Since the inception of gaming, all of its genres have evolved and even taken on sub-genres. From RPGs to Action/Adventure and First-Person Shooters, there’s a genre out there for every fan. One such popular option is the hack and slash style of games, and over the years, this subgenre has transformed into a blend of new gameplay mechanics and styles.
Many games of the previous generation tried to give players what they love about the genre, while also adding a lot of new toppings to make it a unique experience. Sadly, the frequency ofhack and slash gamesseems to decline with each new generation, which could be due to the growing taste for realism in video games. Despite that, some of thebest hack and slash gamesever made came out in the last decade for the PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, and Switch.
Updated June 03, 2025 by Mark Sammut:This article has been updated to include each game’s specifications.
Musou games are not for everyone, and most of these projects tend to not get great reviews either. However, some of the most popular Musou games are based in the worlds of other properties.Hyrule Warriorswas aThe Legend of Zeldaspin-off that nobody knew they wanted, andAge of Calamitytakes things a step further by being set within theBreath of the Wildtimeline.
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The hack and slash combat largely consists of decimating entire armies with the swipe of a sword. It is over-the-top, quite easy, and ridiculously satisfying.Age of Calamityincorporates a few elements fromBreath of the Wild, along with featuring a reasonable roster of playable characters who mostly feel unique.
Darksiders: Warmastered Editionis a remaster of the franchise’s first entry, which debuted in 2010. What makes this title one of thebest hack and slash gameson the current-gen consoles is its adherence to traditionalism sinceDarksidersplays out like a throwback to classic action-adventure games likeZelda.
It packs itself with features that have defined the genre for a long time: straight-forward combat, puzzle-solving, boss battles, and lots, and lots of combo mechanics.Darksidersis an experience that respects the roots of the genre.
The PS4 marked a new era for Sony’sGod of War, but the console does have one remnant of the franchise’s classic formula.God of War 3 Remasteredis the definitive way to experience this PS3 masterpiece, even if it does not introduce enough changes to warrant a replay.
As a standalone experience,GOW 3is basically a continuous bloodbath that occasionally takes a break for a puzzle. The series has always excelled at crafting epic set pieces, and this entry is far from an exception.
Similar toHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity,Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesis an alternate-reality spin-off based on a Switch exclusive. While sticking close to the hack and slash combat formula defined by Omega Force’s Musou projects, the 2022 release does take a few more risks than most of these sorts of titles, although the core gameplay loop is still ultimately the same.
Still, the campaign tells a fairly enjoyable story that makes good use ofThree Houses' strong characters.Three Hopesis also relatively long and contains more than enough content to keep someone busy for a few weeks.
Katana Zerois quite unlike most other hack and slash games since combat revolves around insta-death. The vast majority of enemies go down with a single hit, but the same also holds true for the player; consequently, success relies on reflexes and strategy. The campaign is split into a series of levels where players, as Zero, need to eliminate all the enemies on the floor. Zero has a number of tools and abilities at his disposal, and he will need to master each of them to have any hope of completing all of his assassinations.
Difficult as the game can be,Katana Zerois also extremely fun, and defeat is likely to only inspire someone to try again. Even though 16-bit visuals have become quite commonplace in the modern indie scene, this game’s graphics are nevertheless charming.
After a painfully long wait (at least for a numbered entry), Square Enix finally releasedKingdom Hearts 3. As always, Sora, Goofy, and Donald travel through a number ofDisney worlds, meeting beloved characters likeFrozen’s Elsa andToy Story’s lovable icons in the process.Kingdom Hearts 3’s overarching plot takes a backseat for large chunks of the game’s runtime, but the world’s self-contained narratives should charm any Disney fan.
Although it doesn’t evolve enough throughout the course of the campaign,Kingdom Hearts 3’shack and slash combatis very entertaining on a fundamental level. Sora has access to so many tools and mechanics that the Keyblade wielder can feel a touch overpowered, and the action’s visual presentation is spectacular.
Atlus and Omega Force have never been shy about experimenting with spin-offs, soPersona 5 Strikersalmost makes too much sense. The sequel toPersona 5, one of the PS4’s best titles, plays out like aMusou hack and slash game, albeit one that takes a few pages from turn-based JRPGs.
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UnlikeDynasty Warriorsor evenHyrule Warriors,Persona 5 Strikersis far more story-driven than tends to be the case for these types of games. This is a properP5sequel that further fleshes out the characters and introduces an interesting twist on Palaces called Jails. The combat is simplistic but stylish, and each Phantom Thief plays completely differently.
A Metroidvania heavily inspired byCastlevania,Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightblends platforming and hack and slash combat, crafting an experience that should feel instantly familiar for those who grew up playingSymphony of the Night. As tends to be the case with this genre, Miriam, the main character, gains new abilities or tools that unlock more of the map.
Ritual of the Night’s combat is solid, utilizing various weapons and skills to ensure battles do not grow stale quickly. It is flashy and reasonably challenging. The story is also pretty decent.
Originally designed for the PS3 and Xbox 360,Niereventually earned a remaster focusing on theReplicantversion of the game, which was initially released only in Japan. Following the success ofNier: Automata, Cavia and Square Enix’s action RPG was given a second lease on life, and the remaster earned an overall more positive reception than during its initial run.
Now,Nier Replicant’s hack and slash gameplay is a mixed bag. While not terrible, it is not particularly deep and does struggle to remain interesting throughout the rather long campaign. However, the game makes up for it with a fantastic story.
Astral Chaindebuted for the Nintendo Switch in 2019 from developer PlatinumGames. The setting is a dystopian Earth future where the police must protect citizens from interdimensional monsters invading the planet. But the two characters have the unique ability of “chaining” their creatures to use in battle.
The game features cyberpunk themes and grade A hack and slash combat.Astral Chainoffers a great soundtrack, engaging visuals, fun mechanics, and a solid story.
