Hack-and-slash games are some of the most fun action titles to try out, with the sheer act of cutting through the opposition and dealing with extremely challenging boss fights becoming quite a blast when executed properly. The quick and frenetic nature of hack-and-slash games can be quite hard to keep up with, but most games do a great job of making things as accessible and engaging as possible.

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That being said, not all hack-and-slash titles are easy to breeze through. There are certain games that can be incredibly challenging, almost feeling unfair for many players. While lowering the difficulty is always an option, learning the mechanics of the game and striving to perform at the highest level in combat ends up being quite a blast in the following tough hack-and-slash games.

10 Hades

Hades.

The latest title from Supergiant Games is also their most popular, with Hades selling bucketloads of copies and establishing itself as one of the best modern hack-and-slash titles around. It uses its roguelite setting to great effect, telling a compelling story without feeling disconnected from the soul of the game.

Hades can be as easy or as hard as players want. The game is pretty challenging until players defeat Hades for the first time, following which certain modifiers can be put into place that change everything from boss encounters to the level design itself.

9 Dead Cells

dead-cells-queen-and-the-sea-guide-beating-the-queen

Dead Cells is a great roguelike that more people need to check out. The combat is tough and the level design is great, making for an engaging time as players slowly make progress in this imaginative title.

While the plagiarism controversy is what led to more and more people checking this game out, there's no denying that Dead Cells stands on its own merit as a pretty engaging title. Fans love going through each successive stage of difficulty and seeing what other tricks this game can pull from its sleeve.

8 Bayonetta

Bayonetta Face

PlatinumGames is known as one of the finest developers of hack-and-slash titles around, and for good reason. While they've had their fair share of duds, games like Bayonetta have done a great job of keeping the publisher's reputation afloat.

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Bayonetta is a game where skillful combat is downright necessary to get through most encounters. Enemies punish poor timing and repetitive moves, with players being ranked quite strictly based on their overall combat performance as well.

7 Devil May Cry 5

Dante from Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 is the latest title in a series of tough hack-and-slash games. Not only does the title serve as a return to form for the series, but it doesn't compromise when it comes to the challenging nature of the combat system as well.

As a result, Devil May Cry 5 becomes one of the best modern hack-and-slash titles around. Players will need to be on the very top of their game if they want the highest scores in every encounter.

6 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Star Wars Inspired Games Metal Gear Rising Revengeance

Another hit from PlatinumGames comes in the form of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. This game expanded on Raiden's story while also introducing amazing hack-and-slash combat the likes of which the Metal Gear series had never seen.

The end result is a magical experience where players slice and dice through enemies, ripping out their spines with clean cuts to heal themselves. Suffice it to say, the game is highly enjoyable and pretty challenging to boot, with both regular enemies and bosses being highly tough to deal with.

5 Nioh 2

Nioh 2 - Splitstaff

Nioh 2 is a great sequel that builds upon pretty much everything that was executed well in the first game. The combat has been refined quite a bit to make for a more natural and smooth flow.

Restoring stamina with timed button presses before unleashing a flurry of combos never ceases to be engaging. Of course, this high-risk, high-reward mechanic can prove to be quite a hassle to execute at times, prompting players to get on the back foot whenever their player character is too tired to attempt any fancy moves.

4 Ninja Gaiden

ninja gaiden master collection ryu

Ninja Gaiden is easily one of the hardest games from the sixth generation of consoles. All three games in the series are pretty brutal and will force players to understand and utilize the tools of the combat system to their fullest.

Given the challenging nature of the original 2D Ninja Gaiden titles, it's easy to see why the 3D titles also chose to prioritize difficulty in such a manner. This trilogy has seen a re-release on modern hardware, letting players experience this challenging game for themselves.

3 Dark Souls

0_0005_Dark Souls Remastered

Dark Souls is a game that needs no introduction. This monumental title put FromSoftware to shame and proved that there was a market for hard games that could be quite profitable.

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The story of the Chosen Undead as they fought tooth-and-nail to either kindle the First Flame or let it burn out makes for a great time. The lore and story of the game are hidden within clever item descriptions and player interactions, adding to the mystery of a world where everything and everyone wants to kill the player.

2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Gameplay

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the more unique games released by FromSoftware. Instead of the build diversity and combat variety seen in previous games, Sekiro forces players to conform to one particular combat system that relied heavily on deflections and one-hit kills.

As a result, the combat system of this game ends up being quite a blast if players conform to it. This can take some getting used to, but players who come to grips with the combat system of Sekiro will have an amazing time slicing and dicing enemies.

1 Bloodborne

Bloodborne - The Doll Holding The Hunter After They've Turned Into Kin (1)

A game that takes inspiration from Victorian and gothic themes along with a bit of Lovecraftian magic, Bloodborne is a great game that fans of the studio will absolutely love. The fact that it has remained an exclusive on the PS4 feels like a downright crime.

Bloodborne's incredible combat and an amazing atmosphere make it arguably the best PS4 exclusive of all time. The game is a masterpiece and is considered by many to be Miyazaki's magnum opus for obvious reasons.

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