Best games
Best Action games of 1998
The 19 best Action games released in 1998, ranked from 11,694 critic and player ratings.
The best Action game of 1998 is Half-Life, with a critic score of 96/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1998.
- 19 games are listed on this page, carrying 11,694 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 19
01
Half-Life
Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles.
96
/100
02
Sanitarium
A psychological horror point-and-click adventure game in which a man wakes up in a near-deserted sanitarium after a car crash without any recollection of who he is or how he got there.
92
/100
03
S
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the fifth main installment of The Legend of Zelda series and the first to be released for the Nintendo 64. It was one of the most highly anticipated games of its age, and is listed among the greatest video games ever created by numerous websites and magazines. The gameplay of Ocarina of Time was revolutionary for its time, it has arguably made more of an impact on later games in the series than any of its predecessors even though they had the same cores of exploration, dungeons, puzzles and item usage. Among the gameplay mechanics, one of the most noteworthy is the time-traveling system. The game begins with the player controlling the child Link, but later on an adult Link becomes a playable character as well and each of them has certain unique abilities. Ocarina of Time also introduces the use of music to solve puzzles: as new songs are learned, they can be used to solve puzzles, gain access to new areas and warp to different locations. Dungeon exploration is somewhat more puzzle-oriented than in earlier games but they are not too complex.
92
/100
Half-Life
Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles.
96
/100
02
Sanitarium
A psychological horror point-and-click adventure game in which a man wakes up in a near-deserted sanitarium after a car crash without any recollection of who he is or how he got there.
92
/100
03
S
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the fifth main installment of The Legend of Zelda series and the first to be released for the Nintendo 64. It was one of the most highly anticipated games of its age, and is listed among the greatest video games ever created by numerous websites and magazines. The gameplay of Ocarina of Time was revolutionary for its time, it has arguably made more of an impact on later games in the series than any of its predecessors even though they had the same cores of exploration, dungeons, puzzles and item usage. Among the gameplay mechanics, one of the most noteworthy is the time-traveling system. The game begins with the player controlling the child Link, but later on an adult Link becomes a playable character as well and each of them has certain unique abilities. Ocarina of Time also introduces the use of music to solve puzzles: as new songs are learned, they can be used to solve puzzles, gain access to new areas and warp to different locations. Dungeon exploration is somewhat more puzzle-oriented than in earlier games but they are not too complex.
92
/100
04
A
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Resident Evil 2 is a sequel to the first Resident Evil title. Like the previous game in the series, Resident Evil 2 is a 3D action-adventure using three-dimensional polygon characters over two-dimensional pre-rendered backgrounds, with the action viewed through a variety of cinematic fixed camera angles in each room. Players can choose to play as one of two possible characters; each goes through the same initial scenario but with differences in the type of weaponry they find and the people they meet along the way.
90
/100
05
Fallout 2
A turn-based tactical Western RPG in which the Chosen One is tasked with exploring post-nuclear California to locate and retrieve the fabled Garden of Eden Creation Kit for their famine-stricken tribe, while coming into contact through branching dialogue trees with numerous tribes, factions and micro-civilizations, each with their own virtues, vices, socioeconomic situations and political agendas.
89
/100
06
StarCraft
StarCraft is a strategic game set in a Galaxy far away on multiple planets. Its style and balance between the three antagonistic species it features is unique and appealed to millions.
88
/100
07
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Engage in the ultimate battle of wits and wills with the most ruthless military force in history. Set in the backdrop of WWII, Commandos is a real-time tactical wargame that puts you in command of a squad of elite Allied Commandos whose job is to complete 24 dangerous missions behind enemy lines. Your goal is to thwart the German war effort by means of sabotage and tactical genius.This action-packed strategy war game is set apart by its revolutionary AI, and the ability to control 6 individual commandos, each with a specific skill, as they infiltrate hostile territories and engage in intense combat. Your perilous missions will take you from the parched desert of North Africa to banks of the Rhine, the mountainous fjords of Norway, and the beaches of Normandy.Experience the most realistic, visually stunning graphics with accurate 3D models of more than 350 structures, vehicles, and weapons from the WWII era.
84
/100
08
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped is the third game in the Crash Bandicoot series and the first to feature Coco as a playable character. The player takes control of Crash and Coco Bandicoot, who must travel back and forward in time and gather 25 crystals before Uka Uka and Doctor Neo Cortex can do so. Much of the game takes place in the Time Twister which acts as the hub area of the game. The Time-Twister is split up into five chambers, each chamber has five buttons that open portals to different levels. The goal in each level is to find and obtain the crystal hidden in the level. Crash Bandicoot: Warped was lauded by critics in many areas, and the game has been considered one of the best video games of all time.
84
/100
09
METAL SLUG 2
“METAL SLUG 2”, the 2nd entry in SNK’s emblematic 2D run & gun action shooting game returns to the battlefield on the Steam gaming platform!
82
/100
10
STAR WARS Jedi Knight - Mysteries of the Sith
Kyle Katarn's adventures continue five years after the events in Dark Forces II. Invading Imperial forces advance upon a quiet Rebel outpost, interrupting Kyle's trianing of a brave new Jedi, Mara Jade. First introduced in Timothy Zahn's award-winning Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire, Mara Jade combines her experiences as a smuggler and Emperor's Hand with her apprenticeship as a Jedi Knight. Mara's training will continue in the field as she makes use of four new weapons and five new Force powers to secure supplies for the New Republic. Meanwhile, Kyle pursues what he believes to be his destiny as he searches for secret treasures in an ancient Sith temple. Will you uncover the Mysteries of the Sith?
80
/100
11
Unreal
80
/100
12
Metal Gear Solid
80
/100
13
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
80
/100
14
Spyro the Dragon
79
/100
15
MediEvil
78
/100
16
Tomb Raider 3: Adventures of Lara Croft
77
/100
17
Vangers
72
/100
18
SoulCalibur
60
/100
19
Sonic Adventure
55
/100
A
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Resident Evil 2 is a sequel to the first Resident Evil title. Like the previous game in the series, Resident Evil 2 is a 3D action-adventure using three-dimensional polygon characters over two-dimensional pre-rendered backgrounds, with the action viewed through a variety of cinematic fixed camera angles in each room. Players can choose to play as one of two possible characters; each goes through the same initial scenario but with differences in the type of weaponry they find and the people they meet along the way.
90
/100
05
Fallout 2
A turn-based tactical Western RPG in which the Chosen One is tasked with exploring post-nuclear California to locate and retrieve the fabled Garden of Eden Creation Kit for their famine-stricken tribe, while coming into contact through branching dialogue trees with numerous tribes, factions and micro-civilizations, each with their own virtues, vices, socioeconomic situations and political agendas.
89
/100
06
StarCraft
StarCraft is a strategic game set in a Galaxy far away on multiple planets. Its style and balance between the three antagonistic species it features is unique and appealed to millions.
88
/100
07
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Engage in the ultimate battle of wits and wills with the most ruthless military force in history. Set in the backdrop of WWII, Commandos is a real-time tactical wargame that puts you in command of a squad of elite Allied Commandos whose job is to complete 24 dangerous missions behind enemy lines. Your goal is to thwart the German war effort by means of sabotage and tactical genius.This action-packed strategy war game is set apart by its revolutionary AI, and the ability to control 6 individual commandos, each with a specific skill, as they infiltrate hostile territories and engage in intense combat. Your perilous missions will take you from the parched desert of North Africa to banks of the Rhine, the mountainous fjords of Norway, and the beaches of Normandy.Experience the most realistic, visually stunning graphics with accurate 3D models of more than 350 structures, vehicles, and weapons from the WWII era.
84
/100
08
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped is the third game in the Crash Bandicoot series and the first to feature Coco as a playable character. The player takes control of Crash and Coco Bandicoot, who must travel back and forward in time and gather 25 crystals before Uka Uka and Doctor Neo Cortex can do so. Much of the game takes place in the Time Twister which acts as the hub area of the game. The Time-Twister is split up into five chambers, each chamber has five buttons that open portals to different levels. The goal in each level is to find and obtain the crystal hidden in the level. Crash Bandicoot: Warped was lauded by critics in many areas, and the game has been considered one of the best video games of all time.
84
/100
09
METAL SLUG 2
“METAL SLUG 2”, the 2nd entry in SNK’s emblematic 2D run & gun action shooting game returns to the battlefield on the Steam gaming platform!
82
/100
10
STAR WARS Jedi Knight - Mysteries of the Sith
Kyle Katarn's adventures continue five years after the events in Dark Forces II. Invading Imperial forces advance upon a quiet Rebel outpost, interrupting Kyle's trianing of a brave new Jedi, Mara Jade. First introduced in Timothy Zahn's award-winning Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire, Mara Jade combines her experiences as a smuggler and Emperor's Hand with her apprenticeship as a Jedi Knight. Mara's training will continue in the field as she makes use of four new weapons and five new Force powers to secure supplies for the New Republic. Meanwhile, Kyle pursues what he believes to be his destiny as he searches for secret treasures in an ancient Sith temple. Will you uncover the Mysteries of the Sith?
80
/100
11
Unreal
80
/100
12
Metal Gear Solid
80
/100
13
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
80
/100
14
Spyro the Dragon
79
/100
15
MediEvil
78
/100
16
Tomb Raider 3: Adventures of Lara Croft
77
/100
17
Vangers
72
/100
18
SoulCalibur
60
/100
19
Sonic Adventure
55
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Action game of 1998?
Half-Life currently tops the ranking with a score of 96/100 across 2,448 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.