Summary
- PoE 2 offers deep character building and absurd combat, appealing to theorycrafters and action lovers alike.
- Nier: Automata combines beautiful aesthetics, fast-paced action, multiple playstyles, and a captivating soundtrack.
- Hades stands out as a top roguelike with stunning visuals, aggressive combat, and a rewarding progression system.
Hack and slash games have been around for decades now, with the genre housing plenty of fan favourite games and franchises that continue to be built upon today. Part of the enjoyment comes from the fast-paced gameplay that really feeds into the power fantasy that players love, and gives them all the tools to slice through hordes of enemies that come their way.
Best Hack And Slash Games With Purposefully Slow Gameplay
Not every hack-and-slash game is a storm of button-mashing action. These games do an excellent job of balancing action and slower gameplay.
The genre comes in many shapes and sizes, from open-world epics that span countless landscapes and worlds to isometric roguelikes that focus more on art style and tight gameplay than a grand narrative. In any case, hack and slash games are a breeding ground for fun, and there are few genres that give the same level of excitement and rush that just keeps growing right until the game ends.
8 Path Of Exile 2
A Whole World To Discover And Conquer
Path of Exile II
- Released
- December 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Nudity, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Language, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
- Developer(s)
- Grinding Gear Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash, MMORPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
PoE 2 is a truly exceptional title that builds on the original's fast-paced action and complex customization systems, but brings much sharper visuals and a smoother combat system that adds even more depth to an already chaotic world. Builds can be tailored to exactly how the player wants to approach the fighting, and the battles become pretty absurd in no time, filling the screen with spell effects and sword swings that hit just as hard as they look.
Speed isn't even the main draw for the game, as the sheer amount of character building that a player can do is immense. A skill-tree that is big enough to fill a whole lifetime and build variety that rewards experimentation with real power and insane damage, PoE 2 is the perfect game for hardcore players who love to theorycraft the perfect character, and even for players who want to hop in and hack their way through giant hordes of enemies for the sheer satisfaction and pleasure.
7 Nier: Automata
Beautiful Worlds Full Of Bleakness And Chaos
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Nier: Automata is an incredibly memorable game, both for the aesthetic and the sheer level of action that the game has. It's fast, fluid, and gives a lot of room for creativity, letting players destroy the countless foes that await in new and interesting ways, from ranged attacks to flashy combos that juggle them straight into the afterlife.
5 Best Open-World Games with Hack and Slash Combat, Ranked
Take out enemies with a flurry of attacks in these open-world hack and slash games.
There is never a dull moment, and across each playthrough, players get to experience multiple different playstyles that seamlessly shift between multiple different gameplay approaches, whilst still holding the hack and slash DNA at its core. Combined with a beautiful, surreal world and a soundtrack that is simply to die for, the game always delivers and constantly keeps players on their toes.
6 Hi-Fi Rush
Artsy Action With So Much Flair
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PS5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Music and action blended into one, Hi-Fi Rush is the perfect storm of rhythm and aggression that brings a vibrant cartoony style to a gameplay style that is traditionally known for being far darker. Everything about the game drips from the screen, whether it be the music that constantly keeps the tempo going, or the aesthetic that is so uniquely gorgeous that every scene, fight or not, feels like the player is watching a movie.
The biggest fun aspect of the game is that the rhythm mechanics don't overcomplicate the combat, but simply enhance it, making it feel rewarding even for players who don't have that natural musical talent. The combination of humor and intense action makes every encounter bring smiles and joy, with a combat approach that never gets old and always feels fun.
5 Final Fantasy 16
Cinematic Fights That Belong In A Museum
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The next mainline installment in the franchise, FF16 brings the series into a realm of pure action, trading turn-based action systems for intense real-time combat that constantly hits hard. Fighting styles shift dramatically during fights, and players are given a constantly evolving toolkit of abilities that allow them to unleash devastating attacks against both large hordes and towering bosses.
Cinematic doesn't even begin to describe some of the fights. Each battle isn't just a chance to show off aggression, it's a dance and a performance that really pushes the limits both graphically and mechanically. Bold, flashy combos that push the action even further and a level of scale that is hard to find elsewhere, despite some criticism surrounding its execution, it remains a satisfying and incredibly enjoyable title for fans of the franchise and newcomers as well.
4 Devil May Cry 5
Style On A Whole Other Level
Devil May Cry 5
- Released
- March 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Devil May Cry 5 is a pure action spectacle. With three distinct characters, each with wildly different fighting approaches, the game is all about mastery and, of course, style, maintaining all the same flair of the original titles, but updating the combat to feel more modern and responsive. Comedy and chaos are at its heart, and every moment either brings a rush of excitement or a feeling of accomplishment at the sheer level of insanity that just took place.
8 Best 2D Hack And Slash Games, Ranked
There's a lot to love in these action-packed hack-and-slash games, delivered in charming 2D art styles and graphics.
It is a ballet of blades, guns, and demonic powers, all delivered at lightning speed, and it perfectly captures the fine line between complexity and simplicity, allowing anyone to look cool even if they don't have the reflexes of a god. Learning how to perfectly juggle enemies and pull off absurdly flashy combos is endlessly rewarding, and the game’s over-the-top personality only adds to the thrill of every encounter.
3 Stellar Blade
A Beautifully Brutal Apocalypse
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Shift Up
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Stellar Blade offers sharp, kinetic swordplay and intense boss battles wrapped in a visually stunning sci-fi world. Its hack-and-slash combat draws comparisons to acclaimed franchises like Bayonetta and Nier, with even more precision and finesse in every single encounter. The enemy variety is pretty great as well, with players being able to fight several enemy types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses that have to be learned and respected to fully understand.
The fun lies in its combat flow. Every swing, counter, and finisher is designed to feel impactful, and the game constantly pushes players to stay aggressive while reading their enemy’s patterns, rewarding them for truly paying attention and staying vigilant in the face of defeat. With tight controls and satisfying progression, it’s a stylish and challenging ride from start to finish.
2 The First Berserker: Khazan
The Perfect Blend Of Soulslike Difficulty And Gruesome Action
The First Berserker: Khazan
- Released
- March 27, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Neople
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
A surprise success that does everything it sets out to accomplish, Khazan is one of the best hack and slash games out there that effortlessly blends the high difficulty and precision found in Soulslike games and delivers a brutally challenging yet insanely satisfying adventure that never lets off the gas. Playing as the great general Khazan, players cut through undead, soldiers, and giant spiders all in the name of redemption and clearing the fallen warrior's name.
The gameplay is just a delight to use, allowing players to customize their abilities however they choose and letting them pull off insane combo chains that all demand precision and timing. Taking on some of the later bosses feels like a fight on steroids, as each subsequent foe steps up the difficulty and demands so much care and thought that there is rarely a chance to breathe. A fantastic entrance into the genre for the studio and a look forward to the quality that will surely follow in later titles.
1 Hades
Fighting Against Gods Themselves
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Hades is widely considered one of the best roguelikes on the planet, and there is good reason for that. An art style that is simply gorgeous, a combat approach that rewards aggression and good decision making, and a progression system that keeps players invested in the next run without ever making them feel too overpowered and reducing the game to easy mode.
Taking on the God of the Underworld is no easy feat, but thankfully, the player has plenty of tools and weapons to gear up with and build up their power in order to take on the challenge that awaits at the end of a run. It is an immensely satisfying game that revels in its own beauty and style, giving a uniquely perfect title that leans into the hack and slash elements in full force and gives a real sense of accomplishment when the player manages to succeed.
The Best Hack and Slash Games of All Time, Ranked
The action-packed hack-and-slash genre has a mountain of great entries that left a mark on the genre. Here are the very best to have come out.