SliceStorm

Action games want your full attention from the first second. Something is coming at you, and you have to move, hit, or dodge before it arrives. Health bars drop. Enemies arrive in waves. There are moments of calm between fights, but they are short, and the pressure returns quickly. A session is intense and usually ends either in victory over a stage or a sudden game over.

• Mouse click or tap to play

1. 1Learn the movement keys or on-screen pad before anything else; in action games, positioning matters more than attack timing.
2. 2Watch for the wind-up animation before an enemy strikes and move out of range rather than trading hits.
3. 3Attack in short bursts, then reposition. Standing still is how health bars drain.
4. 4Pick up health or power-ups when they appear, but clear nearby threats first so you do not get hit while collecting.

• Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
• Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
• Plays best with the phone turned sideways or on a wider screen
• Touch controls on phones and tablets, mouse and keyboard on a computer
• Listed under Action

SliceStorm gives you a jolt of adrenaline in a browser tab with nothing to install. There is no account to create and no setup, just a Play button and a fight. Sessions are intense and not very long, which makes it a good break between slower tasks.

Suits players who like pressure and quick decisions, from teenagers upward. Adults who grew up with console action games will recognise the rhythm. Younger children may find the pace overwhelming.

What are the controls for SliceStorm?

On desktop, usually WASD or arrow keys to move and a key or mouse button to attack. On phones, an on-screen pad and buttons appear. The start screen normally lists them.

Is it violent?

Action games involve combat, but titles on this site are cartoonish rather than graphic. Check the thumbnail and description if you are choosing for a child.

How long does a stage take?

Often two to five minutes. Many action games have checkpoints, so a game over usually sends you back to the stage start rather than the beginning.