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The following games were hand-picked for those into adrenaline-inducing games. That feeling like you’re about to lose or die in a video game is like none other. Here are some fast-paced games that are sure to get the blood flowing.
Updated September 5, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Looking for something that is fast and furious? Then the gaming industry has things covered. Not every game needs to move at a frantic pace, but the ones that do can deliver a thrill ride that few others can match. This article has been expanded to include a few more of the best fast-paced games on the market.
23 One Finger Death Punch 2
Kung fu madness in the best possible way, One Finger Death Punch 2 is glorious. As a stick figure, players must execute quick moves as enemies approach from both sides. Before long, the game throws out different colored opponents who require unique reactions, forcing the player to constantly adapt as they take on the aggressive hordes surrounding them.
While not without the occasional break, One Finger Death Punch 2 is generally relentless. In due time, players will find themselves entering a deep-focus state as they immerse themselves in the gameplay’s satisfying rhythm.
22 Bayonetta 2
If seeking out exhilarating action titles, anything (major) released by PlatinumGames is a safe bet. Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance fit the bill, but they lose out to Bayonetta 2 simply because the Nintendo exclusive represents Platinum at the peak of its power. Consequently, Bayonetta 2 is one of the best fast-paced games of all time, even managing to surpass its stellar predecessor.
Built upon a complex combo system reminiscent of the Devil May Cry franchise, Bayonetta 2 is all about stylishly and swiftly demolishing angels with an array of unique weapons. Quick reflexes and practice pave the road to victory, and once someone becomes accustomed to Bayonetta 2’s gameplay, they will produce magic.
21 Ghostrunner
Available on last-gen systems and set to come out on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on September 28, 2021, Ghostrunner is a game made for speedruns. Taking on the role of a cybernetic assassin, every decision matters in Ghostrunner as encounters are decided with a single strike. While this is most certainly a fast-paced action game, the focus is primarily on movement and positioning rather than combos.
Ghostrunner is challenging, satisfying, and unique. It’s the type of game that has a way of inspiring players to always go for one last attempt after every failure, of which there will be many. Ghostrunner 2 is also already in development.
20 ULTRAKILL
Retro-inspired fast-paced shooters have seen a (tiny) rise in popularity in recent years, with games like Dusk proving there is still a market for DOOM and Wolfenstein throwbacks. Ultrakill’s 2020 release went by largely unnoticed, which is a shame as this is one of the most enjoyable old-school first-person shooters of the last few years.
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Ultrakill doesn’t have a quiet or slow moment in it; from the get-go, players are thrown into a desolate world filled with blood-starved robots that desperately need to be eliminated. Along with satisfying gunplay, Ultrakill also offers plenty of movement options.
19 Grid
Codemasters’ series has been delivering high-octane racers since 2008’s fantastic Race Driver: Grid, which holds up quite well. While the earlier entries are all worth playing, even the polarizing Grid 2, 2019’s fourth installment delivers a back-to-basics package that makes it a great place to start for newcomers.
Unlike many racers that hold off on the good stuff for a few hours, Grid immediately brings out the exciting vehicles. This is a pure arcade racer, one that delivers a breathtaking sense of speed as the cars threaten to break the sound barrier.
18 Painkiller: Black Edition
First-person shooters are generally a safe bet for fast-paced action, especially when it comes to classic properties like Doom, Quake, and Unreal Tournament. While it might not carry the same prestige as those licenses, Painkiller can be relied upon to deliver non-stop thrills as thousands of aggressive enemies rush the player and get mowed down for their troubles.
2012’s Painkiller: Hell & Damnation is worth trying for those who prefer a more recent release. That said, the original Painkiller, specifically its “Black Edition,” still ranks as the franchise’s best.
17 Katana Zero
Failure is only one misstep away. Katana Zero adopts the tried and tested one-hit-kill formula into a stylish 2D side-scroller starring a samurai assassin with time-themed powers. As the samurai seeks to take down his targets while avoiding hits, scenarios play out like puzzles that need to be solved; death serves as a key that will eventually lead to success.
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The action is swift and smooth, as the game presents full control of the character at all times. The one-hit-kill mechanic ensures that every step, reflex, and slash feels important.
16 Quake Champions
An interesting update to a genre-defining arena shooter IP, id Software’s Quake Champions is an absurdly entertaining free-to-play title. With multiple champions to pick from, all of who come with unique abilities, Quake Champions updates the ’90s classic to try and appease a modern audience.
The end result is an experience that empowers the player while also making them feel constantly vulnerable, as the name of the game is still to be forever on the move. When it comes to multiplayer shooters, someone can do much worse than Quake Champions.
15 Sonic Generations
A mascot known for moving at a billion miles a second, a good Sonic the Hedgehog game has to nail its sense of speed. The early Genesis games have aged pretty well and are great 2D platforms, while Sonic Mania serves as a fantastic modern interpretation of that formula. The 3D Sonic titles run the gamut in terms of quality, with some being downright terrible.
Sonic Generations provides the best of both worlds, delivering brilliantly designed 2D sections alongside thrilling 3D zones. The latter areas are particularly fast-paced, delivering blockbuster visuals and a ton of replayability for those willing to master the levels.
14 Severed Steel
Steam is jam-packed with indie shooters that nail fast-paced gunplay, and Severed Steel can stand bullet-to-bullet with most of them. Split into missions, players must try to complete the objective as quickly as possible while wall-jumping, swapping weapons, and executing tricks. Style and efficiency are directly linked, as the former feed directly into the latter through mechanics such as slow-downs.
Severed Steel does not have much in the way of a story and its levels can get a touch repetitive due to a limited pool of enemies. However, the gameplay is the only thing that really matters here, and it is incredibly gratifying.
13 Hades
Supergiant Games has a history of developing masterpieces and Hades might just be the studio’s crowning achievement. A rogue-lite that tells an engaging story and does not reset everything after a loss, the game follows Zagreus’ repeated attempts to escape the Underworld, which happens to be controlled by his father, Hades. As new weapons and abilities are unlocked, Hades’ frantic combat grows into something truly special.
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While the campaign involves repeatedly fighting through the same areas and bosses, Hades’personality, gameplay, and RPG elements should stave off boredom.
12 Cuphead
1930s cartoons inspired Cuphead’s style of animation. It took a significant amount of time to hand draw this type of animation, but the result was well worth the wait. Because of Cuphead’s animation style, the game is fast-paced and is bound to get someone’s heart racing.
Running and gunning against colossal bosses and other foes will constantly keep a player on edge as Cuphead almost never provides a moment’s rest.
11 SpeedRunners
One of the lesser-known fast-paced games out there is a highly competitive 4-player game. SpeedRunners can be played both locally and online. The objective is to knock opponents off the screen. It’s like Super Smash Bros. with a twist. The map is continuously moving, and there is a significant amount of platforming involved.
Whether someone prefers Super Smash Bros. or SpeedRuunners, they are both fast-moving and great at what they seek out to do.
10 Post Void
Post Void is the gaming equivalent of a shot of adrenaline. On the surface, this might look like another retro-style FPS similar to Dusk or Postal: Brain Damaged, but Post Void succeeds in setting itself apart from the crowd. Players have a limited amount of time to complete a level, and the only way to extend that period is by killing enemies. Each new stage ramps up the intensity, and the game quickly gets punishingly difficult.
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Post Void is also a roguelite that lets players pick and choose modifiers prior to a run. While these options do not change the experience greatly, they tweak the gunplay to better complement the user’s preferred style of play.
9 Neon White
While speedrunning is usually a nice side dish, Neon White makes it the main course. This anime-style first-person shooter consists of short missions that require players to kill every enemy and reach the endpoint. Simple and easy to understand. However, a card-based action system throws a spanner into the works. Each card can be used as a weapon or an action (like double-jump), and since the deck is limited, players must carefully decide how and when to execute their stash.
Neon White is essentially a puzzle game that challenges players to find the optimum route through a level so they can complete it as quickly as possible. Depending on their time, they will be rewarded with one of four medals.
8 F-Zero GX
Many futuristic racers are great picks for speed junkies. WipeOut has a number of fantastic games under its belt, but if someone is specifically looking for fast-paced action, F-Zero is king. 2003’s F-Zero GX is the most recent home console entry in the franchise, and as sad as that fact is, the GameCube title has proven to be timeless.
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Reflexes are a staple of the racing genre, and F-Zero GX takes that to extremes. This is a very difficult game where a single second can be the difference between victory and disaster. The vehicles move at such a blistering pace that players will need to repeat tracks again and again to learn their layout.
7 Killing Floor 2
Killing Floor 2 is a first-person shooter game with a co-op focus. This game requires excellent team cohesion as players work together to survive. At the same time, Killing Floor 2 can be gruesome, but it adds to the game’s adrenaline-pumping nature.
Killing Floor 2 overwhelms the senses by throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the player; it is a hectic, engaging, and often challenging experience. Killing Floor 2 is not for the faint of heart, but it is certainly for those seeking a fast-paced shooter game.
6 Ninja Gaiden Black
In 2004, Team Ninja brought back Ninja Gaiden and changed the action genre in the process. The game got a couple of re-releases, with Ninja Gaiden Black being the best of the bunch. Unlike franchises such as Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden Black prioritizes efficiency above style; Ryu has no time or patience for show-offs.
Scouting enemies and utilizing all the tools at Ryu’s disposal are vital to surviving the many trials presented by Ninja Gaiden Black, and battles can go south very quickly.
5 Overwatch
This widely acclaimed team-based shooter contains unique characters with special abilities that add substance to the game. From Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch is heart-racing in like many other games from the same genre. Overwatch is a game that will likely never go out of style.
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There is a considerable amount of polish, which is consistent with Blizzard’s games. Reliance on a team is essential to winning matches. Now, where is Overwatch 2?
4 Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is undoubtedly the best Dragon Ball 2D fighting game in years. The fast pacing of the matches makes it stand out from the others in the same genre. Newcomers to Arc System Works’ games might initially find it challenging to nail combos as there is a small window of opportunity to pull them off, but Dragon Ball FighterZ is considerably more accessible than the studio’s typical output.
This is a game that may boost someone’s cognitive ability because of the timing and memorization required to be a top-tier player.
