The Best Action Games Like God Of War

Highlights

• God of War’s reboot revitalized the franchise, showing Kratos evolve into a more mature character through interactions with Atreus and Norse gods.
• Success of the Norse mythology-inspired games has boosted the franchise’s popularity worldwide, with fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.
• Games like Dark Souls, Bayonetta, and Immortals Fenyx Rising offer similar gameplay experiences for fans of God of War’s style.

God of War is one of the biggest action franchises of all time, with the 2018 reboot helping to propel the series back into the mainstream. Kratos was a pretty one-dimensional character during his adventures through Greek mythology, so watching him become more mature and grounded through his interactions with Atreus and the Norse gods made for a great time.

Thanks to the success of the two Norse mythology-inspired installments, the God of War franchise has never been more popular, with fans the world over clamoring for more. Sadly, the next step of Kratos’ journey is likely still some years away, but there are plenty of great games like God of War to keep players busy until then. From story-heavy games to scintillating hack-and-slash titles, there are many titles that fans of this game series will have a great time with.

Updated April 27, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: God of War is one of the most action-packed video game series of all time, with the games starting as unapologetic power fantasies where players were encouraged to rack up as many bloody kills as possible before the franchise evolved to take into account modern gaming interests and its mature fanbase. What followed was one of the most successful reboots in video game history, with Kratos’ character quickly becoming one of the very best gaming has to offer.

His nuanced personality coupled with the removal of any immaturity he sported back when he treated killing as second nature makes the new God of War duology some of the best action games players can enjoy. Players who can’t get enough of Kratos’ bloody adventures can try out more games in the same vein.

1 Dark Souls

Modern God Of War Combat Is Very Much Inspired By This Title’s Gameplay

The new combat framework of God of War owes a lot to Dark Souls, and even the exploration feels similar in many ways. Both games adopt a Metroidvania-lite approach to level design and emphasize parrying, blocking, and dodging along with regular combat moves.

It helps that Dark Souls is also one of the greatest action RPGs ever made, meaning that players will be more than pleased to check out this piece of gaming history if they haven’t already. The fact that this title still stands strong as one of FromSoftware’s finest games is a testament to the sheer amount of love poured into this game that fans still can’t get enough of to this day.

2 Bayonetta

A Hyper-Stylized Action Game Focused On Dishing Out Combos And Taking Out Enemies With Flair

God of War has some of the most stylish combat ever seen in a video game, and this can be seen in the many combos Kratos can employ to turn his enemies into mincemeat. The moves he can pull off are nothing short of extraordinary, and it’s easy to see fans of this series wouldn’t mind checking out stylish combat systems that emphasize special moves and combos.

Bayonetta is right up the alley of most players who want to check out more stylish action. This charismatic and sassy witch becomes the star attraction of her eponymous game, with players trying their hardest to master the combat system before nailing combos and getting the highest ranking possible in every stage.

3 Immortals Fenyx Rising

An Underrated Open-World Action-Adventure Game Set In Ancient Greece

Kratos’ adventures in Norse mythology were certainly a thing of beauty, but some fans miss the time when he was slicing and dicing Greek gods left and right. For these players, an adventure in Ancient Greece is exactly what the doctor ordered, and the prescription is bound to mention a heavy dose of Immortals Fenyx Rising.

The game may not bring anything new or revolutionary to the table but is a fun video game nevertheless that players can check out if they want to enjoy fun action combat and a story full of memorable characters who add some levity to the proceedings with their sense of humor. It’s a shame that this game didn’t meet Ubisoft’s sales expectations, since it could have been the start of something memorable.

4 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

A Metroidvania Whose Design Shaped Elements Of God Of War

In many ways, players can call God of War a metroidvania, courtesy of the backtracking and how they need to unlock certain powers before gaining access to areas. This type of design was popularized by two legendary titles, one of which was Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

This platforming RPG documents Alucard’s journey in Dracula’s Castle as he strives to end the villain before a curse transforms him for good. The gameplay in Symphony of the Night has aged like a fine wine. Players will love conquering the title’s many tough challenges before reaching the true ending of a masterpiece.

5 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

A Fun Assassin’s Creed Chapter In A Much-Requested Norse Setting

The new route of the Assassin’s Creed series hasn’t been warmly welcomed by many players who loved the old style of the series. However, many people love the RPG-heavy focus of the new Assassin’s Creed games too, with Valhalla finally fulfilling everyone’s fantasies and serving as a game in this series that is set in Nordic territory.

Eivor is an engaging protagonist, and the scope of the world is incredible too. Fans of fun open-world games who don’t mind a bit of repetition will love what Assassin’s Creed Valhalla brings to the table. It may not be the most original title around, but players shouldn’t have a huge problem with this as long as they know what they’re signing up for.

6 Horizon Forbidden West

Builds On The Success Of Its Predecessor

Horizon Forbidden West was the highly anticipated sequel to Zero Dawn. The story of Aloy as she continued to figure out the mystery behind the apocalypse that ravaged humanity while trying to take out the new threats that stood in her way made for a fun time, even if many people felt that some aspects of this open-world game were a bit too generic for their tastes.

Regardless, there’s no denying that fighting a bunch of robotic dinosaurs made for a huge draw that never got tiring any step of the way. Players had to utilize all the weapons in their arsenal, using specific weapons against certain enemies to level the playing field and come out unscathed. A single mistake could have dire consequences for Aloy, who could easily lose her life if she wasn’t careful while tackling these larger-than-life mechanical monstrosities.

7 Furi

A Boss Rush Title With Tight & Engaging Combat

Players who like the tougher fights in God of War (such as the Valkyries) will love what Furi brings to the table. The game is essentially a boss rush title where players are forced to learn the patterns of these imposing foes before finally besting them after a tough encounter that pushes players to the very limit.

The satisfaction of finally beating a tough boss who was making the player tear their hair apart is nothing short of incredible. On top of the amazing gameplay that makes this title special, Furi also has an interesting story that plays out in the background, featuring riveting twists and turns in a plot that does a lot with very little.

8 Dante’s Inferno

A God Of War Clone Featuring Religious Imagery & Influences

Dante’s Inferno is a great game that has been accused of being a God of War clone, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The game’s violent take on this legendary poem was entertaining. The combat and art style were particular highlights.

It’s a shame that more people don’t talk about this game, since Dante’s Inferno had some great things going for it. Right now, it’s nothing more than a footnote in gaming history that only a few fans still rave about to this day.

9 Hades

A Top-Down Action Game With Roguelite Elements

Hades is one of the best action titles ever made, combining amazing storytelling with the roguelike structure to make for a fun and exciting experience. The sheer depth of the dialogue system in Hades is amazing and shows just how much thought the developers put into this game.

Most people would expect that trying to pull off precise movements with a top-down perspective would be challenging, so it’s a testament to Hades‘ design that this works out beautifully. Fighting through the game’s bosses and slowly piecing together the game’s story is quite fun.

10 Darksiders 2

A Mix Of Puzzle Solving & Hack-And-Slash Combat

Darksiders 2 is an excellent action-adventure title that served as many people’s introduction to the series. Despite featuring an amazing world and a compelling story, this game didn’t manage to meet sales expectations after being extremely costly to develop.

Fans of God of War will find themselves right at home with Darksiders 2 and its mythological elements. It’s a shame that the sequel didn’t elevate the status of the series, since Darksiders 2 was genuinely a great title that deserved a worthy continuation.

11 Bayonetta 3

The Latest Chapter In PlatinumGames’ Beloved Series

Bayonetta 3 went through a ton of controversy before release, which is a shame since it didn’t deserve any of it. After all, the game is one of the best action games on the Nintendo Switch and expands on Bayonetta‘s amazing arsenal.

The series is known for being extremely over-the-top in terms of both action and narrative, and the third game takes this to a whole new level. Fans of God of War who want to experience a massive thrill ride with spectacular combat can do no wrong with Bayonetta 3.

12 Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow

A Modern Re-Imagining Of The Castlevania Series

Many Castlevania fans were saddened to see that this beloved Metroidvania series was going down the path of a regular action game. However, for what it’s worth, Lords of Shadow is a fun game to play despite the many gripes of hardcore fans.

The title may seem slightly derivative of games like God of War and Shadow of the Colossus, but it wears its inspirations boldly on its sleeve. It’s just a shame that Castlevania abandoned its Metroidvania roots, and it required an entirely new IP for this magic to come back once again.

13 Elden Ring

An Open-World Soulslike With Amazing Lore And Combat

FromSoftware’s latest title has been the studio’s biggest success. Elden Ring has gone mainstream more than any other FromSoftware title, and this open-world game is a blast from start to finish.

Elden Ring might seem challenging, but patient players who learn the combat system will soon realize why this game is in a class of its own. Of course, the other pillars of Elden Ring‘s gameplay are also pretty neat, be it the open-ended exploration, the character customization options, or the boss fights.

14 Grand Theft Auto 5

A Cinemation Action Game Set In A Bustling Open World

Speaking of grand open-world adventures, it would be impossible to not mention Grand Theft Auto 5. The fact that this title is still relevant even after a decade since its release shows why it’s revered by so many as one of the most legendary games of all time.

Grand Theft Auto 5 might be known more for its multiplayer component nowadays, but players should check out the expertly crafted single-player mode in this game. Controlling multiple protagonists and raising hell has never been more fun. GTA 5‘s gameplay and story are not similar to 2018’s God of War in any shape or form, but Rockstar’s masterpiece is such a landmark release in the open-world genre that it is almost a must-play for anyone who enjoys that type of game.

15 X-Men Origins: Wolverine

A Surprisingly Great Movie Tie-In

A big part of what makes God of War such a fun game is the visceral nature of its combat. This is something that is replicated in a highly underrated title — X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

This game flew under many people’s radar due to the lackluster nature of its movie counterpart. However, players only need to check out a bit of X-Men Origins: Wolverine to realize that its high-octane action gameplay and brutal combat is a blast that’s highly reminiscent of God of War‘s glory years.

16 Alice: Madness Returns

Fun Gameplay And An Imaginative World

American McGee’s Alice was one of the weirdest yet most fascinating games around. Sure, the gameplay might not have aged that well, but the nightmarish nature of the world and its characters is something that still sticks with players long after they’re done playing this game.

This title received a sequel in Alice: Madness Returns. While the gameplay might be slightly simplistic at times, the amazing narrative and characters more than make up for this.

A Metal Gear Spinoff Focused On Heart-Pounding Combat

Leave it to PlatinumGames when it comes to making ultra-stylish action-adventure titles. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance had no business being as good as it is, with many people considering it to be one of the better games in the series!

Controlling a cyborg Raiden and slashing enemies to bits never gets tiring. It helps that the game always goes over the top with its set pieces, making every moment with this title an absolute blast.

18 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

An Action-Adventure That Takes Advantage Of The PS5’s SSD

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. Many fans regard it as the best game in the Ratchet & Clank series by a mile.

RiftApart features the PlayStation 5 working at its very best, with a whole host of new features and a gripping story mode that is bound to excite most fans. Sony faithful will be glad to play a game like God of War in terms of its technical achievements and excellent combat.

19 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

A Remake Of A Legendary JRPG

For the longest time, players were worried that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake would besmirch the legacy of the original game. The information that came before the game’s release certainly didn’t help things.

However, Final Fantasy 7 Remake managed to surpass all expectations and established itself as one of the best action RPGs on the PlayStation 4. Players looking for games similar to God of War will be more than happy with Square Enix’s latest entry in the Final Fantasy series.

20 Monster Hunter World

Hunt Down Nightmarish Creatures With Powerful Gear

The Monster Hunter series was wildly underrated in the gaming landscape. Thankfully, the advent of Monster Hunter World has completely flipped that concept over its head.

Now, a wide swath of players have been able to engage with the addictive gameplay loop that is Monster Hunter World. With its Iceborne expansion, the title is even more of an easy recommendation for players who were on the prowl for games similar to God of War.