Hack and slash games
Fast, flowing combat with melee weapons against crowds of enemies.
What is the hack and slash genre?
Hack and slash is named after what you do: Hacking and slashing. With melee weapons like swords, axes or claws, you chain attacks through groups of enemies that keep coming. The measure of the genre is not victory but flow: The game hits its goal when attack, dodge and counter link together without a break.
The genre evolved in two directions. On one side are skill-heavy action games built on combo depth and scoring. On the other are top-down hack and slash role-playing games centered on collecting loot and growing a character. Both share the same basic pleasure: The feeling of mowing through a crowd.
What defines it?
Attacks link together without a pause; a combo counter often decides your score.
The target is a steady stream of groups rather than a single strong opponent.
In the top-down branch, dropped items and skill setups are the center of play.
In a good game, attacking, dodging and countering feel like one continuous motion.
Landmark games
Well-known examples often used to explain the genre. For the list on our site, see the games section below.
At a glance
Hack and slash games (8)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hack and slash and musou?
Musou takes the hack and slash idea to the extreme: Hundreds of enemies fill the screen and a single attack knocks down dozens at once. In hack and slash games the crowds are smaller and each enemy is taken a little more seriously.
Why are Diablo-style games called hack and slash?
Because the core action is the same: Clearing crowds of enemies in melee. The difference is that this loop sits on a role-playing frame built around collecting loot and growing a character.