Summary
- Some hack-and-slash games focus on slower combat to emphasize storyline integration.
- Not all hack-and-slash titles require fast reflexes, catering to gamers preferring narrative depth.
- Games like Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Divine Divinity offer polished, slower combat experiences.
Hack and slash games come in many different shapes and sizes. In the modern age, they are associated with fast combat and complex progression trees. The best of the best are considered easy to learn but difficult to master, pleasing the entire spectrum of gamers from casual enjoyers to hardcore devotees. Most of all, they are fast and let players quickly feel a sense of progression.
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They are not all like that, however. The games below generally take things a little slower, especially when it comes to combat. Whether they be RPGs or more straightforward action games, the titles below are all examples of how slower does not mean worse. After all, some people might grow a little fatigued at the button-mashing and quick reflexes required of the faster examples of the genre.
7 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Slow Combat That Services The Story
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Released
- August 16, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Publisher(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Ninja Theory's psychological thriller is an atypical action game. It is laser-focused on its narrative. All of the mechanics aim to serve the story, instead of crafting a gratifying gameplay experience.
Large chunks of gameplay lack combat and involve simple puzzles while the story unfolds. Once enemies show up, Senua draws her sword and takes action. Like the other aspects of the game, combat is a lot slower than in other hack-and-slash titles.
Senua's Sacrifice is definitely for gamers who are more interested in a story than satisfying gameplay, but the gameplay that is there is still handled well and is polished.
The sequel, Senua's Sage, is even more of a narrative-driven journey. The gameplay is heavily simplified, but it features jaw-dropping visuals.
6 Kingdom Hearts
A Simple Foundation That Still Holds Up
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Modern Kingdom Hearts titles give players a ton of abilities and insert big set-piece moments into the boss battles with QTEs. Going back to the first game reveals significantly simpler and slower combat. The debut entry also has an easier story to follow.
Players have a single attack button for a simple combo that can be extended later with new abilities. They also have some basic spells and a couple of summons they unlock. The simple combat makes sense, considering the use of numerous Disney properties might have attracted a younger audience than the teenagers and young adults who normally played JRPGs at the time.
It is great that future entries are added to the foundation set by the debut entry. Going back to the debut Kingdom Hearts proves that the foundation is still strong enough to exist on its own without additional bells and whistles.
5 Onimusha: Warlords
Hack And Slash Combat Against Pre-Rendered Backgrounds
People associate puzzle-oriented gameplay with pre-rendered backgrounds and full polygon models almost exclusively with the survival horror genre. This was not exclusive to horror, however. Onimusha: Warlords and its sequel also utilize this structure.
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Instead of shooting at enemies with pistols and shotguns from a relatively safe distance, this early PS2 title has players confront enemies directly with hack-and-slash combat.
Players are not mowing down hordes of enemies, though, and generally face down a couple at a time. Onimusha: Warlords is also a short game. Players can get through it in about four hours even if they take some time solving some puzzles.
4 Divine Divinity
The First Game In The Divinity Series
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- CDV Software
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World
Many are familiar with Divinity: Original Sin. They may not realize that the series stretches all the way back to the early Aughts with Divine Divinity. This is not a turn-based tactics game like the two Original Sin games, though.
Divine Divinity's basic combat is more in line with Diablo, but it is still a complex RPG with more systems at play. The player's build has to consider other skills other than combat-oriented stats.
There is also plenty of exploration to do, with decisions affecting how the world reacts to the main character. Despite the different core combat, there is a lot of DNA in Divine Divinity that stretches into Baldur's Gate 3.
3 Diablo 2: Resurrected
Much Slower Than Modern Action RPGs
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard Entertainment, Vicarious Visions
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
If somebody played Diablo 3 or 4 first, going back to Diablo 2 will take a little getting used to. It is still a worthwhile endeavor, but the second game in the series is a lot slower and harder to get into.
Where the latter entries allow players to bulldoze their way through the main campaign and easily adjust the difficulty, Diablo 2 requires players to pay more attention to their build and plan a path to make it through even normal difficulty.
The 2021 remaster chooses to maintain this slower combat speed to stay true to the Diablo 2 experience players fell in love with decades prior. There is even the ability to switch back to the old graphics at the push of a button.
2 Curse Of The Dead Gods
Explore Dungeons And Get Rich While Avoiding Curses
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Passtech Games
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Shooter
A roguelike where players explore and plunge dungeon environments feels like it takes obvious inspiration from Hades. Curse of the Dead Gods separates itself from the popular title by Supergiant Games with slower combat and a heavier overall feel.
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It is more about exploring and gaining power than escaping the levels and engaging with the story that develops with each run. Curse of the Dead Gods also forces players to consider their resources and actions with the curse meter. Certain actions increase this meter which in turn restricts the player in some ways.
1 Cat Quest 2
You Had Us At "Cat"
Most of the games on this list are serious and include dark fantasy themes. Just looking at the name Cat Quest shows that it is an outlier for the titles with hack-and-slash combat.
The title is a streamlined and relaxing interpretation of the action RPG, feeling whimsical and joyful from start to finish. Players only take on a couple of enemies at one time and enemies do not attack as fast as other examples of the genre, giving plenty of time to dodge.
Cat Quest 2 is much shorter than the average action RPG, only taking about six hours to complete. A huge plus about the sequel over its predecessor is the ability to play through the game cooperatively.
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