The Best Action Games
Often defined by what they're not, action games can take many forms. Between rhythm, runners, arcade shooters, and heaven knows what else, the fun never has to stop with these action-packed games.
Implosion: Never Lose Hope
Developed by the team behind Cytus II and Deemo, there are some high expectations attached to Implosion: Never Lose Hope, and I'm delighted to report that this game delivers. Intuitive touchscreen controls and a great UI make this native mobile title a joy to play on its home turf.
A virtual joystick controls your movement, and virtual buttons control your combat actions in a system that is easy to understand, but that offers a fascinating amount of variety. Some hack-n-slash games can be totally brain-dead, but you'll have more fun with this title if you're willing to fine-tune your loadout and put a little more finesse into your strategies beyond simple button-mashing.
The story is typical sci-fi fare and nothing amazing, but the good graphics, fun gameplay, and fully voice-acted cast make this a ride well-worth taking. The first few levels are free to play as a demo, and after that, the full game can be unlocked for a scant $1.99. That's a serious steal for a game as high quality as this. If high octane action is what you're looking for, then your search ends with Implosion: Never Lose Hope.
Injustice 2
This action-packed fighter from NetherRealm takes iconic DC superheroes and pits them against one another in a battle to save (or destroy) the planet. Though the first Injustice mobile didn't feature a story campaign like the console versions, that changed with Injustice 2. Taking place in an alternate universe, as is common for comic book properties, the first game followed Superman losing himself to grief, creating a dictatorship to take over the world. Years later, Injustice 2 sees Batman gathering the remaining heroes after Superman's Regime falls and another villainous group rises to take its place.
It's not nearly as gruesome as Mortal Kombat is, but it retains its excellent fighting gameplay. Collect a roster of dozens of popular characters and upgrade them with special powers to create a team that's an unstoppable force against your opponents.
Players can even compete in 3v3 matches through a variety of game modes. For any DC fans out there or something looking for a great action game to spend some time in on mobile, you can't go wrong with Injustice 2.
My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge
My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge is a new mobile installment in the My Friend Pedro series. After the success of the original My Friend Pedro on PC and consoles a few years ago, it's a delight to see the devs bringing their particular brand of frantic action to Android.
You play as an unnamed, masked man armed with a couple of guns and some serious parkour skills. For reasons unknown, you're helping a floating, talking banana recover his kidnapped family from a variety of gangs and ne'er-do-wells through sheer brute force. The control scheme in Ripe for Revenge is fascinating — rather than walk or run, your only movement options are jumps and a short horizontal dash. The goal here is to constantly be in motion to build momentum and get the drop on enemies before reacting.
Flow and movement are big draws in this game, with its action described as a "gun ballet." You tap on enemies to shoot at them, but there's a bit of strategy built-in, thanks to the fact that enemies will fire at you on individual timers. Taking out the enemies about to act first is your top priority since you have only three health, no shields, and no way to regain life throughout levels.
Ripe for Revenge feels pretty great to play and delivers on the entertainment factor, but it may be frustrating for some players. Environmental hazards can be tricky to maneuver, and the level of challenge is occasionally beyond the average player. That said, Ripe for Revenge is free-to-play, so you can try it before you buy. If you choose to purchase the full game for $2.99, you unlock an extra mode and the ability to restart your progress at level checkpoints rather than going straight back to level 1 when you die.
Poinpy
Poinpy is an absolutely fantastic game for Android that comes with just one caveat: it's a Netflix exclusive. You'll need to have a Netflix account and the app downloaded on your phone to be able to play Poinpy, but for gamers who fall into this category, Poinpy is a must-have for your gaming library.
From the makers of Downwell, this charming vertical climber has you jumping for your life as you scale infinite levels of changing landscapes to collect fruit. What's the hurry, you ask? The ravenous beast that's chasing you! Collect fruit to order, smash it down into juice, feed the hungry beast, and live to press another juice. It's an absurd premise, but the game works oh so well.
Simple one-touch controls make this an excellent game for accessibility, the soundtrack is an earworm you'll be humming for days, and the gameplay hooks you in and doesn't let go. This is the perfect game to kill a few minutes or even a few hours if you've got them.
