The best action games of 2023 according to Metacritic

Video games are the ultimate power fantasy, because they regularly provide brief escapes into other worlds where the rules of reality don’t apply. Action games starring brave knights putting up a good fight, comic book adaptations set in the heart of the Big Apple, and horror-fueled efforts to survive unspeakable monsters are much more engaging than being stuck behind your desk at 9-5. The year 2023 witnessed the release of dozens of great action games.

So which games are the best when it comes to offering exciting adventures in fantasy worlds, real-world neighborhood cities, and dark futures? According to our sister site Metacritic and data collected from dozens of outlets, this year saw a balanced mix of original games, remakes, remasters, and sequels all shine in the action genre. Many of these games were a mix of action and other genres like horror, but if you’re looking for an exciting game that will keep you on the edge of your seat, you’ve had a good time this year. While some of the games below were obviously included, there were some welcome surprises too which you can discover in the list below.