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The hack and slash games of the previous generation have tried to give players what they love about the genre and add a lot of new toppings to make it a unique experience. Sadly, the frequency of hack and slash games has significantly reduced with newer generations. This could be due to the growing taste for realism in video games. Despite that, some of the best hack and slash games ever made came out in the last decade. Here are the best options according to Metacritic.
Updated April 16, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Hack and slash is not that well-defined, and people might disagree on what qualifies as an example of the subgenre. Still, the types of games that usually fall under this bracket tend to be popular, even if their positive word of mouth does not always translate to commercial success. The PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Wii U have some of the best hack and slash games of all time in their libraries, and this article has been expanded to include a few more of these titles.
23 Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity – 78
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Musou games do not typically score extremely high Metacritic averages, with most of the better entries ranging in the mid-70s. These releases are an acquired taste, and some of the most popular Musou games are based in the worlds of other properties. Hyrule Warriors was a The Legend of Zelda spin-off that nobody knew they wanted, and Age of Calamity takes things a step further by being set within the Breath of the Wild timeline.
The hack and slash combat largely consists of decimating entire armies with the fling of a sword. It is over-the-top, quite easy, and ridiculously satisfying. Age of Calamity incorporates a few elements from Breath of the Wild, along with featuring a reasonable roster of playable characters who mostly feel unique.
22 Darksiders: Warmastered Edition – 81
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition was released in late 2016 and is a remaster for the first Darksiders from 2010. What makes it one of the best hack and slash games on the current-gen consoles, is its traditionalism. Darksiders is what anyone would call a classic hack and slash.
It packs itself with the features that have defined the genre for a long time: straight-forward combat, puzzle-solving, boss battles, and lots, and lots of combo mechanics. Darksiders is an experience that is closest to the roots of the genre.
21 No More Heroes & No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle – 82
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii, PC
In anticipation of the release of No More Heroes 3 on the Switch, the first two games in the series made their way to the Nintendo console and PC. Cult classics, the No More Heroes are over-the-top action games about Travis Touchdown, an otaku who starts on a quest to become the world’s deadliest assassin.
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No More Heroes’ combat is flashy but simple, and both games drag when Travis is going up against faceless goons en route to a boss fight. However, the action comes alive whenever Travis faces off against one of the named antagonists, and the hack and slash gameplay works well in these moments.
20 Katana Zero – 83
Platforms : Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS
Katana Zero is quite unlike most other hack and slash games since combat revolves around insta-death. The vast majority of enemies go down with a single hit, but the same also holds true for the player; consequently, success relies on reflexes and strategy. The campaign is split into a series of levels where players, as Zero, need to eliminate all the enemies on the floor. Zero has a number of tools and abilities at his disposal, and he will need to master each of them to have any hope of completing all of his assassinations.
Difficult as the game can be, Katana Zero is also extremely fun, and defeat is likely to only inspire someone to try again. Even though 16-bit visuals have become quite commonplace in the modern indie scene, this game’s graphics are nevertheless charming.
19 Ghost Of Tsushima – 83
Platforms: PS4; Director’s Cut : PS5, PS4
Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima was the PS4’s fantastic swan song, delivering a gripping action game set in a seldom tackled era of Japanese history. As Jin, players stealthily or directly take on the Mongol Fleet scattered across a wide and frequently gorgeous terrain. While not amazing, the story is pretty decent.
The combat system is accessible but deep, and it is particularly satisfying against crowds. Ghost of Tsushima provides Jin with plenty of tools to cater combat to his preferences, making for a consistently enjoyable and unique experience. Although not rated on Metacritic, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut should be prioritized above the base version of the game.
18 Kingdom Hearts 3 – 83
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
After a painfully long wait (at least for a numbered entry), Square Enix finally released Kingdom Hearts 3. As always, Sora, Goofy, and Donald travel through a number of Disney worlds, meeting beloved characters like Frozen’s Elsa and Toy Story’s lovable icons in the process. Kingdom Hearts 3’s overarching plot takes a backseat for large chunks of the game’s runtime, but the world’s self-contained narratives should charm any Disney fan.
Although it doesn’t evolve enough throughout the course of the campaign, Kingdom Hearts 3’s hack and slash combat is very entertaining on a fundamental level. Sora has access to so many tools and mechanics that the Keyblade wielder can feel a touch overpowered, and the action’s visual presentation is spectacular.
17 Persona 5 Strikers – 83
Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Atlus and Omega Force have never been shy about experimenting with spin-offs, so Persona 5 Strikers almost makes too much sense. The sequel to Persona 5, one of the PS4’s best titles, plays out like a Musou hack and slash game, albeit one that takes a few pages from turn-based JRPGs.
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Unlike Dynasty Warriors or even Hyrule Warriors, Persona 5 Strikers is far more story-driven than tends to be the case for these types of games. This is a proper P5 sequel that further fleshes out the characters, introduced an interesting twist on Palaces called Jails, and includes plenty of Persona for Joker to use. The combat is simplistic but stylish, and each Phantom Thief plays completely differently.
16 Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night – 83
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android, iOS, Google Stadia
A Metroidvania heavily inspired by Castlevania, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night blends platforming and hack and slash combat, crafting an experience that should feel instantly familiar for those who grew up playing Symphony of the Night. As tends to be the case with this genre, Miriam, the main character, gains new abilities or tools that unlock more of the map.
Ritual of the Night’s combat is solid, utilizing various weapons and skills to ensure battles do not grow stale quickly. It is flashy and reasonably challenging. The story is also pretty decent.
15 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor – 84
Platforms: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows, Linus, OS X
Released in 2014, this was one of the first Fantasy Action hack and slash games of the generation. What makes Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor, a unique game is the fact that it takes inspiration from a lot of other video games. It takes inspiration from games such as Assassin’s Creed, Batman Arkham, & Prince of Persia.
This game also has features such as combo-based combat and a heavy emphasis on counter-attacks and executions. Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor is famous for its Nemesis System and is worth playing for the sheer fun of it.
14 DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition – 83 – 86
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
A lot of people disapproved of the idea of a new look for Dante in the DmC: Devil May Cry. But despite that, this game proved to be an enjoyable hack and slash of its time. In 2015, a remastered version for this game came out called DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition.
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It’s the same game with added features and content, such as better textures, frame-rate, resolution, and extras. The Definitive Edition is one of the best games for the genre on PS4 and Xbox One.
13 Astral Chain – 87
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Astral Chain debuted for the Nintendo Switch in 2019 from developer PlatinumGames. The setting is a dystopian Earth future where the police must protect citizens from interdimensional monsters invading the planet. But the two characters have the unique ability of “chaining” their creatures to use in battle.
The game features cyberpunk themes and grade A hack and slash combat. Fans agree that the Astral Chain offers a great soundtrack, engaging visuals, fun mechanics, and a solid story. It maintains a Metascore of 87 and the studio recently teased a sequel.
12 Diablo 3: Eternal Collection – 88
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Blizzard has re-released Diablo 3 multiple times across its lifespan, ultimately culminating in the Eternal Collection. Despite getting off to a rather rough start, Diablo 3 did eventually steady its ship and develop into a worthy successor to Diablo 2.
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Splendidly animated and (nowadays) overstacked with loot, Diablo 3’s selling point is its endless replayability, as there is simply something satisfying about jumping into this game for a new run or to try a different build. The Eternal Collection comes with the Reaper of Souls expansion and the Rise of the Necromancer pack, providing as complete of an experience as possible.
11 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – 88
Platforms: PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Hellblade was the first major release by Ninja Theory since Dmc: Devil May Cry, which makes it the most significant title from the studio yet. The unusual nature of this hack and slash has been the topic of discussion among countless players. Hellblade builds immersion by minimizing UI elements and focusing on the sounds and instincts of players.
The game has won over 25 awards worldwide, and a sequel titled Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is in the works as well. This game is a unique experience through and through and is a must-play.
10 Torchlight 2 – 88
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, OS X
In the spirit of Diablo, the Torchlight series thrusts the player character into a grand narrative. It involves ancient gods, alchemists, and all kinds of sweet, sweet loot with a Metascore of 88.
While the game does not have the traditional mechanics of a hack and slash title, the gameplay feels easy and fun. There are also dozens of combinations for classes, abilities, and armor/weapon builds.
9 NieR: Automata – 88
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows
Nier: Automata is an action-RPG with hack and slash combat. It belongs to the set of games that are genuinely very innovative for their time. The game has an aggregate 88/100 score on Metacritic and is one of the games where the user rating is above the critic score. The game is very artistic in its visual style, and all the boss battles are a cherry on the top.
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What makes this game worth playing is its environmental uniqueness and genre-defying gameplay elements. Another selling point of the game is that it is created by PlatinumGames whose games occupy several entries on this list.
Although not included here, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… also has a very respectable 83 on Metacritic.
8 Devil May Cry 5 – 88
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows
Devil May Cry 5 is the sixth game in the series and is a true sequel to Devil May Cry 4. The game is very underrated compared to what it brings to the table. It is easily the best Hack & Slash game on the entire list, and the reason is not just it’s the gameplay. This game is a love letter to the fans of the series.
Moreover, it innovated the genre without going in an especially different direction. Devil May Cry 5 is a real example of what people can expect from the next generation of Hack & Slash games. It may also settle the Vergil vs. Dante debate for some people.
7 Bastion – 89
Platforms: PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, OS X, iOS
This is the first game that put Supergiant Games on the map as a studio. Though initially released in 2011, the game saw a resurgence in 2015 with more players diving into its story. Players control “The Kid” as he traverses areas filled with enemies in an isometric view.
The vibrant backgrounds and stunning soundtrack do a great deal of heavy lifting in terms of design. With a score of 89 on Metacritic, Bastion is a no-brainer for anyone interested in hack and slash games.
6 Bayonetta – 90
Platforms: PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Windows
Bayonetta is the best hack and slash title on Wii U, without a doubt. But does it hold the same value on other platforms as well? Easily it does. Bayonetta also has a great sequel, which is also a must-play game.
The reason Bayonetta works so well is its over-the-top nature matches the whole point of what a hack and slash game is supposed to be. On the current-gen consoles, Bayonetta feels blazingly fast and smoother than before.
5 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – 90
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Google Stadia
Created by FromSoftware, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a blend of action-RPG combined with hack and slash mechanics. The game has won many awards, on top of being the game of the year. It is a Metacritic must-play title. FromSoftware has created Ninja Blade, which is an underrated hack and slash of the last generation.
With Sekiro, they have blended the amazing role-play elements from Souls games into a hack and slash. Sekiro is a masterpiece and one of the best games on the consoles to date. This game deserves to be played by every fan of the genre.
4 Dead Cells – 91
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linus, iOS, Android
A side-scroller Metroidvania rougelite, Dead Cells checks a lot of boxes and impressively delivers on all fronts. Focusing solely on the gameplay, Dead Cells is an accomplished hack and slash game that blends a diverse arsenal of weapons with pinpoint controls that make every victory or defeat feel earned. It all comes down to learning an enemy’s move and effectively forming a strategy to counter them.
Dead Cells’ rougelite status means that everything is lost upon defeat, which just serves as an incentive to try another run.
