For exploration-led 2D action, start with Hollow Knight; for repeatable combat with a continuing story, try Hades. Dead Cells is a fit for challenging roguelite action-platforming, TUNIC for exploration and deciphering clues, and Celeste for precision platforming with a character-centered journey.
“Best” depends on the play loop you want, so this guide matches each game to its strengths rather than treating them as interchangeable. Celeste is principally a platformer, while Hades and Dead Cells center on repeated action runs.
Best indie action-adventure games at a glance
| Game | Best for | Main play loop | How challenge works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | Exploration and atmosphere | Explore an interconnected 2D world, find routes and abilities, and fight | Difficult combat and lightly directed discovery |
| Hades | Fast combat with continuing story | Make escape attempts, combine abilities, and return to character interactions | Each attempt brings new combinations and challenges |
| Dead Cells | Roguelite action-platforming | Fight and explore through an ever-changing castle across repeated runs | No checkpoints; learn through repeated attempts |
| TUNIC | Exploration and discovery | Explore connected areas, fight, and piece together an instruction manual | Technical combat and clues that reward investigation |
| Celeste | Precision platforming and story | Take on hand-crafted platforming challenges and secrets | Demanding execution of jump, air-dash, and climb |
Our picks
Hollow Knight: best for exploration-led 2D action
Team Cherry describes Hollow Knight as a 2D action-adventure. Its interconnected world and lightly directed exploration suit players who like finding their own routes and discovering new abilities. PC Gamer describes its world as large and its exploration as lightly directed, making this a strong pick if you enjoy searching rather than following constant markers.
Choose it for discovery, atmosphere, and difficult combat. Team Cherry’s official page reproduces PC Gamer’s description: “Best Platformer 2017 – The joy of Hollow Knight is the joy of discovery, always hard-earned, never handed to you.”
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
- Personalize 5 customizable lighting zones with over 16.8M colors to match your setup or game and synchronize backlit lighting effects with other Logitech G devices using Logitech G Hub
- G213 Prodigy is a full-sized keyboard designed for gaming and productivity, with a slim body built for gamers of all levels and durable construction to repel liquids, crumbs, and dirt for easy cleanup
- Each key is tuned to enhance the tactile experience, delivering ultra-quick, responsive feedback while the anti-ghosting gaming matrix is tuned for optimal gaming performance, keeping you in control
- G213 gaming keyboard features dedicated media controls that can play, pause, and mute music and videos instantly; easily adjust the volume or skip to the next song with the touch of a button
- Customize lighting, game mode, and macro programming with Logitech G HUB software and stay comfortable during long gaming sessions thanks to an integrated palm rest and adjustable keyboard feet
Hades: best for repeatable action with a continuing story
Hades is a roguelike hack-and-slash dungeon crawler, according to PlayStation. Each escape attempt brings a different experience as you combine Olympian abilities, face challenges, and continue the story, according to Supergiant’s FAQ. It fits players who want fast combat and run variation alongside character interactions and narrative progress between attempts.
PlayStation reports that Hades won more than 50 Game of the Year awards; its consulted page does not state a year for that figure.
Rank #2
- Tri-mode Connection Keyboard: AULA F75 Pro wireless mechanical keyboards work with Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless and USB wired connection, can connect up to five devices at the same time, and easily switch by shortcut keys or side button. F75 Pro computer keyboard is suitable for PC, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, PS, XBOX etc, to meet all the needs of users. In addition, the rechargeable keyboard is equipped with a 4000mAh large-capacity battery, which has long-lasting battery life
- Hot-swap Custom Keyboard: This custom mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable base supports 3-pin or 5-pin switches replacement. Even keyboard beginners can easily DIY there own keyboards without soldering issue. F75 Pro gaming keyboards equipped with pre-lubricated stabilizers and LEOBOG reaper switches, bring smooth typing feeling and pleasant creamy mechanical sound, provide fast response for exciting game
- Advanced Structure and PCB Single Key Slotting: This thocky heavy mechanical keyboard features a advanced structure, extended integrated silicone pad, and PCB single key slotting, better optimizes resilience and stability, making the hand feel softer and more elastic. Five layers of filling silencer fills the gap between the PCB, the positioning plate and the shaft,effectively counteracting the cavity noise sound of the shaft hitting the positioning plate, and providing a solid feel
- 16.8 Million RGB Backlit: F75 Pro light up led keyboard features 16.8 million RGB lighting color. With 16 pre-set lighting effects to add a great atmosphere to the game. And supports 10 cool music rhythm lighting effects with driver. Lighting brightness and speed can be adjusted by the knob or the FN + key combination. You can select the single color effect as wish. And you can turn off the backlight if you do not need it
- Professional Gaming Keyboard: No matter the outlook, the construction, or the function, F75 Pro mechanical keyboard is definitely a professional gaming keyboard. This 81-key 75% layout compact keyboard can save more desktop space while retaining the necessary arrow keys for gaming. Additionally, with the multi-function knob, you can easily control the backlight and Media. Keys macro programmable, you can customize the function of single key or key combination function through F75 driver to increase the probability of winning the game and improve the work efficiency. N key rollover, and supports WIN key lock to prevent accidental touches in intense games
Dead Cells: best for challenging roguelite action-platforming
Steam describes Dead Cells as a “roguelite, metroidvania inspired, action-platformer.” Its loop takes you through an ever-changing castle, with no checkpoints: “Kill, die, learn, repeat.” Choose it if you want demanding combat, repeated runs, and progress through learning and unlocks.
Steam lists Motion Twin as both developer and publisher, and gives August 6, 2018 as the release date.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Ip32 water resistant – Prevents accidental damage from liquid spills
- 10-zone RGB illumination – Gorgeous color schemes and reactive effects
- Whisper quiet gaming switches – Nearly silent use for 20 million low friction keypresses
- Premium magnetic wrist rest – Provides full palm support and comfort
- Dedicated multimedia controls – Adjust volume and settings on the fly
TUNIC: best for exploration and deciphering discoveries
Steam describes TUNIC as an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure. You explore connected areas, fight with dodge, block, parry, and strike, face bosses, and reconstruct an instruction manual page by page. It is a good fit if you enjoy working out how a game operates through exploration and clues instead of being given every answer.
Steam lists TUNIC Team as developer, Finji as publisher, and March 16, 2022 as the release date.
Rank #4
- 【Ergonomic Design, Enhanced Typing Experience】Improve your typing experience with our computer keyboard featuring an ergonomic 7-degree input angle and a scientifically designed stepped key layout. The integrated wrist rests maintain a natural hand position, reducing hand fatigue. Constructed with durable ABS plastic keycaps and a robust metal base, this keyboard offers superior tactile feedback and long-lasting durability.
- 【15-Zone Rainbow Backlit Keyboard】Customize your PC gaming keyboard with 7 illumination modes and 4 brightness levels. Even in low light, easily identify keys for enhanced typing accuracy and efficiency. Choose from 15 RGB color modes to set the perfect ambiance for your typing adventure. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the keyboard will turn off the backlight and enter sleep mode. Press any key or "Fn+PgDn" to wake up the buttons and backlight.
- 【Whisper Quiet Design】Experience near-silent operation with our whisper-quiet gaming switch, ideal for office environments and gaming setups. The classic volcano switch structure ensures durability and an impressive lifespan of 50 million keystrokes.
- 【IP32 Spill Resistance】Our quiet gaming keyboard is IP32 spill-resistant, featuring 4 drainage holes in the wrist rest to prevent accidents and keep your game uninterrupted. Cleaning is made easy with the removable key cover.
- 【25 Anti-Ghost Keys & 12 Multimedia Keys】Enjoy swift and precise responses during games with the RGB gaming keyboard's anti-ghost keys, allowing 25 keys to function simultaneously. Control play, pause, and skip functions directly with the 12 multimedia keys for a seamless gaming experience. (Please note: Multimedia keys are not compatible with Mac)
Celeste: best for precision platforming and a character-centered journey
Celeste is principally a platformer, not a combat-heavy action-adventure. Its official site calls it a hand-crafted platformer; Steam describes a single-player, narrative-driven adventure with hundreds of hand-crafted platforming challenges and secrets. The movement verbs are jump, air-dash, and climb, with challenge coming from precise execution.
Choose it if you want demanding platforming paired with a story. Its official site lists Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, itch.io, Steam, and Epic Games Store destinations; check your regional store for current availability.
Best Value
- 【65% Compact Design】GEODMAER Wired gaming keyboard compact mini design, save space on the desktop, novel black & silver gray keycap color matching, separate arrow keys, No numpad, both gaming and office, easy to carry size can be easily put into the backpack
- 【Wired Connection】Gaming Keybaord connects via a detachable Type-C cable to provide a stable, constant connection and ultra-low input latency, and the keyboard's 26 keys no-conflict, with FN+Win lockable win keys to prevent accidental touches
- 【Strong Working Life】Wired gaming keyboard has more than 10,000,000+ keystrokes lifespan, each key over UV to prevent fading, has 11 media buttons, 65% small size but fully functional, free up desktop space and increase efficiency
- 【LED Backlit Keyboard】GEODMAER Wired Gaming Keyboard using the new two-color injection molding key caps, characters transparent luminous, in the dark can also clearly see each key, through the light key can be OF/OFF Backlit, FN + light key can switch backlit mode, always bright / breathing mode, FN + ↑ / ↓ adjust the brightness increase / decrease, FN + ← / → adjust the breathing frequency slow / fast
- 【Ergonomics & Mechanical Feel Keyboard】The ergonomically designed keycap height maintains the comfort for long time use, protects the wrist, and the mechanical feeling brought by the imitation mechanical technology when using it, an excellent mechanical feeling that can be enjoyed without the high price, and also a quiet membrane gaming keyboard
How to choose
- Choose Hollow Knight if you want a large, exploration-led 2D action-adventure.
- Choose Hades if you want fast combat runs with story progression between attempts.
- Choose Dead Cells if you want challenging roguelite action-platforming and learning through repeated runs.
- Choose TUNIC if you want isometric exploration, technical combat, secrets, and a manual to piece together.
- Choose Celeste if you want precision platforming, hand-crafted challenges, and a narrative-centered journey.
Before buying, check the current regional store for the platform and edition you want. Availability can change, and the sources consulted here do not provide a complete live compatibility list.
FAQ
Which game is best for exploring a connected world?
Hollow Knight is the pick for exploration-led 2D action and finding routes through a large, interconnected world. TUNIC is another choice if you want exploration combined with clues and a manual to reconstruct.
Which game has a story that continues between runs?
Hades combines repeated escape attempts with story and character interactions that continue across attempts, according to Supergiant’s FAQ.
Is Celeste an action-adventure game?
Celeste is principally a precision platformer. It is a better fit for players seeking hand-crafted platforming challenges and a narrative-centered journey than for players looking for combat-heavy adventure.
Which game should I pick for challenging repeated runs?
Try Dead Cells for roguelite action-platforming through an ever-changing castle, or Hades for repeatable hack-and-slash combat with story progression between attempts.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
