814 games
The best action games on Nintendo Switch
Fast, punchy and precise: games where reflexes and good timing make the difference.
How to find games that really suit you: Tap “I like it” on up to 5 games. Playalike compares 20 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
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1 Dark Souls
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A merciless action RPG whose interconnected world of Lordran rewards careful exploration with clever shortcuts, deliberate combat and cryptic, melancholic lore. Every death teaches something, and every victory feels truly earned.
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2 Hotline Miami
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A brutally fast top-down shooter where one hit kills and every floor is mastered through rapid trial, error and instant restarts. Its neon visuals, pulsing synthwave soundtrack and unsettling, surreal story about violence make it unforgettable.
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3 Cuphead
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
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4 Apex Legends
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A fast free-to-play battle royale hero shooter set in the Titanfall universe, where squads of three legends with unique abilities fight to be the last team standing. Slick movement, tight gunplay and squad synergy define it.
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5 Devil May Cry 5
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A blistering stylish-action showcase where three wildly different demon hunters chain combos and weapon swaps to chase the highest style rank. Over-the-top cutscenes, a pumping soundtrack and deep mechanical mastery make it a genre benchmark.
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6 Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A brutal top-down action sequel where one hit kills and every floor demands split-second planning and reflexes. A fractured, non-linear story across multiple characters unfolds in garish neon, driven by a hypnotic synthwave soundtrack.
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7 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A blistering hack-and-slash where young Dante juggles swappable fighting styles, weapons and guns, and the game rewards you for fighting with flair. It is famously punishing, with legendary boss duels like the fights against Vergil and a heavy metal soundtrack.
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8 Katana Zero
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A blistering neo-noir action platformer where one hit kills and each room plays like a puzzle solved with your katana, slow-motion and deflected bullets. It's wrapped in a twisted, fragmented story with dialogue choices and a superb synthwave soundtrack.
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9 Enter the Gungeon
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
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10 Stellar Blade
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A slick hack-and-slash set on a ruined Earth where precise parries and dodges decide every fight. It pairs spectacular boss battles with semi-open zones full of secrets and a standout soundtrack.
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11 Bayonetta 2
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A blistering character action game where Bayonetta battles angels and demons using Witch Time dodges, wild combos and summoned demons. Absurdly over-the-top spectacle backed by an extremely precise and deep combat system.
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12 Furi
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Furi is a pure boss-rush duelist where you mix sword combat, parrying and twin-stick shooting in intense one-on-one fights. Each guardian has a distinct style, backed by bold comic-inspired art and a driving electronic soundtrack.
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13 Overwatch
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A vibrant team shooter where two squads of five clash over objectives using heroes with distinct abilities. Coordination, smart role and hero picks, and sharp reflexes decide every match.
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14 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
The definitive crossover brawler, gathering every fighter in Smash history into a game that works equally well as chaotic party fun and deep competitive play. A massive soundtrack and the World of Light adventure mode round it out.
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15 Onimusha: Way of the Sword
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Capcom's revival of Onimusha sends a samurai wielding the Oni Gauntlet through a demon-infested Edo-era Kyoto. Its core is weighty, precise swordplay built around timing-based counters and gory, cinematic presentation.
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16 Doom Eternal
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A blisteringly fast shooter that forces you to keep moving and treat every demon as a resource, carving out ammo, armor and health with the chainsaw, flame belch and glory kills. Paired with a crushing metal soundtrack, its fights play out like a violent dance through hordes of demons.
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17 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A fast-paced Soulslike from Team Ninja set in the collapsing Han Dynasty, where deflecting and countering define the combat rhythm. Demon-corrupted warlords and mythical beasts provide tough fights that can also be tackled in co-op.
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18 Dead Cells
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A fast, fluid 2D roguelite with Metroidvania structure, where tight, punchy combat and a huge arsenal of weapons make every run feel different. Permanent unlocks and new routes give you a real sense of progress even as you die again and again.
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19 Dark Souls: Remastered
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
The genre-defining Soulslike: a bleak, intricately interconnected world of punishing combat, hidden paths and bosses that demand patience and precise timing. The remaster adds sharper visuals and includes the Artorias of the Abyss expansion.
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20 Monster Hunter Wilds
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Wilds sets its hunts across seamless, shifting ecosystems where storms and weather swings change how monsters behave. Fourteen weapon types, a new Focus Mode and deep gear crafting make for more approachable yet still demanding fights, solo or in co-op.
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21 Mortal Kombat 11
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A brutal, gorgeously produced fighter with gory Fatalities, customizable fighter variations and a blockbuster-style time-bending story mode. Competitive online play and the Krypt keep players coming back.
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22 Brawlhalla
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A free-to-play Smash-style platform fighter where up to eight players knock each other off stages using weapon-wielding legends from across history and myth. Easy to pick up, with surprising competitive depth and full cross-play.
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23 Rivals of Aether
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A fast platform fighter in the vein of Super Smash Bros., with pixel art visuals and animal fighters tied to the elements of fire, water, air and earth. Precise movement, timing and local multiplayer brawls are the core of the experience.
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24 Hades
- Action-packed real-time combat
- Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Escape from the underworld as a roguelike with fast-paced combat and a story that grows with every run.
What matters with Action games
Action games live on that moment when reading an enemy, timing a dodge and landing a hit all click together. The Switch list here covers a wide spread, from slow, deliberate duels to frantic shooters, so it helps to know what kind of pressure you enjoy before picking one.
Difficulty is the first thing to check, because many of these games are deliberately tough. Dark Souls: Remastered is the version to choose if you want the classic Soulslike experience, since it adds smoother framerates and the Artorias DLC on top of the punishing, exploration-heavy original. Hotline Miami suits players who like short, intense bursts: one hit kills, but instant restarts keep the trial and error snappy. If you prefer steady progress despite dying, Dead Cells and Hades both give you permanent unlocks or story that moves forward with every run, which makes them easier to pick up in shorter sessions.
Next, think about who you're playing with. Cuphead offers local co-op for its hand-drawn boss fights, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate works as chaotic party fun or serious competition, and Monster Hunter Wilds lets you take on big hunts solo or in co-op. For pure style and spectacle, Devil May Cry 5 rewards learning combos across three very different characters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good action game on Switch for beginners?
Hades and Dead Cells are good starting points because you keep making progress even when you die. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also easy to pick up as a party game while still offering depth later.
Which action games on Switch have local co-op?
Cuphead supports local co-op for its tough boss fights, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is built for playing together on one console. Monster Hunter Wilds also supports co-op hunts.
What is the hardest action game on Switch?
Dark Souls, Cuphead and Hotline Miami are all known for being very demanding, each in a different way: deliberate combat, precise boss patterns and one-hit deaths. Doom Eternal and Devil May Cry 5 also become very challenging on higher difficulties.
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