Of all the games out there in the grand world of gaming, there's nothing quite like Bayonetta. Sure, we've had provocative characters in the past, but Bayonetta is an incredible character and holds such confidence over her own look.
But of course, the games are also recognizable by their absurd character-action combat, as Bayonetta demolishes demons at a rate to make Satan sweat, all without breaking a sweat herself. She's witty but classy, destructive in her actions but moves with the grace of a dancer. And sure, there's nothing quite like Bayonetta, but there are definitely things you can enjoy like it.
10 Devil May Cry
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Yes, Devil May Cry and Bayonetta are both character action games. But the original Devil May Cry was directed by Hideki Kamiya, creator of Bayonetta, and creator of the whole genre, really. And if the same creator isn't interesting enough, both series' pay constant homage to each other.
Where Bayonetta revels in the raunchy and blasphemous, making combos work in any which way you want, Devil May Cry is a bit stricter on pure combo moves, demanding excellence to pull off just the wildest moves you've ever seen. They come from a similar foundation but diverge in ways that exemplify their leading characters.
9 Nioh
This one might seem like a jump at first. Surely if someone was going to somehow compare Bayonetta to a Souls-like game, then the actual Souls series would be the best entry point. But Nioh shifts in a slightly different direction, having a distinct main character and a more limited pool of weapons with much more depth.
Nioh 2 brings this much further. There are more weapons and more combos. You get a demon form heavily reminiscent of Bayonetta's Umbran Climax and even spirits to summon. Nioh is the closest a Souls-like can get to being a character action game, and getting to fight demons of folklore lines up pretty well for a Bayonetta fan.
8 Dead Or Alive
Let's beat around the bush with this one. Bayonetta is a heavily sexualized character, and she owns that fact. It's self-aware, incorporated into every aspect of her character, from the suggestive dialogue, to the literal punish attacks. So when the comparison to Dead or Alive is made, the reason is obvious.
The history of character action games actually borrows pretty heavily from fighting games, with much of the combo-based movement and characterization heavily drawn from them. And well, Dead or Alive is a fighting game. With quite the cast of characters. Mainly composed of women. The series has a beach volleyball spin-off. You know where this is going.
7 Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
Metroidvanias are a massive genre, heavily revived by many indie games of the last decade, and the long-awaited return of Samus Aran herself. Metroid games were considered for this list. But maybe Miriam of Bloodstained, the strong female lead of a gothic adventure where you fight demons was a slightly better fit for Bayonetta.
Coming from the mind of the original creator of Castlevania, Bloodstained is a spiritual successor that puts you in the boots Miriam and many other characters, all with their own unique playstyle. The style and setting may appeal to the witchy aspects of Bayonetta, but a game prominently featuring whips maybe sell it too.
6 Nier Automata
Also from the minds of PlatinumGames, Nier: Automata hits on an interesting intersection. Being of Platinum, it shares many base combat features of Bayonetta, such as the dancer-esque movements and the two weapon set-up, while also being a game directed by Yoko Taro, a man who'll write the most heart-wrenching stories while laughing.
In truth, everyone should give Nier: Automata a chance. But to appeal to the Bayonetta fan in you, it features 2B as an incredible main character, stunning music (though not of the jazz you'd expect from Bayonetta), plentiful weapon combinations, and copious amounts of enemies to beat up (if you don't feel too bad about it).
5 Catherine
As a character, Bayonetta was designed with clear intent. She wasn't exactly meant to appeal to what any group of people found sexy. No, it was specifically what Kamiya found sexy. Hence why she wears glasses. So on the concept of style and appeal, Catherine!
Though a game completely unlike Bayonetta in gameplay, focusing instead on puzzle-platforming and dating sim, its three Catherines (Catherine, Katherine, and Qatherine) are all dazzling characters, designed to appeal to different ideas of sexy. Katherine even has the black clothes and glasses of Bayonetta while being styled as a more sophisticated lady. You can see the connection.
4 Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors. What exactly would Bayonetta, a character action game about a witch who fights angels and demons while wielding surreal weapons have in common with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms of Dynasty Warriors' great big fields of endless enemies? Easy.
Musou games like Dynasty Warriors revel in the idea of you being the strongest person around who just lays siege to everyone around you like they were made of paper. Coincidentally, that's a pretty major thing for Bayonetta too, with her literal gimmick being to punish demons for being naughty. It's a thematic similarity, true, but there's a similar power trip.
3 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Many people might not claim Smash as a fighting game, even Sakurai himself is loath to do so, but at its heart, it shares many similarities. And character action games take a whole bunch from fighting games. But if that wasn't enough, Bayonetta is literally in the game, and with plenty of her iconic moves to boot.
Sure, Bayonetta isn't a fighting game, but it's pretty damn incredible how well she adapts to being in one. In fact, so logical is her transition that many of the moves will still make sense. The quick flick up to do an afterburner kick, holding the attack button to prolong your attacks with Scarborough Fair, and plenty more. She feels natural here, smacking Mario and Co. off a cliff.
2 Darksiders 3
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
The Darksiders series is anything if not inconsistent. The first game started as a God of War-like Character Action game with exploration elements, the sequel shifted to having more RPG traits and a wider world, and then the third game is something of a Souls-like while still pulling from its character-action roots.
But one of the more distinctive aspects of Darksiders 3 is its main character of Fury, one of the horsemen of the apocalypse with flowing, ethereal hair that matches her element. She's witty and blunt - perhaps not to the degree of Bayonetta, though still oozing with more personality than her brothers. And her main weapon? Chains and whips.
1 Final Fantasy 10-2
Such a major aspect of any character action game are its characters, and Bayonetta is a striking character. But just as important is the music of Bayonetta, and Final Fantasy is another series renowned for its music. And though the Final Fantasy series may be lacking in female protagonists, 10-2 just so happens to have one that may appeal to Bayonetta fans.
In 10, Yuna is something of a shy girl, dedicating her life to others and leaving nothing for herself. By time 10-2 rolls around, she's finally made the decision to live for herself and has a much more outgoing personality to boot. 10-2 tunes into more modern culture and music, Yuna becoming a singer herself and playing around with different outfits. It's not quite to Bayonetta's extent, but there's a similar joy in the non-stop combat and having a character feel so sure of herself.