If you want a strong story with action while waiting for a new release, start with the game that fits your platform and preferred pace. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the focused, cinematic pick; Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Forbidden West offer longer open-world adventures. For a complete science-fiction saga in a more RPG-oriented format, consider Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
Choose by the kind of story and action you want
| Game | Story and world | Action style | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | A continuing story centered on Cal Kestis, set five years after Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. | Third-person action with lightsaber combat. | A defined protagonist and a cinematic, more focused adventure. |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Arthur Morgan’s character drama unfolds across a large open world. | Gunplay. | Players who want an expansive world and emotionally driven story, rather than combat like The Witcher 3‘s melee system. |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Science-fiction quests and worldbuilding in an open-world setting. | Customizable, role-playing action combat. | Players who want to shape their approach while exploring a different kind of world. |
| Horizon Forbidden West | An open-world, narrative-driven adventure following Aloy, with side quests. | Ranged and melee action against machines. | Players who want a story-led open-world adventure built around machine hunting. |
| Mass Effect Legendary Edition | Commander Shepard’s story across three games. | RPG-oriented combat systems. | Players who value a long, connected science-fiction character arc more than a direct action-adventure match. |
Platform lists below reflect the cited editorial guides, not a guarantee that a particular edition is currently sold or runs identically on every listed system. Confirm the exact edition in your platform’s official store before buying.
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Focused cinematic action
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Lucasfilm describes Jedi: Survivor as a single-player, third-person action-adventure that continues Cal Kestis’s story five years after Fallen Order (Lucasfilm). Its clear central character and science-fiction adventure make it the most direct choice here if you want a cinematic story rather than a sprawling role-playing campaign. Its combat centers on lightsaber action.
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The Lucasfilm source establishes the game’s story and format, but not current platform stock or pricing. Check your storefront for the platform and edition you need.
#1 Best Overall
- FATEFORGE: CHRONICLES OF KAAN is a mythical action-adventure cooperative campaign game. The game offers an accessible, RPG-like board game experience for 1 to 4 players.
- PLAYER DRIVEN STORY: You make the choices. You are the heroes: Set off on an epic journey across the continent of Kaan! What Fate will you forge for the lands of Kaan?
- APP GUIDES YOU LIKE A TRUE GAMEMASTER: It remembers & reacts to your choices, often when you least expect it to. It also handles all the admin, tells the story & sets the atmosphere, so you can focus on the gameplay & be the hero in your adventure.
- EPISODIC PLAY: Play in episodes of under an hour! Full of surprising twists with a sprawling story and intense fights played in episodes of under an hour.
Open worlds with character-led stories
Red Dead Redemption 2
Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 for a large world, Arthur Morgan’s emotionally driven story, and gunplay. GamesRadar lists PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in its guide (GamesRadar). It is a strong alternative if you want narrative and world immersion, but not a close match for The Witcher 3‘s melee combat.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is the option for science-fiction quests, worldbuilding, and a customizable role-playing action experience. GamesRadar’s current guide lists PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2 (GamesRadar). Those platform listings do not establish that performance or features are the same across editions, so check the specific version’s store page before choosing.
Rank #2
- Immersive Solo Narrative – Play as Luma and her bear companion, Brom, in a heartfelt quest to heal the Wildwoods from a dark shadow, guided by a richly illustrated storybook.
- Innovative River Card Mechanic – Experience tension and flow in every scene with the unique River System, making each challenge dynamic and engaging.
- Quick Setup & Easy Storage – Start your adventure in under 2 minutes! Each chapter’s cards are pre-packaged and the in-box tray keeps everything organized for fast setup and teardown.
- Storyfold System Debut – Wildwoods is the first game to use the new Storyfold system, designed for immersive storytelling, engaging solo gameplay, and accessibility.
- Stunning Art & Engaging Gameplay – Enjoy beautiful artwork and a captivating narrative that brings the magical forest and its creatures to life.
Horizon Forbidden West
For a story-driven open-world adventure centered on Aloy, Horizon Forbidden West combines side quests with action against machines. TechRadar describes it as an open-world, narrative-driven adventure (TechRadar). Its machine-focused combat makes it a different flavor of action from the gunplay in Red Dead Redemption 2 or the customizable combat in Cyberpunk 2077. Confirm the edition and platform in your storefront.
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A longer science-fiction story in an RPG format
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
If your priority is following one protagonist through a complete, multi-game story, Mass Effect Legendary Edition collects Commander Shepard’s three-game saga. GamesRadar lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and notes playability on PS5 and Xbox Series X (GamesRadar). It is an RPG-oriented option, not a direct substitute for a focused third-person action-adventure.
Rank #3
- IMMERSIVE STORY: Dive into the Mass Effect universe as Commander Shepard, leading a squad through a Cerberus cruiser to unveil secrets before a massive storm hits Hagalaz.
- DYNAMIC GAMEPLAY: Experience a unique card-driven AI and evolving story that alters based on your choices, ensuring a different gameplay experience with each session.
- DEEP CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION: Equip and upgrade your squad, including iconic characters like Liara and Garrus, with powerful abilities and gear as you progress through the game.
- COOPERATIVE MISSIONS: Engage in a co-operative, narrative-driven campaign for up to four players, featuring optional loyalty missions that unlock special powers for each squadmate.
- MULTIPLE ENDINGS: A branching narrative with a variety of endings based on your decisions, enhancing replay value and player engagement.
Games to watch, not assume are available
Announcements make these worth keeping on a watchlist, but the cited pages do not establish current release availability. Check the latest official store listing before treating either as playable.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The KerPlunk game kids love featuring the Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyears and crane inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5!
- Roll the die and remove a stick of the matching color. If any Buzz Lightyears fall, you must keep them.
- When all the Buzz Lightyears have tumbled down, the player with the fewest wins!
- Clouds on the sticks let colorblind players easily identify which stick to pull.
- Fun for the whole family, kids and adults alike, easy to learn and perfect for family game night or party play!
Rank #4
- Return to Nottingham and help save the kingdom once again in this all new expansion
- Introduces new mechanics such as moving around Friar Tuck, new enemies, and a new board
- Must be used with the original game The Adventures of Robin Hood
- Seamlessly continues the original story
- Plays 2-4 players and introduces a new multi-chapter story
- Crossfire: Xbox Wire announced it on June 5, 2026, describing a single-player narrative tactical action-adventure for Xbox Series X|S about mercenary Layla Qassem, with an Adaptive Cover system (Xbox Wire). The announcement does not confirm current availability.
- Mudang: Two Hearts: Xbox Wire described a third-person narrative action-adventure planned for 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC, combining cinematic storytelling, stealth, and dynamic combat (Xbox Wire). The cited announcement gives a year, not a precise release date, and does not confirm current availability.
How to narrow the shortlist
- Pick your platform first, then verify that the exact edition is available for it.
- For a more focused cinematic arc, start with Jedi: Survivor. For an open world and a longer exploratory story, compare Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Forbidden West.
- Match combat to your taste: lightsaber action, gunplay, customizable futuristic combat, or machine hunting.
- Choose Mass Effect Legendary Edition when a connected three-game science-fiction story matters more than real-time action-adventure pacing.
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