Summary
Hack-and-slash games boast satisfying action and entertaining combat mechanics that are a lot of fun to master. It’s great to see a player’s repertoire of skills slowly expand as they use flashier combos in their battles and take on tough-as-nails bosses to test their skills.
Some ofthe best hack-and-slash gamesplayers can get their hands on utilize a 2D art style that adds to the novelty of the experience. Good 2D hack-and-slash games ensure that players will have a great time carving their path through numerous foes as their competency increases with each battle.
One of the most underrated Metroidvania hack-and-slash games players can get their hands on,Dust: An Elysian Tailis a beautiful game with a striking 2D art style. The hand-drawn aesthetic makes it easy for players to get lost in this magical world as they slowly acquire the skills they need to make meaningful progress.
A healthy dose of amnesia makes for a simple way to ingratiate players to the world ofDust: An Elysian Tail. Combining swordplay and magic to beat down foes in style never gets old and is a huge part of what makes this title such a special and underrated gem.
The gorgeous 2D sprite work ofHyper Light Drifterattracted many fans who wanted to see what this game was about. Accompanying this art style is fun exploration in line with classicZeldagames coupled withchallenging hack-and-slash combatwhere players are punished for making mistakes.
It was downright puzzling that a game with a reaction-based combat system was limited to 30 FPS, but a patch arrived soon enough to address this issue. As things stand,Hyper Light Drifteris an excellent top-down action game players can enjoy, and it’s a shame that the sequel took too many risks that didn’t pay off.
One of the most interesting and unique JRPGs players can check out,Odin Sphereutilizes the aesthetic of a children’s book to utilize hyper-stylized 2D which is a joy to look at. Along with this, the unique narrative lets players control five different characters whose chapters intertwine and make for a fun story that ties everything together.
Acquiring ingredients for complex recipes and gaining a ton of levels is a great way to switch up how leveling works andmakesOdin Spherean offbeat JRPGthat fans of the genre should check out. The hack-and-slash seems simple but eventually lets players combine their regular attacks with special abilities to make every boss fight a cathartic affair where players can execute their abilities in quick succession.
Before Supergiant Games became one of the most popular developers around courtesy of their work onHades, they made a notable impact with the release ofBastion. This beautiful 2D game boasted a unique art style and fun gameplay, coupled with the narration of Logan Cunningham, ensuring that Bastion’s vibes would be remarkable from the world go.
It helped that the combat remained fresh and engaging by introducing different weapons as players made progress. The evocative visuals help some of its emotional moments stand out and let players enjoy one of the most unique indie games they can get their hands on.
WhileBlasphemouswas a bit rough around the edges, players loved the gritty pixel art, dark setting, and challenging bosses. The sequel upped the ante and perfected many aspects of the first game to make for a riveting side-scrolling hack-and-slash title.
Players needed to be careful with bosses since a single mistake could lead to their demise. The 2D Soulslike combat prioritized dodges and parries, with players being rewarded for an airtight defense with crucial attack windows where they could let their weapon swing as much as possible before the boss could punish their overzealous nature.
The plagiarism controversy surroundingDead Cellsshould’ve taken away from the game’s launch, but it ended up being a fortunate piece of marketing that let players enjoy one of the best roguelike 2D hack-and-slash titles of all time. It’s magical howDead Cellsturns the simple act of exploration into a cathartic experience, with players loving the act of taking out a tough boss after numerous failed attempts.
The progression curve inDead Cellsis a satisfying one where players will slowly but surely get stronger after spending some hours and making meaningful progress in each run. It’s a must-play for fans of hack-and-slash titles who enjoy 2D visuals, withthe DLC forDead Cellsadding more content and even letting players enjoy a crossover with theCastlevaniaseries in one instance.
Players who want to check out one of the most challenging 2D action games of all time willlove whatKatana Zerobrings to the table. The game takes no prisoners and forces players to complete a run perfectly without incurring any damage.
There’s nothing more satisfying than getting through a stage by the skin of one’s teeth after dying over and over again. Sadists can up the ante by playing on the harder difficulty, which changes enemy layouts and boss patterns to make for a fresh and invigorating experience all over again.
Hadesis one of the most popular video games of all time that needs no introduction. Supergiant Games knocked it out of the part with a scintillating roguelite action title where the gameplay and narrative design merge harmoniously, as one would expect from a game by this reputed developer.
Thebeauty ofHadesstems from the sense of achievement players feel as they become more adept at the game’s combat and slowly invest in Zagreus' abilities. The combination of both ensures that reaching the surface becomes easier with each run, with the Pact of Punishment arriving to help each run feel fresh, especially if players enhance the difficulty of each boss fight.
