We already published the list of best Xbox One games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best Xbox One action games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the Xbox One definitely has a great library of action games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the Xbox One and action games, there’s a chance you’ll like this list.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. Sonic Mania
- Release Data: Sega, 2017
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D
Since its success on the Sega Genesis, the Sonic franchise has struggled to stay relevant.
Sonic Mania rights all of those wrongs by returning to the series’ roots; incredibly fast paced side scrolling action with bright and colorful visuals.
You can play the game either solo or cooperative, choosing to play as either Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles.
#24. SUPERHOT
- Release Data: SUPERHOT, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Tactical
SUPERHOT is a compilation of short first-person shooting scenarios, almost always playing out in slow motion.
This is because time only moves when you do, a power that is both a blessing and a curse.
So, you’ll have to observe your surroundings and think before you act, placing your shots and being as precise as possible.
#23. Far Cry 5
- Release Data: Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft, 2018
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
This awesome entry in the Far Cry franchise puts players in the center of a beautiful rural map and tasks them with liberating outposts, recruiting survivors, and eliminating prominent members in a cult organization.
Not only that, the large open-world map is full of activities and challenges, providing dozens of hours of intense FPS action.
#22. Gears 5
- Release Data: The Coalition/Xbox Game Studios, 2019
- Genre: Action » Shooter » Third-Person » Arcade
Full of action, blood, and machismo, Gears 5 provides players with a cover-shooter experience that’s packed with content.
You can tear through the story alone or with a friend in cooperative play, with both players seeing the game from a different perspective.
As long as you like slicing enemies in half and laying down some serious firepower, you’ll love this title.
#21. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
- Release Data: The Coalition/Microsoft Game Studios, 2015
- Genre: Action » Shooter » Third-Person » Arcade
This version of the classic Xbox 360 shooter Gears of War makes some excellent additions to an already great game.
Players who struggled with the difficulty are offered an easier option with a new difficulty mode, opening up the experience to novice players.
The slightly creepy atmosphere and gritty world and narrative makes this an unforgettable start to a legendary title.
#20. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
- Release Data: Lucid Games/Sierra Games, 2014
- Genre: Action » Shooter » Shoot-‘Em-Up » Top-Down
This entry adds an entertaining “Adventure” mode, which tasks players with completing a variety of challenges across different modes of play.
The classic experience is still available, as well as a plethora of game modes.
It’s a blast to play both solo and with friends, and it’s a game that will surely see many hours of play time.
#19. Halo 5: Guardians
- Release Data: 343 Industries/Microsoft Game Studios, 2015
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
The story mode sees you defeating a variety of robotic and alien enemies in exotic locations.
Some features have been added to refine the experience, such as hovering and the ability to aim down your gun sights.
Also, the addition of “Spartan abilities” makes a decent impact on the overall meta of the game, creating a unique mark on the franchise.
#18. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Release Data: 343 Industries/Microsoft Game Studios, 2014
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
If anything, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is an amazing deal.
This game compiles three fantastic shooter campaigns into one package, offering dozens of hours of cooperative alien-blasting.
Additionally, the game contains the original multiplayer offerings of each game, as well as the remastered versions of both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2.
#17. Prey
- Release Data: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks, 2017
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Prey offers gamers a huge ship to explore to countless interesting missions and quests to pursue.
The biggest strength of Prey is the amount of options it gives to the player.
Whether you want to approach things stealthily, go in hot, or forego your humanity to use superpowers, Prey lets you play how you like.
#16. Gears of War 4
- Release Data: The Coalition/Microsoft Game Studios, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » Third-Person » Arcade
This continuation of the Gears of War series distances itself from the original trilogy by introducing new characters and enemies.
There’s a big focus on weather effects, and some of the raging storms in the game are astonishing to behold.
And the amount of fan service is decent, which makes it a great entry for new and old fans.
#15. Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Release Data: Arc System Works/Bandai Namco Games, 2018
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
This intense fighting game is great for fans of titles like Marvel vs Capcom, due to its fast-paced team battle combat.
The controls are simple-to-learn but allow for complex combos and abilities, provided you spend the time to master them.
With a stacked roster and beautiful graphics, this exhilarating title is easily one of the best fighting games of all time.
#14. Far Cry 4
- Release Data: Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft, 2014
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Far Cry 4 continues the open nature of the Far Cry franchise by offering a staggering large area to explore.
And although you start out pretty weak, Far Cry 4 loves to give the player incredible power.
Whether it’s your very own helicopter, an explosive rocket launcher, or superhuman hunting abilities, few games make you feel as powerful as this one.
#13. Mortal Kombat X
- Release Data: NetherRealm Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 2015
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
If you like violent fighting, few games pull it off as well as the Mortal Kombat series.
The story mode is lengthy and entertaining, and the resulting roster of fighters is a great mix of new faces and old favorites.
Also, a long list of unlockable content and character combos ensure that you’ll be performing fatalities for hundreds of hours.
#12. Titanfall 2
- Release Data: Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Not only does Titanfall 2 contain excellent competitive multiplayer, it also tells a great story through the campaign mode.
Many fans of the original criticized its lack of single player story, and Titanfall 2 more than makes up for that.
The multiplayer maps and single player levels are crafted to work together with the movement mechanics, giving players a masterful FPS.
#11. Battlefield 1
- Release Data: EA DICE/EA Games, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Tactical
The Battlefield series goes back into the past, revisiting the WWI to deliver a gripping narrative as well as an interesting multiplayer space.
Instead of one cohesive narrative, the story mode is split up across multiple characters.
This allows you to see a variety of perspectives, along with performing in various roles such as pilot, medic, tank driver, and more.
#10. Titanfall
- Release Data: Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts, 2014
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
Titanfall surprised many people when it debuted, mostly due to its interesting mixture of mech and ground combat.
The verticality of the combat is impressive, as are the gigantic mechs that you can call down during battles.
There is a decent variety of mechs that offer different abilities and weapons, and finding your favorite equipment is definitely an enjoyable experience.
#9. Cuphead
- Release Data: Studio MDHR, 2017
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D
This game is immediately impressive thanks to its hand-drawn art and entrancing visual style.
Cuphead‘s visuals expertly recreate the excessive style of 1930’s cartoon animation and combines it with complex boss fights.
And regardless of level, Cuphead is brutally difficult.
However, it’s lovable charm and addictive nature make it a hard game to put down, even when you’re on a losing streak.
#8. Mortal Kombat 11
- Release Data: NetherRealm Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 2019
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
This entry in the long-running Mortal Kombat franchise is one of the best, with photo-realistic visuals, tons of unlockable content, and addictive game modes.
The lengthy single-player campaign provides hours of cinematic fighting, with a fun time-travel story to experience.
With a roster of over 20 different characters, this Mortal Kombat game brings your favorite fighters together.
#7. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
- Release Data: Moon Studios/Microsoft Game Studios, 2016
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D
Both surprisingly emotional and incredibly fun to play, Ori and the Blind Forest sets up the story and lets you run wild in an expansive map.
The game is similar to Metroid, featuring a large map with many blocked paths.
The difficulty can be quite punishing at times, but the tight controls give you all the tools you need to succeed.
#6. Ori and the Blind Forest
- Release Data: Moon Studios/Microsoft Game Studios, 2015
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D
With a beautiful art style and addictive gameplay Ori remains one of the finest side-scrollers on the Xbox One.
The story is light, but surprisingly emotional, delivering us a story that is akin to a Pixar film.
As you progress, your powers also become more varied, resulting in a wide range of abilities that make exploring the vast forest a treat.
#5. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
- Release Data: MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks, 2017
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
The subject matter of Wolfenstein II is very heavy, and the game handles it very well.
In fact, this is considered as one of the best FPS stories in modern gaming, mostly due to its character building and emotional turns.
Overall, the gameplay is fast and brutal; and you’ll tear through hundreds of Nazis with a variety of firearms.
#4. Injustice 2
- Release Data: NetherRealm Studios/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 2017
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
Injustice 2 contains everything a fighting game fan would want.
There’s a huge roster of characters, featuring both fan favorites and lesser known characters from the DC Universe.
And each character can be highly customized with these new pieces of gear as well as different color combinations for their costumes.
#3. DOOM
- Release Data: id Software/Bethesda Softworks, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Arcade
The DOOM series ushered in the FPS genre in the 90s, so it’s no surprise that this reboot is full of classic gunplay and bloody entertainment.
The story is appropriately light; a research base on Mars has seen a demonic overtaking, and it’s up to you to stop it.
#2. Overwatch
- Release Data: Blizzard Entertainment, 2016
- Genre: Action » Shooter » First-Person » Tactical
This game is mostly responsible for the rise of the “hero shooter” sub-genre, and it centers around a fun cast of personable characters.
Each hero has completely different weapons, skills, and each play a different role as part of a team.
Both highly addictive and perfectly tuned, Overwatch is a competitive title that earns its place in gaming history.
#1. INSIDE
- Release Data: PLAYDEAD, 2016
- Genre: Action » Platformer » 2D
The perfection of INSIDE rests in its simplicity; the controls are super easy to learn and the game doesn’t demand high skill.
Instead, the game formulates a foreboding world to explore, and tells a gripping narrative that becomes weirder as you progress.
INSIDE feels a lot like a great indie movie; full of new ideas that surprise and impress.
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See also: Best Xbox 360 Games & Best Gaming Chairs
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which Xbox One action game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!