Greatest Action Thrillers Of All Time, Ranked

An action game can be exciting whether players are pummeling enemies with their fists, slashing them with swords, or shooting them with guns. It takes a special kind of action game to be thrilling, which can mean different things to people. In this context, a thrilling action game has to have intense, literal action that involves conflict between characters or swinging from vines to avoid disaster.

The story is a big part of the thriller narrative as well, often taking a darker tone that will leave players breathless. That’s the kind of games the following examples are, and they will be ranked based on how well they blend the idea of action with a thrilling narrative and set pieces. The pacing and length will also be considered from Spec Ops: The Line to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

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10

James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing

A Lost Bond Movie

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is one of the best Bond games that doesn’t get enough attention as an original piece of work. It had a star-studded cast and got the likenesses and the voices of actors like Pierce Brosnan and Willem Dafoe, along with an incredible theme song, “Everything or Nothing” by Mya.

The story was a typical save-the-world scenario, but the action set pieces were great, from rappelling down buildings to driving segments in cities; the game never left fans wanting. As a PS2-era game, some controls may not hold up entirely, but overall, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is definitely a good, thrilling action game.

9

Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

A Reboot In The Modern Era

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is one of the best first-person shooters of all time that reinvented the Call of Duty franchise. The only reason it ranks a bit lower is the context, since it isn’t as fast-paced or thrilling as some other entries.

There are segments where stealth is used to slow the literal pace down, and to good effect, along with missions that swap between multiple characters to give players a new perspective. The unfocused nature of the narrative, then, is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to this category, but FPS fans will rarely find a game as incredible as this that holds up on every level.

8

Splinter Cell: Blacklist

A Globe-Trotting Spy Game

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the latest game in the Splinter Cell series, which added a great replay value to missions. Typical of a Tom Clancy game, the story was a slow burn filled with political intrigue, conspiracies, and terrorist organizations.

Each mission had main and side objectives, and depending on how players performed, they would get graded and awarded money as compensation at the end, which they could then invest in upgrades for their character or plane. Missions were definitely focused on stealth and nailing that perfect kill, be it from a gun, gadget, or neck break, never got old.

7

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Trainspotting

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of those games that will leave players breathless from minute one. Things start with series protagonist Nathan Drake about to die in a train hanging over a cliff, before things go back for players to see how he got there.

Each level is filled with adventure as players climb across dazzling environments and cityscapes, action as they fire back at enemies from behind cover, and humor with a charming cast. It is one of the best action-adventure games of all time, with incredible pacing between small moments of beauty and big moments of glory.

6

Titanfall 2

Mecha Thrills And Kills

Titanfall 2 has one of the shortest campaigns in a first-person shooter, but that works in its favor. It’s one of those games that’s all thrills, featuring human and mech-based shooting, switching between the two perspectives evenly.

Plus, there is a late-game segment that is not worth spoiling, but it’s so good that the entire game could have been about this mechanic. Titanfall 2 is brimming with ideas, but it excels because it focuses on the action and doesn’t overstay its welcome like a good thriller knows how to, from thunderous gunplay to parkour antics.

5

Max Payne 3

One Last Dance

Max Payne 3 is an example of a thriller that’s finally getting into the darker part of the list as a noir story featuring the titular Max Payne at his limits. Much older than the first two games, Max is out of it before getting pulled back in for another round of gunkata.

From firing behind cover to blasting enemies while running to taking a dive and firing in slow-motion, the gunplay is superb, and in return, players can practically feel every bullet that hits Max back. It’s not a feel-good story, but players should be hooked from minute one to see how things end for old Max.

4

Tomb Raider (2013)

Lara’s Darkest Hour

The 2013 Tomb Raider game has a slight benefit over Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in this list’s theming because it is set in one location and builds from there, sort of like a 3D Metroidvania. As a reboot game featuring a younger version of Lara Croft out of her element, the story unfolds with her trying to escape military and natural dangers as she tries to find her shipwrecked crew to get off this island.

It’s not a fun romp through set pieces, as players will always feel like they are about to get Lara mangled in some way, which is why it is so thrilling. Tomb Raider is an example of how a reboot should be handled thanks to its grounded story, brutal action, and excellent platforming.

Mmm, Tasty

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’s minute-to-minute action is not as fast-paced as a stealth game set in an expansive jungle. The story, however, is full of intrigue as super spy Naked Snake is sent in to try and stop a group of Soviet Union defectors from starting a nuclear war between its former government and the U.S. Also, the villains are straight out of a Saturday Morning cartoon, from a man who can shoot lightning to one who can control bees, which is par for the course in a Metal Gear game.

It’s an homage to spy thrillers of the 60s, complete with a theme song, “Snake Eater,” that perfectly mimics the greatest of themes from Bond movies. The game is wildly unpredictable, and whether players go back to the original or check out the remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, they are going to have a good time.

2

Spec Ops: The Line

An Unhinged Shooter

Spec Ops: The Line is an incredibly dark third-person cover shooter that will play with the minds of players throughout. They assume the role of Captain Walker, who leads his two men into Dubai to try to find out if there are any survivors after a conflict there.

As they march into bombed-out villages, they will come across pockets of terrorists and horrific sights of death that will unsettle Captain Walker and have his men question his ability to go on. The twist is something players will not see coming, making it a good game to play through twice just to catch it from a different post-twist perspective.

1

The Last Of Us Part 1

A Banger From Front To Back

The Last of Us Part 1 has it all in terms of giving players magnificent set pieces that are awe-inspiring, a story that will leave players guessing and crying, and action so brutal that they may have to walk away between gameplay sessions.

Set in a post-apocalyptic U.S. following a zombie-like outbreak, players will have to travel across the country from Boston to Seattle and avoid monster and survivor dangers. What works best is the relationship that will bloom between Joel and Ellie, which starts tumultuously at best. No better game encapsulates the idea of a journey as well as The Last of Us Part 1.