Are you ready to blow off some steam with gaming after long hours of work? Then you should consider playing a fast-paced hack & slash video game. As your friend, I will of course guide you through this journey by telling you the best hack & slash games to play in 2023. There are 15 of them. So, you’ll be busy for a while.
Hack & Slash is a video game genre all about mindless action and combat. You’ll be constantly engaging combat in hack & slash games by facing endless hordes. In order to survive and wreak havoc to your enemies, you’ll find bunch of spells, abilities, skills, and weapons in your arsenal.
All in all, if you can’t complete games anymore, and want some fast-paced action, play the games below.
There you go, tier list of best hack & slash games ever:
1. Diablo Franchise
Obviously the first game comes to mind when you think about hack & slash genre is Diablo. It’s basically in cult classic legend status.
First Diablo game released in 1997 and become ultra popular right away. Then there were Diablo 2, Diablo 3, Diablo Immortal, and bunch of DLCs. But right now, everyone is waiting for Diablo 4 which is expected to be released in 2023. So, if you haven’t played older diablo games before, now is the perfect to play so that you can be ready for Diablo 4.
Diablo 1 might be hard to get into because it’s really old and outdated. However, can’t say the same for Diablo 3. Also, Diablo 2 had a remake recently. So, you are good to go.
2. Hades
2020 game Hades is number one on this best mindless hack slash games list. Because it’s amazing! How so? First of all, it’s the highest rated hack & slash game on Steam. Players love it. It’s also a rogue-like, so expect lots of action and hardship every now and then.
You can expect fantastic art, epic music, engaging gameplay, breathtaking design, and rich storytelling from this game. If you like Greek mythology, that’s another plus for you because that’s what this game is about.
Good job Supergiant Games. Another hack & slash game by SuperGiant Games is made it to this list, which is called Bastion, check number 4.
3. V Rising
Here is something unique. V Rising is not only mindless hack & slash, but also a base-building open-world survival. That’s the mix of lots of genres I know. But don’t worry, V Rising pulls it off perfectly.
In this game you awaken as a vampire, hungry for blood. You must hunt for blood in nearby settlements and in the wilderness to regain your strenght and grow. Then, the time comes for you to rise your castle and thrive in the open-world full of mysteries.
You can play V Rising single-player. However, you can get most of it only by playing multiplayer co-op. Multiplayer is especially fun when you raid other players bases with your buddies.
4. Bastion
An older hack & slash game from the creators of Hades, here is Bastion. Equally good, but a little bit older. Other than that, the game is solid.
The game is great hack & slash filled with action. But the most important things about Bastion are the amazing artwork and great soundtrack. Calling Bastion a simple game would be unfair. It’s an art piece. Believe me, hand-painted artwork will blow your mind.
Other than that, final thing I would like to say about Bastion is its reactive narrative. Narrator will mark your every move in hours of gameplay. There is nothing more immersive than that.
5. Alaloth: Chambions of The Four Kingdoms
Here is another piece of art. I believe Alaloth is one of the best action RPGs with hack & slash elements. However, it’s really underrated. Most people not heard about it yet. Probably because it’s still an early access game even though the release was 2022.
Developers introduce Alaloth as a baby of Baldur’s Gate and Dark Souls. That means a mix between role-playing and epic boss fights. As a fan of both genres, I can’t get enough of Alaloth.
Unique combat system will be challenging at the start, but it becomes really rewarding as you further progress into the game.
6. Darksiders Genesis
Darksiders franchise was always about third-person puzzle solving. But everything changed with the Darksiders Genesis. This game is using top-down view like diablo and is hack & slash game. You play as Strife, horseman of The Apocalypse. In co-op, second player controls horseman of the WAR. Both have their unique skillset and abilities to wreak havoc against hordes of enemies.
7. Wigmund
Wigmund is an open-world fantasy action RPG. Hack & slash as well.
I love hack & slash games that offers much more. In Wigmund you can craft, fish, hunt, cook, and develop professions. So, if you like hack & slash and ARPGs, delve into the dark world of Wigmund ASAP.
Story is inspired by the J.R.R Tolkien. You build your fellowship and explore rich open-world.
8. Eldest Souls
As can be seen in the name, Eldest Souls is a souls-like game. Meaning hard-core battles with the risk of dying each battle.
The game is simply a piece of art using pixel-graphics. You’ll encounter many bosses during your gameplay, and you will experience never-ending action.
Dark Souls in 2d, that is something that must be experienced.
9. Avernus
Avernus is the most underrated hack & slash game ever. It’s a 2023 release and only a handful of people know about.
The game presents itself as a souls-like like Eldest Souls I’ve mention above. Isometric action is a great spin on the souls-like formula. Sometimes I think, this is what Diablo 4 should be like. But probably it’s gonna be more casual.
10. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr
I’ve never got into Warhammer games or the lore. That’s why I don’t have much to say about Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr. However, if you like hack & slash and isometric RPG, this game worth a shot. Especially if you’re into Warhammer universe.
It’s a story driven experience that can be played both single-player and co-op. Needless to say, co-op is much more fun.
11. Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem is a dynamic Hack & Slash with no class restrictions. You can choose your path as you level-up and play your character the way you wanted. The freedom of class and exploration what makes this game worth playing.
The game received mixed reviews but worth playing in my opinion. Especially if you can get a discounted deal.
12. Undecember
Let’s continue with another hack & slash action RPG with no class restriction. It’s filled with action and abilities, kinda reminds me of the Lost Ark.
There are Acts (main quest), Chaos Dungeon (end game content), Boss Raids (co-op), and guilds (up to 50 members) in the Undecember. You can still play solo, but Undecember is a game that must be played online.
13. Last Epoch
Uncover the past, reforge the future. That’s motto of Last Epoch. It’s a hack & slash action RPG with time-travel. Yes, you heard it right, TIME TRAVEL. You’ll be able to explore the game in four different eras and see how the world changes over-time.
What else Last Epoch has to offer? 15 mastery classes, +100 skill trees, crafting, loot, and endless fun.
14. Batora: Lost Haven
Batora: Lost Haven, a choice-driven isometric action-adventure RPG with hack & slash elements. One can say, it’s all in one!
Features of Batora:
- Unique combat duality system.
- Rich story.
- Meaningfull dialogues.
- Puzzles.
- Multiple endings.
15. Slay the Dragon!
Let’s end this list with a casual hack & slash game. Slay the Dragon! is the most casual fantasy hac & slash with great action. It’s also free to play indie game on Steam. So, no payment required.
You can quickly blow off some steam with Slay the Dragon. There is one down-side though, the game is around 30 minutes. So, it’s a one shot experience. Best way to sum up this game would be something like this: Short, simple, cute, and fun!