What are Action Games?

Action games constitute an incredibly broad category of games and subgenres. The player takes control of a character and must progress using action-oriented gameplay like jumping, climbing, dodging, or fighting. There are obstacles and enemies that can sometimes be avoided but often must be defeated. Bosses, antagonists that have more health or intricate mechanics, are typically included. The character also has health (known as hit points or HP) and/or lives, sometimes represented as hearts. Losing all of your health or lives results in defeat, requiring you to restart the entire game, stage, or level, or from a checkpoint or save point.

Action games reward dexterity and good hand-eye coordination, although there are ways to mitigate the physical and mental stress on players for accessibility.