Highlights
- Hack-and-slash games come in all shapes and sizes.
- They cover all skill levels.
- Devil May Cry was arguably the primogenitor of the character action genre.
The world of gaming is full of all kinds of genres and gameplay styles. More strategic games are fun in their own way, but sometimes you just need to be able to run around and kick butt directly with some weapons. You need Hack-and-slash games, which have been around since the early console days.
Related
10 Best Open-World Games With Hack-And-Slash Combat
Sometimes, you just want to swing a weapon around and have a blast. Here are the best open-world hack and slash games.
With the evolution of consoles come newer hack-and-slash games that modernize and add to the formula you know and love. Defeating a bunch of enemies at once is satisfying, but you still have to be mindful, or it's you who'll wind up defeated.
Updated July 11, 2024 By Matthew Mckeown: Stylish combos galore are what’s on offer with your usual hack-and-slash game. Though we tend to call them Character Action games now, they’re still the same cathartic combat-focused titles that we all love regardless.
There’s a lot on offer, from the big budget stylish affairs like Stellar Blade and Nier, to smaller and slicker indie titles that have carved out their own combat niche. Whether it’s all about spectacle or training you to parry, it’s a genre that’s always enjoyable. Here’s an updated look at what’s on offer with the best hack-and-slash games on PS4 and PS5.
Ghost Runner 2
Cyborg Ninjas Are Just The Tip
Ghostrunner 2
- Released
- October 26, 2023
- Developer(s)
- One More Level
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
Slide, slash, side-step and leap into victory with Ghostrunner 2 from One More Level. This slick and highly polished follow-up to the popular original game brings you back once again to the neon-lit cyberpunk future we all came to love the first time around.
Set one year after the original, we’re back once again exploring the last refuge of mankind and the lands that lie around it. A violent AI cult has appeared and it’s up to Jack once again to put things right. There’s plenty of gory violence, fast parkour, challenging boss fights, cyber ninja motorcycles and so much more. If you loved the first game and wanted more, check out Ghost Runner 2.
Killsqaud
Colorful Kinetic Co-Op Carnage
A four-player twin-stick top-down game that allows for full hack-n-slash melee builds or bullet-spraying carnage fiends, Killsqaud from Novrama is peak arcade fun. Control a cast of colorful and quirky characters as they go on an adventure across five planets causing carnage wherever they go.
There are five unique heroes to choose and they all have their own specific abilities, unlockable upgrades and builds specific to them set across a very large skill tree. Revisit worlds for rich bounties, find newer and stronger equipment or cosmetics and generally be a violent bounty hunter for the right buyer. Great on your own and even better with friends, Killsqaud is a great party game.
Try out each hero to find which one works for you, also check out their upgrade trees as they can drastically change with a few levels sunk into them.
Grindstone
Cartoon Network Chaos From Capybara
Coming in hot with big Cartoon Network energy, Grindstone from Capybara Games is a gooey, gory, and absolutely anarchic puzzle game that’s hysterical and oh-so-satisfying to solve. You’re on an epic adventure to mine Grindstone from Grindstone Mountain, but it’s not going to be easy.
Standing in your way are hordes of Creeps, colorful and alien-looking creatures that dwell deep within the mountain. Use your Axe and other unlockables to bash them apart on a 2D puzzle board. There are 250 levels to crawl through and big bosses to batter, so grab your Axe and head for those dark gloomy mountain depths.
Wanted: Dead
Star In Your Own John Woo Story
A super stylish hybrid hack-n-slash game from Soleil Ltd, Wanted: Dead follows an average week for the Zombie Unit, a group of highly skilled individuals from the Hong Kong police that deal with corporate conspiracies.
What follows is an action-packed story following Lt. Hannah Stone as she slices her way through gang members, mercenaries, and more in order to get to the truth. Combat is intense and allows for over 50 unique and very brutal finishing moves. There’s plenty of range and melee weapons to wield and in this Cyberpunk setting it’s all fancy future tech.
Morbid: The Lords of Ire
Bloodborne In All But Name
We’ll never get a Bloodborne 2, but in the meantime, Morbid: The Lords of Ire from Still Running has plenty of Bloodborne vibes and it’s a very good replacement. This gruesome and gory hack-n-slash game has you defeating the Gahars, dark lords that have twisted the lands of Ire to their will.
In your way are huge and horrible creatures spread across five distinct lands that have become rotted and tainted over time. There’s a unique sanity system that impacts the world around you but can also make you stronger, and there are plenty of distinct and unique weapons to discover as you roam around these broken lands.
Rise Of The Ronin
Rise of the Ronin
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
A PS5 exclusive that’s rocking some big Nioh and Ghost of Tsushima vibes, Rise of the Ronin sets you off on an open-world adventure across 19th-century Japan. Foreigners are arriving and with the introduction of new technology, the Samurai are going extinct. The country is in turmoil, disease is rampant and you’ll need to make your own path in this wild and changing landscape.
There’s tons of customisation options available for your Ronin as you explore across the large game map. Combat is pretty deep and very satisfying to pull off and with a range of period weaponry ranging from swords to staves and even guns, there are plenty of ways to build your warrior. If you enjoyed Nioh and want something bigger but more grounded, check out Rise of the Ronin.
There’s also online co-op, although that’s only for missions.
Dragon's Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
A successful follow-up to the original Dragons Dogma, the sequel is another narrative-driven open-world RPG that follows a new Arisen as they battle with their new role and the growing Dragon Blight plague. The world is bigger than before, the monsters more varied and the Pawn and party system is back once again, but it’s a lot better than it was before.
You can stack your group however you like and with new races, classes and weapons the type of damage your team can put out on big ghoulish foes has only grown. Though the story could use some work, the open-world exploration and chaotic moment-to-moment gameplay more than makes up for the occasional bug or janky gameplay moment. If you liked the first Dragons Dogma and wanted something a bit more smoother and modern, then grab this one.
You don’t need to have played the original to enjoy Dragon's Dogma 2. You can hit the ground running as the game is its own thing.
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Shift Up
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
A Hack-N-Slash game made by one dev and already causing some controversy apparently, Stellar Blade is a solid third-person action game with some great monster design, interesting level layouts, and genuinely enjoyable combat.
Carrying big Nier Automata vibes for all the right reasons, Stellar Blade is a game that will surprise you. Set in the far future, humanity's existence hangs in the balance as what’s left of the human race has fled to a Colony in outer space. Earth has been left behind as it’s become filled with monsters and it’s up to EVE to reclaim the planet. Though it sounds very familiar to Nier, you should still give Stellar Blade a chance.
Don’t just take our recommendation for it, Nier Automata developer Yoko Taro has said that Stellar Blade is much better than his game and highly recommends it.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
A follow up to the last remake of a classic Final Fantasy game, Rebirth continues the story of Cloud and the gang in a ‘Part Two’ as they travel across the world. They’re hot on the tail of Sephiroth and it’s a journey that will put the very planet at stake.
Bursting at the brim with minigames and a combat system that’s slick and satisfying to pull off, especially against some of the massive boss monsters, Finally Fantasy VII: Rebirth is a sleek and very charming sequel. Your playground is more massive than Midgard and there’s plenty to see and do as you wander around with your team.
It’s worth playing the first Final Fantasy remake first if you haven’t as you may feel a little lost with the story as there’s been some substantial changes from the original Final Fantasy game.
No Rest For The Wicked
An Early Access game from Moon Studios that’s already making quite the name for itself, No Rest For The Wicked is a top-down hack-n-slash game from the team behind Ori and the Blind Forest. Absolutely oozing in style, the art team for this game deserves a commendation as the environments are gorgeous and the enemy designs are well animated and memorable.
The year is 841, the King is dead and the lands are overwhelmed with mutations and abominations brought on by an unholy pestilence that’s plaguing the land. You play as a member of a holy warrior order and it’s up to you to defeat this blight at all costs and help restore the kingdom. An epic saga that features precision-based combat, No Rest For The Wicked will certainly guarantee you never get any rest as you’ll want to go back for more time and time again.
Unlike other top-down action games where you can just wail on the boss with button spam attacks, here you’ll need to be precise as screwing up a combo or swinging at the wrong time will brutally punish you with pain.
Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
Defend Tsushima island from invading Mongols in a slick samurai hack-n-slash game from SuckerPunch. You play as Jin, a wayward Ronin turned assassin who has to balance the honorable way of the Samurai with some less-than-honorable methods of solving the island invasion problem.
Combat is often downright cinematic, plus the online multiplayer has a ton of depth, co-op missions, and even long multi-man raids to test your sword-swinging skills. If you’re in the market for a slick samurai hack-n-slash game then Ghost of Tsushima comes highly recommended.
Taking photos and messing with the ingame filters is encouraged in Ghost of Tsushima as it’s all about making your Samurai duels as cinematic as possible.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Released
- March 22, 2019
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
A ninjutsu-based change in gear by FromSoftware, Sekiro was a heavily action-orientated game in the vein of Bloodborne but in feudal Japan. You play as Wolf, a reanimated Ninja that’s tasked with protecting his young charge called Kuro in a period of violence and brutal uprisings.
The gameplay is typical Fromsoft fashion but more energetic. Instead of the old sword-and-board techniques of Dark Souls, Sekiro focused more on parrying, guard breaking, and using acrobatic ninja moves to dive apart your foes. Fantastically stylish in its portrayal of a corrupted land in the east and filled with some downright gorgeous and gross boss fights, Sekiro is a notable jump in difficulty from its predecessors but it’s worth the time.
Hammerwatch 2
Take the cult-classic top-down adventure on the road with Hammerwatch 2 from Crackshell. Aid King Roland and the Resistance as you banish the hordes of darkness once and for all. Go solo or bring a party of your friends as you blast and hack your way through huge hordes of monstrous creatures and fantasy monsters.
Dive into a boatload of quests that will help the populace of this blighted town and earn great rewards and crucial crafting parts to make better gear. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into and it can get pretty intense, especially during some of the set-piece fights like the one against the dragon. If you want something long haul then Hammerwatch 2 is perfect.
Whilst locally it’s single-player, it does have online co-op.
Gatewalkers
A weathered and weary world awaits in Gatewalkers from A2 Softworks. This Diablo-esque Hack-N-Slash is an enjoyable top-down romp into a classic fantasy adventure. Save the world from the bloodthirsty creatures that inhabit it and survive the worst the realm has to throw at you.
The lands you visit are all procedurally generated and the weather can get pretty extreme. Team up with three others and take the fight to the multitude of threats beyond the Gate. Collect rewards from The Guild and explore vast locations filled with plenty of loot and big beasts to best.
Gatewalkers is available in Alpha at the moment, so take any ingame interactions as still under development for the moment.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment , From Software
An absolute banger by FromSoftware, Elden Ring took what made the previous Souls-like games great and evolved it further. A stranger in a lost land, you play as the Tarnished who must ascend to the throne of the Elden Lord. But that’s easier said than done.
Standing in your way is a vast sprawling land filled with monsters, bosses, hidden dungeons, and all sorts of secrets. There are plenty of weapons to find to customize your build and it can be a massive enjoyable time sink if you let it. By far one of the best games to launch in their entire catalog, Elden Ring is a must-play for hack-n-slash fans.
Elden Ring keeps the action going for more hours in its DLC Shadow Of The Erdtree.
Thymesia
Thymesia
- Platform(s)
- Amazon Luna , PC , PS5 , Switch , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- August 15, 2022
- Developer(s)
- OverBorder Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
Described as a grueling action RPG, Themsia takes a lot of pages out of the Soulsborne approach to development. In that death means a reset back to a previous rest point, there’s a lot of combat mechanics to dig into and everything you’re fighting against can plant you into the dirt with one good hit and a badly timed dodge.
Developed by OverBorder Studio, you take control of Corvus, a mysterious and amnesiac warrior who wields the power of disease in a kingdom that’s become blighted by a mysterious and mutative pestilence. At will, Corvus can shift into a powerful Raven form during battle as he battles corrupted and twisted monsters on his quest to piece together his shattered mind.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne
- Platform(s)
- PS4
- Released
- March 24, 2015
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
A game that needs no introduction, Bloodborne was a shift in gears from Fromsoftware away from their usual medieval monster fantasy into a realm of eldritch beings and nightmare creatures from beyond the star and below the sea. Combat takes a much faster approach than its predecessors and aggression is encouraged.
As you make your way through the twisted lands around Yharnam, the story starts to unveil a sad tale of a town cursed by ancient otherworldly beings held together in a never-ending nightmare. Featuring transformative weapons, massive bosses, hidden endings, and creatures to kill, and some absolutely jaw-dropping vistas and level design, Bloodborne is a must-play for many.
The Surge
If you like a cyberpunk souls-like then The Surge by Deck13 is worth checking out. Though its sequel saw some mixed reception, the original still stands up as you battle your way through the ruined remains of CREO. Equipped with a surgically attached exoskeleton, it’s up to you to make your way out of this battered complex.
Standing in your way are giant droids, rogue construction machines, and other cybernetically enhanced individuals who have gone a little loony. Featuring a unique combat and loot retrieval system that involves hacking off individual body parts and armor pieces, there’s a surprising amount of complexity in The Surge. If you enjoy smashing apart big industrial robots then the Surge has a lot of cyborg combat catharsis.
Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy 16
- Platform(s)
- PS5
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
The latest in a long line of highly successful games, Final Fantasy XVI took things in a new and more action-packed direction. Turn-based combat is gone completely and instead, you’re zipping around performing Devil May Cry-style combos in challenging hunts and boss fights that can dramatically escalate in scale at times. The set-pieces are fantastic and the soundtrack takes a tour de force of old classics and more modern Final Fantasy games throughout the series.
The story at the cory of this follows Clyde, a warrior of noble birth who has his family taken from him. The land is ruled by warring factions and a Game Of Thrones-esque tale of intrigue, power plays, and backstabbing ties it all together. It’s the epitome of spectacle-fighters with relatively deep RPG mechanics, so if you enjoy flashy attacks and cinematic brawls then FFXVI should be on your list.
Lies Of P
Lies of P
- Released
- September 19, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Round8 Studio , Neowiz
- Publisher(s)
- Neowiz
Another soul-like but with a classical twist, Lies of P takes the tale of Pinnochio and filters it through a lens of clockwork horror and elegance. Giant mechanoids prowl the streets, wild gangs burn and rule over what’s left, and at the center of it all is P, a puppet created by Gepetto that’s capable of advanced combat.
Stuck in the plagued city of Krat, Pinnochio faces madness and terror around every corner as he tries to untangle the twisted web of secrets at the heart of the beleaguered burgh. There’s a variety of period and fantasy weaponry to unlock, powerful P-Organs to use, and a grim narrative keeping things tight outside of combat time. It’s an interesting reimagining by NEOWIZ and one worth putting on your radar.
