Action-adventure game

Video game genre

"Action-adventure" redirects here. For other uses, see Action-adventure (disambiguation).

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Part of a series on

Action games

Subgenres

* Action-adventure
* Metroidvania
* Battle royale
* Fighting
* Beat 'em up
* Hack and slash
* Platform fighter
* Platform
* Rhythm
* Action RPG
* Shooter
* Artillery
* Arena
* First-person
* Hero
* Light gun
* Third-person
* Tactical
* Shoot 'em up
* Bullet hell
* Twin-stick
* Sports
* Racing
* Stealth
* Survival
* Vehicle sim

Topics

* Capture the flag
* Cover system
* First-person shooter engine
* Free look
* Quick time event
* WASD keys

Lists

* List of battle royale games
* List of beat 'em ups
* List of fighting games
* List of first-person shooters
* List of freeware first-person shooters
* List of third-person shooters
* List of survival games
* List of light-gun games
* List of maze video games
* List of platform games

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An action-adventure game is a video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres.

Part of a series on

Adventure games

Subgenres

|  Presentation

* Interactive fiction
* Interactive film
* Visual novel
* Graphic adventure
* Walking simulator
* Escape room

Gameplay

* Immersive sim
* Action-adventure
* Role-playing

Topics

* Interactive Fiction Competition
* Interactive storytelling
* Syntax guessing
* Text parser

Companies

* The Adventure Company
* Adventure International
* AnimePlay
* Arxel Tribe
* Capcom
* Cing
* Cryo Interactive
* C's Ware
* Cyan Worlds
* Daedalic Entertainment
* Dōjin soft
* DreamCatcher Interactive
* Funcom
* Humongous Entertainment
* Infocom
* Key
* Legend Entertainment
* Level 9 Computing
* LucasArts
* Microïds
* Nitroplus
* PixelFade
* Quantic Dream
* Revolution Software
* Sierra Entertainment
* Telltale Games
* AliceSoft
* Type-Moon
* Wadjet Eye Games

Tools and engine

* ADRIFT
* AGS
* Clickteam Fusion
* GameMaker
* Glulx
* IMUSE
* Inform
* KiriKiri
* NScripter
* Ren'Py
* SCUMM
* TADS
* Wintermute Engine
* Z-machine

Lists

* List of graphic adventure games
* List of text-based computer games

Websites

* Adventure Gamers
* Just Adventure

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## Definition

[edit]

An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements from an action game and an adventure game,[1] especially crucial elements like puzzles[2] inspired by older adventure games.[3] Action-adventures require many of the same physical skills as action games, but may also offer a storyline, numerous characters, an inventory system, dialogue, and other features of adventure games.[4] They are typically faster-paced than pure adventure games, because they include both physical and conceptual challenges.[4] Action-adventure games normally include a combination of complex story elements, which are often displayed for players using audio and video. The story is heavily reliant upon the player character's movement, which triggers story events and thus affects the flow of the game.[5] Popular examples of action-adventure games include The Legend of Zelda, God of War,[4] Grand Theft Auto, and the Tomb Raider series.[6]

### Relationship to other genres

[edit]

There is a good deal of controversy over what actually constitutes an action-adventure game.[7] One definition of the term "action-adventure" may be '"An action/adventure game is a game that has enough action in it not to be called an adventure game, but not enough action to be called an action game."[8] In some cases an action game with puzzles will be classified as an action-adventure game, but if these puzzles are quite simple they might be classified as an action game.[4][9] Others see action games as a pure genre, while an action-adventure is an action game that includes situational problem-solving.[8][9] Adventure gamers may also be purists, rejecting any game that makes use of physical challenges or time pressure.[4] Regardless, the action-adventure label is prominent in articles over the internet and media. The term "action-adventure" is usually substituted for a particular subgenre due to its wide scope.

## Subgenres

[edit]

This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (June 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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Although action-adventure games are diverse and difficult to classify, there are some distinct subgenres. Many games with gameplay[10] similar to those in The Legend of Zelda series are called Zelda clones[11] or Zelda-like games.[12][13][14] Popular subgenres include:

### Grand Theft Auto clone

[edit]

A Grand Theft Auto clone belongs to a subgenre of open world action-adventure video games in the third-person perspective. They are characterized by their likeness to the Grand Theft Auto series in either gameplay or overall design.[15][16] In these types of open world games, players may find and use a variety of vehicles and weapons while roaming freely in an open world setting.[17][18][19]

### Metroidvania

[edit]

Metroidvania is a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania; such games are sometimes referred to as "search action",[20] and are generally based on two-dimensional platformers. They emphasize both exploration and puzzle-solving with traditional platform gameplay.[21]

### Survival horror

[edit]

Survival horror games emphasize "inventory management" and making sure the player has enough ammunition and recovery items to "survive" the horror setting. This is a thematic genre with diverse gameplay, so not all survival horror games share all the features.[22][23][24][25] The Resident Evil franchise popularized this subgenre.

## Gameplay

[edit]

See also: Adventure game § Common objectives and gameplay, and Action game § Defining elements

Action-adventure games are faster-paced than pure adventure games, and include physical as well as conceptual challenges[7] where the story is enacted rather than narrated.[26] While motion-based, often reflexive, actions are required,[5] the gameplay still follows a number of adventure game genre tropes (gathering items, exploration of and interaction with one's environment, often including an overworld connecting areas of importance, and puzzle-solving).[27] While the controls are arcade-style (character movement, few action commands) there is an ultimate goal beyond a high score.[27] In most action-adventure games, the player controls a single avatar as the protagonist.[4] This type of game is often quite similar to role-playing video games.[28]

They are distinct from graphic adventures, which sometimes have free-moving central characters, but also a wider variety of commands and fewer or no action game elements and are distinct too from text adventures, characterized by many different commands introduced by the user via a complex text parser and no free-moving character. While they share general gameplay dynamics, action-adventures vary widely in the design of their viewpoints, including bird's eye, side-scrolling, first-person, third-person, over-the-shoulder, or even a 3/4 isometric view.

Many action-adventure games simulate a conversation through a conversation tree. When the player encounters a non-player character, they are allowed to select a choice of what to say. The NPC gives a scripted response to the player, and the game offers the player several new ways to respond.[citation needed]

Due to the action-adventure subgenre's broad and inclusive nature, it causes some players to have difficulty finishing a particular game. Companies have devised ways to give the player help, such as offering clues or allowing the player to skip puzzles to compensate for this lack of ability.[29]

## History

[edit]

### 1979–1988

[edit]

Brett Weiss cites Atari's Superman (1979) as an action-adventure game,[30] with Retro Gamer crediting it as the "first to utilize multiple screens as playing area".[31] Mark J.P. Wolf credits Adventure (1980) for the Atari VCS as the earliest-known action-adventure game.[32] The game involves exploring a 2D environment, finding and using items which each have prescribed abilities, and fighting dragons in real-time like in an action game.[8] Muse Software's Castle Wolfenstein (1981) was another early action-adventure game, merging exploration, combat, stealth,[33] and maze game elements,[34] drawing inspiration from arcade shoot 'em ups and maze games (such as maze-shooter Berzerk) and war films (such as The Guns of Navarone).[35]

According to Wizardry developer Roe R. Adams, early action-adventure games "were basically arcade games done in a fantasy" setting.[36] Tutankham, debuted by Konami in January 1982,[37] was an action-adventure released for arcades.[38] It combined maze, shoot 'em up, puzzle-solving and adventure elements,[39][30][40] with a 1983 review by Computer and Video Games magazine calling it "the first game that effectively combined the elements of an adventure game with frenetic shoot 'em up gameplay."[39] It inspired the similar Time Bandit (1983).[41] Action Quest, released in May 1982, blended puzzle elements of adventure games into a joystick-controlled, arcade-style action game, which surprised reviewers at the time.[42][43]

While noting some similarities to Adventure, IGN argues that The Legend of Zelda (1986) by Nintendo "helped to establish a new subgenre of action-adventure", becoming a success due to how it combined elements from different genres to create a compelling hybrid, including exploration, adventure-style inventory puzzles, an action component, a monetary system, and simplified RPG-style level building without the experience points.[10] The Legend of Zelda series was the most prolific action-adventure game franchise through to the 2000s.[44] Roe R. Adams also cited the arcade-style side-scrolling fantasy games Castlevania (1986), Trojan (1986) and Wizards & Warriors (1987) as early examples of action-adventure games.[36]

Games like Brain Breaker (1985), Xanadu (1985), Metroid (1986) and Vampire Killer (1986) combined a side-scrolling platformer format with adventure exploration, creating the Metroidvania platform-adventure subgenre. Similarly, games like 005 (1981), Castle Wolfenstein and Metal Gear (1987) combined action-adventure exploration with stealth mechanics, laying the foundations for the stealth game subgenre, which would later be popularized in 1998 with the releases of Metal Gear Solid, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, and Thief: The Dark Project.

### 1989–present

[edit]

The cinematic platformer Prince of Persia (1989) featured action-adventure elements, inspiring games such as Another World (1991) and Flashback (1992). Alone in the Dark (1992) used 3D graphics, which would later be popularized by Resident Evil (1996) and Tomb Raider (1996). Resident Evil in particular created the survival horror subgenre, inspiring titles such as Silent Hill (1999) and Fatal Frame (2001).[8]

Action-adventure games have gone on to become more popular than the pure adventure games and pure platform games that inspired them.[45] Recent examples include the Uncharted franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Ark: Survival Evolved.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rollins, A.; Morris, D. (2000). Game Architecture and Design. Coriolis Ed.
2. ^ Luban, Pascal (6 December 2002). "Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games". Game Developer. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
3. ^ "Chap. 1 — Game Genres" (PDF). University of Beira Interior. 2014. p. 8.
4. ^ a b c d e f Rollings, Andrew; Ernest Adams (2006). Fundamentals of Game Design. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-168747-6.
5. ^ a b Luban, Pascal (6 December 2002). "Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games". Gamasutra. Think Services Game Group. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
6. ^ Gal, Viviane; Le Prado, Cécile; Natkin, Stéphane; Vega, Liliana (2002). Writing for Video Games (PDF). Proceedings Laval Ritual (IVRC). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2003.
7. ^ a b Rollings, Andrew; Ernest Adams (2003). Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design. New Riders. p. 446\. ISBN 1-59273-001-9.
8. ^ a b c d Aya (2 August 2005). "A Brief – But Comprehensive – History of the Action/Adventure Genre". Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
9. ^ a b "The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z". Next Generation. No. 15\. Imagine Media. March 1996. pp. 28–42\. "Action-adventure – A game which is nearly all action (see action game), but that also includes a good deal of strategy and more advanced problem solving."
10. ^ a b Travis Fahs (27 August 2010). "IGN Presents the History of Zelda – Retro Feature at IGN". IGN. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
11. ^ Fontes, Renan (29 December 2019). "5 Zelda Clones Better Than The Real Thing (& 5 That Are So Much Worse)". TheGamer. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
12. ^ Robson, Daniel (12 March 2020). "Genshin Impact: Hands-on With the Zelda Clone That's not Really a Zelda Clone". IGN. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
13. ^ Commerce, Stack (9 September 2020). "This Online Course Teaches You How to Create a Game Like The Legend of Zelda". IGN. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
14. ^ "16 Games Zelda Fans Should Try". GameSpot. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
15. ^ "25+ Games Like GTA (Grand Theft Auto)". Find Me Similar. 12 April 2013.
16. ^ Bramwell, Tom (27 March 2007). "Crackdown Community Q&A". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
17. ^ Sources that refer to Grand Theft Auto popularizing or inventing a genre include:
i. Reparaz, Mikel (27 March 2007). "Battle of the GTA clones". GamesRadar. Retrieved 21 July 2008.;
ii. Cifaldi, Frank (21 February 2006). "Analysts: FPS 'Most Attractive' Genre for Publishers". Gamasutra. Retrieved 21 August 2008.;
iii. "Hunt for Grand Theft Auto pirates". BBC News. 21 October 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
18. ^ Sources that refer to games similar to Grand Theft Auto as action-adventure games include:
i. Parkyn, Jonathan (18 April 2006). "Review: The Godfather 3D action game". Personal Computer World. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
ii. Steve Tilley (1 April 2007). "Wii 'Godfather' for newbies only". CANOE. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2008.;
iii. Bishop, Sam (16 May 2003). "E3 2003: True Crime: Streets of L.A. Update". IGN. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
iv. Will Tuttle (30 August 2006). "GameSpy Review – Saints Row". GameSpy. Retrieved 25 July 2008.;
v. Snow, Blake (30 January 2008). "Just Cause 2 announced for Xbox 360, PS3, PC". GamePro. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
19. ^ Navarro, Alex (2004-11-11). "Scrapland Review". Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2009. Scrapland Review], GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-6-17
20. ^ Romano, Sal (26 February 2019). "Touhou Luna Nights leaves Steam Early Access, version 1.0 now available". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
21. ^ Nutt, Christian (13 February 2015). "The undying allure of the Metroidvania". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
22. ^ "Survival Horror vs. Action Horror". gamerevolution.com. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
23. ^ "The Evil Within preview – 'real survival horror'". metro.co.uk. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
24. ^ "Horror Show – Survival Horror vs. Action Horror". zero1gaming.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
25. ^ "6 Upcoming Horror Games That Look Absolutely Terrifying". blooody-disgusting.org. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
26. ^ Ryan, Marie-Laure (2002). "Beyond Myth and Metaphor – The Case of Narrative in Digital Media". Game Studies. 1 (1). The International Journal of Computer Game Research. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
27. ^ a b Luban, Pascal (6 December 2002). "Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games". Gamasutra. Think Services Game Group. p. 1\. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
28. ^ Bob Johnstone. "Video Games Industry Infographics". ESRB Infographics. ESRB. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
29. ^ Luban, Pascal (6 December 2002). "Designing and Integrating Puzzles in Action-Adventure Games". Gamasutra. Think Services Game Group. p. 3. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
30. ^ a b Weiss, Brett. Classic Home Video Games, 1972–1984: A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland & Co. pp. 119, 126.
31. ^ LMozejko, Michal (16 April 2009). "Superman". Retro Gamer. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
32. ^ Wolf, Mark J. P.; Perron, Bernard, eds. (2003). "Foreword". Video Game Theory Reader. Routledge. p. x. ISBN 0-415-96578-0.
33. ^ DeMaria, Rusel; Wilson, Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 224\. ISBN 0-07-223172-6.
34. ^ Maynard, Ashley E.; Subrahmanyam, Kaveri; Greenfield, Patricia M. (13 May 2005). "Technology and the Development of Intelligence: From the Loom to the Computer". In Sternberg, Robert J.; Preiss, David D. (eds.). Intelligence and Technology: The Impact of Tools on the Nature and Development of Human Abilities. Routledge. pp. 29–54 (38). ISBN 978-1-136-77805-6.
35. ^ Boardman, Krist; Bernstein, Harvey (June 1982). "Inside Gaming". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 1, no. 4\. Ziff Davis. pp. 22–3.
36. ^ a b Adams, Roe R. (November 1990), "Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is): An Overview of the Evolution of CRPGs on Dedicated Game Machines", Computer Gaming World, no. 76, pp. 83–84 [83], "Action adventures were basically arcade games done in a fantasy setting such as Castlevania, Trojan, and Wizards & Warriors."
37. ^ "Overseas Readers Column – Konami And Stern Pact On "Tutankham" Video" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 194\. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 August 1982. p. 26\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2020.
38. ^ "Minority Report: Tutankham". Retro Gamer. No. 127\. January 2014. p. 51.
39. ^ a b "Fine Time in Tombs of Tut! Tutankham". Computer and Video Games. No. 26 (December 1983). 16 November 1983. p. 31.
40. ^ Kunkel, Bill; Katz, Arnie (December 1983). "Arcade Alley: Super Gifts for Gamers" (PDF). Video. Vol. 7, no. 9\. Reese Communications. pp. 28–9\. ISSN 0147-8907. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2019.
41. ^ "Harry Lafnear Interview". Atari Legend. 5 September 2003.
42. ^ Anderson, John J. (May 1982). "Atari Arcade". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 2, no. 3\. p. 18.
43. ^ The Creative Atari. Creative Computing Press. 1983. pp. 177–178\. ISBN 9780916688349.
44. ^ "Most-prolific action-adventure video game series". Guinness World Records. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
45. ^ Adams, Ernest (9 July 2009). "The Designer's Notebook: Sorting Out the Genre Muddle". Game Developer. Retrieved 12 August 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Action-adventure games at Wikimedia Commons

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Video game genres

* List of video game genres

Action|

| Platformer|

* Endless runner
* Platform fighter

|

Shooter|

* Arena
* First-person
* Hero
* Light gun
* Shoot 'em up
* Bullet hell
* Rail
* Twin-stick
* Tactical
* Third-person

Survival|

* Battle royale
* Survival horror

Other|

* Beat 'em up
* Hack and slash
* Fighting
* Platform fighter
* Maze
* Pac-Man clone
* Snake
* Stealth

Action-adventure|

* Grand Theft Auto clone
* Metroidvania

Adventure|

* Escape room
* Graphic adventure
* Interactive fiction
* Interactive film
* Visual novel
* Walking sim

Digital tabletop|

* Deck-building
* Roguelike deck-building
* Digital collectible card

Puzzle|

* Hidden object
* Sokoban
* Tile-matching

Role-playing|

* Action role-playing
* Looter shooter
* Soulslike
* Dungeon crawl
* MMORPG
* Monster-taming
* Roguelike
* Roguelike deck-building
* Tactical role-playing
* Turn-based role-playing

Simulation|

| Life|

* Dating
* Farming
* God
* Social
* Virtual pet

|

CMS|

* Business
* City-building
* Government

Sports|

* Fishing
* Racing
* Kart racing
* Sim racing

Vehicle|

* Flight simulation
* Combat
* Lunar Lander
* Space
* Submarine simulator
* Train simulator
* Vehicular combat

Other|

* Falling-sand
* Immersive sim

Strategy|

* 4X
* Auto battler
* MOBA
* Real-time strategy
* Time management
* Real-time tactics
* Tactical role-playing
* Tower defense
* Turn-based strategy
* Turn-based tactics
* Artillery
* Wargame
* Grand strategy

Other genres|

* Cozy
* Fitness
* Horror
* Survival horror
* Incremental
* Music
* Rhythm
* Non-game
* Party
* Photography
* Programming
* Typing

Related concepts|

| Themes|

* Advergame
* Bishōjo
* Christian
* Comedy
* Educational
* Girls
* Licensed
* Otome
* Sexual
* Eroge
* Nonviolent
* Personalized
* Sci-fi
* Serious
* Art
* Climate change
* News

|

Player modes|

* Multiplayer
* Co-op
* PVP
* Single-player

Production|

* AAA
* Indie
* Doujin soft
* Fan game

Design|

* Casual
* Hypercasual
* Emergent gameplay
* FMV
* Gacha
* Kaizo
* Masocore
* Nonlinear gameplay
* Open world
* Sandbox
* Side-scrolling
* Twitch gameplay
* Vertically scrolling

Other|

* Minigame
* Toys-to-life
* Video game clone
* Video game modding
* Video game remake

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