Modern (2020-now) action games that aren't just dark souls?

[Hell Swarm]

Here's a challenge for the codex bros. Can you name any modern action adventure title that isn't just dark souls done worse? Iframe rolling, high boss damage for the sake of grinding bosses, bon fires, losing currency when you die is all an immediate dismissal. Roguelikes that waste your time drip feeding you crap are also not welcome since they're skinner boxes made for the antisocial.

 

[Dedicated_Dark]

Dragons Dogma 2.

If we are including even more disappointing ones:
God of War Ragnarok
Atlas Fallen
FF16

Straight up action:
Evil West
Hi-Fi Rush.
No More Heroes 3
Bayonetta 3
Armored Core.
And that Ninja Gaiden wannabe game with the chick.

PS: I still agree with the sentiment, any souls like mechanic especially lock-on combat is an instant turn off these days.

 

[DJOGamer PT]

The action genre casts a very wide net
It includes subgenres like shooters, stealth games, platformers, racing games and etc.
But since you mentioned Dark Souls, I'll just assume you're talking about Hack 'n' Slash, Beat 'em Ups and ARPGs

Dedicated_Dark already named the most notable ones released since 2020 (although imo nuGoD fails since it controls more like Dark Souls then its its classic titles)

The only other notable ones I can recall are:

• Hades
• Streets of Rage 4
• Ghostrunner 1 + 2
• Sifu
• Chivalry 2
• Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons
• Final Vendetta
• Blasphemous 2
• Yakuza: The Man Who Erased His Name

There's also Space Marine 2 coming out this year

Roguelikes that waste your time drip feeding you crap are also not welcome since they're skinner boxes made for the antisocial.

I like NOITA

 

[Machocruz]

Astlibra: Revision
DOOM Eternal

 

[Dark Souls II]

Little Witch Nobeta

 

[Hell Swarm]

Astlibra: Revision
DOOM Eternal

Doom eternal is basically Dark souls in FPS form. The focus on dodge rolling and having to stagger enemies for glory kills works the same.

 

[Tavar]

If you're looking for a great action game, try Neon White. Ghostrunner is also fantastic.

 

[Konjad]

M&B2: Bannerlord
嗜血印 (aka Bloody Spell) but it is somewhat DS-like I guess
Arma Reforger (but older arma 3 is better)
Ready or Not
Tekken 8

 

[Gostak]

Does Intravenous count as an action adventure?

 

[jam]

These ones dodge Souls-like design by modeling themselves after action-adventure games from the 90s. I'm not sure if they're anywhere close to what you're looking for:

Corn Kidz 64
Pseudoregalia
Cavern of Dreams

I'm surprised the industry hasn't been forced to move forward from Souls-like design yet. It's 2024 and Wukong looks mechanically identical to the last 10 years of copycats. I was the biggest Souls fan in 2013, but after Dark Souls 2 disappointed me, I was finished with it. I don't even know how it gets treated as a genre when there's so little meat on its bones.

 

[Onionguy]

wanted: dead

 

[Fargus]

lol they really brand everything "action-adventure" these days. I haven't even heard about it before Cyberpunk2077 ditched rpg label in favor of action adventurd.

 

[Frank Capicoli]

Soulstice.

 

[Ezekiel]

Soulstice.

Even though it takes so much from games like Devil May Cry and the time of Z-targeting, the idiots still were so taken by the domination of the Souls games and their imitators that they put inferior R3 lock-on in. There is so much on the screen that it's difficult to see that you are locked on, and you don't actively feel it like with Z-targeting because the shitty button can't be held down comfortably like one of the shoulder buttons or triggers. The player also can't easily thrust like in Devil May Cry (Z-targeting) thanks to this retarded toggle. Instead, they have to double-tap the navigation stick towards the enemy, like in Ninja Theory's DmC: Devil May Cry, a recipe for screw-ups. You can customize the controls, but of course there is no hold option for the lock-on. They never put one in, because they don't actually understand the older system. There is more Souls DNA in gaming now than people like to admit.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Yakuza

 

[Phinx]

2D action games - Steel Assault, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2, Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Freedom Planet 2 (haven't had time to play this one yet but going by Sonic Mania this should be pretty decent)
Metroivania's - Blasphemous 2, Blaster Master Zero 3, Grime.

Tried the demo for Iron Meat which is coming out next month, has the potential to be another banger.

The action games I've enjoyed the most recently however are new releases to PC, but not new games.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered
Schmups - Radiant Silvergun, Devil Blade Reboot, Akai Katana Shin, Dragon Blaze, Gunbird, Progear