Playing video games is one of the most popular pastimes in the world. More than that, research suggests that it helps foster better cognitive function in children. There are many consoles that enable you to play video games, and even more genres of games to choose from. For this article, we focused our attention on the excitement of action-adventure video games.

Action-adventure video games combine all the best parts of action games and adventure games. You get the puzzles and mysteries from adventure games, with the combat, shooting, and other mechanics from action games. Nearly every studio worth its salt has developed an action-adventure title at some point. That said, these are the greatest action-adventure video games of all time, in our opinion.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

There is no way we can talk about the greatest action-adventure video games of all time without talking about Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider is the game franchise that set the standard for all action-adventure games. While the first game dropped back in 1995 on PlayStation 1, the creative forces behind these games didn’t rest on their laurels.

That is how we ended up with Rise of the Tomb Raider in 2015. Although this game was originally released only on Xbox, it became available for PC and PlayStation soon after. This Lara Croft adventure takes you deep into Siberia in search of the mythological city of Kitezh. On your way there, you fight against the elements, wildlife, puzzles, and the paramilitary organization, Trinity. It is undoubtedly one of the best-written and designed action-adventure games ever.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the second game in the Uncharted series. It is also the title that cemented this series as one of the best action-adventure game series of all time. This game tells the story of Nathan Drake two years after the events of the first game. In the second installment, Nate and his associates strive to find the Cintamani Stone from the legendary city of Shambhala.

This is a story filled with love, loyalty, betrayal, and many high-stakes situations. It combines all the best elements of action and adventure games into one unforgettable gameplay. The developer, Naughty Dog, even built a proprietary engine called the Naughty Engine 2.0 system for this game. That is why running, climbing, shooting, and fighting are so seamless.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the newest game on our list, having dropped in 2024. Bethesda Softworks based this game on the legendary movie franchise, Indiana Jones. In fact, the plot of the game is set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade. But the developers did not count on Indy’s movie fame for their game’s success.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a globe-trotting adventure that draws on the movies for inspiration without copying them. In it, you can expect to encounter fantastic gameplay mechanics, especially regarding the melee combat and the puzzle systems. It is a game that manages to immerse you in the world of Indiana Jones, earning it 86/100 on MetaCritic. The game design, storyline, in-game mechanics, and Indiana Jones likeness make it one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time.