8 Best Linear Action Adventure Games for Players Tired of Open World Bloat

It seems like all games these days have unwanted bloat and are way bigger than they need to be. Sometimes you just want to play a linear game with a strong focus on what matters. The action adventure genre is perfect for those looking for an escape from open world games, as there are a lot of great options to pick from that are primarily linear.

A great linear action adventure game does the important things right, such as having an amazing combat system, engaging puzzles, a beautiful world, and a solid story. It doesn't waste your time with an oversized world map, or pointless bloat to increase the amount of time you spend playing the game. A game that lasts 10 hours that is solid all around is way better than a 60-hour game filled with pointless activities.

After thinking over a ton of action adventure games, we have chosen the best of the best for you to check out. If you're looking for a linear game, we got you covered, as this article has your next adventure waiting for you. Here are the 8 best linear action adventure games for players who are tired of open world bloat.

8 Shadow of the Tomb Raider

An Amazing Adventure With Lara Croft

One of the most popular video game protagonists is, without a doubt, Lara Croft. There have been plenty of Tomb Raider games over the years, starting all the way back in 1996, and while all of them are great in their own way, Shadow of the Tomb Raider stands out as the best. It’s the latest entry in the mainline games, and the third entry into the “Survivor” trilogy. If you haven't played the first two in the trilogy, I recommend playing those first.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers the best of what makes these games so great. The exploration is top-notch, the puzzles are fun to solve, the combat leads to some intense moments, and the graphics are beautiful enough to hold up to today's standards. The story may not be the best of the Survivor trilogy, but it's still very good and interesting. All these aspects are what make the action adventure genre so loved, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider nails it throughout.

7 A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Heartfelt Story With Great Stealth Combat

A Plague Tale: Requiem is the sequel to the hidden gem, A Plague Tale: Innocence. While the original did a lot of things right, its gameplay was pretty barebones and grew stale pretty quickly. However, its sequel addressed these issues and improved the gameplay in every way, making the combat and stealth sections much more engaging, as each encounter felt unique and unpredictable. The puzzles are more in-depth and complicated, as well, really pushing the player to use their noggin.

A Plague Tale: Requiem also has an emotional story, following siblings on a journey to find a cure for the younger brother’s mysterious disease. Along this journey, heartbreaking moments come to light, twists that are jaw-dropping, and a finale that will stick with you long after you stop playing. There aren’t many video games that can make a grown man cry, but A Plague Tale: Requiem is definitely one of them. It tells one of the saddest stories in recent memory.

6 Stellar Blade

Combat That Is Absolutely "Stellar"

SHIFT UP is a developer that wasn’t really known by the gaming community due to it only releasing mobile games. It wasn’t until Stellar Blade was released in 2024 that people started realizing how talented these developers really are, as Stellar Blade is an incredible action adventure game with a tight combat system, beautiful visuals, and an exciting story. It’s one of the best Soulslikes out there right now and is the perfect choice for players who are tired of open world bloat.

Stellar Blade’s combat focuses on parry and perfect dodges, while executing flashy attacks and devastating skills. The further you progress in the game, the deadlier your arsenal becomes, and eventually, combat becomes over the top in a good way. The level design can be compared to Lies of P, with small areas that contain branching paths, eventually leading to a challenging boss with a moveset that requires patience to fully understand.

5 God of War

This Series Has Never Looked So Good

The reimagining of the God of War franchise was a bold move by Santa Monica Studios, but there's no doubt that it definitely paid off. God of War 2018 took the fast-paced action of the original trilogy and put it in a third-person, over-the-shoulder camera perspective. The shift from hack-n'-slash action to a more personal, story-driven, adventure was a smart choice as God of War is one of the most successful games produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment. While its sequel, God of War: Ragnarök, is arguably better, it's not the best choice for players who are tired of open world bloat due to its very large open areas. God of War (2018) is more linear.

While God of War has open-zone areas, it's primarily a linear experience that follows Kratos and his son, Atreus, on a journey through Norse mythology. Throughout your adventure, you'll encounter deadly foes to take down with a superb combat system, well-written characters to help on the journey, and a heartfelt story about a bond between a father and son. The biggest standout here is the combat, which features weighty melee attacks with the axe, mixed with a plethora of devastating skills, parries, combos, and environmental finishers. It's so, so, satisfying.

4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

One of FromSoftware's Best Titles

FromSoftware is known for its challenging video games, offering some of the hardest bosses in gaming history. Known for Dark Souls at the time, FromSoftware introduced a new IP that looked to be more action-oriented than its other games: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro took the challenge of Dark Souls, cranked it up to 11, and completely overhauled the combat experience that fans have come to know and love from the Souls games.

The end result is one of the best linear action-adventure games of modern times. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has top-tier combat that is easy to understand but incredibly difficult to master. However, once you master the combat, there is nothing quite like Sekiro on the market. It’s incredibly satisfying, addictive, and just so much fun. Each encounter with an enemy feels like a dance, almost like a rhythm game. This is a game you don't want to miss out on, but just be prepared to die a ton.

3 Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Nathan Drake's Biggest Adventure

Naughty Dog is known for its amazing storytelling and combat, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is one of the developer’s best work to date. The latest, and most likely final, entry into the Uncharted franchise follows Nathan Drake reentering the dangerous world of treasure hunting at the request of his brother Sam. What begins as a simple concept soon turns into a story filled with twists and turns, keeping players on the edge of their seats.

Uncharted 4 is much bigger than its predecessors in production value, set pieces, and cinematics. There are sequences in this game that feel straight out of a high-budget movie, such as fast-paced chase sequences with buildings exploding all around, intense climbing sections way above the ground, etc. Also, while the foundation of the gameplay is pretty much the same as older entries, it’s more refined and feels way better overall.

Everything about Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is created with care, and is the perfect send off to Nathan Drake and his story. Naughty Dog hasn’t mentioned anything about Uncharted 5, but the entire gaming community would be thrilled to see it happen. Here’s hoping that we hear something soon.

2 Control

Take Down the Supernatural

Control is Remedy Entertainment’s newest IP, and follows Jesse on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Federal Bureau of Control, fight a supernatural threat, and find her missing brother. The game follows a metroidvania structure, but is primarily linear with fast-paced gun combat and unique telekinetic skills. The combat is fantastic, but that is not the reason why it’s one of the best action-adventure games around. It’s the world-building and story that really make it an incredible experience.

The entire adventure feels like you’re uncovering a grand conspiracy with surprises around each corner. This game constantly keeps you guessing, and just when you thought you understood it all, it throws another curveball your way. In other words, not everything is as it seems in this game. Control knocks it out of the park and should be experienced by anyone looking for a linear adventure. Also, since its sequel was recently announced at the Game Awards, now is the best time to give it a try.

1 The Last of Us Part 2

A Masterpiece That Is Misunderstood

The original The Last of Us took the world by storm when it was released in 2013 due to its incredible storytelling. It has gone down in history as one of the best PlayStation exclusive titles of all time, and because of that praise, the sequel was highly anticipated and had a lot going for it. The Last of Us Part 2 was released to high critical acclaim, but sparked massive controversy among the gaming community. This conflict stemmed from the game’s bold form of storytelling and killing off one of the most popular gaming protagonists of its time — Joel Miller.

Despite the controversy surrounding The Last of Part 2, it remains as one of the best action-adventure games ever made. The way it decides to tell its story, where you play as Ellie for the first half and then Abby in the second half, was such a brave move by the developers. Naughty Dog forced players to play as Joel’s killer, and by the time you completed her part of the game, you began to genuinely feel for her as you start to understand why she killed him.

The Last of Us Part 2 evokes an emotional response from its story and serves as a representation of what it means to be human, highlighting that everyone makes mistakes and that there are always two sides to a story.