Halloween is a great time to break out the controllers and go on a gaming binge that stretches well into the night. While the obvious choice of genre would probably be survival horror games or something where the player has to stealthily maneuver themselves past scary monsters and hazards, sometimes the best way to spend a scary game is to rip and tear through monsters with ease.
Although life-and-death threats are fun, sometimes the horror experience is enhanced when the player actually has a fighting chance. What are the best hack and slashers for fear fans to play this Halloween holiday?
Splatterhouse
Namco's Splatterhouse is a cult favorite that essentially captured everything that made '80s horror movies great. With a player character that's a beefed-out Jason Voorhees with a mask that gives him superpowers and a legion of Evil Dead-inspired monsters, it's an over-the-top gory romp that horror fans will devour.
It's a bit one-note, a side-scrolling beat-em-up with a heavy-handed horror theme, but there's no denying that it's fun. There's just something simply satisfying about slamming a zombified monster into the wall with a plank of wood.
Lollipop Chainsaw
Continuing the pattern of over-the-top games, Lollipop Chainsaw is a tongue-in-cheek take on both horror movies and action games with one fell swoop. Playing as a chainsaw-wielding cheerleader who comes from a family of monster hunters, gamers will have oodles of fun sawing and slashing their way through legions of undead monsters and minions.
The game is by no means a serious affair, full of self-aware humor, one-liners, and plenty of visual gags, it's a solid choice for fans of classic horror comedies. There are definitely some Zombieland vibes going on.
Onimusha: Warlords
It might be a tad dated, but there's a certain sense of balance with Onimusha: Warlords. The survival horror elements are blatantly present, but whereas something like Resident Evil relied on fighting from a distance or simply outrunning the monsters, this game relies on samurai swords and other bladed weapons to carve a way through obstacles.
One of the ancestors of the hack-and-slash genre, the game has as much gore and gruesome imagery as a standard-issue slasher flick. Somewhat clunky by today's standards, but there's a decent amount of splatter.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
For those looking for something more unsettling to go with their action, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is just what the doctor ordered. Psychological horror and fantasy aren't exactly two themes that go together, but this Viking thriller is equal parts scary and action-packed.
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Descending into the world of the dead to save a lover is a common storyline, especially in horror movies. But Senua's journey of grief and despair is absolutely heartbreaking and horrifying. If anything, it has a great deal more emotional and intellectual substance than many on this list.
Blasphemous
Part Metroidvania, part Souls-alike, all guts-and-gore, Blasphemous is a horrific action-platformer with bloody combat and multiple ways to make mincemeat out of the various monsters and bosses that lurk through the desecrated, blight-filled world. The Penetrant One is one holy warrior demons won't want to mess with, and he's got the bloodlust to back it up.
For a 16-bit platformer, the game is exceptionally graphic. The combat is gruesome enough, but the boss monsters and behemoths are absolutely horrifying. The whole experience is like a Hieronymus Bosch fever dream that might keep some players up at night.
DMC: Devil May Cry
This black sheep of the Devil May Cry series might be an acquired taste for some, but there's plenty of similarities between this interpretation of Dante and Hellblazer's Constantine. A punk magic-user who can see demons and solves his problems with guns and swords definitely sounds more than a little familiar.
This game is like a rock music video with an extra helping of dark fantasy. It might not be the Dante many fans first experienced, but there are tons of scary monsters, gory action, and several journeys into the underworld to keep gamers coming back for more.
Darksiders II
Honestly, any entry from the Darksiders series would be an excellent hack-and-slash option for Halloween. But the second game in the franchise offers a little more in the way of solid action. As the Horseman of Death, players can traverse a large dark fantasy open world, raid dungeons, and slice their way through a bevy of beasts and minions of darkness.
A brilliant hybrid of God of War and Diablo, Darksiders II gives players the undying slashing power of Jason Voorhees and none of the mommy issues. With plenty of weapons and loot to discover, players definitely won't be bored.
Diablo II: Resurrected
Blizzard might still be working on the fourth entry in the Diablo franchise, but the second game was by far one of the most beloved. With its gothic horror aesthetic and hordes upon hordes of demons, undead, monsters, and other various creeps and creatures to carve through, there are more than a few ways to banish the forces of darkness in this game.
The game is loaded to the brim with typical Halloween and horror motifs, making it one of the best games to play this season, especially considering the Resurrected edition available across consoles.
Dante’s Inferno
Some will call this game a cheap God of War clone, but those who have actually taken the time to play it will know that it's an absolutely amazing God of War clone. A reimagining of Dante Alighieri's epic poem, Dante's Inferno pulls a knight of the crusades down through the circles of Hell to rescue his wife from becoming a bride of the devil himself.
The art design in this game is scarier than anything found in a Clive Barker movie, and the combat is absolutely visceral and satisfying. There are few gaming experiences that scratch that hack-and-slash itch better than slicing demons up with scythes and torching them with firebreathing monsters.
Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
When it comes to traditional horror materials and motifs, the Castlevania series is at the top of the heap. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, and more are all par for the course in this franchise, but the Lords of Shadow games took the action-platforming and replaced it with combo-focused action.
Simon Belmont might be the poster boy of the franchise, but he's weak sauce compared to the absolute powerhouse that is his ancestor Gabriel. Equipped with magic, throwing knives, and the famous chain whip, nearly every sort of monster imaginable falls prey to his skills. This is one dark fantasy adventure that is practically built for Halloween night.