Best Character Action Games on PC: The Ultimate List

If you've been gaming for some time now, odds are good that you've heard about the so-called character action games on PC. But, just what on earth are those? How do they differ from, say, regular action adventures, and should you even care? 

Well... if you're just into gaming, then it genuinely does not matter whether you're playing a character action game or a straight-up RPG. However, nuances are handy when discussing specific gaming preferences, and - much as is the case with Eurojank games - we believe a proper definition will make further discussions and assessments way easier in the long run. Besides, it's nice knowing what is it, specifically, that you love playing the most.

So, if you've not had the chance to read up on the character action genre, and if you're in need of some examples - scroll ahead for some of the very best character action games on PC!

What are Character Action Games?

In very broad, generic terms, a character action game is a specific kind of action-adventure. In almost all cases, we're talking about a third-person hack 'n' slash title with some amount of RPG elements. Usually, these are either Metroidvania-style upgrades or currency-traded moveset improvements. Often, both!

What sets character action games apart from regular action-adventures and classic hack 'n' slash titles, though, is their flashiness. The focus here falls squarely on the spectacle of combat, which is often extremely acrobatic and delightful to look at. In fact, an alternative name for this niche is - spectacle fighting game or spectacle fighter!

More often than not, a character action game will also come with a combat grading system that tells you how well you're fighting. But, if this talk of core features is a bit too vague and nondescript for you, let's show you some examples instead!

Best Character Action Games on PC

#10: Darksiders III

Darksiders is one of those franchises that flirts with all manner of gameplay premises and features, to the point where it doesn't have any truly distinctive gameplay features that are maintained through all four of its games. For the most part, though, and particularly with Darksiders III, the games are character action titles.

Here, players take control over Fury as she demolishes her way through veritable hordes of enemy combatants in a true hack-and-slash game manner. She leaps from one timeline to the next through all of creation, and as it turns out, the central pillar of the universe is spectacular, delightful brutality. Who knew!

#9: Scarlet Nexus

Possibly the most RPGish of all the fighting games on this list, Scarlet Nexus is about as anime-themed as a spectacle fighter could possibly get. And, really, considering the core genre tropes on show here, that's quite the achievement.

Players take control over one of the two main characters (each with a story of their own) as they duke it out with incomprehensible brain-munching monstrosities. Using swords and magic and equal measure, naturally, because of course. All jokes aside, though, the game's pretty amazing.

#8: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Did you know that Lords of Shadow was made by the same people who made Metroid Dread? Well, now you do! And though Dread is about as far removed from a spectacle fighter as it gets, Lords of Shadow sure did flirt with the idea of going all-out in this respect.

This action game is a truly massive and sprawling RPG-lite with deep, engaging combat and extremely varied enemy encounters. There's much to love here, and though the sequel isn't quite as good as the original, the narrative the two games tell is practically unparalleled.

#7: Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Of all the games on this list, Warrior Within is probably the least a character action game of them all. Still, it's closer to being one than not, and the now-ancient franchise has been getting overlooked by Ubisoft for way too long now, even if Warrior Within is the edgiest Prince of Persia of them all.

The game features most aspects of a spectacle fighter, falling short of RPG-lite progression and a dedicated combo/style meter. It's a truly amazing piece of gaming history, however, and most younger players won't have touched it at all.

#6: Furi

Furi is quite the mind-bender, though it also bends genre norms in equal measure. This action game balances on a knife's edge between a fully-fledged character action game and a - believe it or not - bullet-hell shooter. Surprisingly, it manages to do both of these gameplay aspects equally well.

Granted, the game is significantly more straightforward than most others on this list. For the most part, it's a mad dash from one boss encounter to the next, and its closest modern narrative equivalent is likely Katana Zero. This one's a real joy to play, believe us.

#5: Vanquish

Vanquish is, in equal measure, a spectacle fighter and a third-person shooter character action game. In lieu of melee combat, the game puts its almost insane mobility options front-and-center and equips you with a reasonably capable firearm to dish out punishment with. The game is almost entirely unique in most respects, and honestly, it's strange how there have not been any copycats over the years.

While the developer - Platinum Games - has certainly had its fair share of amazing releases over the years, very few of them stack up to the sheer ridiculousness that is Vanquish.

#4: Devil May Cry 3 - Special Edition

A true classic of the Ninja Gaiden games, Devil May Cry 3 re-established the Devil May Cry franchise after its immediate predecessor failed to deliver on the original Devil May Cry game's promises. The third game took back the reigns and got back to basics, allowing fans to breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, Devil May Cry 2 was pretty darn awful back in the day, but Devil May Cry 3 on the other hand is awesome!

It certainly helps that this particular IP lends itself phenomenally well to the character action game genre, with each of its narrative and gameplay beats purpose-built to deliver as much spectacle as humanly possible. What's not to like?

#3: Bayonetta

We're not sure how, exactly, someone managed to find a way to one-up the universe of Devil May Cry, but they did. With Bayonetta, of course. Here's a game where you end up killing the literal avatar of the Abrahamic be-all-end-all before everything is said and done. How? Well, with heel-mounted scatterguns. Of course.

While the rest of the Bayonetta series is yet to launch on PC, the good news is that the original character action game is every bit as good today as it's ever been.

#2: Devil May Cry 5

Almost all Devil May Cry games could've made their way into this list, honestly. We felt like we really ought to limit the number of them to two, max, though, simply to leave enough room for the variety of other available spectacle fighters. There was no way DMC 5 wouldn't make it in, however.

Arguments about whether DMC 5 is better than DMC 3 are still ongoing, with genre purists swearing by the old classic. Truthfully, though, DMC 5 is a more modern and more fun experience, and it successfully encapsulates everything that this particular niche is known for. A must-play, we believe.

#1: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Finally, the one Metal Gear offshoot that has kinda-sorta managed to garner a more positive reception than most mainline Metal Gear games. This is, without the faintest sliver of a doubt, the ultimate spectacle fighter. Raiden is a literal cyborg ninja that can carve organs out of enemies, and his ultimate enemy in this game is a - wait for it - Republican senator that wanted to "make America great again," before the phrase got its current meaning. It's a joy to play.

Revengeance is, much like Vanquish, one of those games that could really use a sequel just to give fans more of what they've come to love. Even if it never happens, which looks entirely possible at this point, the action game remains a timeless classic, even in 2022.

Over-The-Top is The Name of the Game

Now that we've delivered our list of top 10 best character action games on PC, we hope you have a better sense of what's a spectacle fighter. Really, there's no need to get hung up on genre nomenclature, but it's good to be able to define what's what and what's not. Especially with a niche so pronounced as that of spectacle fighter games.

There aren't many of these titles coming out nowadays, sadly. For the most part, consoles are the place to be for character action games, and we can't help but recommend investing in a good controller if you're intent on playing the character action genre on PC. For some of the moves in, say, Bayonetta, you'll be thankful you won't end up summoning demons IRL with all the hand contortions you'd need to do.

Have fun!