Action
Action is a genre of video games in which the success of completing a task depends on the player's reaction speed and ability to make quick, correct decisions. The dynamics of such games are high, although some allow for a slower pace. Most often, this genre includes fighting games, shooters, platformers, and some sub-genres of real-time strategy. Action games may include elements of exploration, racing, puzzles, and more, but the foundation is always built on visual-motor coordination.
Years
Platforms
NESCommodore 64ZX SpectrumThomson TOBBC MicroMSXSharp X1PC-88Amstrad CPCSEGA Master SystemFM-7PC-98DOSElectron
Statuses
Best Games in the Action genre of 1986 (Game released)
Game released: Atari 2600, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Game Boy Advance, Intellivision, MSX, NES, PC Booter, TI-99/4A, TRS-80 CoCo, VIC-20, Wii, ZX Spectrum → 1982
Players:
7/10
Steam:
48/100
Metacritic:
67/100
An arcade platformer in which Mario sets out to rescue a girl kidnapped by Donkey Kong. To reach her, he navigates obstacles and dodges barrels, fireballs, and...
Game released: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Apple IIgs, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac, MSX, NES, PC-88, PC-98, Thomson TO, TRS-80 CoCo, ZX Spectrum → 1987
Players:
8.5/10
Arkanoid is a third-person arcade game with action and arkanoid elements from developers from the Taito Corporation studio. The game is published by Imagine...
Game released: Atari 5200, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, FM-7, MSX, NES, PC-88, SEGA Master System, VIC-20 → 1984
Choplifter! is an arcade game with elements of action, shooter and helicopter simulator from the masters from the studio Brøderbund Software, Inc.. The game is...
Game released: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, Electron, NES, PC-88, SEGA Master System, ZX Spectrum → 1989
Spy vs Spy (1989) is an action game with a mixture of strategy, platformer and puzzle from the studio First Star Software, Inc.. The game is published by Beyond...
Game released: Atari 2600, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, DoJa, Electron, FM-7, Intellivision, MSX, NES, PC-88, PC Booter, Wii, ZX Spectrum → 1988
Players:
7/10
Commando — a dynamic arcade shooter with a top-down view. Armed with only a standard rifle and a few grenades, you must fight endless hordes of...
Game released: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Game Boy, MSX, NES, PC-88, Sharp X1, Sharp X68000, TurboGrafx-16, Wii, ZX Spectrum → 1987
Players:
8/10
Gradius is an arcade game with action and shooter elements from developers from the Konami Industry Co. studio. Ltd.. The game is published by Konami Industry Co...
Simulation, Action, Shooter, Strategy, Flight Simulator, In real time, First-person view, Historical
Game released: Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, DOS, MSX, PC-98, ZX Spectrum → 1986
Dam Busters is a first-person simulator with elements of action, shooter, strategy, flight simulator and historical game from developers from the Sydney Development...
Game released: Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Intellivision, NES, Odyssey 2, TI-99/4A → 1983
Players:
10/10
Popeye (1983) is a third-person arcade game with a dash of action and platforming from the masters at Nintendo Co., Ltd.. The game's main publisher is Parker...
Game released: Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Game Boy Advance, Intellivision, NES, Nintendo 3DS, Wii → 1983
Players:
6/10
Donkey Kong Junior is a third-person action game with platforming and puzzle elements from developers from the Nintendo Co., Ltd. studio. The game is published by...
Game released: Atari 2600, Amstrad CPC, Atari 5200, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, Game Boy Advance, NES, PC-88, Wii, ZX Spectrum → 1983
Players:
8/10
Mario Bros. is a third-person action game with a mixture of platforming and puzzles from the developers of Nintendo Co., Ltd.. The main publisher of the game is...
Arcade, Action, Shooter, Flight Simulator, Third-person view, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga
Game released: Game Boy Advance, MSX, NES, Nintendo 3DS, Sharp X68000, Wii → 21 May 2004
Metacritic:
68/100
An arcade shooter in which the player guides TwinBee through the clouds while shooting enemies. The game combines aerial combat viewed from above with 3D...
Game released: Atari 2600, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, iPad, iPhone, PC-88, SEGA Master System, Windows Mobile → 1987
Summer Games is a third-person action game with elements of a sports game from developers from the studio Epyx, Inc.. The game is published by U.S. Gold Ltd. In...
Game released: MSX, NES, Sharp X68000, SEGA Master System, SEGA Saturn, TurboGrafx-16, Wii, Nintendo Switch → 1987
Metacritic:
84/100
This arcade side-scrolling shooter puts players in control of the spaceship Opa-Opa as it battles enemies across fantastical levels. Each stage requires destroying...
