I did a quick google search of best asction games 2000-2012. One answer on a gaming forum:
2000 = Soldier of Fortune, Deus Ex, Diablo II, C & C: Red Alert 2
2001 = Serious Sam: The First Encounter, Max Payne
2002 = Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Warcraft III, Grand Theft Auto III, Neverwinter Nights, Age of Mythology
2003 = Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Homeworld 2, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Max Payne 2, Call of Duty, Knights of the Old Republic, Grand Theft Auto : Vice City
2004 = Far Cry, Doom 3, Warhammer 40k Dawn of War, Half-Life 2, World of Warcraft
2005 = Knights of the Old Republic II, Psychonauts, Warhammer 40k Dawn of War: Winter Assault, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Age of Empires III, Call of Duty 2
2006 = The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Titan Quest, Company of Heroes
2007 = World of Warcraft: TBC, Supreme Commander, Dirt, BioShock, World in Conflict, Portal, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, C & C 3: Tiberium Wars, Team Fortress 2, Crysis
2008 = C & C 3: Kane's Wrath, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Fallout 3, World of Warcraft: WoTLK, Left 4 Dead, Grand Theft Auto IV
2009 = Warhammer 40k Dawn of War II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Red Faction: Guerrilla, Borderlands, Torchlight, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Dirt 2, Left 4 Dead 2
2010 = Mass Effect 2, BioShock 2, Darksiders, Fallout: New Vegas
2011 = Magicka, Portal 2, Terraria, Limbo, Bastion, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Warhammer 40k Space Marine, Orcs Must Die, Batman: Arkham City, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Saints Row: The Third, Star Wars: The Old Republic
I don't play video games. I wonder to what extent the gaming industry has been desensitizing our young people, or making them think that mayhem is "fun".