In the realms of gaming, there are few sensations so gloriously satisfying than ripping and tearing through enemies with some sort of bladed weaponry and racking up combo points in the process. As cathartic and enjoyable as the activity is, hack-and-slash games wouldn't be nearly the popular phenomenon they are without the main characters that lead the charge.
Heroes, villains, and antiheroes alike are often given the starring role in these action-packed titles, and the gaming industry has seen a bumper crop of them. From swordsmen to sorcerers, the hack-and-slash genre is home to a wealth of mighty and magical characters.
Thor, Thyra, Merlin, And Questor (Gauntlet)
If it wasn't for Gauntlet, players would never know the likes of Diablo. Gauntlet was a game that planted the seed that would become the hack-and-slash genre, and it brought the fantasy visuals of a typical dungeon-crawler out of the DM's manual and into the forefront.
A pillar of RPGs, the arcade classic introduced character classes, branching pathways, and blasting through hordes of enemies long before Blizzard was even a thing. Each character has their strengths and weaknesses tailored to fit a variety of players, and they set the bar for other games in the genre to come.
Gabriel Belmont (Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow)
The Castlevania series has practically always been known for its action-based platformers, but the Lords of Shadow series went full hack-and-slash with its gameplay and presentation. The results were absolutely glorious as an action-packed gothic fantasy unfurled.
The first game uses a full palate of dark fantasy imagery and blends it with traditional elements from the original NES titles. Simon might be the face of the franchise, but Gabriel Belmont has a much more theatrical flourish. He wields that chain whip like a master and can bring down even giant-sized monsters with relative ease. Simply put, he's just more fun to play.
Galen Marek (The Force Unleashed)
Although Cal Kestis might be his successor, Galen Marek/Starkiller might be the deadliest video game character to ever pick up a lightsaber. If a player has ever wanted to take a walk on the dark side of the force, The Force Unleashed offers more than an ample opportunity, and Starkiller is a great character for the job.
Trained in secret by Darth Vader himself, Starkiller certainly meets more than the standard qualifications for a gifted Force-user. With the ability to play him on either side of the Force, players can explore a variety of abilities and outcomes while ripping and tearing through Storm Troopers and other enemies.
The Bergson Family (Children Of Morta)
Children of Morta takes the classic dungeon-crawling formula and mixes it with a cast made up of an adventurous family who use their talents and abilities to battle the encroaching Corruption. The use of multiple player characters allows for more experimentation and replay value, and each member of the family has their own set of skills and personalities that make them both fun and interesting.
Running the gauntlet of warrior to pyromancer, to say that the Bergsons aren't a talented bunch would be an outright lie. With so many characters and ways to play, there's no way a seasoned dungeon-crawler would get bored with this selection.
War (Darksiders)
Darksiders could easily be considered a beautiful hybrid of God of War and The Legend of Zelda, and the Horseman of War is the man right at the forefront of the action. Framed for inciting the apocalypse, War is sent on a mission to fight demonic threats and clear his name, lest he suffer the wrath of the Charred Council.
If it's got a blade, War can wield it to hack and slash his way through infernal and divine foes alike. With hordes of enemies, beastly bosses, and an arsenal of awesome weaponry, any fan of the genre will have a great time stepping into War's massive boots.
Dante (Dante’s Inferno)
Like so many hack-and-slash titles, Dante's Inferno takes more than a fair share from the original God of War trilogy. That being said, Dante himself is a completely different breed of animal from his Spartan counterpart. Where Kratos is riled-up and rage-fueled, Dante is full of righteousness that drives him into the depths of Hell.
When the devil himself kidnaps his beloved bride, Dante dives into the Nine Circles to find her. Armed with Death's Scythe, he faces off against monsters, demons, historical figures, and even his own sins to rescue her. sometimes finding redemption requires going to Hell and back for it.
Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)
Although he began his video game career in one of Nintendo's most difficult 2D platformers, Ryu Hayabusa starred in one of the most iconic and challenging hack-and-slash series out there. Players will have to have the skills of a true ninja if they want to last in the Ninja Gaiden games.
Sigma, Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge are the definitive titles of the series, and they come packed with all the hack-and-slash action a player can expect from a ninja-focused game. Sporting all the definitive features a ninja warrior should have, Ryu has been a certified master at his craft for years.
Bayonetta (Bayonetta)
Given that her appearance can at times be considered gratuitous, Bayonetta is often regarded as the living definition of fan service. The magical femme fatale makes ripping and tearing her way through enemies look like a walk down a fashion runway.
Still, by wielding magical hair, loaded pistols, and a pair of deadly stiletto heels, Bayonetta also makes lives exceptionally difficult for the warring divine and demonic forces. The combat and combo system are addictive game mechanics seen across multiple entries of the genre, and Bayonetta is practically made for a plotline as action-packed and over-the-top as her titular series.
Dante (Devil May Cry)
It's debatable, but gaming historians could trace the modern hack-and-slash genre to the original Devil May Cry video games, and Dante by extension. What was meant to be a spinoff of the Resident Evil franchise soon changed to how gamers everywhere see action games.
Guns, swords, and magic spells are the order of the day, and Dante makes more than accurate use of his skills and weaponry when taking on the demonic forces of Mundus. It's one of the first entries in the genre to make a player feel as cool and powerful as its protagonist, and the original game has aged surprisingly well.
Kratos (God Of War)
If there's one character that could be considered the face of the hack-and-slash genre, it's the Ghost of Sparta that takes the crown. The God of War series is a set of genre-defining games, and they're easily some of the most violent and visceral experiences out there.
As Kratos, players will rip and mutilate their way through the pantheons of Greek mythology with the Chaos Blades, but they'll also be capable of ripping their foes asunder with their bare hands. Yes, it's insanely violent, but few games offer such a palpable sense of power.