The Best Hack-And-Slash Games

Dark fantasy goliath Diablo III distils its dungeon crawler, role-playing, and hack-and-slash sensibilities into a near-perfect video game. The player chooses from one of seven class types and embarks on a quest to defeat Diablo, the Lord of Terror. Unlike some H&S titles, Diablo III offers up ranged and spell-based gameplay, allowing the battlefield to be conquered through both brain and brawn. The Eternal Collection comes complete with all DLC.Amazon.co.uk

Dante, Nero, and newcomer "V" are on the hunt for the demon Urizen in Red Grave City. Devil May Cry 5 stomps its traditional hack-and-slash path, with the uber-stylised battles incorporating flourished sword play, revolver trick shots, and flaming martial art combos all rendered in stunning 4K. Amazon.co.uk

Sure, the originals don't have the crisp graphic shine of DMC 5, but the history and pedigree tied up in this neat little bundle can't be missed. This is where the DMC series and hack-and-slash genre cut its teeth. Amazon.co.uk

Astral Chain is a fast-paced hack-and-slash title with a thoroughbred Devil May Cry heritage inherited from Hideki Kamiya, who oversaw both games' development. In a post-apocalyptic world, the player is tasked with getting a grasp on a world of cyberpunk criminality, supernatural happenings, and stylised violence. The game balances its chaotic battle sequences with a genuinely compelling narrative and lore which'll have players enthralled. This is easily one of the best Switch games and one of the most exciting H&S titles of the past decade. Amazon.co.uk

This 10-year anniversary bundle brings together two classic titles and gives them a full 4K remaster. Bayonetta, again no doubt thanks to Hideki Kamiya's input, is an incredible example of the genre. Players take control of Bayonetta, a witch-cum-summoner shapeshifting gunfighting expert, who is seeking her memories regarding the "Eyes of the World". Vanquish, though not a strict hack-and-slash title, will please the genre's dedicated fans with its OTT sci-fi themes and insane combination of speed-rush and bullet-hell gameplay.Amazon.co.uk

The player takes control of the powerful and unpredictable Fury, sister of two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and mage, as she battles to restore balance to Earth. Through a combination of magic, sword and dagger play, and enchanted whips, Fury will battle hordes on a map that is infused with open-world exploration. Though the game received some mixed reviews on launch, the patched 'Classic' mode has allowed Darksiders III to take its place as a purebred hack-and-slash title. Amazon.co.uk

In a new direction for the franchise, Darksiders Genesis has the player engage in a top-down battle to reign in the will of Lucifer, switching between playing as the gun-wielding Strife or the sword-swinging War, depending on player preference (or both in co-op mode). This spin-off prequel is a nod to classic RPGs and H&S titles of yore, and is a real blast. Released Feb 14th for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Out now on Steam.Amazon.co.uk

Initially conceived around an unfinished Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo) script, Nioh follows William, an Irish samurai, as he pursues the occultist Edward Kelley across Feudal Japan in the year 1600. Through a combination of brute force, tactics, sword stances, and role-playing skill development, the player must fight through areas of supernatural beings, or "yōkai", to scupper the plans of Kelley and Queen Elizabeth I. The highly anticipated sequel, Nioh 2, has an upcoming release in early-March 2020. Amazon.co.uk

The God of War series stands tall in both gaming and hack-and-slash history. This instalment bravely revamps the series' gameplay and camera positioning to offer up a reinvigorating take on the hack-and-slash genre. The narrative is also turned on its head as the player is reunited with Kratos, who is no longer a demi-god of Ancient Greece, but a widower seeking the highest peak of Ancient Norway with his son, Arteus, in order to scatter his wife's ashes. This journey soon encounters trouble as the pair are confronted by creations straight from the pages of Norse mythology.Amazon.co.uk

Dust off that PS3 and load up one of the greatest gaming sagas of all time. This Saga collection bundles five of the most important and highly rated hack-and-slash video games of all time. Amazon.co.uk

Code Vein has the player team up with an AI counterpart to explore a dungeon-esque city which has been transformed by the Thorn of Judgement into a hellscape. The hack-and-slash battle format is reinforced with a _Dark Souls-_inspired role-playing dynamic which sees the player utilising their skills sets and mysterious 'Gifts' along with found armour and weaponry to best hideous and monstrous opponents. This title is a modern-day classic with a significant and dedicated following. Amazon.co.uk