Best games
Best Action games of 2002
The 34 best Action games released in 2002, ranked from 14,848 critic and player ratings.
The best Action game of 2002 is Metroid Prime, with a critic score of 95/100 — 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: 2002.
- 34 games are listed on this page, carrying 14,848 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 34
01
Metroid Prime
A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race.
95
/100
02
A
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
In the year 1986, Tommy Vercetti is heavily indebted to his mafia superiors after a drug deal gone awry, but his dreams of taking over Vice City (based on Miami) push him down a different path. Featuring a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, radio stations playing hit songs from the era and an intense atmosphere, GTA: Vice City is an open-world sandbox satire of '80's Miami.
94
/100
03
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that combines exploration, combat, and progression within a structured environment. Players navigate distinct sectors, acquire new abilities, and unlock access to previously restricted areas as they advance. The game emphasizes guided objectives alongside ability-based traversal, with a focus on atmospheric tension, evolving threats, and progression through upgrades.
92
/100
Metroid Prime
A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race.
95
/100
02
A
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
In the year 1986, Tommy Vercetti is heavily indebted to his mafia superiors after a drug deal gone awry, but his dreams of taking over Vice City (based on Miami) push him down a different path. Featuring a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, radio stations playing hit songs from the era and an intense atmosphere, GTA: Vice City is an open-world sandbox satire of '80's Miami.
94
/100
03
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that combines exploration, combat, and progression within a structured environment. Players navigate distinct sectors, acquire new abilities, and unlock access to previously restricted areas as they advance. The game emphasizes guided objectives alongside ability-based traversal, with a focus on atmospheric tension, evolving threats, and progression through upgrades.
92
/100
04
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way
A year after the first No One Lives Forever, tensions are rising between United States and Soviet Union over the tiny, but strategic Isle of Khios. Jones, now the sole Commander of U.N.I.T.Y. (after Smithy was discovered to be a H.A.R.M. spy in the first No One Lives Forever), is taking a vacation and leaves Temporary Director Lawrie in charge. The sequel to the award-winning No One Lives Forever returns you to a world of espionage, intrigue, and dry humor. In her second adventure, British UNITY operative Cate Archer must investigate a super-secret Soviet project that, if successful, could bring about the third world war.
91
/100
05
A
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the first Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube and also the first in the series to employ cel-shading, a lighting and texturing technique that results in the game having a cartoon-like appearance. Like its predecessors, The Wind Waker is an action game with puzzle-solving and light role-playing elements. Basic gameplay mechanics are similar to those found in Ocarina of Time, but it differentiates itself with its massive Great Sea which must be explored using a boat named King of Red Lions.
90
/100
06
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. Gameplay features a combination of action and puzzle solving, with numerous stages and multiple episodes to each stage, and plenty of hidden secrets and surprises. This game introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine pays homage to Mario's Italian heritage and upbringing, with many of the locations in the game having Italian names and sometimes referencing Italian culture.
90
/100
07
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
In the tradition of the highly acclaimed Star Wars: Jedi Knight series, Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2, Jedi Outcast features rebel agent Kyle Katarn in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future. Explore breathtaking Star Wars locales such as Cloud City, the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Nar Shaddaa, and the smugglers' moon. Multiplayer options include deathmatch, saber-only deathmatch, and team capture the flag.
89
/100
08
Battlefield 1942
Building upon and vastly refining the ideas from Codename Eagle, Battlefield 1942 let players engage in infantry combat and get behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles from submarines to battleships and bombers. The game introduced the signature Battlefield rock-paper-scissors gameplay, as well as the exciting “Battlefield Moments” people refer to when talking about their unique and unscripted experiences within the multiplayer game.
89
/100
09
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
88
/100
10
Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil is the 2002 remake of the original 1996 video game of the same name featuring various improvements and gameplay overhaul. The game features all-new graphics and sound, and also incorporates gameplay elements from the earlier installments. While the overall plot remained mostly unchanged, several new areas and rooms were added to the game. This remake also features many additional modes, secrets and various endings over the original.
88
/100
11
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
88
/100
12
Unreal Tournament 2003
86
/100
13
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
85
/100
14
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
85
/100
15
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
16
Resident Evil Zero
83
/100
17
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
82
/100
18
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
82
/100
19
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
20
S
Kingdom Hearts
80
/100
21
Gothic 2
79
/100
22
Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal
79
/100
23
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
24
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
25
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
26
Command & Conquer: Renegade
75
/100
27
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
28
Worms Blast
73
/100
29
Enclave
71
/100
30
BloodRayne
65
/100
31
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
32
Red Faction II
64
/100
33
S
Mafia
63
/100
34
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
58
/100
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way
A year after the first No One Lives Forever, tensions are rising between United States and Soviet Union over the tiny, but strategic Isle of Khios. Jones, now the sole Commander of U.N.I.T.Y. (after Smithy was discovered to be a H.A.R.M. spy in the first No One Lives Forever), is taking a vacation and leaves Temporary Director Lawrie in charge. The sequel to the award-winning No One Lives Forever returns you to a world of espionage, intrigue, and dry humor. In her second adventure, British UNITY operative Cate Archer must investigate a super-secret Soviet project that, if successful, could bring about the third world war.
91
/100
05
A
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the first Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube and also the first in the series to employ cel-shading, a lighting and texturing technique that results in the game having a cartoon-like appearance. Like its predecessors, The Wind Waker is an action game with puzzle-solving and light role-playing elements. Basic gameplay mechanics are similar to those found in Ocarina of Time, but it differentiates itself with its massive Great Sea which must be explored using a boat named King of Red Lions.
90
/100
06
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. Gameplay features a combination of action and puzzle solving, with numerous stages and multiple episodes to each stage, and plenty of hidden secrets and surprises. This game introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine pays homage to Mario's Italian heritage and upbringing, with many of the locations in the game having Italian names and sometimes referencing Italian culture.
90
/100
07
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
In the tradition of the highly acclaimed Star Wars: Jedi Knight series, Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2, Jedi Outcast features rebel agent Kyle Katarn in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future. Explore breathtaking Star Wars locales such as Cloud City, the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Nar Shaddaa, and the smugglers' moon. Multiplayer options include deathmatch, saber-only deathmatch, and team capture the flag.
89
/100
08
Battlefield 1942
Building upon and vastly refining the ideas from Codename Eagle, Battlefield 1942 let players engage in infantry combat and get behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles from submarines to battleships and bombers. The game introduced the signature Battlefield rock-paper-scissors gameplay, as well as the exciting “Battlefield Moments” people refer to when talking about their unique and unscripted experiences within the multiplayer game.
89
/100
09
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
88
/100
10
Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil is the 2002 remake of the original 1996 video game of the same name featuring various improvements and gameplay overhaul. The game features all-new graphics and sound, and also incorporates gameplay elements from the earlier installments. While the overall plot remained mostly unchanged, several new areas and rooms were added to the game. This remake also features many additional modes, secrets and various endings over the original.
88
/100
11
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
88
/100
12
Unreal Tournament 2003
86
/100
13
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
85
/100
14
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
85
/100
15
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
16
Resident Evil Zero
83
/100
17
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
82
/100
18
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
82
/100
19
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
20
S
Kingdom Hearts
80
/100
21
Gothic 2
79
/100
22
Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal
79
/100
23
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
24
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
25
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
26
Command & Conquer: Renegade
75
/100
27
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
28
Worms Blast
73
/100
29
Enclave
71
/100
30
BloodRayne
65
/100
31
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
32
Red Faction II
64
/100
33
S
Mafia
63
/100
34
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
58
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Action game of 2002?
Metroid Prime currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 869 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.