Games For The Fastest Thumbs In The Wild West
Some people play games to unwind, immerse themselves in new worlds, or have fun with friends. Others choose their games based on the thumb workouts they promise to provide. Most of these games on here are first-person shooters, but all require quick reflexes and players who can think on their feet.
1. Counter-Strike
Spoiler alert: this isn't the only Counter-Strike game featured on this list. Some may say that Counter-Strike is somewhat dated, having come out in 2025, its' age doesn't mean it isn't challenging. In addition to typical first-person shooter objectives, players also must either defuse or detonate a bomb—calling for quick and nimble fingers.
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2. Bayonetta
Well-loved yet controversial for its treatment of the titular character, Bayonetta received favorable reviews for inventive combat. However, some critics also pointed out that the frame rate and camera work can make it hard for players to see what's happening. That said, the game play is much easier to pick up than some of the others on this list.
3. Devil May Cry 5
Continuing the demon-hunting saga, Devil May Cry 5 has enemies face off against the demon king Urizen. Part of the difficulty of the game is that every character has not only unique weapons, but also a unique style of play. For example, V can summon creatures, while Nero relies on mechanical arms to break devils with.
4. COD: Modern Warfare II
One of the most recent installments in the beloved military franchise, Modern Warfare II follows a Mexican special forces unit tasked with tracking down weapons of mass destruction. In a franchise which favors fast-paced play, Modern Warfare II takes things to next level by even requiring snipers to "quickscope" on the field.
5. League Of Legends
One of the best-known games of all time, especially thanks to the Arcane series, League of Legends tests players' reflexes. More experienced players will find themselves with a leg up during duels and skirmishes, during which Flashing away from an enemy's ultimate can make or break a game.
6. Beat Saber
How fast can a rhythm game be? Pretty darn fast if that game is Beat Saber. Like all rhythm games, Beat Saber can accommodate almost all skill levels and speeds. Unlike other rhythm games, it uses VR, which means that the faster the game gets, the faster objects start flying at your head.
7. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
This game packs a punch—literally. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has a unique damage meter compared to other games, which makes timing and fast thinking all the more necessary to survive.
8. Rocket League
Rocket League takes a very strange premise—what if soccer...but the players were rocket-powered cars—and makes absolute gold with it. Both halves of the game require very different handling and game physics, but, somehow, it works.
9. Tekken 7
The Tekken games have always been the cream of the crop when it comes to fighting games. With complicated mechanics and some of the more out there storylines you'll ever play, Tekken 7 pushes players to the brink. Half the joy of games like Tekken is watching your timing pay off with a well-won victory.
10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Set in 16th-century Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice follows the sworn protector of an ancient bloodline. Much like the era in which the game is set, gameplay demands only the highest-skilled players even attempt. By design, ninjas have to be quick thinkers, and we hope you're up to the task.
11. Super Meat Boy
This self-published sequel is in the same vein as games such as Ghosts 'n Goblins and Super Mario Bros. As a platformer, Super Meat Boy requires equal skill in speed and strategy, using careful timing to avoid fatal obstacles. Something unique about this game is that the levels can technically be played in any order with unlimited attempts, but certain levels need to be completed in order to access boss fights.
12. DOOM Eternal
The DOOM series is known for pushing their FPS to the limit. Every installment seems to get faster and faster, and DOOM Eternal is the fastest of fast. While speed and reflexes are a fundamental part of the series, this game forces you to quite literally face demons head on.
13. Apex Legends
With so many Battle Royale-style games on the market at the time of its release, the odds were somewhat stacked against Apex Legends. Life comes at you fast in this game, and cat-like reflexes will help you outgun your opponents in the blink of an eye. Factor in the game's unique playstyle, and you have a challenge on your hands.
14. Ultrakill
Ultrakill takes the retro aesthetics of old-school games and drenches them in blood for a game that Alex from A Clockwork Orange would love. One thing that sets Ultrakill apart from other games of its ilk is its healing mechanism. Rather than spam "I NEED HEALING" in the chat, the player can renew their lifeforce through the spilled blood of their enemies, providing further incentive to do as much damage as fast as possible.
15. Hotline Miami
Set in 1989 Miami, this psychedelic shooter follows an anonymous protagonist as he carries out hits on the Russian mob. Not only does this game emphasize one-hit mechanics that require careful trigger discipline, but the missions also involve strategy. While progressing through levels, the player unlocks different weapons and masks which grant unique abilities.
16. Fruit Ninja
You may be asking if this is a joke—including something as quaint as Fruit Ninja on the same list as COD and Devil May Cry. Actually, it's the farthest thing from a joke. Fruit Ninja was an early example of a a mobile game that required fast reflexes, but without the help of any handy buttons. Just your own ten fingers and a dream, baby!
17. COD: Warzone
As if the Call of Duty franchise wasn't stressful enough, Warzone, released in 2020, is an in-universe battle royale. Against a rapidly-shrinking map, players compete to be the last ones standing in increasingly close quarters. And if that wasn't already stressful, defeated players can abruptly return to the game via 1V1 fights.
18. Overwatch
Not only is Overwatch a team-based game, which ups the stakes, it's a team-based game that's constantly changing. Everything about this game is quick: the matches, the abilities, the action, the gameplay as a whole. What's more than that, you need to be fast and coordinated with your teammates.
19. Forza Horizon 5
It seems obvious to admit that racing games require fast reflexes; it's almost like they're mimicking the real speed and danger of IRL racing, or something. Forza Horizon 5 expertly threads the needle between the fun of an arcade racer and the stress of driving a real car. You get all the adrenaline but none of the motion sickness.
20. Counter-Strike 2
No shooter is necessarily a walk in the park, but Counter-Strike 2 makes its competitors look like a frolic through sunlight meadows in comparison. In order to succeed in this game, it isn't enough for you to be good; you have to be agonizingly precise. You have to have the exact right movement and positioning and pull the trigger at the exact right millisecond.
