Activision frequently faces criticism due to several factors, some major ones being its relentless pursuit of sequels, annual releases, and involvement in scandal allegations, which are indeed justified concerns. Yet, it’s important to acknowledge that the company has also produced numerous groundbreaking games throughout its history. These games encompass various Call of Duty series entries, the entire Tony Hawk collection, and an extensive array of Marvel titles spanning characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool. Over time, Activision has increasingly focused on the Call of Duty franchise, but there remains a wealth of past successes to draw upon.
The catalog offers quite a diverse range, covering numerous genres and gaming platforms. Navigating through it can be challenging, but I’ve compiled the top 10 Activision games for your convenience.
10) Transformers: War for Cybertron
Activision was infamous for its abundance of licensed games, some of which tarnished the reputation of such games. However, Transformers: War for Cybertron surpassed all other Transformers games and stands among a few high-quality games based on well-known properties. War for Cybertron is a third-person shooter that allows players to control various legendary Autobots and Decepticons across two campaigns, which are interconnected.
Irrespective of the team you’re on, gunplay in this game skips over traditional cover mechanics, opting instead for a quicker pace that harmonizes with the transformation mechanic. Changing from a vehicle to a humanoid robot isn’t just visually pleasing, but it’s also essential for creating more thrilling and intense firefights due to the flexibility each side offers. Bots excel at shooting, while vehicles are superior in maneuverability. The sequel, “Fall of Cybertron,” may lack some of the original charm, but “War for Cybertron” remains a stellar shooter and an authentic (and canonical) Transformers game.
9) Singularity
BioShock was a standout game during the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, which means it was expected to influence other studios. Raven Software’s Singularity is one example of a game heavily inspired by Irrational Games’ underwater shooter. Although it lacks the philosophical depth of BioShock, Singularity compensates with its emphasis on intense gun battles. The unique selling point of this game lies in its time-manipulation glove, which offers limited control over time, and its diverse and upgradable weaponry. Noteworthy features include a grenade launcher that allows for strategic rolling around explosives and a sniper rifle that lets players control the trajectory of their bullets directly.
Raven’s final game, known as Singularity, was absorbed into the ongoing Call of Duty franchise, a series they have been exclusively devoted to ever since. This shift is regrettable for several reasons, primarily because it prevents the release of other imaginative games like Singularity.
8) X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The game “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is often considered a significant contributor to the legacy of high-quality licensed games, having been released a few months before “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” which is commonly recognized as a turning point in this genre. Like many action games of that era, influenced by God of War, Wolverine’s combat stands on its own, even against such prestigious comparisons. The game allows players to unleash Wolverine’s fierce attacks and effortlessly manipulate enemies, providing the power fantasy expected from a hack-and-slash title while staying true to the character’s more violent nature.
Additionally, the game’s Mature rating enabled a high level of graphic violence, adding authenticity. Furthermore, since it was released a year after the X-Men film, it had more time to develop its combat system, particularly its emphasis on combos, making it more sophisticated compared to other licensed action games from that era.
Origins, rather than the poorly received movie that inspired it, showcases a notable difference in quality. The game is a well-received action title, while the film is often criticized as one of the low points in the X-Men series. The video game is filled with digital violence, whereas the movie sticks to a PG-13 rating. It’s unusual for a movie and its video game adaptation to have such a significant quality gap, making Origins a favorite among many fans due to its superior quality.
7) Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
In a different wording, the game “Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions” stands out among the various Spider-Man video games due to its unique approach. Unlike games like those developed by Insomniac Games and the 2004 version of “Spider-Man 2” that offer an open world, this game follows a linear structure. However, instead of being a disadvantage, the linearity is effectively utilized, resulting in four distinct Spider-Man stories. Each story features a unique variation of Spider-Man, with differing visual styles and combat strategies.
The Amazing Spider-Man offers a fundamental version with an eye-catching comic book vibe. Spider-Man Noir presents the character in black and white, offering a sneakier take. Spider-Man 2099 is set in the future, boasting a more realistic appearance. Ultimate Spider-Man portrays a Spidey infected with symbiotes, providing a more aggressive combat style. These distinct tones and styles are remarkable, much like the Spider-Verse films, demonstrating the versatility of Spider-Man. Although there’s a lot going on, it never feels confusing or as if the controls might fail under the strain of multiple characters, even though its combat isn’t quite as smooth as God of War from Santa Monica Studio. Edge of Time, despite being a quick follow-up, only served to emphasize what was outstanding about Shattered Dimensions.
6) Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Similar to its PlayStation 1 platformer counterpart Crash Bandicoot, Spyro experienced a decline after leaving the original PlayStation. Instead of venturing into uncharted territory for Spyro’s next adventure, Toys for Bob opted to remaster his beloved trilogy, setting a standard that other remakes should strive towards with the “Spyro Reignited Trilogy”. This remake maintained the vivid atmosphere typical of platformers from that era, but leveraged modern technology to more effectively bring those vividly colorful worlds to life. The application of current hardware also breathed new life into the game’s characters, as evidenced most clearly in the first game’s numerous dragons, each with a unique personality and level of detail beyond what the PS1 could provide.
In a fresh upgrade, the improved visual aesthetic stands out, yet Spyro retains his knack for smooth control, proving himself an admirable platforming icon. The consistent (and revamped) handling of controls provided a level playing field among games and made traversing skies to gather gems, dragon statues, talismans, and eggs delightful throughout. Although the third game remains the least impressive installment due to its multitude of playable characters, this charmingly crafted collection is not undermined by that aspect.
5) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Among the Call of Duty series, 2014’s “Advanced Warfare” stands out as one of the most exceptional games. What makes it so remarkable is its unique blend of traditional combat with cutting-edge technology, creating an experience that feels both familiar and innovative. It doesn’t lean too heavily on historical settings like some World War II titles or venture into the unrealistic like 2016’s “Infinite Warfare”; instead, it strikes a balance by presenting technology that is captivating yet tangible, making it all seem more realistic. The exoskeletons in this game are a great demonstration of this realism, as they grant players superhuman abilities but remain bulky and not overly explained through convenient nanomachines.
The campaign effectively communicates its straightforward narrative while skillfully utilizing its environment to provide an assortment of experiences that other, more realistic games struggle to match. The competitive multiplayer maintains the signature traits of Call of Duty and delivers fast-paced, laser tag-like combat, but offers players a greater degree of control through its Pick 13 system, which provides more intricate customization options. Although it may seem basic at first glance, its cooperative mode, or horde mode, succeeds in delivering a well-balanced economy that adds depth and encourages repeated playthroughs. It’s unfortunate that Activision appears to primarily concentrate on the Black Ops and Modern Warfare sub-series, as Advanced Warfare proved itself to be quite impressive and deserving of a sequel.
4) Guitar Hero 2
The initial release of “Guitar Hero” revolutionized the gaming world, but its successor refined and elevated this innovative concept even further. It retains the addictive note-dropping, guitar-shredding gameplay from the original, yet introduces new features like a practice mode and cooperative play, enriching the overall experience. The joy of strumming along to the music on a plastic guitar persists, as it manages to appeal to novice players while still offering a tough challenge for experienced shredders.
Among all the subsequent installments, “Guitar Hero 2” distinguishes itself by effectively building upon its predecessor without being overshadowed by “Rock Band,” which redefined the genre with multiple instruments. While the original Guitar Hero was beginning to lose its appeal as Activision overproduced it, that enchantment remains tangible in this timeless sequel.
3) Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
As a gaming enthusiast who’s been through the ups and downs of the Crash Bandicoot series, let me tell you – it wasn’t until Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time that I felt the true spirit of the franchise was revived. Unlike some of the games released post-Naughty Dog era which ranged from mediocre to downright poor, this game stands out as the exceptional gem in the series.
The controls are snug and responsive, a marked improvement over the remastered Crash trilogy where sometimes it felt like I was playing tag with a slippery eel. The levels are diverse, offering fresh challenges at a steady pace and immersing me in various environments – from prehistoric landscapes teeming with carnivorous dinosaurs to alien planets, from nefarious labs to Mardi Gras-like festivals on a 2D plane.
The side characters add depth to the gameplay experience. Characters like Tawna, who swings around with her grappling hook, and Neo Cortex, armed with his blaster, bring their unique twists to the gameplay dynamics. Even the N. Verted versions of stages that turn each level on its head with new modifiers keep things fresh. All in all, it’s a delightful rollercoaster ride that every Crash fan should experience!
The lively and over-the-top animation of Crash 4 showcases a fondness for the quirky PlayStation 1 games, yet it doesn’t merely dwell in nostalgia. Instead, it carves its own path by embodying the essence of a contemporary platformer, having absorbed all the design advancements the genre has experienced since Crash Bandicoot’s peak period. Despite Crash Team Rumble heading in a distinct direction, it doesn’t detract from the abundance of charm that Crash 4 offers.
2) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
In my opinion, the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games are both outstanding, making it only fitting that their combined remake, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, stands as the best in the series. This updated version of the PS1 classics retains what made those games great – devising combo sequences and aiming for high scores – while adding thoughtful enhancements. Elements from subsequent games have been integrated smoothly here, resulting in a more layered and comprehensive remake. The mechanics from later releases blend harmoniously, deepening the gameplay experience. Furthermore, the graphics have received an upgrade, eliminating the pixelated haze and enriching stages with realistic details that were previously beyond the capabilities of old hardware. Lastly, the legendary soundtrack has been maintained (and expanded) and continues to perfectly accompany all the tricks and flips.
The game has the authentic vibe, texture, and audio that recalls Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, a feeling that had been gradually diluted through spin-offs. Fortunately, this revamp managed to steer the series back toward its roots.
1) Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
An interesting trivia about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is that it was published by Activision, not the usual partners Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bandai Namco. Despite this, publishing this game marked a successful departure from their typical portfolio for Activision, as it stands as their top-performing title (however, FromSoftware still retains the rights to the game).
This groundbreaking Soulslike game stands out for its exceptional parrying system, widely recognized as one of the finest in gaming. Its quick response and rewards for skilled players transform the boss battles into pulse-pounding clashes of power and agility. Though these fights can be extremely challenging, there’s a satisfying feeling of triumph when each colossal monster is defeated.
Unlike FromSoftware’s other games, which tend to have slower speeds for most actions, Sekiro features a faster pace and a distinctive approach to upgrades. However, it maintains the high-quality gameplay that FromSoftware is renowned for, making it a remarkable achievement and another testament to the studio’s ability to set new standards in the industry.
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2025-08-16 14:18