In recent years, numerous hack and slash games have emerged, solidifying the type of game as a genre. Hack and slash games can be first-person, third-person, or over-the-shoulder third-person. What they all have in common, however, is tons of enemies to slay and non-stop action. Hack and slash games give you little time to strategize in the middle of battles. If playing with a mouse and keyboard, expect to do a lot of key mashing and clicking.
We've seen an abundance of great hack and slash games over the years. The following hack and slash games are each unique in their own way. This is ranking the 10 best hack and slash games of all time.
10 Mordhau
Although not the best hack and slash game in this list, Mordhau provides an incredible experience. Morhau released on April 29, 2019, and is essentially The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim if it were a hack and slash game.
Competitive online matches, which require you to both slay hordes of enemies and achieve objectives are reasons why Mordhau is an exceptional hack and slash title. Its Gameplay has a low difficulty level and is highly entertaining. Eliminations can be brutal and will surprise players.
9 Grim Dawn
Grim Dawn is the game that should have been the sequel to Diablo 2. We're not saying that Diablo 3 is a bad game, but it was lacking on several fronts, and a significant amount of community members feel that it was a letdown. There is wide skill customization in Grim Dawn which is reminiscent of Diablo 2 and not something we see as much of in Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls. With positive reviews and an 83 score on Metacritic, Grim Dawn will provide satisfaction like few other hack and slash games.
8 Torchlight II
Torchlight II tries to reinvent the wheel with improvements on the hack and slash genre. The gameplay is addicting since Torchlight II has one of the best loot-systems around. We can't help but make comparisons between Torchlight II and Diablo 3. Torchlight II doesn't do much to distinguish itself from other hack and slash games, but with developer Runic Games' attention to fine detail, Torchlight II excels at what it does right. We recommend you try Torchlight II to play an exceptional hack and slash game.
7 God Of War 3
Although it's the third game in the main series, God of War 3 is the fifth God of War game to be released. This time around, there are more weapons, adding to the action-packed excitement of the game. God of War 3 Remastered for the PlayStation 4 is the best way to play the game. The remastered version of God of War 3 displays in 1080p and 60 frames per second providing an unparalleled experience.
God of War hack and slash are comparable to the Ninja Gaiden series. Swarms of enemies combined with clever puzzles make God of War stand out. If you want to play the latest God of War game, it is recommended to at least play God of War 3 since God of War's (2018) story is a continuation from God of War 3.
6 Devil May Cry 5
With the 2013 release of DmC: Devil May Cry, it seemed like the Devil May Cry series was anything but over. Devil May Cry 5 defied all odds by becoming the strongest entry in the Devil May Cry series. Changing between Dante, Nero, and a gothic character named "V" adds to the depth of the game. Thankfully, the story is incredible and cohesive, rarely straying far from its premise. The gameplay is action-packed all the way through and doesn't contain unpleasant filler sections.
5 Ninja Gaiden Black/ Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Ninja Gaiden Black, an Xbox exclusive and remake of Ninja Gaiden, adds several changes such as an increase in difficulty and a wider variety of foes. The addition of a Mission Mode and weapons such as the Lunar Staff and Smoke Bombs, make Ninja Gaiden Black exceptional.
Released almost two years after Ninja Gaiden Black, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita exclusive that has a sizeable overhaul to the game's graphics. With the processing power of the PlayStation 3, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the best way to play Ninja Gaiden.
4 God Of War 2
The sequel to the first God of War game is arguably one of the best in the series. The level design and flow of the game were more impactful than God of War 3. The second God of War game introduced widescreen, and besides, the main story of God of War II is longer than the first.
We can't forget that God of War 2 has more boss fights and jumbo map scaling. As a hack and slash game, God of War is mayhem until the end.
3 Diablo 2: Lord Of Destruction
Widely considered to be the best hack and slash game of all time. Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction is a masterpiece that significantly improves on its predecessor. Making certain NPCs drop particular items encourages exploration and adds to the game's replayability.
Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction is the original Diablo 2 plus an expansion pack, which adds a new chapter to the game. Fighting Diablo's brother Baal is exhilarating, and snagging quality loot drops from Baal, even more so. As a game released in 2001, it is still extraordinary by today's criteria. Hunting for runes to craft runewords and slaying bosses with small groups provides hours of enjoyment in Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction.
2 Path Of Exile
Due to the popularity of the game, there hasn't been a better time to get into Path of Exile. Path of Exile is so much more than a "Diablo Knockoff." Some of the tasks in Path of Exile such as socketing items are less intuitive than we expect, but overall, it is a great hack and slash game worth playing.
It could be a while before Diablo 4 hits store shelves, so Path of Exile is a good substitute in the meantime. Path of Exile is now more popular than Diablo 3. To think that Path of Exile is a Diablo 3 ripoff is wrong since Path of Exile is so much more than a typical hack and slash game.
1 God Of War
As the winner of numerous Game of the Year awards including Polygon, IGN, GamesRadar, Game Developers Choice Awards, and The Game Awards', God of War has exceeded expectations by being the hack and slash game of our dreams.
Set after the events of God of War III, God of War tells a different story than the other games of the series. This time around, Kratos has a son and is caught in ancient Norway. It can't be emphasized enough how much of a joy it is to play God of War.