Games under the action genre primarily involve fast-paced combat with some form of movement, strategy, story or puzzle solving. These elements may not be the main themes of the games, but they may be important features.

There are a variety of other video game genres that contain certain elements of action. Fighting games usually present some sort of combat in what is normally a fixed arena. Shooter games often combine high levels of combat and movement over a terrain. Action-Adventure games have a higher proportion of puzzle solving elements than combat. Driving and racing games involve racing or piloting vehicles, although certain games under the genre contain elements of combat. Some simulation games are similar to action games in that they stress the interaction of vehicles with the environment.