Best action-adventure games on PC

The appeal of good action-adventure games

It’s relatively easy to imagine that some players like to have a break from the usual gameplay. It’s why good adventure games are made in a way that a certain balance is maintained, giving you the perfect amount of both engaging gameplay and slower, almost cozy sections. If you get a non-stop adrenaline rush, the title may get slightly overwhelming at times. But in this genre, you have a clear distinction between the two spectrums. There’s the right time for a bit of a Hollywood-like encounter and for a calm, relaxing puzzle that you don’t need to rush to complete. 

A spacious enough world can help achieve this balance as it’ll help you relax a little in some of its vast parts. For example, think of the Tomb Raider series and its platforming or puzzle-solving stages – putting a bunch of enemies in them would ultimately kill the mood. 

The other crucial thing is to build a convincing plot that explains why, for example, there is strange machinery in the middle of an ancient building. Unfortunately, it’s not always the case that developers try to explain that – which makes it even more impressive when someone actually cares about such a detail.

Best action-adventure games on PC

Now that we’ve explained the phenomenon, it’s time to list some of the best action-adventure titles: and there’s a lot to go through. If you’re looking for something safe, you should pick the latest God of War. It has everything you need from the genre: fast-paced, satisfying action, pleasant puzzles (they aren’t too difficult but serve as a neat break from combat), and phenomenal story-telling. Redesigning such an iconic character as Kratos was an arduous task, which Santa Monica Studio faced with no fear – and it paid off.

If you’d like an older game, trying out Beyond Good & Evil is a great idea. It doesn’t seem like we will play the sequel anytime soon (if ever), although the first title in the series still offers a lot. Imagine a modified version of Psychonauts done by Ubisoft in the golden era of platformers - that’s basically what this game is. 

We play as a female reporter named Jade, who tries to defend Hyllis (her planet) from a hostile aggressor. She has a camera and a special martial arts staff to defend herself from her foes and a massive (at that time) world to explore in search of the truth. It’s a game with a sci-fi setting done with a healthy dose of humor that more people more people should discover.

If classic adventure games aren’t your first choice, how about giving It Takes Two a go? It’s a recent, successful title that requires you to play with someone else: maybe there is a person that also likes this type of game? Be sure to invite them to this epic adventure! 

The title is a surprisingly mature tale about a married couple that’s close to divorcing – as they’re changed into dolls by a magic spell, they have no other choice than to learn to work together. It Takes Two features numerous crazy stages perfect for platforming but makes you activate your brain cells from time to time. The plot is another great thing about the game – even though it’s portrayed in a seemingly cheerful way, it can get a bit too real with some of its themes. Remember that only one copy is enough for you to play it with someone; as long as one person owns the title, the other can play for free!

These were some of the PC adventure titles that we’re sure you will like. The genre is much broader, though; be sure to check out other games from it after you’re done with our recommendations. You will find a bunch more here on GG.deals!