With huge fresh title such asElden Ringincorporating hack writer - and - slash elements and many more titles out designed to satisfy the power fantasy of taking on powerful enemy in melee combat , there is an enduring popularity to the gameplay style . For a lot of histrion , nothing can beat button - mashing , tight - quarters fighting .

As a result , there is a wide image of hugely popular hack - and - slash deed of conveyance , some being all - out traditional hack - and - slash games , and others infusing the style with other genres . player onRankercollectively voted on which of these games stomach above all others as the most pop .

Devil May Cry 5 (2019)

The up-to-the-minute mainline installment in the titan of drudge - and - separatrix games that is theDevil May Cryseries , Devil May Cry 5only bring more polish and slickness to a fight arrangement that always puts the emphasis on mode . Just by bring back Dante and Nero as playable character , the unexampled title deliver the goods over fans but there are plenty ofother great things aboutDevil May Cry 5 .

While the hack - and - slash gameplay that tasks the player with combining abilities for dash points is very familiar , the unlike playable characters in the game   with different weapons and combat way   keep things feeling fresh . DMC 5may not have achieved the same iconic status as early games in the serial but it still became an inst musical style classic .

God Of War (2005)

Though it may get overlooked more often these twenty-four hour period in Inner Light of the late dealership reboot that focused slenderly   less on hack - and - gash battle royal combat , the originalGod of Warfrom 2005 is still one of the most democratic title for hacker - and - separatrix fans . put the participant in the shoes of Kratos , God of Warpits the musician against some of the most redoubtable beings from Hellenic mythology .

ab initio armed with his Blades of Chaos , twin blades attached to Kratos by chains on his wrists , the thespian get to have all their exponent fantasies of put down thriftlessness to massive enemies with debauched combo - based attacks . WithGod of War : Ragnorokcoming this year , now is also a slap-up prison term to revisit the very firstGod of Wargame .

Ninja Gaiden II (2008)

The second 3D title in the long - run video game series , Ninja Gaiden IIstepped everything up from its precursor with more all - out violence and bloodshed than ever before . Whilst some title list more towards RPG or action - adventure music genre elements , Ninja Gaiden three a game with an almost single - apt focus on destroying foe , big and small .

That does n’t mean the plot does n’t have an engaging plot of land , however , which takes its headmaster ninja booster Ryu Hayabusa across continents and into the Hades in his exploit to stop the   resurrection   of the Archfiend Vazdah . A stalwart of the genre , many fans will be proud of to see   aNinja Gaidentitle still amongst the most pop plug - and - slash games .

Diablo II (2000)

Having already created an ARPG classic in the form of the firstDiablogame , Blizzard North stick to up with a sequel that ramp up the volume . Whilst there areplenty of plot like theDiablotitles now , players who wanted some fast - paced battle royal action along with a dark phantasy plotline could n’t do much better thanDiablo IIin the belated 90s and former 2000s .

Diablo II bestow   satisfying taxicab - and - slash combat to an enthralling ARPG narrative but there was a depth to the gameplay that means the player does n’t just have to thoughtlessly release mash , though there are opportunities for that . A remaster follow last yr in the form ofDiablo II : Resurrected , but the original experience still wins out with a mint of fans .

Bayonetta 2 (2014)

Whilst many of the other most popular hack - and - diagonal biz have had the chance to stand up the examination of meter , Bayonetta 2is a comparatively late follow - up to the absurdly over - the - topBayonetta . Mixing fashionable combat against a variety of enemies with epic cutscenes that could n’t belong to any other game series , Bayonetta 2is the thoroughgoing sequel .

The titular protagonist is now one ofthe most iconic plug - and - gash heroesand also happens to be one of the most fun to be in control of with addictive combos and iconic movement that allow the instrumentalist to finger exceptionally powerful . It ’s no surprise that a thirdBayonettagame is on the way this year that may well also become a classic .

Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition (2015)

Devil May Cry 4puts the player in the part of both   Dante and a unexampled character , Nero , who is on a missionary post to discontinue the franchise ’s principal character , and this unique premise led to one of the series ' good and most polished experience . InDMC 4 , Nero uses his powerful Devil Bringer arm to struggle , meaning fresh machinist for hack - and - slash fans to drop their teeth into .

In 2015 , theSpecial Editionwas let go that signified not just a remaster but a massive overhaul of the game . As if the original was n’t already one of the best submission in the series , the new version play an insane amount of fresh additions and improvements , include three newfangled playable characters .

Bayonetta (2009)

The plot that inaugurate the domain to Bayonetta , a powerful witch   who skillfully wields her pistols in memorable fighting that still feel fresh today , this title has a special post in the pantheon of hack - and - slash greats . Bayonettawas created by Hideki Kamiya who , having also direct the originalDevil May Cry , had a track criminal record with great , fashionable fighting .

Kamiya and the team delivered more than anyone could have expected withBayonettaand , whether using her guns to effortlessly dispatch her enemies or summoning demons to do the piece of work for her , the gameplay is nearly always exhilarating . With an enhanced Windows port in 2017 , the game secured its billet as one of the most democratic games in the genre .

Devil May Cry (2001)

With 5 mainline titles andan upcoming TV show base on the video plot serieson the fashion , it ’s clean to say that the firstDevil May Crygame commence a phenomenon in the other 2000s . Though the game itself has aged somewhat , it is still clear to see why Devil May Cry won over so many fans to its incredibly fashionable gameplay conception .

Whilst good deal of game had include slick combat , Devil May Cryput it front and plaza , awarding the player with style item for pull off challenging combos . The secret plan set a trend that has been at the heart of many hack - and - cut games ever since and that ’s part of the reason why it remains one of the most popular more than two ten later .

God Of War II (2007)

God of Waris arguably the ripe hack - and - slash seriesand , for many fan , it peaked with the firing ofGod of War IIin 2007 . Everything that made the first game great is amped up to 11 in this follow - up claim , with even more cinematic violence and mad combo chains to take out off on formidable enemies .

InGod of War II , Santa Monica Studios produced a hack - and - virgule game that even non - action fans could n’t dislike , and the game is a beautiful - looking ode to over - the - top fighting with an enjoyably broad approaching to the mythology it draw from . Even compare to the ambitious reboot , God of War IIholds up magnificently .

Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening (2005)

A prequel to the firstDevil May scream , the third mainline game in the series explains some of the blood of the serial ' independent character and his notorious shop . Whilst that does n’t necessarily vocalize like the most interesting apparatus to an activity game , Devil May Cry 3is a masterpiece of ward-heeler - and - slash gameplay , only improving on the previous titles in the series .

interchange between combat panache as Dante is as satisfying as ever and the game almost demands the player to aim for the best ranks . Devil May Cry 3represents not just the apex of theDevil May Cryseries but also the peak of hack - and - slash game , remaining the most popular choice for the best game in the musical style more 15 years   after its release .

NEXT : The 10 Best Fighting Games Ever , According To Ranker

Oblivion Remaster character battlemage Build

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

GTA 6 characters with some imagery

Featured image Bayonetta 2 and god of war II

Devil May Cry 5 Key Art

God of War 1 key art

Ninja Gaiden 2

Bayonetta 2 cover artwork

Bayonetta with her pistols smiling in Bayonetta

Key art for Devil May Cry 1

An image of Kratos on the God of War II game front cover. He is seen looking towards the city.

Devil May Cry 3 Staredown

Gaming