The next generation of action RPGs is setting new standards, from the spiritual successor to Elder Scrolls to the bold new direction of Final Fantasy.
Action RPGs started small, like with the classic JRPG series Ys, and then they steadily grew into a realm of their own. The Tales of and Kingdom Hearts franchises find continued success in the field of action RPGs, but then there were greater epics that redefined the genre for years, if not decades.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one such example, released back in 2011, and it still continues to sell well. The overall package is great, but is the action really that good? Surely in the past few years, between 2023 and 2025, there have been some action RPGs that have overshadowed some of the greats. While they may not all be trend-setters, the action is at least awe-inspiring in the following games.
Avowed
Avowed was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, but it feels very much like a spiritual successor to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls. The combat is more engaging thanks to the more tactile feedback from melee weapons and ranged weapons, including pistols.
The basic magic system is also more in-depth, allowing players to learn it naturally or to borrow it from books that they find, which also serve as weapons. Beyond combat, the world and NPCs feel more alive than anything found in recent Bethesda games, from The Elder Scrolls to Fallout.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a better action game than its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and it’s the best action RPG set within the Final Fantasy universe so far. It can be challenging to program an action game and have every party member, six main ones, play differently, but Square Enix managed it.
Between melee skills and magic, combat never gets old, but the combo skills via Synergy attacks are what really elevate the battle system over past iterations. It’s also a massive game and absolutely loaded with side content, the kind of thing that older games simply didn’t have the hardware power to back up.
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade starts a bit slow, making players think it’s going to be a corridor-chasing Soulslike experience in the first chapter. Thankfully, once players leave this initial area and get to the main town, things start to open up.
The combat and upgrade system can indeed be likened to a Soulslike experience, complete with a high challenge rating, but there’s never a sense of loss on death. Also, the fast, fluid movement of combat can make the heroine, Eve, feel like Bayonetta from her titular action series.
