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
NESZX SpectrumMSXSharp X1GenesisPC-88Amstrad CPCSEGA Master SystemFM-7PC-98Sharp X68000DOSTurboGrafx-16Apple IIAcorn 32-bit
Statuses
Best Games in the Action genre of 1988 (Game released)
Game released: Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 7800, Atari ST, Commodore 64, FM-7, Game Boy Advance, NES, Nintendo 3DS, PC-88, PC-98, SEGA Master System, Wii, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum → 1986
Players:
7/10
Metacritic:
56/100
Xevious is a third-person action game with shooter elements from developers from Namco Limited and Namco Bandai Games. The game is published by Mindscape, Inc. and...
Game released: Atari 2600, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari 7800, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Genesis, Lynx, MSX, NES, Nintendo 3DS, SEGA Master System, Wii, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4 → 1988
Players:
9/10
Steam:
75/100
Metacritic:
65/100
A side-scrolling action game about martial arts experts Billy and Jimmy Lee, who take on the Black Warriors street gang to rescue Marian. Players fight through four...
Game released: Atari 7800, MSX, NES, Palm OS, Wii, Windows Mobile, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 → 1987
Players:
7.5/10
Steam:
91/100
Metacritic:
66/100
This arcade space shooter and sequel to GALAXIAN pits a fighter craft against waves of invading aliens. The player moves the ship left and right, shoots down...
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: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM-7, Game Gear, NES, PC-88, SEGA 32X, Sharp X1, SEGA Master System, Sharp X68000, SEGA Saturn, TurboGrafx-16, Wii, ZX Spectrum, PlayStation 4 → 1988
Players:
7.7/10
A pseudo-3D arcade shooter in which the hero fires in all directions. The game also features fixed bursts of...
Game released: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Genesis, iPhone, MSX, NES, PlayStation 3, SEGA Master System, TurboGrafx-16, TurboGrafx CD, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Zodiac, ZX Spectrum, Mac, Linux → 1989
Players:
6.5/10
Steam:
93/100
This arcade action platformer is set in a mythological world and follows a quest to rescue Athena, the daughter of Zeus, who has been captured by Neff, God of the...
Game released: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, J2ME, MSX, NES, SEGA Master System, Sharp X68000, Wii, ZX Spectrum → 1988
Players:
7.5/10
Bubble Bobble is a third-person arcade game with a dash of action and platforming from Taito Corporation. The game is published by Firebird Software Ltd.. Bubble...
Game released: Arcade, Atari 7800, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, PC, Atari ST, NES, Lynx, Mac, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 → 1982
Steam:
94/100
Metacritic:
68/100
Joust is an arcade action platformer built around aerial combat in caverns. The player rides an ostrich and attacks enemy riders with a lance, defeating them by...
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...
Arcade, Role-playing game, Action, First-person view, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga
Game released: DOS, FM-7, MSX, PC-88, PC-98 → 1989
Cosmic Soldier: Psychic War is a first-person arcade game with a mixture of role-playing, action and anime or manga games from developers from Kogado Software...
