30 Overrated Action Games Everyone Seems To Like

Action games are consistently the most popular and profitable in the video game world, often launching to widespread acclaim. However, over time, players often develop more nuanced opinions. Some highly successful action games are later considered overrated due to issues with gameplay, repetitive elements, or misleading marketing. This list examines thirty major action games that have faced this kind of critical re-evaluation despite being big commercial hits.

‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (2013)

Created by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, this popular open-world game tells the story of three different criminals. It quickly became a huge commercial success and continues to be played by many thanks to its online mode. While highly rated, some players feel the missions are too linear and don’t take full advantage of the open-world environment. Reviewers have also pointed out that the game’s humor and characters aren’t as well-developed as in previous installments. Additionally, the controls for moving and shooting feel outdated to some players, despite the game’s overall positive reception.

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Okay, so I’ve been playing this Western game developed by Rockstar, and it’s a prequel to their older title. Honestly, it looks amazing. The world is incredibly detailed, and the graphics are top-notch. But, and this is a big but, sometimes all that realism gets in the way of fun. The animations, while cool, can make everything feel kinda slow and clunky. Plus, I wish I had more freedom. The game often pushes you down specific paths instead of letting you explore the open world how you want. The story itself is great, but it unfolds at a pretty leisurely pace, which might not be for everyone who likes things fast-paced.

‘The Last of Us Part II’ (2020)

This sequel, created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony, explores themes of revenge and how violence tends to repeat itself. While praised for its stunning graphics and options to make the game easier to play, it sparked a lot of discussion among gamers. Many found the story felt fragmented and the campaign overly long. Though the combat is polished and impactful, some felt it wasn’t a significant step forward from the previous game. Despite winning many awards, the game continues to be a divisive title.

‘God of War’ (2018)

Sony Interactive Entertainment published this new take on the series, created by Santa Monica Studio. It moved away from the quick, action-packed gameplay of previous games, opting for a slower, more cinematic style viewed from behind the character. While the story’s focus on a father-son relationship was well-received, some longtime fans felt it lacked the vastness and diverse environments of the earlier games based on Greek mythology. A common complaint was the limited number of unique boss battles, as many fights reused the same enemies with different colors. The slower pace and increased importance of equipment stats also altered the gameplay, which some players found less exciting.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

This game, created by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, expanded on the challenging gameplay style of previous ‘Souls-like’ games by placing it in a huge open world. It was incredibly popular and sparked a lot of discussion among critics and players. However, some players felt the open world design led to repetitive content, particularly with the bosses in dungeons. Others criticized the late-game difficulty, finding it unfairly punishing compared to the more carefully designed levels in earlier games. Despite its success, some players were also frustrated by the lack of a traditional quest system to guide them.

‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’ (2019)

This installment of the game was a fresh start for the series, created by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. It featured a new game engine, significantly improving the graphics and sound. While popular with many, competitive players often complained that the maps encouraged players to stay in one place, a tactic called ‘camping.’ The game’s matchmaking system, which aimed to pair players with similar skill levels, also caused controversy. Some appreciated the more strategic gameplay, but others felt it made the game slower than previous titles in the series, which were known for their fast pace.

‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ (2020)

This installment in the series, created by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, is set in the Viking age. While it’s been a huge commercial success, it’s also received some criticism for having too much content. Players often felt the main story was overly drawn out, which made it difficult to stay engaged until the end. Although the combat is powerful and feels substantial, reviewers pointed out it wasn’t as refined or focused on stealth as previous games. Many consider the game overrated due to its repetitive gameplay loop centered around taking over territories.

‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’ (2018)

This game, created by Insomniac Games and published by Sony, features a beautifully detailed New York City. Players and critics alike loved how smooth and fast it felt to swing through the city. However, some reviewers noted that the side missions and open-world tasks felt similar to those found in many Ubisoft games. The parts of the game where you had to sneak around as a normal person were often slow and felt like they interrupted the action. While the fights look great, some players thought they weren’t as complex as the combat system in the Batman: Arkham games.

‘Destiny 2’ (2017)

This game, created and released by Bungie, started as a typical shooter but changed over time to constantly update with new content. It’s praised for its excellent shooting mechanics, but has faced criticism for a story that’s hard to follow and for pushing players to spend money. A particularly controversial move was removing content players had already purchased. Many players also feel the repetitive daily and weekly tasks are more tedious than fun. Although the game has a large player base, it can be difficult for newcomers to get into it.

‘Far Cry 6’ (2021)

This game, created by Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft, takes place in the Caribbean and stars Giancarlo Esposito. While visually appealing, reviewers found it didn’t offer much new compared to previous games in the series, making it feel repetitive. A change to how players improve their character – switching from a skill tree to perks found on equipment – proved unpopular with many. The game world is large, but often feels empty or filled with tasks that don’t add much to the experience. Though the gameplay is solid, it’s generally considered a safe, rather than exciting, continuation of the series.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

As a big fan of RPGs, I was so hyped for this game – it’s a really cool action-RPG set in a beautiful, futuristic city. But honestly, the launch was rough, especially for people with older consoles. They’ve fixed a lot with updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, but even now, some people feel like the world isn’t as reactive as they showed off before release. The AI for characters and enemies has been a problem for a while, too. Don’t get me wrong, the story and characters are fantastic, but the actual gameplay feels pretty typical for this kind of game.

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020)

This game, created by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony, puts you in the role of a samurai defending against a Mongol invasion. It’s known for its beautiful visuals and clean, simple design. While many appreciate its look, some critics point out that the gameplay itself is fairly standard for open-world games, with a lot of similar side missions. The fighting is enjoyable, but can become easy once you unlock certain abilities. Players have also commented that the missions aren’t very diverse, often involving simply following trails or fighting enemies.

‘Starfield’ (2023)

This space-themed action RPG was created by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Though highly anticipated, its release was met with a mixed reaction. Many critics and players found that the game’s automatically generated planets often felt empty and similar to one another. Frequent loading screens and the inability to travel seamlessly between planets were also significant drawbacks, especially for those hoping for a more fluid exploration experience. While the game boasts a detailed ship-building feature, some felt the combat and conversations were a bit old-fashioned.

‘Halo Infinite’ (2021)

This game, created by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios, tried to breathe new life into the series with a large, open world to explore. Players generally enjoyed the core gameplay, which focused on shooting and using the new Grappleshot. However, the world felt repetitive because it largely consisted of just one type of environment. Updates to the online multiplayer mode were released slowly, which caused fewer people to play. Additionally, many fans found the story hard to follow and overly dependent on existing backstory from previous games.

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ (2023)

Avalanche Software created the game, and Warner Bros. Games published it under their Portkey Games brand. The game did a great job of recreating the feeling of the wizarding world and became very popular. However, reviewers pointed out that the role-playing elements weren’t very complex and the areas outside of Hogwarts felt uninspired. While the combat looked impressive, it wasn’t very deep and could get boring after a while. Also, the game didn’t have a system to track good or bad choices, so using dark magic didn’t affect the story or how characters interacted with you.

‘Dying Light 2 Stay Human’ (2022)

This game, created by Techland, continued the series with a focus on fast-paced parkour and close-quarters fighting set in a city after a disaster. Although movement felt smoother, some players thought the fighting wasn’t as satisfying as in the original game. The game promised that player choices would significantly change the story and world, but reviewers were disappointed with how these choices played out, finding them uneven and not very impactful. Critics also pointed out that the story and characters weren’t as compelling as those in the first game. Despite technical upgrades, many believe it didn’t quite recapture the special feeling of the original.

‘Diablo IV’ (2023)

This latest installment in the popular dungeon-crawling series was created by Blizzard Entertainment. When it first launched, people loved its dark and stylish visuals and satisfying combat. However, players soon voiced concerns about how the game progressed after completing the main story and how items worked. Updates intended to improve the game often felt like they made it more grindy and less enjoyable. Despite selling millions of copies, the game’s ongoing updates and seasonal content continue to be a source of discussion – and disagreement – among longtime fans.

‘Borderlands 3’ (2019)

This game, created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K, kept the look and fast-paced action fans loved in previous installments. It featured improved shooting and more fluid character movement. However, many players found the story and villains annoying instead of scary. The quests also felt repetitive, and while there was plenty of powerful loot, it didn’t always make progressing feel satisfying. Though still enjoyed by many, it’s often seen as the game where the series’ comedic style started to feel old.

‘Watch Dogs: Legion’ (2020)

Developed by Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft, this game took place in a futuristic London and let players choose to play as any character. Though an interesting idea, reviewers felt this ‘play as anyone’ approach made the characters feel shallow and the story feel disconnected. Missions often felt the same because they had to work for all character types. Many players also found it hard to get invested in the story without a main character to follow. The core gameplay, focused on hacking and stealth, was similar to previous games in the series.

‘Overwatch 2’ (2022)

Blizzard Entertainment released a follow-up to their popular hero shooter, switching to a free-to-play system. This change caused a lot of debate, as players lost access to the original game and the way they spent money in the game was altered. Many fans were upset when the planned large-scale PvE mode was drastically reduced and ultimately canceled. Although the team-based gameplay is still well-refined, some critics feel this version is more of a substantial update than a completely new game. The move to 5v5 matches also continues to be a point of contention within the competitive scene.

‘Middle-earth: Shadow of War’ (2017)

This sequel, created by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Games, built upon the groundbreaking Nemesis System, making interactions with enemy orcs even more detailed and dynamic. However, the game faced criticism when it first came out due to its use of microtransactions and a frustratingly repetitive final section. While the in-game marketplace was later removed, many players still found the late game grind tiresome. The story also deviated considerably from the original source material, which disappointed some longtime fans.

‘Gears 5’ (2019)

This installment in the series, created by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios, experimented with more open-world areas within its traditional cover-based shooting gameplay. Though the game ran very smoothly technically, some reviewers found these open areas felt empty and stretched out the story unnecessarily. The focus on Kait Diaz’s story was well-received, but some found the plot predictable. The online multiplayer also received criticism for its slow progression and limited content when it first launched. Overall, it’s considered a good game, but doesn’t quite live up to the standards of the earlier games in the series.

‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ (2015)

The final game in Rocksteady Studios’ Batman series, published by Warner Bros. Games, is known for its incredibly detailed Gotham City and improved fighting system. However, many players felt the game used the Batmobile too much for solving puzzles, fighting, and getting around, making those parts feel repetitive. The reveal of who the Arkham Knight was also didn’t surprise or impress some fans. While the game was technically impressive, the PC version had a very troubled launch, which unfortunately hurt its overall reputation.

‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’ (2015)

This game, created by Kojima Productions and published by Konami, is known for its incredibly free-form stealth gameplay. While it boasts the strongest mechanics in the series, the story feels incomplete and doesn’t quite come together. The latter part of the game repeats some missions and relies less on the dramatic cutscenes fans expect. Many players were let down by the protagonist’s silence and the lack of the series’ usual rich storytelling. Despite receiving perfect scores when it was first released, the game’s reputation is mixed because of its unresolved ending.

‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ (2016)

This game concludes Nathan Drake’s story, created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony. It’s often celebrated for its powerful story and beautiful scenery. However, some players feel the gameplay repeats itself with a lot of climbing and predictable action sequences. Compared to earlier games in the series, it’s also been criticized for being slower-paced, with long sections of travel between fights. While it’s technically impressive and tells a great story, some believe the basic gameplay hasn’t changed much since the first game.

‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

Developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K, this game famously shifted the setting from the underwater world of its predecessor to a city in the clouds. It was initially praised for its intricate story and the compelling character of Elizabeth. However, looking back, some critics point to plot holes and a less challenging combat system than the first game. The game sometimes struggled to balance its intense action sequences with its more nuanced exploration and storytelling. Though still considered a classic by many, some argue that its exploration of political and philosophical ideas isn’t as deep as it appears.

‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ (2017)

Guerrilla Games created this game, and Sony Interactive Entertainment published it. It’s set in a fascinating world where people hunt robotic dinosaurs. Most reviewers agree that the battles against these machines are the game’s biggest strength. However, fighting other humans and using stealth aren’t as well-done and feel familiar. The game’s open world uses common elements found in many similar games – like climbing towers to unlock the map – which some players found unoriginal. Critics also pointed out that the characters’ movements during conversations looked unnatural and lacked feeling.

‘Resident Evil Village’ (2021)

This latest installment in the long-running survival horror series was created and released by Capcom. It was a commercial success and became a popular internet sensation, largely thanks to its memorable characters like Lady Dimitrescu. However, some longtime fans felt the game focused more on action than the scary atmosphere of previous titles. The story also had a somewhat uneven feel, jumping between genuinely creepy moments and over-the-top action. While enjoyable, reviewers pointed out it didn’t quite capture the consistent mood and suspense of the strongest games in the series.

‘Just Cause 4’ (2018)

This game, created by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix, built on the series’ reputation for realistic destruction and over-the-top action. However, it received criticism for feeling like a step backward technically from the previous game, with players pointing out noticeable visual issues and bugs. The missions were also redesigned, often requiring players to simply defend locations or follow characters, which made the gameplay feel slow. While causing chaos remained fun, many felt it wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of a rewarding sense of progress. Despite a large game world, it didn’t feel as lively or engaging as earlier titles in the series.

‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’ (2014)

This action role-playing game, created by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, received many Game of the Year awards. However, looking back, some criticize it for including unnecessary side content. A lot of these side quests are simple ‘go here and get that’ tasks, similar to those found in online multiplayer games. The combat system was seen as a middle ground that didn’t quite please fans of the earlier games. Despite strong character development, the main story feels stretched out across a very large game world.

Please share your thoughts on which action games you find overrated in the comments.

2026-01-09 02:49