Highlights

  • Bayonetta 2 is considered one of the best fast-paced games of all time, surpassing its predecessor with stylish and swift gameplay.
  • Ghostrunner focuses on movement and positioning rather than combos, demanding quick reflexes and decision-making from players.
  • Sonic Generations delivers brilliantly designed 2D and fast-paced 3D sections, showcasing Sonic the Hedgehog at its best.

While some games are best played at a slower rate, many others like first-person shooters benefit from a fast pace. Video games have the power to sadden, uplift, and surprise. That spine-tingling feeling that comes when a baddie is approaching is uncanny in a plethora of ways.

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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 January 6, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Looking for a fast-paced game that gets the blood pumping? Then, these upcoming titles are the perfect candidates. They also covers a wide range of genres to try and cater to as many preferences as possible.

18 Bayonetta 2

Metascore: 91

bayonetta 2 combat witch time
Bayonetta 2

Platform(s)
Switch , Wii U
Released
October 24, 2014
Developer(s)
Platinum Games
Genre(s)
Action

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.

17 Ghostrunner

Metascore: 81

ghostrunner
Ghostrunner

Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC , Switch
Released
October 27, 2020
Developer(s)
One More Level
Genre(s)
Action

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. Along with fast-paced action, the game demand quick reflexes and decision making from players since there is little room for error.

Ghostrunner 2 builds nicely on the first game's ideas.

16 Katana Zero

Metascore: 83

Katana ZERO

Platform(s)
PC , Switch , Xbox One
Released
April 18, 2019
Developer(s)
Askiisoft
Genre(s)
Platformer , Action

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.

15 Sonic Generations

Metascore: 77

sonic generations promo art
Sonic Generations

Platform(s)
3DS , PC , PS3 , Xbox 360
Released
November 1, 2011
Developer(s)
Sonic Team
Genre(s)
Platformer

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, offering blockbuster visuals and a ton of replayability for those willing to master the levels. Sonic Generations is essentially a greatest hits collection, and it lacks much in the way of story depth or unique stages. That said, it does highlight Sonic the Hedgehog at its best, which is not something that can be said for every modern entry in the series.

14 Severed Steel

Metascore: 79

Severed Steel gameplay
Severed Steel

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
May 13, 2021
Developer(s)
Greylock Studio
Genre(s)
FPS

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 matters here, and it is incredibly gratifying.

13 Hades

Metascore: 93

Hades Gameplay
Hades

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC
Released
September 17, 2020
Developer(s)
Supergiant Games
Genre(s)
Action RPG

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. The game grants players quite a few customization options for repeat runs, which helps add a lot of replay value.

12 Cuphead

Metascore: 88

Cuphead
Cuphead

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC
Released
September 29, 2017
Developer(s)
Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc.
Genre(s)
Platformer

Outside a few short sections, Cuphead is a boss rush game that pulls very few punches in terms of difficulty. Each encounter essentially acts as its own action-oriented puzzle, and most players will need to carefully analyze the enemy's moveset to enhance their chance of survival. While perhaps not as frantically paced as some other games, Cuphead is relentlessly aggressive, to the point of venturing into bullet hell territory at times.

Although garnering a reputation for its overwhelming challenge, Cuphead is overall fair, and most deaths will be the fault of the player rather than the game throwing out an unexpected difficulty spike.

11 Post Void

Metascore: 83

Post Void - Purple Room
Post Void

Platform(s)
PC , PS5 , PS4 , Switch
Released
August 6, 2020
Developer(s)
YCJY Games
Genre(s)
Action , Arcade , First-Person Shooter , Indie Games

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.

10 Neon White

Metascore: 89

Neon White Location Of The Gift In Mission 2-7 Catwalk
Neon White

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch
Released
June 16, 2022
Developer(s)
Angel Matrix
Genre(s)
FPS , Puzzle

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.

9 Pizza Tower

Metascore: 89

pizza-tower_gameplay (1)
Pizza Tower

Platform(s)
PC
Released
January 26, 2023
Developer(s)
Tour De Pizza
Genre(s)
Platformer

Platformers do not typically prioritize speed; however, exceptions do exist beyond the Blue Blur. A hilarious indie release about a constantly angry restaurant owner who must climb up a structure, Pizza Tower is a blast from beginning to end.

Boasting an eye-catching art style and tight gameplay that takes inspiration from the past without blindingly copying it, Tour de Pizza's release emphasizes momentum by permitting its protagonist to constantly sprint forward at full speed, and he is quite mobile. Pizza Tower feels specifically designed with speedrunners in mind, and the mechanics are accessible enough to not require best-in-the-world reflexes.

8 F-Zero GX

Metascore: 89

Blue Car Racing above city In F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX

Platform(s)
GameCube
Released
August 25, 2003
Developer(s)
Amusement Vision
Genre(s)
Racing

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 ULTRAKILL

Steam User Rating: 98%

Ultrakill game
Ultrakill

Platform(s)
PC
Released
September 3, 2020
Developer(s)
Arsi "Hakita" Patala
Genre(s)
FPS

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 release went by somewhat unnoticed initially, but the game has garnered quite a following since then.

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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 and a plethora of creative weapons, Ultrakill also offers plenty of movement options.

6 Ninja Gaiden Black

Metascore: 94

Ninja Gaiden black Xbox promotional image of ninja
Ninja Gaiden Black

Platform(s)
Xbox (Original)
Released
September 20, 2005
Developer(s)
Team Ninja
Genre(s)
Hack and Slash

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. While the main bosses are very difficult and punishing, the same can be said for most of the basic enemies as well. There is no such thing as a rest bite in Ninja Gaiden Black.

5 Hyper Demon

Metascore: 89

hyper demon game
Hyper Demon

Platform(s)
PC
Released
September 19, 2022
Developer(s)
Sorath
Genre(s)
FPS

Sorath's Devil Daggers is a high-octane arena shooter that challenges players to survive as long as possible against endless waves of enemies. Although its spiritual successor, Hyper Demon, is undoubtedly cut from the same cloth, the game twists a few things around to create a different fill while still scratching the same itch. Once again, the gameplay loop is designed around flooding the screen with hordes of nightmarish creatures that players will need to massacre to earn better weapons.

Unlike Devil Daggers, Hyper Demon does not use a conventional point system; instead, a timer will constantly be ticking down which can only be stopped by eradicating enemies. Consequently, surviving is pointless if something is not being blasted in the face. Players need to be proactively pushing forward at all times.

4 Turbo Overkill

Metascore: 91

turbo overkill
Turbo Overkill

Platform(s)
PC
Released
August 11, 2023
Developer(s)
Trigger Happy Interactive
Genre(s)
FPS

Retro shooters are starting to threaten to become too common, but Turbo Overkill is not solely a throwback to the '90s. The high-octane game takes plenty of inspiration from modern projects, all the while fusing them with the spirit of classics that defined the genre. Set in a cyberpunk future that has gone haywire, players take control of Johnny Turbo, a dude who excels at killing with more than just guns.

Turbo Overkill is an absolute riot, and the campaign wastes very little time to get down to business. The game hands players a fairly wide and innovative arsenal of weapons, along with a unique slide mechanic that can cut right through enemies. Like most run and gun shooters, movement is at at the heart of Turbo Overkill's gameplay.

3 Dragon Ball FighterZ

Metascore: 87

dragon ball fighterz broly dbs release date
Dragon Ball FighterZ

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
January 26, 2018
Developer(s)
Arc System Works
Genre(s)
Fighting

Dragon Ball FighterZ is undoubtedly the best Dragon Ball 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. Meanwhile, if someone is just looking for a single-player romp, FighterZ is flashy and accessible.

2 Beat Saber

Metascore: 86

Beat Saber

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5
Released
May 21, 2019
Developer(s)
Beat Games
Genre(s)
Rhythm

Beat Saber is an adrenaline-inducing virtual reality game that makes players dance to the rhythm as it flies toward them. People will have to slash music blocks and objects in this heart-racing game. Beat Saber utilizes VR controllers, and players will have a tough time keeping up with the beat.

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1 DOOM Eternal

Metascore: 88

DOOM Eternal

Platform(s)
Xbox One , Stadia , PC , PS4
Released
March 20, 2020
Developer(s)
id Software
Genre(s)
FPS , Action

If someone has a flair for fast-paced first-person shooter games, chances are they will enjoy DOOM Eternal. The sequel to 2016's DOOM is action-packed and filled with an array of weapons. Situations escalate and then escalate more, crafting obstacles that demand constant movement and reactions.

To top things off, the enemies are frightening and at times seem endless, which will place players in a panic-inducing situation. DOOM Eternal is a stellar modern re-imagining of arguably the definitive '90s shooter franchise.

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