Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons.
This action-packed genre has been very popular due to its high octane and flashy nature. In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the top 5 best hack and slash games on PC in 2023.
1. Hi-Fi Rush
This game is definitely Devil May Cry meets your favorite rhythm game and it's a match made in heaven. Even if you don't have rhythm, the game has accessibility options and various difficulties to make sure that everyone can enjoy it equally.
I consider myself to have rhythm, but I don't have very good mechanical control to make combo-heavy action games easy for me. I played on the Hard difficulty and still had a blast. I used a lot of continues so my stage ratings were usually poor, but that's okay. I found that the increased challenge let me appreciate the combat more and ultimately made me better—even if I had to redo some encounters and bosses so much that my thumb cramped up.
Hi-Fi Rush's story is pretty straightforward and you get into the action from the second you pick up the controller. There's never really a lull—the story doesn't stop for the entire 15-18 hours you're playing the game. If nothing else, the writing is efficient. It takes you where you need to go and shows you what it needs to show you in order to tell the story that wants to be told.
2. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dramatic, action-packed story of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. Players fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within.
Choose from a wide variety of weapons, from glaives to dual swords, to discover which fits your fighting style. Overall, Wo Long is more or less another Souls-like hack and slash, with gameplay focusing on challenging boss fights.
The unique feature of Wo Long is the morale system. It is a temporary buff that you gain by killing enemies (or lose by dying). If your morale is higher than the enemy's, you deal more damage. If it is lower, you take more damage. There are shrines that when you place your flag there to increase your minimum morale, so you don't lose too much when you die.
3. Like a Dragon: Ishin
Like a Dragon: Ishin is a remake of the 2014 game, Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! It's a spin-off of the Yakuza series, taking place in the late Edo Period of Japan. Major characters of the franchise play the role of historical figures such as Kiryu Kazuma as Sakamoto Ryōma.
Take up the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma and venture to Kyoto to find your father’s killer, clear yourself of a framed murder, and restore your honor. In doing so, you will bring an end to the samurai era and forever change the future of Japan. Draw your blade, load your revolver, and join the revolution in this heated historical adventure that only the creators of Yakuza: Like a Dragon could produce. The remake will also include familiar faces from Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Like a Dragon.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The story of Cal Kestis continues in STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, an epic new adventure that will push Cal further than ever as he fights to protect the galaxy from descending into darkness.
No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. Carrying the memories and expectations of the Jedi Order with him, his crusade against the Empire has only become more perilous. The cinematic combat system returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles.
Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam.
5. Wild Hearts
Wild Hearts is a unique twist on the hunting genre, where technology gives you a fighting chance against fearsome beasts infused with the ferocious power of nature itself. Take on these creatures alone or hunt with friends in seamless co-op.
No one remembers why the Kemono began their rampage through a once-prosperous Azuma. Fueled by desperation, they wield the power of primal nature at its most destructive. For a while, it seemed that none could stand against their overwhelming might. But hope arrives in the form of a formidable hunter armed with deadly weapons and ancient technology called Karakuri that could turn the tide of battle.
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