Best Action-Adventure Video Game Franchises

Fans may find the action-adventure genre to be rather vague since almost any game with combat and exploration elements can fit the bill here. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, with many people loving how malleable this genre is.

This has allowed several amazing action-adventure franchises to step up and establish themselves as some of the best gaming IPs players can get their hands on. The cathartic battles and amazing traversal in these games make them worthwhile for any fans who want to sink their teeth into a beautiful experience.

Franchises will be ranked based on their greatness and the overall quality of their entries.

8

Uncharted

A Beloved Adventure Series Full Of Fast-Paced Shooting Action

• Notable Entries: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Uncharted cemented Naughty Dog’s transition towards making mature games, something that was kickstarted with the Jak & Daxter series. The amazing banter of the first game is something that players take for granted but was groundbreaking back in the day.

Later games in the series upped the ante, with both Uncharted 2 and 4 being hailed by many as some of the greatest action-adventure games ever made. While the series has concluded on a high note, fans can’t help but hope for a new title in the series to knock their socks off once again.

7

Prince Of Persia

The Sands Of Time Trilogy Was A Highlight For A Series That Is Making A Comeback Of Its Own

• Notable Entries: Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

It’s a shame that the Prince of Persia series doesn’t enjoy the modern relevancy it rightfully deserves. The Sands of Time trilogy houses three of the greatest action-adventure games ever made that have aged like a fine wine.

While later games in the series failed to capture the same hype, both The Last Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia are great titles that players will enjoy as long as they don’t mind a smaller scope. Ultimately, what people are waiting for is a remake of The Sands of Time that can make the series relevant again if it hits all the right notes.

6

Tomb Raider

Lara Croft’s Adventures Have Become The Stuff Of Legend

• Notable Entries: Tomb Raider 2, Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider (2013)

Lara Croft is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, with her debut in the world of video games being largely successful. However, fan interest waned after some notable failures damaged the brand, but the Survivor trilogy and the remasters have made it clear that this character is as marketable as ever.

Fans can only hope that the new Tomb Raider games will do justice to Lara’s character, especially since her cocky and confident personality was neutered somewhat in the new games.

5

Metroid

An Action-Adventure Series So Iconic That It Coined The Name For A Genre

• Notable Entries: Super Metroid, Metroid Prime, Metroid Dread

There aren’t many games successful enough to coin the name for a new genre, which is why Super Metroid deserves all its plaudits as one of the most important video games ever developed. The Metroid games have been largely excellent following this release, although Other M is a disaster most fans don’t like talking about.

It’s a shame that the Metroid series isn’t as important to Nintendo as some of their flagship titles, although games like Metroid Dread and the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 make it clear that fan interest is still high for these titles. Controlling Samus in her adventures and taking out numerous aliens is a blast every single time.

4

Castlevania

The Gothic Adventures Rife In This Title Are A Blast To Experience Every Single Time

• Notable Entries: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest

The Castlevania series poised themselves as run-of-the-mill action platformers for a long while before Symphony of the Night hit store shelves. Prioritizing exploration along with the integration of RPG-lite elements was a winning combination that turned this title into one of the greatest video games ever made.

While the Castlevania series has faltered from time to time in its efforts to transition to 3D, fans can still have a great time with some of the best games in the genre. The focus on action and exploration ensures that players would love exploring dark, gothic environments and taking out the many monsters that stand in their way.

3

BioShock

A Story-Driven Action-Adventure Series That Propelled Ken Levine’s Fame To The Stratosphere

• Notable Entries: BioShock, BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite

The story-driven FPS gameplay of BioShock makes every game a blast to play through, including a title that doesn’t feature Ken Levine’s amazing direction. The amazing FPS combat lets players use weapons and special powers to take out their opponents in style.

Along with this, exploration is a blast with both the claustrophobic halls of Rapture and the open city of Columbia letting players experience a grand adventure for the ages. The elements of horror sprinkled in each game heighten the immersion and make it clear why the BioShock trilogy is one of the greatest video game series of all time.

2

God Of War

Kratos’ Adventures Are Full Of Cathartic Action, With The Recent Titles Letting Players Enjoy Some Beautiful Cinematics

• Notable Entries: God of War 2, God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarok

The original God of War trilogy is full of amazing combat with a bit of exploration thrown into the fray, with Kratos’ hateful and one-dimensional character being compelling enough for players to enjoy this title’s action-packed trappings. However, it was clear that the series’ reboot needed to transform Kratos’ character in new and interesting ways.

It did so by improving the series’ cinematic flair and turning Kratos into one of the most compelling and well-written video game protagonists who learned from his past mistakes and strives to be a good role model for his child. The two new chapters in God of War let players enjoy amazing hack-and-slash combat, tantalizing stories, and some engaging exploration with its fair share of open environments.

1

The Legend Of Zelda

A Legendary Action-Adventure Franchise That Needs No Introduction

• Notable Entries: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It would be impossible to talk about the greatest action-adventure series of all time without giving The Legend of Zelda its due props as one of the most important video game franchises of all time. The grand sense of adventure was present in the very first top-down Zelda game, with A Link to the Past shattering everyone’s expectations and letting them enjoy one of the greatest video games of all time that has aged gracefully.

Ocarina of Time showed the franchise’s ability to evolve, even though it took a while for the Zelda games to appeal to a new generation of fans with Breath of the Wild. This open-world game and its sequel stand strong as two of the greatest action-adventure games of all time, and players can’t wait to see what the series has in store for them after hitting two home runs.