Action Game Clichés That You're Secretly Obsessed With

20 August 2025

Let’s face it—action games are loud, wild, chaotic, and hella predictable. And that’s exactly why we love them. Whether you’re diving from helicopters in slow motion, charging headfirst into enemy fire with the confidence of a caffeinated superhero, or somehow surviving explosions like you’re made of titanium, these clichés hit harder than a boss fight with zero health potions left.

Now, before you roll your eyes at these overused tropes, take a second to admit it—you eat them up like a loot-drop buffet. We all do. These gaming clichés are the digital comfort food of the gaming world. Grab your energy drinks and recharge that wireless controller, because we’re about to tick off every single overused action game cliché that you pretend to hate but can’t stop loving.

1. The Conveniently Placed Explosive Barrels

You’re outgunned, outnumbered, and down to your last bullet—suddenly, boom! A bright red explosive barrel is just chilling next to a group of enemies like it's on their team.

Is it realistic? Nope.
Do we care? Not at all.

There’s something ridiculously satisfying about turning your environment into a weapon. And let’s be honest, half the fun of an action game is blowing stuff up without consequences. Red barrels are the universal "I win" button planted by developers as a gift to us destructively creative gamers.

2. The Silent, Brooding Protagonist with a Tragic Past

Every action game needs a hero—with a chin you could cut diamonds on, a wardrobe full of tactical black, and a backstory darker than a power outage. Bonus points if they only speak in one-word sentences or tortured whispers.

You know the type. No emotions, just vengeance. These guys wouldn't crack a smile if you paid them in loot boxes.

But isn’t that what makes them so darn cool? It’s the mystique, the drama. It’s like watching a 90s action movie with a controller in hand. We dig the brooding loner archetype because it lets us fill in the blanks. Plus, we all secretly pretend to be that quiet badass when we game. Don’t deny it.

3. Miraculously Regenerating Health

You just got riddled with bullets, fell off a roof, and got slammed into a wall by a mutant gorilla... but now you’re fine. Why? Because you hid behind a crate for five seconds. Logic? Who needs that?

Regenerating health is the video game version of “just walk it off.” And while medkits add some realism, we all low-key love the instant gratification of healing up with sheer willpower (and cover mechanics).

Honestly, it’s like your character is part lizard or something. And we’re not mad about it. After all, ain’t nobody got time to backtrack for bandages every time a goon looks at you funny.

4. The Over-the-Top Villain Monologue

“Ah, we meet again, [insert generic action hero name here]. I was expecting you.”

Every action game has that villain. You know, the one who monologues like they’re auditioning for Shakespeare in the Park. Instead of, you know, just pulling the trigger and ending your misery, they give you a solid five minutes of their master plan.

Honestly, we should thank them. Without their theatrical delay, how else would we survive long enough to throw them off a rooftop in the final act?

We eat these monologues up like popcorn. The more dramatic, the better. Bonus points for evil laughs and a tragic backstory that almost makes us feel bad. Almost.

5. The Explosive Intro Sequence

Every action game starts with a bang—sometimes quite literally. It’s always either a helicopter crash, a car chase, or a surprise explosion that launches you into the plot faster than a speedrun.

This isn’t storytelling. This is a fireworks show in digital form. And we crave it.

Sure, it makes zero narrative sense. You don’t know who you are, where you are, or what the heck’s going on—but the game’s already tossing grenades like it’s a party. And that’s okay. You’ll figure out the rest after the smoke clears.

6. The Mysterious Organization That’s Behind Everything

Who’s pulling the strings? Why is everything going to hell? Oh, surprise—it’s [insert three-letter organization], operating in the shadows for decades!

These shady collectives are the bread and butter of action game narratives. They’re always loaded with resources, morally ambiguous, and probably hiding bunker-loads of secrets under a volcano somewhere.

Do we know what they really want? Not really. Do they give off major Illuminati-meets-S.H.I.E.L.D. vibes? Absolutely. And we love trying to uncover their motives, even if it’s just a twisted excuse for more explosions and betrayal.

7. The Overly Convenient Power-Ups

Oh no, you're about to face a wave of enemies like it’s Black Friday in the zombie apocalypse mall—but wait! What’s that glowing aura thing just lying there? It’s a power-up that makes you invincible. How...convenient.

Power-ups have been helping us cheat death since arcade days. Whether it’s double damage, bullet time, or temporary invisibility—when you hear that hum and see that glow, you feel a surge of pure joy.

You didn’t earn it. You didn’t question it. You just grabbed it like it was a free pizza buffet. And honestly, no regrets.

8. The Final Boss with At Least Three Phases

Just when you think you’ve beaten them, guess what? The villain mutates. Or gets a big ol' mech suit. Or calls in backup from another dimension.

Come on, game devs, we were emotionally ready to be done! And yet… we stay. We persevere. We brace for phase two. And then phase three.

It’s over-the-top, it’s exhausting—it’s everything we signed up for.

Deep down, we expect that final boss to evolve like a Pokémon desperate for attention. The more ridiculous the transformation, the more iconic the battle. And honestly, it makes that final victory screen feel chef’s kiss.

9. The Almighty Quick-Time Events (QTEs)

Ah yes, mash X not to die. Press O to dodge. Slam every button like you’re playing whack-a-mole at a carnival.

Quick-time events are equal parts frustrating and fascinating. They're like the game’s way of saying, "Hey, let's turn this cutscene into a chaos simulator." And somehow, we still enjoy them—even when we miss the prompt and get punched in the face.

Truth is, QTEs keep us on our toes. They may not be the deepest mechanic, but when used right, they add just the right amount of adrenaline to your cinematic escape sequence. Like spicy sauce on an already flaming taco.

10. The "One Man Army" Scenario

Why bother with teammates when one overpowered protagonist can storm the enemy base all alone, wiping out entire armies with nothing but grit and an unreasonable supply of ammo?

This is the holy grail of action game clichés—and it's freakin' glorious.

You don’t need help. You are the help. It’s you versus the world, and no matter how many bullets are flying, you somehow, miraculously, survive. Because plot armor, obviously.

It's not realistic. It's not even remotely sensible. But boy, does it scratch that power fantasy itch in the brain.

11. The Overuse of Slow-Motion Everything

Jump out a window—SLOW-MO.
Dodge a bullet—SLOW-MO.
Reload your gun—wait for it—SLOOOOOW-MO.

It’s like action games discovered "bullet time" back in the early 2000s and collectively said, “Let’s never let this go.”

And honestly? We are here for it. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching your perfectly-timed grenade flip through the air like it's auditioning for an Olympic medal. We love that dopamine rush that comes with a slow-motion headshot. It's pure, unfiltered action nirvana.

12. The Still-Standing Protagonist After a Massive Explosion

We’ve all seen it: a humongous explosion ravages an entire area, a burst of flames brighter than the sun lights up the screen, debris flies everywhere—and your character walks away in slow motion like it’s a runway walk at Fashion Week.

Clothes torn? Maybe.
Hair messed up? Nah, it’s practically wind-swept perfection.

This is the “cool guys don’t look at explosions” trope, and it never fails to make us feel like we’ve just won the lottery of badassery. It’s completely unrealistic, but it gives us that cinematic high that keeps us coming back for more.

13. The Level Where You Lose All Your Gear

Oh look! You fell down some shaft, got ambushed, or were betrayed by that one guy you should've known was shady. And surprise! You’re stuck weaponless, gearless, and stripped down to nothing but plot armor.

It’s the classic “reset the progression” moment—and it always hits like cold water.

But let’s be honest, it’s kind of fun. It forces us to get scrappy. To rethink our strategy. And when we finally earn our gear back? Oh, we appreciate it so much more. Like losing your phone for a day and realizing it’s basically your second brain.

14. The Infinitely Refillable Ammunition Crate Right Before a Fight

You’re low on ammo. Your health is trash. There’s an eerie silence ahead. Guess what? Boss fight’s coming. But wait—what’s that? A magical ammo crate that refills every time you open it?

Oh yes, baby. It’s go time.

These crates are the beacon of hope in a sea of despair. They scream: “You’re about to face something massive, but don’t worry—we got you.” And even though it’s basically a big, flashing neon sign that says “boss incoming,” we still get pumped every single time.

15. The Linear Path That Pretends to Be Open

You step into what seems like a huge open world. Mountains in the distance, glowing cities far away, a wide field with birds chirping. But try stepping two feet off the designated path—and bonk, invisible wall.

Action games love to pretend they offer massive freedom, but really, they’re guiding you like a theme park ride. And you know what? That’s okay. We're just here for the ride.

Sometimes, too many choices can be overwhelming. These linear "fake open" worlds are like digital bowling lanes with bumpers—they keep the fun rolling without letting you go too far astray.

Final Thoughts

We mock these clichés. We laugh about them. We point them out on gaming forums like we're experts of originality. But when all is said and done? We secretly adore every single one. These tropes are part of the DNA of action games—and without them, the genre just wouldn’t hit the same.

So go ahead, dive slow-mo into another dramatic cutscene. Blow up yet another conveniently placed barrel. And when that villain starts monologuing? Popcorn time, baby.

No shame. We’re all in this cliché-ridden adventure together.