Much of Sony's success in the console market can be traced back to the many excellent PlayStation exclusive IPs. With some of them having been with the console line since the very beginning, they can effectively put players in a position where not purchasing the latest PlayStation console can prevent them from playing future entries in their all-time favorite franchises; franchises like The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man and God of War.
Since its debut back in 2005, the latter has boasted some of the very best hack and slash combat in gaming and has regularly backed this up with interesting narratives that borrow heavily from mythology. While undoubtedly one of the finest though, the series is far from the only one to have mastered satisfying hack and slash combat and many of the others are not exclusive to Sony consoles. In fact, some of the very best hack and slash games are on the Nintendo Switch.
Updated January 7, 2022, by Tom Bowen: Nintendo's success can be attributed to its excellent selection of first-party exclusives, with titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild proving that there's more to making a great video game than just a powerful console. That said, there are one or two gaps in the company's extensive library of noteworthy IPs, particularly when it comes to hack and slash games like God of War. Thankfully, however, there are plenty of excellent second and third-party titles on the Switch that can deliver a similar thrill, with many of them combining hack and slash combat with more traditional action RPG mechanics to surprisingly good effect.
18 Hades
Other than The Last of Us 2, it's difficult to think of any 2020 games that won quite as many game of the year awards as Hades. There's a very good reason for that too, as Supergiant Games' mythology-inspired roguelike is one of the most unique and the most enjoyable games to have come out of the current decade.
Players are placed into the shoes of Hades' son Zagreus and tasked with escaping from the underworld to reach Mount Olympus. Using the hack and slash combat system, they'll need to defeat both gods and mythical creatures along the way, making it incredibly reminiscent of Sony's God of War games in certain places.
17 Dead Cells
When it comes to presentation, Dead Cells is a far cry from some of the more recent God of War titles, but that's not to say that it isn't still a good-looking game in places. The 2D art style has its own charm and lends itself surprisingly well to the game's simple yet enjoyable hack and slash combat system.
Dead Cells borrows mechanics from the roguelike and Metroidvania genres and also incorporates some Souls-like elements too. Granted, its plot is nothing to write home about, but its gameplay is highly enjoyable and, for a while, at least, will keep players coming back for more.
16 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
With fantastic hack and slash combat and a dark fantasy world that's heavily inspired by Norse Mythology, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a must-play for those who enjoy the most recent God of War game. How exactly Ninja Theory was able to make it look quite as good as it does given the game's modest budget is a real mystery, but one that players needn't really concern themselves with.
This high visual fidelity does seem to have come at the cost of non-linear gameplay, yet this isn't particularly detrimental to the overall experience. The story is fantastic, as too is the way that the title depicts psychosis; a theme that seems likely to resurface when the game's sequel finally arrives. Unfortunately, Hellblade II will be an Xbox exclusive at launch, but players can still enjoy the first game on Switch.
15 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Most people know Shulk from his appearances in the Smash Bros. Games, but his video game debut actually came more than a decade ago in Xenoblade Chronicles for the Nintendo Wii. To call it a hidden gem would perhaps be doing it a disservice as plenty of people have played it, but nowhere near as many as a game of this quality deserves.
Thanks to the release of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, that's slowly but surely changing, with more and more people discovering the joys of the Xeno franchise. The "definitive" in the title isn't lying either, with improvements made to the game in just about every department. It's more action RPG than hack and slash, but the combat is still every bit as satisfying as it would be if it were strictly the latter.
14 Children of Morta
Children of Morta is a beautifully presented game that combines elements from multiple genres, with action RPG mechanics, roguelike qualities, and visuals reminiscent of some of the fantastic point-and-click games of yesteryear. Players shouldn't allow the game's simplistic art style to deceive them though, as there's a ridiculous amount of depth and delicacy woven into its combat mechanics.
Whether playing solo or with a friend, Children of Morta manages to be both challenging and rewarding in equal measures. It's fun to play in short bursts, but can very easily suck players in if they allow it to, with five minutes quickly turning into five hours if they're not careful. It's a lot more forgiving than other games of its ilk too, making it a great roguelike for people who don't necessarily like roguelikes.
13 Dark Souls Remastered
Although remnants still remain, the latest God of War title is a lot less combat-oriented than some of its predecessors, with Sony's Santa Monica Studio instead opting to focus more on narrative and visuals above all else. The results speak for themselves, though it did leave some players yearning for the days of bloodthirsty Kratos. For those people, Dark Souls Remastered might just serve as the perfect middle ground.
Granted, players will definitely need to put a lot more thought into each hack and slash that they dish out and will likely die a lot more than they would in a God of War game too. Over time though, players will learn to master Dark Souls' combat; at which point the experience can become incredibly rewarding. Like the Gods slain by Kratos, each boss provides its own unique challenges, and rising to them can serve as an excellent litmus test for player skill.
12 Persona 5 Strikers
Few could have predicted just how successful Persona 5 and its Royal edition would end up being, particularly when considering the west's largely lackluster response to earlier Persona and Shin Megami Tensei titles. Sadly, the former's fifth mainline entry looks unlikely to ever come to the Switch, but the console's owners can at least enjoy its hack and slash style spin-off, Persona 5 Strikers.
Though the game still maintains many of the RPG mechanics found in the mainline series, including turn-based combat, these are supplemented by all of the hack and slash goodness from Musou games like Dynasty Warriors. These elements combine surprisingly well, offering up a delightfully unique experience that celebrates the best of both worlds. The combat is far from revolutionary, but should provide enough depth and challenge to keep most players engaged.
11 Darksiders Genesis
Darksiders Genesis isn't a particularly ambitious game when it comes to innovation, with developer Airship Syndicate instead opting to stick largely to the tried and tested hack and slash formula that's been around for years. That's not to say that it isn't still a great game though, as just about everything that the title does do, it does incredibly well.
Those who are looking for a game that's loaded with fantastic combat and the occasional puzzle will have a lot of fun with Darksiders Genesis, particularly if they can find somebody to play through it with them. The co-op combat is incredibly satisfying and there are more than enough enemies for two players to tear through. At around 15 hours, it might be a little short for some people's tastes and the overhead camera can be frustrating at times, but its well-implemented combat mechanics should more than make up for this.
10 Diablo 3
While there may be some debate as to whether Diablo 3 succeeds as an action RPG, most can agree that the execution of its hack and slash elements is near perfect. What's more, the Switch port of the game is considered by many to be the definitive edition, which is great news for those who are limited to titles on Nintendo's latest console.
Its dated visuals may not hold up too well in the modern era, but its combat system is still top-notch and just might be one of the very best on the Switch. Sadly, that's where the God of War comparisons end, although given how important combat is to some of the latter series' earlier entries, it's definitely a significant similarity.
9 Torchlight 3
Like Diablo 3, Torchlight 3 isn't much to look at, although it does benefit from a few major quality of life updates due to it having been released almost a decade later. These do come at the expense of combat cohesion though, with the game's hack and slash action not quite as enthralling as it is in Blizzard's classic series.
There are some pretty decent customization options available though and the game's world is a lot more vibrant, but anybody who cares more about combat might be better off picking up its predecessor instead. It may not be quite as well polished, but it arguably offers a far superior ass-kicking experience.