When talking about the hack and slash genre, most of us go straight back to classic Zelda and Alundra games. In truth, their light-hearted adventuring paved the way for some pretty gory stuff. Below, I’ve compiled a list of 5 of the best hack and slash games you can play, right now, in all their glory. Relive the classics and look forward to the future!
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Bayonetta Franchise
The first thing to understand about Bayonetta is that there’s no understanding it. Everything about the game is gratuitous. Its sequel is no different. The sex puns and references, the violence, the oddly placed curse words, it’s all just over-the-top. Not that it’s jarring to an anime fan, no, we are conditioned by the weird, the dramatic, the ecchi. We embrace it, but to the untrained normie, it’s a spectacle of odd. The second thing you need to understand about this franchise is that the combat is marvelous. The action hack-and-slash genre gets a lot of flak for being repetitive and soulless, but not Bayonetta. Why? You see, the “plot” helps, but the secret is in the special sauce of the combat systems: Witch Time. Witch time exists as a mechanic to reward skillful play. The player must time their dodges perfectly to enter a sort of frozen space to unleash the full force of Bayonetta’s wrath upon hapless foes. The learning curve is steep and varies from enemy to enemy, but the immense pleasure gained from successfully chaining Witch Time into a Climax finisher is endless. If you need another reason to play this franchise, her clothes are her hair. I don’t know why that’s a draw, but it makes me want to play it.
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Devil May Cry Franchise
Similarly, the next entry on the list also inspired its own following of various media. The story of Dante slaying demons to avenge the death of his mother is one of sadness and stylized murder. DMC is essentially Bayonetta’s founding father. Much of the stylized action hack-n-slash genre owes its allegiance and beginnings to Dante’s tragic origin story. With numerous ports of the PS2 HD collection of all three games, there’s no shortage of methods to play on almost any budget, which is nice. I won’t ruin too much of the series for you, but there’s definitely a reason it’s so popular among fans. What the games lack in innovative mechanics, they more than make up for in a blood-boiling, action-packed war on demonkind.
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Diablo Franchise
Speaking of demons, let’s talk King Pain-in-the-Ass himself, Diablo. Almost everyone has heard tales of this legendary series. If not because it’s awesome, then because it takes 13 human sacrifices, a bloody harvest moon, planetary alignment, and an unholy prayer to Bob Saget to get one of these games to release. Let’s be honest, though, it’s really worth it. Just make sure those 13 people are Fortnite players and it balances out in the end. All joking aside, these games are brutal and all about murdering swarms of demons as they collect in massive hordes. Murder, how? Well by hacking and slashing, of course! There’s always a host of characters to choose from with highly differing monster-slaying kits and backstories. Not that you’ll care about them, because the main storyline is actually super entertaining. Hell’s armies need to be stopped, bros, bring your friends. One final note: if you like the way this series plays, or can’t get enough, try Path of Exile. It plays similarly and is completely free-to-play.
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Heavenly Sword
Okay, so this one came out back in 2007. I get it. There aren’t a ton of truly amazing hack and slash video games being made anymore. At least, not in the traditional formula. Heavenly Sword, though, definitely deserves to be on a best hack and slash list. In my personal entertainment preferences, there’s just something incredibly empowering about a female character that rises up to protect what she loves, and not just because she’s female. Nariko, the protagonist, doesn’t ever throw around forced bravado or talk smack about men. Instead, she just whoops everyone’s ass until they all play nicely and understand the situation. The player character is tasked with leading Nariko along her journey using the god-like power of the Heavenly Sword to end war for good. There have been many critics of this game that claim it was just a shameless attempt at making a female God of War game. Sure, it definitely feels like God of War, but the story and gameplay carve out a section of their own in gaming history. Heavenly Sword is one of the best hack and slash stories you can find. Take up the blade and sacrifice yourself while looking fine as hell, Nariko is waiting.
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God of War Franchise
I would never be so bold as to call God of War (2018) a hack and slash game, even though it kind of is. But, its predecessors, they were the best of the best in this genre. The original God of War was so intense that my mom wouldn’t buy it for me. So, what did I do? I borrowed it from a friend, waited until she fell asleep, and played through all of it’s raging glory in a single night. I was 10 and I’m pretty sure it jumpstarted my puberty. That’s how real and manly this game series is. I’m sure you already know, but Kratos, the O.G. Godkiller Badass of the World went on a warpath to bring Ares to his knees, and then ripped his face off, with his bare hands. So, I don’t need to tell you why it’s on this list. If, by some horrible twist of fate, you haven’t played the original games, please, for the love of Kratos, go do it. If you can’t find the time, just go to YouTube and watch the kill animations, guaranteed to put hair on your chest. Even you, ladies. The combos are savage and make you feel like you’re hitting with the force of The Call of Trainwiz. Please, click the link. That’s what playing God of War is like. This list could not have been complete without it.
Well, tell us what you think below! What hack and slash titles did we miss that should’ve been here? Hit the comments!
