Dreams (1996) (#303)
Sonic Team
|
SAT
|
Action
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#78 Shovel Knight (2014) (#305)
Yacht Club Games
|
3,
3,
3DS,
WiiU,
XB1
|
Platform
|
~7h
|
25 lists
#79 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! / Minigame Mania (2003) (#308)
Nintendo R&D1
|
GBA
|
Action
|
~2h
|
15 lists
#80 Pitfall! (1982) (#314)
Activision
|
4,
3
|
Platform
|
~36m
|
20 lists
#81 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (2004) (#315)
Starbreeze Studios, Tigon Studios, Virtual Programming
|
WIN,
Xbox
|
First-Person Shooter /
Stealth
|
~8h
|
17 lists
#82 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) (#317)
Kojima Productions
|
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~18h
|
18 lists
#83 Diablo III (2012) (#320)
Blizzard Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Hack and Slash /
Action RPG
|
~18h
|
23 lists
#84 Ninja Gaiden (2004) (#322)
Team NINJA
|
Xbox
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~18h
|
15 lists
#85 Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011) (#327)
Eidos Montréal
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action RPG /
First-Person Shooter /
Stealth
|
~22h
|
29 lists
#86 Super Castlevania IV (1991) (#328)
Konami
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
20 lists
#87 Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) (#330)
Sora
|
Wii
|
Fighting
|
~12h
|
15 lists
#88 Banjo-Kazooie (1998) (#331)
Rare
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
17 lists
#89 Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) (#337)
Moon Studios
|
WIN,
XB1
|
Metroidvania
|
~8h
|
27 lists
#90 Sonic CD (1993) (#341)
Sonic Team
|
SCD
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#91 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (2010) (#345)
Ubisoft Montreal
|
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~15h
|
21 lists
#92 Mega Man X (1993) (#346)
Capcom
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
17 lists
#93 Streets of Rage 2 / Bare Knuckle II (1992) (#349)
Ancient, H.I.C., MNM Software, Shout! Designworks
|
GEN
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~2h
|
15 lists
#94 Super Bomberman (1993) (#351)
Produce!
|
SNES
|
Action /
Party /
Maze
|
~2h
|
16 lists
#95 Hitman (2016) (#352)
IO Interactive
|
3,
XB1,
PS4
|
Stealth
|
~11h
|
27 lists
#96 Rayman Legends (2013) (#353)
Ubisoft Montpellier
|
WIN,
X360,
XB1,
3,
WiiU
|
Platform
|
~10h
|
24 lists
#97 Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023) (#357)
Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 10
|
SW
|
Platform
|
~10h
|
41 lists
#98 God of War III (2010) (#363)
SCE Santa Monica Studio
|
PS3
|
Hack and Slash /
Action-Adventure
|
~10h
|
22 lists
#99 Super Mario 3D World (2013) (#366)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
WiiU
|
Platform
|
~10h
|
30 lists
#100 Ninja Gaiden (1988) (#369)
Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games
|
NES
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~3h
|
14 lists
Filters
Game Status
Search
Release Year
Drag or shift+click for ranges
Platform
Genre
Series
No series matching ""
No series available
Playtime (HowLongToBeat)
Short
Medium
Long