Here are the best hack n' slash games to play right now
While we know of hack and slash from God of War and the like, the term hack and slash genre is older than video games themselves, starting back in the days of the original Dungeons & Dragons.
Nowadays, it has budded into many video games where slash you through hordes of enemies and dodge and weave past attacks. Brutal, effective gameplay that mind-numbingly puts you into a zen state of pure, violent bliss.
But at times we forget some of these games get left on the wayside, great games that you should at least experience once.
So to combat this issue, I have compiled and scoured through a list of hack-and-slash games you should be playing in 2019.
10. Devil May Cry 5
Set after the events of Devil May Cry 2, Devil May Cry 5 follows Nero as he looks for a new character known as “V”, who has taken Nero’s demon arm known as The Devil Bringer. The game will be set before Dante’s return from the demon world. All the while however, Nero is dealing with an invasion of demons after a decrepit, colossal tree spawns in the midst of Red Grave City. At some point, the trio will join up and prevent a powerful demon from entering our world and destroying us all.
Reasons to Play
Stylish Combat: Merging together a great blend of weapons new and old and three different characters to choose from with combat styles all their own, the fights will always be flowing.
Comedy and Wit: As always with DMC games, there is a great sense of humor. The characters, while dealing with grisly foes, can’t help but mock them and almost cartoonishly deal with their attacks. It sounds bad but it’s executed perfectly, creating a fantastic balance of seriousness and hilariousness.
The Giant Golem: Not only do you get to fight giant monsters and bosses but in some cases you get to control a giant golem named Nightmare in epic giant monster fights. Do I need to say any more than that? Oh wait, yes. He shoots laser beams as well.
David and Goliath: Brandishing his new robotic arm, the Devil Breaker, Nero strikes a colossal hit on this giant!
Vehicular Demonslaughter: In classic DMC style, Dante wields crazy new weapons in this game such as Cavaliere, a motorcycle that becomes twin handheld buzzsaws!
9. The Surge 2
A Walk Through Nature to Meet Goddess Helena
The Surge 2 places us in a world where our ecosystem is dying and the planet is on the brink of total collapse.
In a last ditch effort to save the natural world, a company decides to launch nanobots into the atmosphere.
Instead of saving the environment however, the nanobots change the humans, sending the world into a downward spiral of rage and violence. Now, you’re just another human trying to survive this dying world.
Reasons to Play
Fluid Combat: Combat has a certain grace of dodging, defending, and then proceeding to punish your enemies with devastating force and combos.
Atmosphere: The mix of Dark Souls-style gameplay along with a robotic nature apocalypse blend really feels fresh for the type of game that it is.
Dual-Weapons: Not only are you able to use an ensemble of weapons but some are dualistic in nature such as the axe which can be a big two-handed one or two smaller, faster ones.
No Friends Here: It’s either slash or be slashed in this aggressive, rage-filled world of The Surge 2.
Robotic Surge: Humans might be on roid rage but that doesn’t mean robots are your friends either.
8. Ryse: Son of Rome
Following an alternate timeline of Rome, we follow Marius Titus in his quest to lead Rome to greater glory and to rise the ranks of the Legion.
Starting in the defense of a Celtic raid, the game is almost entirely set as a flashback of Marius Titus’s life until that moment. It follows his military victories and downfalls and how the Goddess, Summer, informs him of a bigger plot that will destroy all of Rome.
It’s up to Marius to stop this from happening and to seek revenge from his murdered family.
Reasons to Play
Unique Quick-Time Events: The QTE’s in this game are color-coded onto the enemy instead of blaring on the screen which adds a new layer of alertness and more dynamism to the fights. Much less distracting and flow really well while slowing the world down just enough to work.
Dynamic Bosses: Every boss of this game not only switches up strategies but even alters the stage around themselves to provide a challenge to the player.
Skill Counts: Every swing of your sword and every block of your shield has to count or else you’re in for a world of hurt. A good challenge to veterans of hack and slash and one that will put your reactions to the test.
Sword and Board: The game has you always using a shield and sword so be prepared to both strike and defend as best as you can!
Lunge: Every move you perform carries its own risks and rewards. Time your attacks smoothly and you’ll be unstoppable!
7. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice E3 2018 Trailer
Taking place in 16th century Sengoku Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a hack and slash along the lines of Bloodbourne but involves strategically opening up an enemy’s stance to deliver a single killing blow.
The main character, Sekiro, had his arm cut off and was left for dead by his lord. He wakes up to a new prosthetic arm made by a sculptor that acts as a multipurpose tool for a variety of situations.
With his new arm and a new purpose, he is out for revenge against those who wronged him.
Reason to Play
Prosthetic Arm: While not the first prosthetic arm in a game, this one holds some interesting and cool gadgets held in it such as an umbrella shield, a quick folding axe, a grappling hook, and fireworks!
Atmosphere: The game drips with that Bloodbourne vibe but with a more Japanese setting than Victorian. That means Japanese monsters like Oni, Yokai and Samurai are present, all enemies that have been sorely unexplored in recent years.
Stealth Mechanics: Single strike elimination is tough and a game like this is will be melding stealth elements into the game to open up opportunities for you to eliminate your foes.
Perfect Strike: All you need in this game is that one moment, that one opening, to plunge a fatal strike into your enemies.
Shadow Ronin: Stealth as a main mechanic is sure to make some enemies a breeze, creating all kinds of strategies and combat styles to try out.
6. Shadow of Mordor
The Fight Against The Tower (Spoilers)
A Gondorian ranger, Talion, and his family are stationed on The Black Gate to Mordor.While under a siege, they are ruthlessly murdered by Sauron’s top forces.
However, Talion is revived from this incident and joins forces with the ghost of Celebrimbor, the elven smith who made the Rings of Power.
Together, they seek vengeance against Sauron and what he did to them. The best way to do that? Turn his own armies against him and destroy all his lead men.
Reasons to Play
Possession Mechanic: While integral to progress the story, it’s also fun to perform. You can pit orcs against one another and gather up your own small army to clash with your foes!
Sandbox Environment: Super explorative and evolves as you progress in the game. It’s more than just an empty space for collection hunting as it can be used to gather more recruits, gain experience, and find hidden secrets.
Story: A great supplement to the standard story of Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit. It keeps true to many aspects of the lore and even includes several memorable faces of the world throughout the game.
Critical Strike: Combo finishers acquired through the game’s skill tree make multi-man fighting smooth..
Gotta Possess ‘em All: While you could control another Uruk captain, why not control a Graug instead?
5. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Boss Run (Spoilers)
When the lover of the Pict warrior Senua dies, she vows to go all the way down to Helheim to retrieve him from the goddess Hela.
On the way, she struggles against obstacles, both physical and mental, that try to prevent her from her mission.
She fights dark monstrosities with her sword and along the way is assailed by voices and visions known as Furies.
This is an explorative, but beautifully, well done game that blends psychological horror and hack and slash elements all into one bundle.
Reasons to Play
Beautiful Graphics and Sound: Stunning graphics and atmospheric sound bring an immersive quality to the game that is often lacking in other hack and slash titles.
Combat: The move selection is rather limited in Hellblade but this adds to the immersion rather than hamper it. Every swing counts towards your survival and every move is life and death.
The Voices: I don’t mean the voice acting per say, which is also good, but the actual voices that are in Senua’s head. They gnaw at your own mind and really get to you at times, doubting yourself despite your triumphs.
Here Doggy Doggy: Bosses like Fenrir often paint a macabre and death-filled scene for our main hero, reminding her of the lethality of her mission.
Survive At All Costs: Senua is often outmatched, overrun, and overwhelmed by her enemies but her perseverance is her golden quality.
4. Mordhau
Epic Gameplay Moments
Mordhau is at its core a melee medieval arena game but includes all the gory bits that you'd find in hack and slash games.
The game was originally funded on a Kickstarter campaign and received a good following after it met all its goals.
Mordhau incorporates historical techniques and hand-to-hand combat along with sieging, ranged weapons and even mounted combat.
Reasons to Play
First Person: Not only are you hacking and slashing but you are getting up close and personal with it in this first person view. Watch every limb fly as you hack away your opponents!
Skill-Based Dynamic Combat: In a similar way as For Honor, combat is not only a battle of skill. It requires strategy of its multi-directional attacks and blocking to maximize defense and offense.
Multiplayer: This melee arena game also incorporates multiplayer, bringing your wild swings against players from all over the world.
Directional Fighting: Depending on how you move the mouse, your swings can hit in different places and vary your damage!
Fatality: Dismemberment is a part of the game and with one lucky stroke an arm, leg, or even head can be lopped right off.
3. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Raiden vs Sam
A spin-off of the main Metal Gear series, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance follows the character Raiden, a mercenary cyborg, who is on the trail of a private military company called “Desperado Enforcement”.
Raiden is out to stop them as they are instigating warfare to reap in the profits and acquire war technologies. He fights through Desperado Enforcement’s core group known as “The Winds of Destruction”, a specialized super-mercenary group, along the way.
Along with all of that, he is on the hunt to save a prime minister so that war doesn’t erupt in Africa once again.
Reasons to Play
Story: Crazy and broken but at times so outlandish and nonsensical you have to laugh at the wild ride it puts you on.
Combat: Swift and wild, you’ll be chopping through enemies and bosses at a lightning pace, destroying everything with powerful swings of your katana.
Blade Mode QTE: A special Blade Mode slows the world down and activates a QTE against some foes to stop incoming attacks. It also can open up a chance to do some heavy striking. Tons of fun and very rewarding to achieve as you steal parts from other cyborgs this way.
Blade Wolf: A smart robot that brings something extra to the field and, by all means, looks absolutely awesome. Robot dogs are really a man’s best friend.
Slash and Dash: Blade Mode offers the best in slicing technology and guarantees that your enemies will slice cleanly apart, sometimes with cybernetic goodies.
Man’s Best Robotic Friend: Blade Wolf doesn’t just look cool, he’s also full of weapons to help out Raiden!
2. Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta (Peach Costume) vs Sapientia
Bayonetta is about the ongoing war in our world between Witches and Angels. Bayonetta, our protagonist, cannot remember her past and is on a mission to both save the world from the Angel’s purging and to recover her memories.
In the first game, she travels around with a little girl named Cereza and in the second she is on a mission to save her friend, Jeanne, from the clutches of Hell itself.
In this action-packed, over the top game, you collect many hellish weapons to destroy your enemies in absolute stunning style! Definitely a game to play if you have not already and a surefire favorite of anyone who enjoys hack and slash games.
Reasons to Play
Witch-Time Mechanic: Slowing down the world on a skill-based, perfect dodge, Witch-Time also sets up combos and can be used to escape attacks in a pinch.
Awesome Weapon Selection: Not only does Bayonetta glide around the battle with flair, she does it with giant magic fists, snake whips, rocket launcher shoes, and even a Chain-Chomp if you have Bayonetta for the Wii U.
Characters: Every character is brimming full of sass, class, and being a badass, cultivating a grand, lively stage for these incredible games.
Angelic Moves: Not only does she use giant fists, but with pistols in each hand and on each shoe, she is major force to be reckoned with!
Super Summons: Using her Witch powers, Bayonetta can summon monstrous, hell-bound beings to deal the finishing blows on the largest of her enemies.
1. Assassin’s Creed Origins
Apep Boss Fight
As with all Assassin’s Creeds, we explore the struggle between the Assassin’s and the Templars except this time, we are now in Ancient Egypt and are observing the very beginnings of these rival groups.
Following Bayek, a a desert scout known as a Medjay, and his wife Aya, we explore the time of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar as Rome is encroaching upon Ptolemy XIII’s Kingdom. Along with this, there is a modern timeline as well and we follow Layla Hassan, who found Bayek and Aya’s mummies in Egypt and are studying them, which unravels its own mysteries that she must figure out.
Reasons to Play
Epic Boss Battles: Fighting the Egyptian gods is both awesome and difficult in a game such as this.. Any hack and slash game that touts you fighting against the gods is always an incredible time.
Terrain Climbing: Something sorely skipped in some of the other Assassin’s Creeds, climbing the rocks and terrain more liberally all around the world makes it viable to develop more strategies and routes to your targets.
Improved Eagle Vision: Instead of simply seeing colored targets, your Eagle Vision is now a literal eagle that scouts above you that you control.
Variety is the Spice of Life: Different situations will call for different weapons so having a broad range of weapons keeps combat interesting.
Sobek’s Calling: Fighting each god is a monstrous effort and takes time, patience, and strategy. Having good weapons and a bit of luck won’t hurt either!
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