The release of Stellar Blade on PlayStation 5 got a lot of attention from everybody. And not just because of the titillating appearance of the game's protagonist, Eve, who fights her way through waves of enemies while looking beautiful. Stellar Blade was praised for its fast-paced combat system and challenging boss battles that look spectacular. The game is an action-adventure from developer Shift Up for the PS5 with many cinematic moments that kept players coming back for more. Rather than falling under the pressure of scrutiny for its unapologetic sexiness for the lead character, Stellar Blade managed to gain commercial and critical success among those who played it.

Although it may have similarities to other games within the genre, Stellar Blade stands out from the crowd for its overall fun experience. But that doesn't mean those who played Stellar Blade won't enjoy other games that came before it. If you're someone that really enjoys playing action-adventure games with a heavy emphasis on action, then you have many options to browse through within the genre. Here are four great games for you to check out if you loved playing Stellar Blade on PlayStation 5.

👁 Stellar Blade
You're missing out if you haven't played Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade is one of the best games of 2024. With a PC release on the horizon, there's no reason not to give it a try.

4 NieR: Automata

All too familiar

The one game that is the most similar to Stellar Blade is NieR: Automata, released by Square Enix in 2017. The game was developed by Platinum Games for the PlayStation 5, and later released on other platforms. NieR: Automata has a lot of the same general setup and design choices that are found in Stellar Blade. A strong female protagonist that is built like a machine, flashy combat that involves multiple weapons, and environments to explore and encounter many kinds of enemies throughout. One might even mistake the two games for one another if they didn't know any better, despite a few glaring differences with their presentations. But NieR: Automata is an ideal game to play right after finishing Stellar Blade for anyone that wants a similar overall experience.

NieR: Automata follows the android 2B, who is part of a race of androids designed by humans to fight off alien invaders. She crosses paths with another android named 9S, as well as a rogue android named A2. The plot of the game is revealed through multiple playthroughs of the main campaign, which details a variety of aspects of the world and the history of the war between aliens and humans. 2B can use a number of weapons and often finds herself standing against groups of android enemies, including sections that take the fighting into the skies for shmup-like gameplay sequences. The action in NieR: Automata is on par with many other classics within the genre, bringing a great sense of variety and beauty to the combat. While the game is part of the NieR series, it is also a spin-off from the Drakengard series that was also published by Square Enix.

3 Bayonetta

Confident and powerful

Source: Platinum Games

While there have been many strong female action heroes in gaming, few of them can match the overwhelming confidence and assertiveness of Bayonetta and her series. The first Bayonetta game is a heart-pounding action game that is on the same level of craziness as the Devil May Cry series from Capcom. Battles against demons, over-the-top crazy magical attacks, and a strong sense of humor make Bayonetta a must-play action game for aficionados of the genre. Just when you think everything couldn't get more wacky, the game somehow manages to outdo itself even further. Whether it's fighting groups of demons atop a falling building, or roaming the empty streets of a nearby city, the combat remains incredibly satisfying throughout.

But what makes everything work so well, and what helped spawn multiple sequels, is the personality of the game's titular heroine. Bayonetta herself is a confidently sexy character that packs a wallop with each of her attacks. The plot of the game centers on Bayonetta reclaiming her lost memories related to a group known as the Umbra Witches. They are a faction that is intricately tied to overseeing the world, but a series of events cause them to disappear and are related to Bayonetta's lost memories. It's a wildly entertaining story that has its goofy moments, but manages to keep a dark undertone beneath its more exaggerated sections.

Like Stellar Blade, Bayonetta was also hit with controversy due to the sex appeal of its main character. Many felt the overt sexiness of Bayonetta was too much to have within a game, but the resulting commercial success following its release showed otherwise. Since then, there have been multiple sequels to Bayonetta on different platforms, continuing the story and further building out the history of the character.

2 Gravity Rush

Twisting up gravity

Some action-adventure games like to have a unique twist on things, making them feel different from other games. Gravity Rush does this by having the manipulation of gravity as a theme and a gameplay mechanic. Gravity Rush was originally released for the PlayStation 4 in 2012, and was later remastered for the PlayStation Vita in 2016. The plot follows a young girl named Kat who has amnesia, but is able to wield powers that allow her to float and manipulate gravity around her. This is due to her mysterious pet named Dusty, who helps her fight against beings known as the Nevi that terrorize citizens in a town named Hekseville. As the story progresses, Kat regains more of her lost memories, along with more of her powers, as the mystery of her past is revealed.

Gravity Rush has players roaming around Hekseville completing different quests, which tie into the main story and a series of subplots throughout the game. The combat is clever with its emphasis on changing gravity and floating around while Kat attacks the Nevi. At the same time, manipulating gravity and moving around upside down is often a way to discover new locations and complete extra quests that give Kat more experience. Boss battles in Gravity Rush can be intense when changing the gravity mid-battle, allowing Kat to find weak spots and attack them to defeat bosses. Gravity Rush ended up being successful enough to get a sequel on the PlayStation 4 in 2017, which continued Kat's story and added more new elements to the gameplay.

1 Devil May Cry 5

Stylish and bold

As one of the original pillars of the action-adventure genre, the Devil May Cry series is a mainstay among gamers. Anyone that loves these types of games needs to sit down and play Devil May Cry 5, which to many is the absolute best in the series to date. The game was released in 2019 for multiple platforms, and continues the saga of the demon slayer Dante and his allies. However, this entry in the series also focuses on a newcomer named Nero, who was a new character introduced in the previous game. At the same time, the plot of the game brings in new characters that expand upon the lore of the series, while also maintaining its legacy of ridiculously satisfying combat.

Gameplay in Devil May Cry 5 is among the best that the genre has to offer. Not only are there multiple playable characters to control, but they each have their own arsenal of weapons and abilities that play distinctly from one another. There are similarities between them, but they don't play exactly the same. Dante brings his trademark weapon styles and flair to combat, while Nero uses his Devil Breaker to unleash powerful attacks and close the distance against foes. Another playable character introduced in the game called V has his own unique style of fighting, which uses summoning creatures to unleash deadly attacks.

Between all three playable characters, there's a lot of variety in how combat unfolds, but all of it is exciting and fast-paced throughout. And yet, the game takes things even further as the story progresses, opening up new attacks for every character and throwing bigger and badder enemies at the player. Devil May Cry 5 also received a Special Edition release that added more content to the game, including another playable character and new game modes. The presentation of the game was also tweaked, with improved visuals and new music added to the soundtrack.

More action to enjoy

For many, Stellar Blade was a fantastic game that was among the best action-adventure titles for the PlayStation 5. But for those who want to experience something similar and go through a game with a similar vibe, then there's no shortage of titles to pick from. The genre has so many other fun games across multiple platforms to enjoy which offer a similar kind of experience to Stellar Blade. Great games like Devil May Cry 5, NieR: Automata, Gravity Rush, and Bayonetta are all great choices to pick up if you're craving more action right away.

👁 a collage of images from Stellar Blade
4 improvements I want to see in a Stellar Blade 2

Stellar Blade is excellent, but there are a few areas I would like to see some improvement.

By  James Carr