To see the full ranking, visit our list of the best hack and slash PC games of all time.
10. Attack on Titan 2
Hajime Isayama's manga turned anime turned videogame gets a sequel, giving all their *cough*weaboo fans the chance to relive their Titan-fighting moments. Featuring cel-shaded graphics that look straight outta comicbook pages, anime lovers will feel right at home. For newcomers to the franchise wondering how ever you could square off against the colossal humanoids, the answer....is grappling hooks. Become the new recruit and chase down those muscly beasts spiderman style through the familiar walled cities.
As much as it's improved on many of the first game's features, it’s mostly criticized for feeling more like a rehash than a full-blown title. Still, it has a PlayScore of 7.82
9. Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
This is YOUR new breed of warrior. Probably borne out of a tongue-in-cheek pitch after a long day in the boardroom, Marlow Briggs might look like a joke but it seems to hit just the right notes. Excessively over the top and proud, take on the life of an angry man bestowed with ancient powers and help him restore sweet freedom to the world. It's nothing compared to the God of War series, but controls-wise it's pretty close.
Receiving fair scores at best from most critics, it's the gamers that brought it up the ranks. Considering it's ridiculous fun for cheap., it’s fair enough with a PlayScore of 7.94
8. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Now we're getting serious. As unexpected as this title was for the usually more stealth-focused Metal Gear franchise, Kojima is nonetheless impressive in his venture into hack and slash. Set four years after the events of MSG 4: Guns of the Patriots, play as the cyborg Raiden in her fight against the Desperado Enforcement. Yeah. It's as tacky as it sounds. But, in the capable hands of Bayonetta and Nier developer, Platinum Games, Kojima's vision becomes an acceptable and pretty badass treat.
So if you're like the normal person with a hard-on for ninja gaiden sword-slashing and don't mind a few camera glitches, then, chief, this is it. It has a PlayScore of 7.96
7. Strider
Strider might be a familiar name for fans of the genre, being as it's a remake of Capcom's 1989 platformer that became a massive influence to favorites like Devil May Cry and God of War. Sticking with its sidescrolling platformer roots, it's a far cry from the more liberating titles. It’s not any less stylish though. In fact, it’s distinctly futuristic in its portrayal of the Kazakh metropolis, and combat is just as fluid amd intense.
Faithful to its original, critics felt the game was "too safe" of a reboot but as an admirable effort to bring Strider to the modern age, it has a PlayScore of 8.1
6. Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
Before the coming of Devil May Cry 5, we take a look back to the one of the greatest hack and slash games of all time. This time, Dante has a new friend. Following the events of the first Devil May Cry, get to know the new character Nero as he protects the city of Fortuna from pandemonium, one smackdown at a time.
For the first time in the series, players control two major characters: Nero and Dante, each with unique combat elements and storylines. Special Edition adds a buttload of new content to the game including playable characters like Vergil, Lady, and Trish. Alongside its new content, its polished to pure HD for that perfect demon smacking fun. It has a PlayScore of 8.25
5. Transformers: Devastation
From the team behind Bayonetta. This game delights you with a cacophony of clanking metal and transforming Alien robots in hack and slash fun. As autobots, your job is to protect the planet from the ravaging Insecticons and Constructicons, and eliminating the threats for good.
With Platinum Games’ golden touch, Devastation’s hack and slash gameplay flows with ease. Control one of the five iconic characters from the franchise including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack and Grimlock. Together they do their job to safeguard humanity with their transforming powers. It plays a lot like Bayonetta--if she were a towering metal behemoth, instead of the sexy witch that she is. It has a PlayScore of 8.31
4. Darksiders
Released on the PC way back in 2010, THQ Nordic's action adventure remains as one of the defining titles in the genre. In a series yet to be completed, this first installment follows the misadventures of War personified. Bringing destructive chaos into the post apocalyptic Earth, hacking and slashing as the hellish horseman is almost a heavenly delight. The graphics may well be outdated by today's standards but it doesn't make it any less satisfying. Arm yourself with an array of weapons, solve a few puzzles, and bring down whatever towering creature stands in your way.
A stellar first impression, it has a PlayScore of 8.473. DmC: Devil May Cry
Hold up, before anyone goes crazy, this was a pretty decent Devil May Cry game. Ninja Theory’s very own take on CAPCOM’s iconic demon-slaying series may not be for everyone, but it does prove to be a great game in terms of its familiar elements.
A prequel reboot of some sorts, follow the origins of Dante and Vergil as they take down the evil Mundus from corrupting the world. Just like the original, engage in its frenzied hack and slash combat powered by impressive level designs and backed by a mesmerizing dubstep soundtrack. It receives a PlayScore of 8.71
2. Bayonetta
If there’s one video game character that can comfortably go toe to toe with Dante from Devil May Cry, it’s Bayonetta. SEGA’s badass heroine is lauded for her sexy personality and absurd fighting skills. Beat your enemies with the whip of her deadly locks, or shoot them with your majestic guns. Everything is possible when you’re a Hideki Kamiya character.
Just like most hack and slash games, its combat is fast-paced, button-mashing mayhem. It’s upcoming title, Bayonetta 3, is coming out very soon and we just can’t wait. It has a PlayScore of 8.84
1. And the best hack and slash game is Dead Cells
We might be in trouble, or we might not. As it is, Motion Twins' indie title is already a loveable jumble o’ genres. Without adding to it, the game happily complies with the heart of hack and slash, what with its intense and deliciously satisfying combat. In the hands of Dead Cells, death--usually the bane of a gamer's existence--becomes almost a happy incident, letting you retrace steps and kill monsters with even more gusto.
A welcome, albeit unexpected, addition to the roster, it has a PlayScore of 9.03