Action-adventure games had a highlight year, adding plenty of instant classics to the annals of the genre. Filled with plenty of fun and interesting mechanics, not to mention memorable stories, these standout releases made my list of the 10 best action-adventure games of 2023.
The 10 Best Action-Adventure Games of 2023 You Have to Play
10. Remnant 2Â
Remnant 2 is the ticket if you ever wanted a Soulslike shooter full of brooding personality, tight mechanics, and plenty of awesome build opportunities. In Remnant 2, you’ll master diverse weapons, craft gear, and strategically take down hordes of enemies and monstrous bosses. The game combines ranged and melee combat, offering a variety gameplay and archetype options to explore. With support for co-op multiplayer for up to three players, it becomes the perfect choice for a gaming group of friends. But I’ll admit: it’s great solo, too.
9. Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG where you carve your magical destiny in the Wizarding World. If you’ve ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter, there’s no better way to experience it. You create your own witch or wizard, are sorted into your own house, and visit iconic locations while completing interesting quests and meeting even more interesting people. From mastering spells and brewing potions to taming fantastic beasts, this is an action-adventure title with hours and hours of content for both newcomers and us long-time fans.
8. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the tale of Cal Kestis several years after the first game, filling in some of the gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope and adding layers to the other stories told within this timeframe of the Galactic Empire’s reign.
It’s a thrilling sequel that pushes the boundaries of fluid, intuitive lightsaber combat and Force mastery. Switching between stances to take down the right enemies adds a sense of strategy that wasn’t in the previous entry, and the exciting planets you’ll visit are some of the most interesting in the SW universe — each with its own unique challenges and secrets.
7. Hi-Fi Rush
If you’re a fan of music games but want something more than just musicians standing on a stage playing their instruments, Hi-Fi Rush is nothing short of an experience. The world is bright and colorful, and the visuals pop right out of the screen. But what makes Hi-Fi Rush stand out is the rhythm-based action gameplay. Every attack you do syncs up with the music, making for a stylish and engaging combat system. The real highlight is the music, with a soundtrack mixing of pop, rock, and electronica to great effect — something I didn’t know I needed in my life.Â
6. Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Ubisoft promised a return to the series’ roots with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and the developer delivered. Moving a little bit away from the more ARPG mechanics and gameplay of the last several entries, the primary focus in Mirage is stealth and parkour, which fans, like myself, have wanted for years. Each mission can be tackled differently depending on how you want to sneak into a base — or not. Indeed, you can still run in and fight a whole horde of guards at once. If you’ve missed the old-school style of AC games, though, check this one out.Â
5. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy 16 was one of the most epic adventures I experienced in 2023. This entry in the venerable franchise keeps the core RPG mechanics of the series but implements a real-time combat system akin to that found in the Devil May Cry games. This keeps the gameplay fast and fluid, keeping you engaged the whole time. Here, you play as Clive, forced to fight against his will. As you might expect, though, he has a power hidden deep within him, just waiting to be unleashed. The story kept me invested the entire way through, and it stands as an exciting chapter for things to come.Â
4. Resident Evil 4
There are remakes, and there are remakes. Building on the foundation laid by the remakes of RE2 and RE3, Resident Evil 4 Remake is a gripping experience and a reminder of why the original is so beloved. It still has an engaging story and characters, but the updated visuals add to the atmosphere, and the improved gameplay mechanics make it even more immersive. The remake also has a new side quest to experience that ties it in with Resident Evil Village, so if you’re a fan that hasn’t gotten this one yet, do yourself a favor and add it to your library.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Swing into another thrilling adventure, playing as Peter and Miles this time. It’s more of the web-slinging fun you’re used to from the Insomniac-developed series — with some refinements. Spider-Man 2 still has cinematic set pieces and an engaging story to keep you invested. However, my favorite part of the game is the smooth and fun web-slinging.
The web-wings are a great addition, truly unlocking the power of the game’s traversal system and providing us slight additions that make a huge difference. You can now fly through an expanded New York Map, beating up goons, symbiotes, and tough bosses. Combat still stands tall here, continuing to iterate even more on that Arkham-style fluidity.Â
2. Alan Wake 2
After years of waiting, we finally got Alan Wake 2. Though it’s technically a survival horror experience, there are enough action-adventure elements here to place it alongside not only the other games on this list but also other Remedy games like Control.
You’ll have to face more of Alan’s terrifying creatures and mysteries, playing as an FBI agent investigating the manifestation of his troubled psyche. Through the thrilling narrative, you won’t know what’s real and what’s not. And to me, that’s one of the biggest selling points of the game, alongside it’s combat and exploration.
1. Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
There’s no way I couldn’t include this on my list of the best action-adventure games of 2023. The long-awaited sequel of Breath of the Wild didn’t disappoint, living up to all the hype leading up to its release. Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t only add to the world, but it completely revolutionizes it.
Exploring has never been more freeing and the with the ability to make any vehicle or contraption you want not only changes the trajectory of the series moving forward, but shows how smart Nintendo is when iterating on its best franchises. After more than 100 hours, I still need to see everything.
Those are my 10 best action-adventure games of 2023. If you haven’t tried any of these yet, pick up a few. You really can’t go wrong.
