Welcome to the whimsical world of action-adventure games, where the thrill of exploration meets the delight of discovery! If you’re dipping your toes into the vast ocean of gaming for the first time or just looking for something more chill than getting you all worked up, then you’ve come to the right place!
| Driffle Ranking | Video Game |
| 10. | Tunic |
| 9. | Pumpkin Jack |
| 8. | Psychonauts 2 |
| 7. | Batman Arkham Asylum |
| 6. | LEGO Starwars: The Skywalker Saga |
| 5. | The Darksiders Series |
| 4. | Sackboy: A Big Adventure |
| 3. | Hi-Fi Rush |
| 2. | God of War |
| 1. | Assassins’ Creed Syndicate |
Our curated list of beginner-friendly gems on Steam is like your personal steal deal to fun, adventure, action, and more! From navigating mystical lands with a fox to swinging through the streets of Victorian London, we’ve got something for every budding gamer. So, grab your virtual backpack—it’s time to embark on these exciting adventures (packed with action)!
10. Tunic
Other Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
If Zelda and Elden Ring’s creators had a game as a lovechild, it’d be Tunic. It’s perfect for beginners while retaining the sense of adventure and fantasy. Embark on an adventure coupled with creativity to get the best of Tunic.
What’s even better? You get the best of nature’s wonderland as you step into the shoes of an adorable fox navigating through complex puzzles, a heart-throbbing adventure paired with mesmerizing visuals to keep you gaming for hours. The simplicity of this game, while retaining a sense of adventure, makes it perfect for beginners.
9. Pumpkin Jack
Other Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Halloween may come a little early with this one! This one feels like delving into a Goosebumps novel, minus the apparent scare. This cartoon indie game makes up for a perfect beginner game.
Under the orders of the underworld’s boss, roam the whimsical world of Arc-En-Ciel as the quirky pumpkin head, Pumpkin Jack. With its eye-popping colors, spirited battles, and playful leaps and bounds, Pumpkin Jack is a delightful binge that’s bound to capture the hearts of action-adventure enthusiasts looking for a twist on the traditional spook.
8. Psychonauts 2
Other Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Linux, macOS
It’s Razputin’s adventure (not in Russia) as an intern Psychonaut (it’s never easy for the interns, is it?) Get the best of platforming, exploration, and adventure in this little world far away from our reality to retain the sense of adventure.
Razputin or Raz is tasked with other interns and professional Psychonauts to find out who brainwashed their leader. It gets even more complex…they also need to find who planted a mole in their headquarters’!
This game makes up for a classic beginner video game recommendation since it gently introduces players to its psychic-themed systems and mechanics, focusing on providing a whimsical yet emotionally engaging journey.
7. Batman Arkham Asylum
Other Platforms: PS3, PS4, macOS, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Who doesn’t dream about becoming Batman? I mean, come on, we’ve all been guilty of daydreaming about saving the Gotham city. With the evolution of Rocksteady’s Batman series, Arkham Asylum fits like a glove among the beginner-friendly engaging action-adventure games.
Hop in on the action through the eponymous Asylum, a place teeming with Batman mythology and eerie mysteries. Arm yourself with the best gizmos and gadgets and immerse yourself in this extremely satisfying combat. Moreover, with a fresh audience eager to dive into this novel action-adventure game, it is among our top picks for budding gamers to find their place in our universe!
6. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Other Platforms: Switch , PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
From blocks to pixels, if someone has figured out how to keep video games interesting after agelong conflicts, it has to be Lego. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga has a simple play that allows you to explore the gameplay easily without any undoable challenges. Coupled with a pre-existing series such as Star Wars, it becomes icing on top for fans of the sci-fi genre or for anyone who craves a fun adventure. It’s a galaxy-hopping adventure like no other as you zip through all nine epic chapters of the Skywalker saga!
Delve into the narrative of the Skywalker family, but don’t worry (it’s not that serious). The casual art style but top-notch development make it a butter-smooth experience for anyone who likes their pretty pixel friends better than the monstrous warfare.
5. The Darksiders Series
Other Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia (Darksiders 3)
This long-standing action series has never failed to deliver to its audience and is among the top action-adventure games known to the gaming community. With a mesmerizing visual display for combat, exploration, and puzzle solving, The Darksiders Series will surely hook you on for hours!
For beginners, we’d like to recommend starting with the first or second series and then hopping onto the third one to keep yourself hooked to finishing the franchise! While the first game in the series plays more like an adventure-centric gameplay packed with puzzles and exploration, the second game features a more loot-heavy experience blended with RPG mechanics. Plus, you get to play as one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Thus, you get connecting stories that’ll serve a function in each of the sequels.
4. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Other Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
This is one of those games that you can rope your dad into playing! Embark on this hearty adventure with Sackboy as you explore different creative stages in search of goodies. Previously released for PS4 and 5, Sackboy is now a hit for PC gaming.
Go solo or invite a buddy to help you tread this whimsical and fun-filled adventure! The crowning jewel of Sackboy: A Big Adventure? You guessed it – the whole drama can be tackled with a buddy in a two-player co-op! Sure, solo mode is a blast, but throw in a second player, and you’ve got yourself a charm explosion. Tag-teaming through this whimsical, adventure-packed world with a pal or a family member? Now, that’s what turns it into a top-tier pick for anyone dipping their toes into the gaming pool for the first time.
3. Hi-Fi Rush
Other Platforms: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
If you like music, then this is the perfect starter for you. Blending hack-and-slash action with the beats of music, Hi-Fi Rush is a great video game for beginners and seasoned players alike. This game feels like a fruity punch on a summer afternoon.
Immerse yourself into the colorful gameplay as Chai, the protagonist, and fight off the bad guys to the beats of the music. Not only is the soundtrack engaging, but it includes some original rock scores as well! Hi-Fi Rush makes up for a great game to show beginners what a great game is really capable of.
2. God Of War 2022
Other Platforms: PS4, PC
The revamped version of classics has got to be among the top picks to show what Action-Adventure games are really like! With improved graphics and functionality, God of War is yet another classic that makes it to our recommendation list (we’re not surprised, tbh).
In God of War 2022, we see an aged Kratos embarking on a journey with his son, Atreus, to scatter the ashes of Kratos’ wife atop a distant mountain. This straightforward premise unfolds into a game that deeply centers on its characters, making every decision and action taken by Kratos and Atreus significant within the game’s world and its narrative. In addition to this, the steady progression of the game’s mechanics makes it beginner-friendly whilst allowing the player to adapt comfortably and quickly to the gameplay!
1. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Other Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Amazon Luna
Delve into Victorian London with Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Its predecessor’s flaws essentially overshadow a classic tenet in this superhit series, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Nonetheless, as one of the older parts of the series, it lives up to the standard of the action-adventure genre.
In the bustling streets of Syndicate, you get to step into the boots of the dynamic duo Evie and Jacob Frye, twins with a flair for adventure. Fancy a switcheroo? Flip between these two at will, save for those extra special moments tailor-made for each sibling. They’re not just two peas in a pod; they come with their own set of killer moves, fancy gadgets, and fashion statements. Syndicate blends a fabulously fun and richly rewarding experience with the Assassin series, thus making it the perfect pick for a beginner.
Summary
And there you have it, folks—a lineup of action-adventure games on Steam that’s as diverse as a box of crayons but twice as fun! These picks are perfect for anyone looking to start their gaming journey with a bang or a breezy day. Whether you’ve been charmed by a musical beatdown, intrigued by the adventures of a crafty duo, or inspired to take on the mantle of a legendary hero, each game promises a gateway into worlds brimming with excitement and challenge. Game on, future adventurers, and may your quests be ever in your favor!
