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:
49/100
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: 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...
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: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, BREW, Commodore 64, DOS, DoJa, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, NES, PC-88, Wii, Windows Mobile, WonderSwan, ZX Spectrum → 1990
Players:
8.5/10
Ghosts 'N Goblins is a fantasy platformer about the knight Sir Arthur, who sets out to rescue Princess Prin-Prin from the Demon World. His route is blocked by...
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
This arcade block-breaking game has the player bounce a ball off a paddle and into a formation of bricks, trying to keep it from falling off the bottom of the...
Game released: Atari 2600, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari 7800, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, NES, PC Booter, PlayStation 3, PSP, PC, ZX Spectrum → 1989
This run-and-gun arcade game follows soldiers Ralf and Clark as they fight their way toward the village of Ikari. Enemy soldiers, tanks and helicopters stand in...
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...
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, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ColecoVision, Intellivision, NES, Odyssey 2, TI-99/4A → 1983
Players:
10/10
This platform arcade game based on the Popeye stories follows the sailor as he collects items dropped by Olive Oyl while avoiding the pursuing Brutus. Across three...
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
A historical flight combat simulator about nighttime bomber missions during World War II, loosely based on Operation Chastise and the film of the same name. Each...
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...
Game released: Atari 2600, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, MSX, NES, PC Booter, SEGA Master System, ZX Spectrum → 1985
Players:
3/10
Ghostbusters (1985) is a third-person action game from developers at Activision. The game is published by Activision. Ghostbusters (1985) also known as S.O.S...
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
A horizontally scrolling shooter about the Vic Viper spacecraft battling alien enemies across varied environments. The player pilots the ship through stages that...