Adventure, shooting, fighting - these are action games. When you are looking to blow off some steam and need some instant gratification, action games are where you turn. Find out our picks for the best action games on Xbox below.
1. Halo 2
Halo 2 is a bigger, more feature filled, and much more polished game than the original Halo. It might seem similar to the original at first glance, but the already great gameplay has been improved and the level designs are much better. This is everything a sequel should be: Bigger and better in every way. Hype is a dangerous thing, and Halo 2 might not live up to the massive expectations placed on it, but it is still a great game that no Xbox owner should miss.2. Soul Calibur II
Soul Calibur II is perhaps the best fighting game ever and certainly is the best fighter on Xbox. It is simple enough for inexperienced gamers to enjoy but also offers a ton of depth for hardcore fighting fans. This is one of those games that you can pick up and play and get immediate satisfaction. A great action game for anyone and an excellent game for people who are willing to work a little to truly get the most out of their games.3. Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 is all about action. Swinging through Manhattan. Climbing to the top of the highest skyscraper and then nonchalantly jumping off. Fighting thugs on the street. Spider-Man 2 has it all in a non-stop rollercoaster of action, thrills, and excitement. It is by far the best movie game ever made. There is a ton of stuff to do and collect, and swinging through the city is extremely fun.4. Freedom Fighters
One of the surprise hits of 2003, Freedom Fighters is a third-person shooter where a group of people band together to back against Russian invaders. This is another game where frantic shooting action is the focus, but you also recruit a squad of teammates that will assist you in missions. With loads of realistic weapons and set in New York City, Freedom Fighters should take care of your itchy trigger finger.
5. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
It was great on the Dreamcast, great on the PS2, and guess what, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is great on the Xbox. This 2D fighter combines the rosters from Marvel comics and Capcom and throws them into a giant tag-team tournament fighter. MvsC2 is most famous for its wealth of special attacks and gigantic super combos that completely fill the screen. This game is fast, frantic, fantastic, and not to mention fun.6. Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is another great sleeper hit that got looked over in the holiday rush of 2003. This is a different sort of action game. You fight enemies mostly with melee attacks, but you also have to take pictures of every animal species in the game. This makes an interesting combination of fast paced fighting and quick draw camera work that is very exciting. You also get to drive and upgrade a speedy hovercraft and even enter it into races.7. MechAssault 2
MechAssault 2 has been improved in pretty much every way over the original and the result is a game that is as fun playing by yourself as it is when you play online. Multiplayer is still the focus, but the single player campaign is also very well done. MechAssault 2 is a well rounded package that fans of the original or gamers looking for a new shooter fix will really enjoy.8. Red Dead Revolver
Red Dead Revolver was a lot more fun and interesting than anyone thought it would be. Set in the wild west, RDR is a third-person shooter with a cowboy twist and it is surprisingly fun. It doesn’t really add anything new to the genre, but the wild west theme combined with straight up shooting, horseback riding, and an awesome “Dead Eye” mode where you have to duel your opponent make for a fun experience.9. Metal Slug 3
2D shooters were all but dead until SNK brought Metal Slug 3 to the Xbox, and hopefully this is the start of a trend. In MS3, you are constantly shooting and trying to take out the hordes of animals, enemy soldiers, and even zombies that are standing in your path as you walk from the left side of the screen to the right. This game takes quite a bit of skill and can be quite frustrating, however, but it is very satisfying to play through and addictive enough that you’ll keep coming back.