In this series, we are learning how different aspects of video games work by playing games that offer an easy introduction to this one concept. This is designed for people new to gaming and aims to identify games with the least barriers. In this entry, we are looking at Action games.
Action video games focus on exciting or challenging activities. They are a call to "action", to play your part in exciting events that require hand-eye coordination, good timing, quick reactions and learned skills.
Commonly you will control a character to navigate a level, collect objects, avoid obstacles, and battle enemies. Equipment in the game can help progress. There will be certain points in the game where the action reaches a crescendo, perhaps with a harder "boss" enemy that must be defeated before moving on.
As opposed to Turn-Based games, that pause while the player decides their next move, action games are usually time-pressured.
In Sports games this action is focused on team or individual performance in rounds of play. In Open World games the action arises through encounters with situations and characters. In platform games the action focuses on exploration and timed jumps.
This list includes 20 games from the last 26 years, with 909 likes. They come from a range of different genres and play-styles and are all good games if you want to play your first action game.