2024's top hack-and-slash games
Playing hack-and-slash games is a terrific way to unwind. Just hit the A button on the screen, launch a weapon at swarms of foes, and put all of your troubles from the day to rest. We are thus here to assist you whether you wish to take part in the action or simply decompress with some violence.
Check out our vast library of incredible gaming material before we take this katana-style guide out of its holster (our brains). We cover the best Switch fighting games, the best Switch role-playing games, and, for those seeking something a little more cerebral, the best tactics games on Switch and mobile. We have guides for every need.
Now, let's dive into our selection of the top mobile and Switch hack-and-slash games.
Astral Chain – SwitchThe studio to watch out for in terms of hack-and-slash games is PlatinumGames. The Devil May Cry series, Bayonetta, Metal Gear Solid Rising, Nier Automata, and a plethora of other titles are produced by this firm. Astral Chain, well, that's just PlatinumGames. This future detective action game is a masterful fusion of the studio's well-known qualities and stands alone as an original IP.
As a police officer named Akira, you must search across neo-futuristic cities for clues while juggling fast-paced action and investigative work. In addition, you will soon be able to summon Legions, large monster-like allies that assist you in battling enemies.
The link that connects you to your Legion is called the Astral link, and it allows you to control strikes. You can even use it to bind and trip enemies to execute spectacular assaults. Astral Chain is really lovely, with some enormous set pieces, enormous monsters, and a surprisingly engaging plot. Astral Chain is one of the most visually stunning games on the Switch; its vibrant, highly inhabited neon towns look amazing on the OLED screen.
Switch - Bayonetta 3
In relation to platinum... Bayonetta's journey has not been easy. Nintendo took up the franchise when it debuted on the PS3/Xbox 360, sponsored a Wii U version, and she later made an appearance in Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U. Subsequently, despite Nintendo's early announcement of Bayonetta 3 on the Switch, the game took years to get available. Was the wait worthwhile, then?
Indeed, it was. The Bayonetta series is outrageously violent, ridiculous, and camp. Engage in a galactic fight against the evil armies of heaven and hell. Using her hair to summon demons as powers, Bayo stops time with her Umbra Witch abilities. She also wears shoes with guns as heels. Why? Who gives a damn. It seems fantastic.
The third chapter in the series takes things to a whole new level, with Bayo being able to command enormous demons the size of skyscrapers and engage in massive combat. With a punk attitude and a pet demon cat named Cheshire, Viola, a new character, enters the conflict in the meantime. We're happy the story comes to an explosive conclusion, but the whole trilogy is well worth your time and can be found on Switch.
Our comprehensive Bayonetta 3 review provides more information. Consider checking out Cereza's previous adventure by reading our review of Bayonetta Origins .
Three Hopes - Switch Fire Emblem
Yes, there are two action spin-offs from the well-known tactics series. A alternative setting is imagined in Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, a quasi-sequel to the critically acclaimed Fire Emblem: Three Houses, after the events of the previous game. You get to play as new characters, see your favorite cast members again, and even engage in fresh and intriguing interactions with Byleth, the former protagonist.Even if they don't seem like the greatest match for an action game, every character already has sick weaponry. The way Koei incorporates the Fire Emblem weapon triangle into battle is one intriguing feature that gives players a true taste of the beloved traditional tactics action. This entry also gets a little absurd, but if you really love the original title and the universe, it's a great way to go back and rediscover everything.
Switch
Hyrule Warriors: Age of CalamityThe sequels to Breath of the Wild are like busses. After waiting months for one, you finally get a true sequel—but it tinkers with the chronology in the most bizarre manner and may or may not be related to the main plot of the show. Okay, so maybe not quite like busses.Developer Koei Tecmo set out to create a successor to the very popular game Hyrule Warriors, which combined elements of The Legend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors. It seems that Nintendo allowed them to go a little further into Zelda legend in this iteration. In Age of tragedy, the great tragedy that befalls Hyrule is retold 100 years before the events of Breath of the Wild. You may play as Link with friends in epic fights against armies of Ganon's wicked troops.Similar to previous Warriors games, the objective is to destroy enemy outposts by slaying adversaries, however this time, each Zelda character has unique abilities and weaponry. Traveling back in time to a period before Hyrule's collapse and interacting with folks who don't quite survive the aforementioned catastrophe is a lot of fun. If you like Breath of the Wild a lot, you should definitely give this action spin-off a try.Dead Cells: Switch and mobileDead Cells, a 2D action game by Motion Twin, is an endless gift that can be played on both mobile and Switch platforms. This amazing rogue-lite has been around for more than five years, and it keeps expanding. Motion Twin and Konami recently collaborated on the Return to Castlevania DLC, which expanded Dead Cells with a ton of new locations, characters, and weaponry from the vampire-hunting franchise.There are many things to accomplish in Dead Cells because to its enormous variety of weaponry, foes, and bosses. Additionally, since the levels are produced procedurally, no two runs are alike. Even if you're not a fan of rogue-like games, we still suggest trying this one since, while death may still force you to start over from scratch, it's simple to gather the vital cells that allow you to access new content.Dead Cells is available on Switch, Android, iPhone, and as part of Apple Arcade. It's a terrific game to play on any platform. Although mobile devices support controllers fully, the fast-paced action is also well translated by the touch controls. Try this system, regardless of the one you possess.For further information, see our Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC review.
Third-party mobile Honkai Impact
Genshin Impact is undoubtedly well-known to those who play mobile games often, but have you tried any of Hoyoverse's other games? With some additional entertaining action components, Honkai Impact 3rd is a fast-paced, futuristic action game that combines many of the things that fans like about Genshin.Enjoy this entertaining tale campaign by yourself or with others, and with the inclusion of social sim aspects, come to know and love the large ensemble of people. Even better, you may swiftly switch between many controlled characters, assigning the most effective attacks to certain foes. It also looks amazing on mobile devices, appearing flawlessly on any gadget with an AMOLED display and HDR capabilities.
Mobile and switchable hades
Alright, so in terms of genre, I may be going a little too far with this list of hack-and-slash games, but overall, Hades fits the description. This highly regarded roguelike has intense, fast-paced action that keeps you on your toes at all times, enhanced with an engaging story and a powerful soundtrack.For those who are unaware, Supergiant Games is the developer of the game Hades. The company is known for creating games that combine elements from many genres to create something really amazing. That Hades is just what he is. Given this, it should come as no surprise that we are eager for Hades 2 to release soon.
Switch in Devil May Cry
Since Devil May Cry is one of the most well-known hack-and-slash games ever, it naturally belongs on our list now that it has been ported to the Switch. This gothic-themed encounter is well-known for being Dante's debut, as the demon hunter uses his variety of weapons to defeat a heinous foe and put together some impressive combinations.Devil May Cry is still a fun combat-focused game for anybody feeling a touch nostalgic for the games of the early 2000s, but we'd be lying if we claimed it didn't seem a little dated these days. This is one of those moments I always return to when I feel like chopping through a few foes mindlessly. Nobody is as skilled with a sword as Dante is.
Switch No More Heroes IIIFew hack-and-slash games are as crazy as No More Heroes III, the most recent chapter in Travis Touchdown's adventures with a sword. The third game in the series, it's a great introduction to Travis' antics for people who aren't acquainted with him thanks to its amusing dialogue, clever boss fights, and large open world to explore.The plot of No More Heroes III is rather complicated, as it is in all the games in this series, but that only makes us like it more. In other words, there's never a boring time.See our raving No additional Heroes III review for additional details on this one.
Mobile version of Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat
We also have a Devil May Cry game for mobile players, so don't worry. Peak of Combat's gameplay, in contrast to previous mobile spin-offs, is mostly akin to the series' console games, with lots of action involving swinging weapons, taking out demons, and brandishing guns. Put simply, this should be a lot of fun if you like Dante's typical shenanigans.Peak of Combat is worth playing again even if you tried it very soon after debut since, like other mobile games, it's always receiving improvements.See our Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat codes guide and Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat tier list for some first assistance.