Action RPGshave become all the rage in modern times. The combination of a clear-cut progression system of RPGs coupled with the high-octane real-time combat of action games makes for a brilliant experience that would be right up the alley of most players. That being said, one has to admit that there are very action RPGs that manage to nail the two pillars of what constitutes a great title — a great story and amazing combat.
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Some games tend to excel on the combat side of things but fail miserably when it comes to the story, which is a shame since the potential of the following action RPGs has been hampered for this exact reason.
10Dragon’s Dogma
Capcom’s legendary action RPG is still making the rounds to this day simply due to word-of-mouth, and it’s easy to see why this is the case. After all,Dragon’s Dogmais a great game that any fan of action RPGs — especially those who want to enjoy great combat — would be more than happy with.
That being said, the story is incredibly barebones and does nothing to add to the otherwise stellar experience. The fantasy tropes present in this title feel fairly rehashed and uninspired, especially when compared to the rest of this amazingly unique experience.
9Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
Nobody expected especially great things fromShadow of Mordor, so it was quite a pleasant surprise that this game ended up exceeding all expectations to serve as a brutal and satisfying trek through the most wretched recesses of Mordor.
It’s a shame that the story relied on conventional plot threads as opposed to doing something imaginative. The narrative serves as more of an excuse to allow for some cool set pieces and open-world busywork instead of actually being a plot worthy of theLord of the Ringsseries.
8Ghost Of Tsushima
After Sucker Punch was done with theInfamousseries once and for all, the studio went on the back burner for the longest time…that is, until it released the widely-anticipatedGhost of Tsushimato rave critical and commercial reviews.
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While the story might not have been all that riveting and Jin wasn’t exactly the most interesting protagonist around, the brilliant open-world design andthe graceful combatmore than made up for this minor slight.
7Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic
Any person who wishes to try their hand out with some imaginative and brutal combat in an action RPG should definitely giveDark Messiah of Might and Magica shot. It might very well be one of the most underappreciated games of all time.
It’s a shame that the plot of this game is painfully by-the-numbers sinceDark Messiahhad all the hallmarks of being a brilliant gem otherwise. If nothing else, at least it allowed Arkane Studios to evolve as a studio, before becoming the beloved developer of iconic modern immersive sims.
6Monster Hunter: World
Any person who loves theMonster Hunterseries will be the first to declare that the stories of these games have never been a major draw. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter since.
Tracking and hunting down beasts inMonster Hunter: Worldnever fails to be a blast, making for a truly unique and enjoyable experience. Players venture through the game’s maps as they hunt down their targets in some truly nail-biting combat sequences.
5Nioh 2
Initially considered to be nothing more thanan uninspired Soulslike,Niohhas definitely come into its own as an action RPG worthy of anyone’s attention.
While both games might not have the greatest of plots, the gameplay more than makes up for this deficiency.Nioh 2is especially notable in this regard, correcting most problems from the first game and allowing for a tense yet enjoyable experience as players take down all the fearsome foes that try to rip them apart across most of the game’s levels.
4Mass Effect: Andromeda
Fans waited with bated breath for the continuation of theMass Effectseries afterthe Shepard trilogy, only for them to be majorly disappointed.
While it’s true that the combat inMass Effect: Andromedais perhaps the most polished and action-packed in the entire series, the rest of the game — especially the story and characters — is such a slog that it can genuinely be a pain to get through at times.
3Kingdom Hearts III
The latest entry in theKingdom Heartsseries — which wasn’t a prequel, spin-off, or some other weird numbered title — was something that fans were waiting intensely, mainly due to the last numbered game in the series coming out all the way back in 2005.
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Unfortunately, in a similar fashion toMass Effect: Andromeda,Kingdom Hearts IIIended up being a bit of a mess when it came to the story side of things. The combat was certainly a blast to play through — albeit somewhat easy — but the rest of the experience was painstakingly slow in comparison.
2Final Fantasy XV
Speaking of games made by Square Enix, one can’t help but mention its biggest franchise and perhaps the most infamous title in the series when one looks at it solely from a developmental standpoint.
Not released until a decade since its announcement in 2006 — under a different name, no less — the effects ofFinal Fantasy XV’s tumultuous development can be seen on the story,which had a ton of potentialbut was mired in deadweight and questionable omissions. The gaps in the story were filled by a terrible movie and a genuinely great anime, but the game itself fails completely when it comes to delivering an emotional tale.
At least the combat is fun, although it’s just as easy asKingdom Hearts III.
1Final Fantasy VII Remake
Perhaps the most controversial inclusion, there’s no denying thatFinal Fantasy VII Remakehas a brilliant combat system that can ideally serve as the template forall future action RPGs created by this developer.
However, the plot of this game suffers from an overdose of filler, some cringe-worthy character moments, and unnecessary inclusions to the original release’s plot that serve only to make things more confusing. However, things could improve in the sequels.
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