Top 5 Best Action Games of Q2 2018

God of War (PS4)

Best Action Games of Q2 2018

God of War has long been one of the most influential action series out there, and the newest entry on PS4 completely redefined the it. Being met with huge amounts of critical praise, this God of War shows us an older, grizzled Kratos now living in the lands of Norse mythology with his son Atreus. After Kratos’s wife passes away, he and Atreus have to go on a journey to scatter the woman’s ashes. The pair have no idea what revelations and truths await them on that journey.

Outside of the change in location and tone, God of War’s combat has also been shaken up. The camera is pulled in close behind Kratos’ back and he has a brand new weapon, the Leviathan Axe. The axe is a versatile weapon that you can use to demolish enemies up close, or fling at them from a distance with devastating effect. A host of other new abilities are introduced throughout the game, including Krato’s shield, fighting bare-handed, and even a surprise that longtime fans will enjoy. Combat is integrally different from past games, requiring you to be much more methodical, and even tactical at times. God of War is easily leading the pack for Game of the Year discussions right now, and for good reason. It’s an unforgettable journey with strong combat and enough brutality to live up to that God of War name.

Vampyr (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Best Action Games of Q2 2018

DontNod has made a name for themselves with the narrative adventure game Life is Strange, but Vampyr is a different beast altogether. The game tells the story of Jonathan Reid, a doctor returning from the front of World War I back to his home in London. He finds a city wracked by the Spanish Flu epidemic, and after he’s killed one night, discovers a supernatural world as well.

Jonathan’s new vampiric abilities play directly into the game’s story and combat system. There are some tough choices to make if you want to spare the humans Jonathan meets or harvest them and get more blood to use on leveling up his abilities. Combat in Vampyr is pretty standard and similar to a Souls game, giving you different weapons to use on top of supernatural abilities. You can bite enemies and suck their blood on the spot, which will let you use abilities like shooting out a blood lance to impale someone. Vampyr’s combat may not be as exceptional as something like God of War, but the game’s narrative and world are riveting and a joy to see through.

Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition (Switch)

Best Action Games of Q2 2018

Hyrule Warriors seemed like a ridiculous idea when it was first announced, a crossover combining Zelda with the gameplay systems of Dynasty Warriors. However, in execution, the game worked amazingly well and it runs better than ever on Nintendo Switch.

Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition comes packed with a ton of content, all of the DLC from the original game, and everything featured in Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS. This means there’s a staggering amount of characters to choose from, including Young Link, Skull Kid, Marin, Toon Link, and more. Outside of the lengthy Legend Mode, there’s a wealth of maps to tackle in Adventure Mode, meaning you’ll be spending quite a while with Hyrule Warriors. Some small improvement have been made to the game’s graphics and load times, as well as how the My Fairy system functions. The Definitive Edition is the most all-encompassing version of Hyrule Warriors yet, and it’s a valuable addition to the Switch’s burgeoning library of exclusives.

State of Decay 2 (Xbox One)

Best Action Games of Q2 2018

The original State of Decay was a treat for fans of zombie games, presenting an open world to explore with elements of community management. Now, with the release of State of Decay 2, more players than ever before have jumped onboard, with more than two million players in just the first two weeks.

State of Decay 2 doesn’t make any drastic changes from the first game, but it does layer on a few meaningful advancements. New special zombies have been added into the mix, requiring you to switch up your strategy when encountering them. There’s a satisfying gameplay loop to be found in State of Decay 2, journeying out into the wild to scavenge and find equipment, then coming back and upgrading your base, eventually turning it from a small camp into a dominant power. Be careful, however, as if one of your survivors dies they’re gone forever. State of Decay 2 is bigger and better than the first game, and the game’s co-op makes it an even more attractive package.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PS4)

Best Action Games of Q2 2018

Yakuza has been on a huge upswing in popularity the last couple years, but the legend of Kazuma Kiryu has been going ever since the early 2000s. After five mainline games, a prequel, and spinoffs, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is the swan song for Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima.

Yakuza 6 is the first game in the series built on the Dragon Engine, completely overhauling graphics, combat, and how the world works. Everything in Yakuza 6 is seamless, an impressive feat as you can walk in and out of shops without loading, or engage in battles instantly. The final chapter of Kiryu’s story is an emotional one filled with drama, conspiracies, and tragedy in equal parts. The game still sports a brutal, but satisfying combat system that makes Kiryu feel like an unstoppable badass. You have a host of different attacks and abilities at your disposal, and the game’s experience system gives you a lot of control over how you want Kiryu’s abilities to develop.

Of course, in traditional Yakuza fashion, there’s a ton of optional substories to find, minigames to play, and things to collect. Yakuza 6 is one of the very best entries in the series, and a fitting end to a character as memorable as Kazuma Kiryu.