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.
8 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
At its core, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a Musou game with Zelda characters thrown in. Its frantic hack and slash combat remains ridiculously satisfying though and the inclusion of Link and co only sweetens the deal. The story is a little weak in places, but there is plenty of replayability and variation thanks to the huge cast of playable protagonists.
Alternatively, the definitive edition of the original Hyrule Warriors game features significantly more characters and can usually be picked up for around half the price. It too suffers from shoddy storytelling at times, but, like its successor, puts much of its focus into providing a solid and enjoyable hack and slash experience.
7 Fire Emblem Warriors
Those who love Musou games but aren't particularly fond of the Zelda franchise should instead consider Fire Emblem Warriors. Like the Hyrule Warriors games, it was developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja and also offers a Dynasty Warriors-style experience. This time, however, the likes of Lu Bu and Cao Cao are instead replaced by Fire Emblem characters rather than Hyrule's finest.
Of course, some may prefer simply going straight to the source and that's not at all a terrible idea. Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires runs like a dream on Switch and features the same frantic hack and slash combat as the aforementioned Warriors games while also providing some pretty interesting insight into Chinese history and folklore.
6 Titan Quest
For a 15-year-old game, Titan Quest still holds up incredibly well. Granted, it's starting to look a little rough and ragged around the edges, but the gameplay remains just as solid today as it was in 2006. Of course, this likely has something to do with the fact that THQ Nordic continued supporting the game for more than a decade after its release; a rare but welcomed touch indeed.
Frustratingly, however, the Ragnarok and Atlantis expansions are not included with the Switch release of the game and must instead be purchased as expensive DLC. The base version of the game does still have plenty to offer though. Like the God of War series, it also packs in plenty of mythology while also packing one hell of a punch when it comes to its hack and slash combat.
5 Astral chain
Astral Chain blends together elements from a lot of different genres and although they don't always mesh together seamlessly, when it does work, it tends to work incredibly well. Combat is well refined, the story is solid and the light RPG mechanics compliment the action-adventure dynamic that PlatinumGames was going for rather than clashing with it.
Due to the heavily stylized graphics, there are very few visual similarities to be drawn between Astral Chain and God of War and the hack and slash combat is pretty different as well. One thing that is consistent across both series, however, is the feeling of satisfaction that can be gained by putting together an effective and stylish combination of attacks.
4 Bayonetta 1 & 2
For as good as Astral Chain can be, it's nowhere near as exciting as one of PlatinumGames' earlier IPs, Bayonetta. Originally released as a multi-platform series before becoming a Nintendo exclusive, Bayonetta features some of the best hack and slash combat to have come out of the last few decades and runs incredibly smoothly on the Switch.
While other ports of the first game are perhaps better due to their support of 4K resolutions, the Switch port of Bayonetta 2 is hands down the definitive version. Of course, it certainly helps that the only other console that it released on was the Wii U. With a third game on Switch hopefully arriving later this year, it's definitely a series worth checking out.
3 Attack On Titan 2
Attack on Titan is arguably one of the more easily accessible anime thanks to its relatively straightforward plot and scintillating action scenes. The first few hours are particularly impressive and Attack on Titan 2 does a fantastic job of capturing the energy and excitement that's contained within them.
Those who enjoyed taking down overpowered Gods with Kratos will likely take a lot of enjoyment from decimating the gigantic and grotesque titans; not to mention the game's buttery smooth combat. The art style may not be to everybody's tastes, but players who are able to look past it will find a lot to love about the game.
2 God Eater 3
God Eater 3 doesn't look much like a hack and slash game at first glance, thanks largely to its heavy-handed use of RPG mechanics. Once these have been stripped away though, players will find a combat system that's incredibly well designed and built around one key idea. Fun.
That's a word that can be used to describe the game on many levels, although it does have its problems too. The bulk of these relate to its mediocre story, although its fantastic combat and challenging difficulty arguably make up for this. Ultimately, when it comes to beating up and then eating up Gods (or Aragami, as they are referred to as in-game), no series does it better.
1 Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry's Dante has forgotten more about hack and slash combat than most main protagonists will ever learn. In fact, just about the only person who could even come close to him is Kratos himself. Like God of War, the classic Capcom series played a hugely important role in popularizing the hack and slash genre back in the early two-thousands and remains a key player even to this day.
Sadly, the excellent Devil May Cry 5 is not yet available on Switch, nor is there any word on if it will ever be. The first three games were ported to the system not too long ago, however, and, visuals aside, they still hold up incredibly well today. That's perhaps not too surprising really though, as stringing together complicated and badass combos is unlikely to ever truly go out of style.