The God of War series truly redefined the action-adventure gaming genre when its first title came out on the original PlayStation 2. Getting to rip the limbs from various gods and monsters as Kratos has since become a favored pastime of many gamers.
But since it may be a while before the series sees another entry, why not look at some of Kratos' contemporaries in the genre? Here are 10 awesome hack and slash titles that aren't God of War.
Shinobi Series
Debuting on the Sega systems, Shinobi is an action side-scroller, but has enough hack-and-slash action to satisfy one's inner ninja at the best of times. Armed with a blade, kunai, throwing stars, and a handful of special abilities, Joe Musashi is armed and ready to take on slews of enemies and bosses to fight his way to victory. With just the right amount of pixelated gore, Shinobi perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the list.
Devil May Cry Series
One of the biggest influences on the God of War series as a whole was definitely Capcom's Devil May Cry. While Kratos might not be as cool and collected as Dante, both have an appetite for weapons, combos, and bloodshed.
Dante might not have to tangle with Zeus and the Olympians, but battling the hoards of Hell is no easy job either. Either way, mash the buttons and watch the monsters fall.
Dark Souls
Dark Souls is most definitely not for everyone. Its steep learning curve and "git gud" style of gaming will understandably drive many players away, but those who choose to stay will be met with a brutal hack and slash experience that will put even the toughest of gamers to the test. It'll take more than the Blades of Olympus to get through some of these ancient horrors.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Similar to their Souls series, Sekiro takes the weapon-based combat of the previously mentioned game but gives it a Japanese mythological flavor.
Though Sekiro is much more combat-focused then some of the other titles on our list, it will take more than a samurai sword to weave through the game's collection of monsters and enemies. It might be more forgiving, but this is still a challenging title.
Blasphemous
Blasphemous is what happens when God of War meets Castlevania. The game has the sprawling maps and backtracking for items one would find in a Metroidvania title, but it has a prevalent focus on combat not seen in other games of the genre. And there is blood — lots and lots of blood. As the Penitent One, players will hack, slash, and mutilate droves of frightening enemies and unholy bosses. It is not for the squeamish.
Dante's Inferno
Dante's Inferno is a shameless clone of God of War, but it is immensely and intensely satisfying. Where Kratos tests his mettle against the Greek pantheon, Dante goes toe-to-toe with the nine Circles of Hell.
Saving one's beloved from the clutches of Satan is a noble task, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Armed with Death's Scythe, players will mow through enemies to complete their trip to Hell and back.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
While this game takes more from Batman's Arkham series, the weapon-based combat seems like it would be at home in any good hack and slash title. Shadow of Mordor features a ranger in league with an Elven wraith on a quest for vengeance. The game's primary objective is taking down the orc armies of Sauron with a balletic fury of swordplay and spy work. It definitely shows a brutal side to Tolkien's universe.
Dragon’s Crown
For those looking for a more traditional hack and slash adventure, the answer is Dragon's Crown. Easily the most beautiful game ever created for the PlayStation 3, this side-scrolling RPG features a unique loot system, a gorgeous high-fantasy world, six different characters, and more monsters and bosses than one can shake a sword at.
With wizards, spells, dragons, dwarves, and everything else one might need for a game of D&D, Dragon's Crown has a classic fantasy drive that any action-gamer will thoroughly enjoy.
Bayonetta
While this game might be incredibly loaded on the fan-service, that doesn't mean it isn't without some serious action. As Bayonetta, players will battle the forces of good and evil with a fury of spells, techniques, and smoking gun stilettos. As beautiful as she is deadly, this wily witch could give both Dante and Kratos a run for their money.
Darksiders Series
Darksiders is a criminally underrated hack and slash series that begs to be explored and discovered. While the first game might be considered the perfect hybrid of Zelda and God of War, its sequels resonate with satisfying combat, legions of monsters, and a twisted comic-book-style story of the apocalypse. War, Death, Fury, and Strife are all powerhouses of awesomeness that thrill players with every new session of slaughter.