Summary
- Hack n' slash games with female protagonists offer diverse playstyles and compelling stories.
- Plushie From The Sky impresses with unique gameplay amidst some rough edges.
- Female protagonists like Juliet Starling, Alice, and 2B shine in standout hack n' slash games.
Whether players delight in causing as much destruction as possible or get a kick out of stringing together perfect combos, there’s something uniquely satisfying about hack n’ slash games.
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While some great hack n' slash games like Dante's Inferno and Bloody Spell relegate female characters to unlockable or DLC content, the games on this list put female characters in the driver’s seat from the get-go. Whether the preferred playstyle is to button-mash the way to victory or to agonize for hours over perfecting a technique to yield the most satisfying kills, these are some of the best hack n’ slash games with female protagonists.
10 Plushie From The Sky
Cute Meets Carnage In This Adorable RPG Hack n' Slash
- Platform(s): Windows
- Released: May 6, 2024
- Developer(s): Fishwind
- Genre(s): Hack n' Slash, RPG
In this cute and quirky soulslike hack n’ slash, players take on the role of a fallen angel who’s battling to get home with the help of a range of adorable plushie companions who serve as weapons, each with their own special abilities.
While the game is quite short and is perhaps a little rough around the edges, it’s an impressive first entry filled with charm from lone developer Fishwind, and will leave players captivated by its beautiful anime-inspired art style and compelling storyline.
9 Blades Of Time
A Reboot That Outshines Its Predecessor
Blades of Time
- Released
- March 6, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Gaijin Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Shooter
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, macOS
In this 2012 spiritual successor to X Blades, players take on the role of Ayumi, a treasure hunter who embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of an island riddled with monsters.
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While the game has been criticized for its generic storytelling and mediocre Switch port, its stand-out feature of rewinding time to create clones of Ayumi who can join her in battles brings something unique and memorable to the experience. It’s great fun to play around with the game in God Mode for the ultimate mindless blade-wielding power fantasy.
8 Soulstice
An Engaging Tale Of Sisterly Love
Soulstice
- Released
- September 20, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Reply Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Soulstice is a 2022 game where players slip into the role of a Chimera warrior created from the merged souls of two sisters, the fierce Briar and the ghostly Lute, the latter of whom was sacrificed in the process of binding the pair together. The player controls both aspects of the Chimera to wage war against the Wraiths, villainous creatures who have turned the common townsfolk into unrecognizable monstrosities.
While the Devil May Cry-inspired combat of the game isn’t fully realized, the truly inseparable bond between the two sisters makes for a compelling and worthwhile story.
7 Alice: Madness Returns
A Twisted Wonderland Of Delights
Alice: Madness Returns
- Released
- June 14, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Fans of the original American McGee’s Alice were in for a mind-bending treat upon the release of its sequel, which sees grown-up Alice return to a Wonderland overrun by an evil substance known as the Ruin, threatening to drown everything good and pure about Alice’s imaginary world.
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With fast-paced, punchy combat, stunning art direction, and a plot that pulls no punches, not to mention some stunning costumes and even more brutal weapons available as DLC, Alice: Madness Returns is a game not to be missed for fans of games set in the past with female protagonists.
6 BloodRayne
A Hypnotic Hack n' Slash
Bloodrayne
- Released
- October 15, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Terminal Reality, Big Boat Interactive, Full Fat Games
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Hack and Slash, Fighting, Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
In BloodRayne, players become Rayne, a human-vampire hybrid living in the 1930s who is tasked with ridding the world of a whirlwind of enemies including zombies, demons, gigantic spiders and Nazis bent upon tapping into supernatural powers.
The game is a whirlwind of frantic fun and gory visuals with a memorable female vampire protagonist, which inspired a series of bizarre movie spin-offs as well as some great game sequels. Remasters of both the first and second games in the series are now available on modern systems as Bloodrayne: Revamped.
5 Lollipop Chainsaw
A Dizzying Rainbow Romp Through The Zombie Apocalypse
Lollipop Chainsaw
- Released
- June 12, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
In Lollipop Chainsaw, players take on the role of sugary-sweet Juliet Starling, a bubbly teenager whose eighteenth birthday is brought to a bloody halt when a zombie outbreak wreaks havoc at her high school. With the help of her beloved chainsaw and the reanimated head of her boyfriend Nick, players will adore causing sparkling mayhem across the city as Juliet battles an array of music-themed zombie bosses.
With a dazzling soundtrack and a wicked sense of humor, it's a great hack n' slash that has recently been remastered for modern systems as Lollipop Chainsaw: RePop.
4 Heavenly Sword
A PS3 Stand-Out Deserving Of A Remaster
Heavenly Sword
- Released
- September 12, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PS3
This PS3 exclusive title allows players to submerge themselves into the role of Nariko, a fiery-haired warrior who steps up to wield the fabled Heavenly Sword in a battle against a tyrannical king. While the plot may at first sound somewhat generic, the game boasts an intricate story with an incredibly powerful ending.
The game is also worth experiencing for its stunning visuals, an engaging combat system with three unique styles and fun shooting-based gameplay to enjoy when players step into the shoes of Nariko’s half-sister, Kai.
3 Stellar Blade
Stunning Visuals And Challenging Combat
Stellar Blade
- Released
- April 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
2024’s Stellar Blade takes players on a riveting adventure to reclaim Earth from a monstrous infestation of enemies, the outstandingly creepy Naytibas. Players will step into the shoes of Eve, the stoic and beautiful heroine who is sent from an outer space colony to take back the planet, a journey that will lead the player to make some very hard decisions.
The game offers some great combat alongside beautiful visuals, though the story has been criticized by some for being a little lackluster.
2 NieR: Automata
A Riveting Story With Brilliant Protagonists
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
While there are three playable protagonists in NeiR: Automata, two of whom are female Androids, players will get to know the world through the shielded eyes of the silver-haired 2B, who finds herself locked in a never-ending war between Androids and Machines on a ravaged Earth.
The game’s awesome combat system, coupled with its gut-punching story, makes it an unforgettable experience for players, particularly for those who are treated to the truly moving "E" ending of the game.
1 Bayonetta
Earns Its Place As A Giant Of The Genre
Bayonetta
- Released
- October 29, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
The smash hit Bayonetta earns its place at number one by being a masterclass in the genre, with intricate combat, unique enemies, and deliciously satisfying finishing moves. Players take to the stage as sultry seductress Bayonetta, an Umbra witch who must slaughter an array of Angelic monstrosities and uncover the mysteries of her past, armed with her double-barreled Scarborough Fair guns.
Bayonetta’s biting sense of wit, stylish set pieces, and unforgettable heroine make it a game that will always be beloved by fans.
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