Best Classic Action Games

Widely considered the greatest video game ever made, Ocarina of Time translated the Zelda formula into three dimensions with such perfection that it redefined what action-adventure games could achieve. Its Z-targeting system, time-travel narrative, and extraordinary dungeon design set standards that remain unsurpassed.

One of the most perfect games ever made, Symphony of the Night merged action platforming with deep RPG mechanics and a sprawling inverted castle to create the Castlevania series' masterpiece. It gave its name to a subgenre and remains the defining standard of exploration-based action games.

Widely considered the greatest action-adventure game ever made. A Link to the Past perfected the top-down Zelda formula with its Light World/Dark World duality, 12 intricate dungeons, and a richly realized Hyrule.

Hideo Kojima's stealth masterpiece redefined what video games could achieve narratively and mechanically. Metal Gear Solid blended Hollywood-caliber presentation with innovative stealth gameplay and fourth-wall-breaking moments that players still discuss 25 years later.

Super Metroid is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made — a masterpiece of atmospheric exploration, environmental storytelling, and movement-based design that defined the Metroidvania genre.

Rare's landmark first-person shooter defined console multiplayer gaming and demonstrated that licensed movie games could be exceptional. GoldenEye 007 introduced aiming, stealth mechanics, and objectives-based mission design to console FPS games, and its four-player split-screen became the standard for living room multiplayer.

Nintendo's most psychologically dark Zelda game dropped Link into the doomed world of Termina, where a moon falls every three days, time loops endlessly, and the inhabitant cast need his help before everything ends. Majora's Mask is a meditation on grief, identity, and impermanence unlike anything else in the franchise.

The game that invented open-world exploration. The Legend of Zelda gave players an enormous world to discover and secrets to uncover without hand-holding, trusting them to figure it out themselves.

Rare's stunning follow-up to GoldenEye 007 surpassed its predecessor in nearly every respect, delivering a sci-fi spy thriller with a phenomenal weapon roster, improved AI, and the most feature-rich multiplayer on the Nintendo 64. The technical achievement of Perfect Dark on N64 hardware remains extraordinary.

The pinnacle of the NES Mega Man series. Mega Man 2 perfected the formula of absorbing defeated bosses' weapons and applied it to eight masterfully designed stages with an all-time great soundtrack.

The brilliant reinvention of Mega Man for the 16-bit era. Mega Man X introduced wall-sliding, dashing, upgradeable armor, and a darker story while delivering one of the SNES's finest action-platformer experiences.

The perfect Sonic game. Sonic 2 introduced Tails, the Spin Dash, and the greatest collection of stages in franchise history while refining the speed formula to its absolute peak.

The finest handheld Castlevania and a landmark Metroidvania that introduced the Soul system — absorbing enemy abilities — creating one of the deepest ability collections in the genre. Set in the future year 2035, Aria of Sorrow reinvented the series with a bold narrative twist and exceptional mechanical depth.

The original, definitive version of Punch-Out!! featuring the real Mike Tyson as the unbeatable final opponent. The most famous licensed sports game on NES and one of the greatest boxing games ever made.

The greatest beat-em-up ever made. Streets of Rage 2 combined technical brawling combat with a roster of distinct fighters, excellent level design, and Yuzo Koshiro's legendary techno soundtrack to produce a masterwork of the genre.

A deeply personal and surprisingly melancholic Zelda adventure that sees Link stranded on the mysterious Koholint Island. Link's Awakening transcends its Game Boy limitations with clever design, a memorable cast, and one of the most emotionally resonant endings in Nintendo history.

Simon Belmont's legendary first mission to slay Dracula. Castlevania is a masterpiece of Gothic horror atmosphere and methodical action-platformer design that defined the genre.

The greatest co-op run-and-gun ever made. Contra put two commandos against an alien invasion and challenged them to survive on one hit — unless you knew the Konami Code.

Samus Aran's most personal and story-driven adventure brought Metroid to the Game Boy Advance with a haunting atmosphere, terrifying SA-X antagonist, and a narrative that finally gave the series' silent protagonist a genuine voice. Metroid Fusion is as close to survival horror as the franchise ever ventured.

Little Mac's journey through the World Video Boxing Association is one of the greatest sports games ever made — a pattern-recognition puzzle game dressed in boxing clothing.

The SNES action RPG masterpiece. Secret of Mana's real-time combat, gorgeous visuals, three-player simultaneous multiplayer, and Hiroki Kikuta's transcendent score created one of the genre's defining classics.

Sega's answer to Mario introduced a blue hedgehog who could run faster than the screen could keep up. Sonic the Hedgehog launched a franchise and gave Sega the mascot they needed to compete with Nintendo.

The definitive Star Fox experience and one of the finest rail shooters ever made. Star Fox 64 delivered exhilarating combat, memorable characters with full voice acting, and a brilliant branching mission structure — and its Rumble Pak integration was the first time console players felt the game through their controllers.

Neversoft's revolutionary skateboarding game didn't just create a genre — it changed how a generation thought about skateboarding, music, and sports games entirely. With accessible combo-building, brilliantly designed levels, and a soundtrack that defined late-1990s alternative culture, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is one of the most influential games ever made.

Kirby's NES masterpiece introduced the Copy Ability system and delivered the most technically stunning game on the hardware. Released in 1993 as the NES was being retired, it was a spectacular farewell to the platform.

The game that defined atmospheric exploration in video games. Metroid dropped players on a hostile alien planet with no map and no instructions, demanding they discover their own path through environmental storytelling.

The definitive 16-bit Castlevania experience. Super Castlevania IV gave Simon Belmont free whip directional control, used the SNES hardware for stunning visual and audio effects, and delivered the series' most atmospheric adventure.

Rare's audacious, boundary-pushing platformer used the deceptively cute character of Conker the squirrel as a vehicle for adult humor, cinematic parodies, and surprisingly emotional moments. One of the N64's most technically impressive games and its most unexpectedly mature.

Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima's dreamlike arcade game soared beyond conventional genre definitions, putting players in the role of a dream jester in spectacular aerial levels scored on precise, stylish flying. NiGHTS into Dreams is one of the most original games Sega ever published and the Saturn's most celebrated exclusive.

The finest Shinobi game and one of the Genesis's greatest action titles. Joe Musashi's final adventure combines fluid wall-running combat, ninjutsu magic, and spectacular boss encounters in a near-perfect action package.

The SNES Contra masterpiece. Contra III: The Alien Wars brought the series into the 16-bit era with spectacular Mode 7 boss battles, dual weapon wielding, and relentless action that matched the hardware's capabilities.

Mega Man 3 introduced Rush the Robot Dog and the Slide move while delivering a massive adventure with 24 stages. A strong entry that many fans consider the series' most ambitious NES installment.

Ryu Hayabusa's first mission introduced cinematic storytelling to the NES with anime-style cutscenes, while delivering punishingly precise action-platformer gameplay that tested every ninja's patience.

Insomniac Games' gem-collecting adventure placed players in the wings of a young purple dragon exploring vast, colorful worlds. Spyro the Dragon's open, exploratory design and warm personality made it an instant PlayStation classic and launched one of gaming's most beloved franchises.

The 16-bit evolution of Punch-Out!!. Super Punch-Out!! delivered a fresh roster of colorful opponents with the same pattern-recognition excellence, adding a super combo system and beautiful SNES sprite work.

Core Design's archaeological action-adventure introduced the world to Lara Croft, one of gaming's most iconic characters. Tomb Raider's blend of environmental puzzle-solving, platform navigation, and intense combat in imaginatively designed ancient ruins was genuinely revolutionary for 1996.

The NES game that dared to remove the jump button. Bionic Commando replaced conventional platforming with a grappling hook mechanic that created one of the most unique action experiences of the era.

Naughty Dog's technically dazzling PlayStation launch platformer introduced the world to the wacky orange marsupial and demonstrated that 3D platforming could be precise, challenging, and visually spectacular. The game that made Sony's console a genuine rival to Nintendo.

The game that brought polygonal 3D into living rooms. Star Fox used the Super FX chip to render unprecedented 3D graphics on SNES hardware, launching one of gaming's most beloved space shooter franchises.

SingleTrac's vehicular combat masterpiece cranked everything up from the original: bigger arenas set across world landmarks, more vehicles, more weapons, and darkly comic character endings that became the series' signature. Twisted Metal 2 remains the definitive entry in the beloved PlayStation franchise.

Scrooge McDuck bounces his cane across five exotic stages in one of the finest licensed games ever made. DuckTales proves that licensed titles can be genuine classics.

Rare's beat-em-up masterpiece is one of the most technically impressive NES games ever made — and one of the most brutally difficult. The Turbo Tunnel alone has broken thousands of controllers.

The beat-em-up that started it all. Double Dragon's blend of martial arts combat, weapon pickups, and mission-based brawling defined the belt-scrolling genre for years to come.

The debut of one of Nintendo's most beloved characters, Kirby's Dream Land introduced the pink puffball's signature inhale mechanic and charming aesthetic in a breezy platformer designed to be accessible to all ages. Short but delightful, it launched an enduring franchise.

David Crane's jungle adventure classic challenged players to guide Pitfall Harry through 255 screens of deadly hazards collecting treasures within twenty minutes. One of the first true action-platformers and one of the most acclaimed Atari 2600 games ever made.

The Blue Bomber's first portable outing takes bosses from Mega Man 1 and 2 and combines them into a challenging handheld adventure. A faithful if punishing translation of the NES series that holds its own as a standalone Mega Man experience.

The Genesis launch pack-in that greeted millions of new console owners. Altered Beast's transformation mechanic was innovative and memorable, even if the overall game was short and repetitive by modern standards.