The modern gaming landscape is as unique and diverse as it’s ever been, but it’s easy to forget that the cornerstones that make up this landscape were developed relatively recently and, for most of us, within living memory. It wasn’t too long ago that simple cover systems, survival mechanics and basic parkour were actually the new trends.
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Subsequent games, while each masterpiece in their own right, led the way in many aspects and spawned a number of popular titles that are still played today. In addition, they are all action-packed titles that will never leave you lacking in entertainment.
10
Peter Jackson’s King Kong
The Birth of Cinematic Immersion
It’s hard to explain to younger generations what the original Peter Jackson King Kong game looked like when it was first released in 2005. Next to the Hollywood epic, this game defined an era for many people and is one of the most requested games for a modern reminder.
In addition to its intense action sequences, the game had amazing level design and made you feel like you stepped directly into the world of Peter Jackson’s film. Games like ARK: Survival Evolved and the more recent Deathground have undoubtedly taken inspiration from several themes from this original King Kong game.
9
The Borderlands
Style Over Substance
The original Borderlands was billed as hyper-stylized, action-packed, but few could have predicted how much it would go on to influence the entire formula of FPS games for years to come. While there have already been games that have already had looting and crafting mechanics, Borderlands’ focus on continuously upgrading weapons for the purpose of damage can inspire the likes of the Dead Island series and Cyberpunk 2077 with its large collection of various weapons.
Of course, Borderlands also had a story – sort of, but the main appeal was to charge through a chaotic world and kill as many people as possible, whether it be flying villains, criminals, or any of the game’s many bosses. Not only is the series still going strong today, but its unique hand-drawn art style is something many games have tried to replicate.
8
True Crime: The Streets of LA
Active Process Generation
True Crime: Streets of LA was undoubtedly one of the coolest games of its time. Combining the narrative of an undercover cop with the open world of LA and endless martial arts, shooting and racing action, it would be easy to think that it was the most original game of its time.
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One thing you may not know about True Crime: The Streets of LA is the fact that it pioneered procedural production techniques. Okay, it wasn’t No Man’s Sky, but this old-school police story introduced a way to generate random locations, so that there was a much larger map than would otherwise be possible. Personally, I think it worked very well, and some of my fondest memories from the game have been the amazing car chases that resulted from this huge map.
7
Ninja Gaiden
Mainstream Gore
The original Ninja Gaiden will be fondly remembered by old-school gamers for the way it revolutionized the cinematics and storytelling within the action genre. However, another way the series has remained influential is its unforgiving difficulty and brutality.
The Ninja Gaiden series has never shied away from hacking, and uses it as a cinematic prop almost in a Tarantino way. This trend has continued to influence all types of games, especially survival horror. Fortunately for players on modern systems, Ninja Gaiden games can still be found thanks to the series’ latest rebrand, and the action hasn’t lost its visceral impact.
6
Rainbow Six: Vegas
Take Cover!
It might not seem like a big deal today, but Rainbow Six: Vegas was a truly revolutionary FPS when it first launched in 2006. Along with its gritty story and dramatic environments, it was also the first game to really use a solid cover mechanic, something that has been replicated by everything from Grand Theft Auto 5 to Resident Evil 5.
In addition to pioneering this basic modern mechanic, Rainbow Six: Vegas was also one of the first true tactical shooters. Recent games ranging from the Ready or Not series to the Ghost Recon have all borrowed from the foundation created by Rainbow Six: Vegas, and I personally found it to be one of the most enjoyable co-op campaigns Ubisoft has ever created.
5
God of War
Unleash Kratos’ rage
The God of War series has certainly left its mark on the gaming industry and remains one of the most popular IPs today. When the first one was released back in 2005, it was a combination of fast-paced action, mature storytelling and cinematic gameplay that had never been done before.
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In the same way that recent titles have pushed the boundaries of visual fidelity, dynamic combat, and in-game scale, previous games have similarly developed a high-quality storytelling approach within the space. Even now, the visual quality of the original PS2 game would be out of place among modern indie titles, and it really set the benchmark for what cutscenes could achieve in a game as well.
4
Mirror’s Edge
A True Pioneer of Parkour
Mirror’s Edge was arguably the pioneer of the parkour genre, and was one of the first games to use a first-person perspective in the free-running fighting art. The fluid animations and fast-paced, close-quarters combat would go on to influence titles as diverse as Dishonored and the Ding Light series.
Combine all that with a wonderfully crafted cyberpunk setting, a unique minimalist aesthetic and a tense, emotional story, and you’ll see why Mirror’s Edge remains a cult favorite today. While the follow-up Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst did not live up to the expectations of the first game, the widespread influence of the series can be found in many modern titles.
3
Splinter cell
He does it secretly
Splinter Cell truly revolutionized the stealth video game, in the sense that it was an integral part of gameplay. If you have played any of these series you will know that they are criminally underrated these days. The first entry, Splinter Cell, lives happily in the memory of old-school gamers like myself who had never encountered anything like it at the time.
This invisible and strategic adventure-completing machine has influenced the popularity of the Hitman and Assassin’s Creed series, as well as many other titles since. Secret features are now so common in games that we almost take them for granted. Titles like Hitman, Dishonored and others put these elements at the forefront of their gameplay, to the point where stealth is now considered an entire genre within itself.
2
Assassin’s Creed
Ascending to New Heights
It’s hard to overstate how powerful the first Assassin’s Creed game was. Until now, parkour systems were rare in sports, let alone focused on deep, story-rich narratives during the third war. Not only will it continue to spawn the massive Assassin’s Creed franchise, but it will reshape Ubisoft’s course and open up global gaming.
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From the Watch Dogs series to more recent games like Cairn, parkour systems have been introduced in almost every action game imaginable, and all thanks to Altair’s free-running abilities. Along with the epic nature that the series is defined by, this system and its impact on gaming as a whole cannot be underestimated, regardless of the state of the series today.
1
Dark Souls
Kicking off an Amazing Software Legacy
Chances are if you’re a gamer in 2026 you’ve played ‘soul-like’ by now – whether you know it or not. That’s right, Dark Souls and its predecessor Demon’s Souls were so influential that the original now has an entire genre, and many subgenres, named after it.
What Dark Souls did better than any other game before it was revolutionize the concept of boss battles. In fact, almost every battle in a Dark Souls game is a boss battle, and it turns out that players really enjoy the format. Games ranging from Lies of P and Elden Ring to Black Myth: Wukong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are all done in the Dark Souls style, requiring players to master skills and learn attack patterns to defeat complex opponents and navigate hostile environments.
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