hackandslash

Hackandslash, often written hack-and-slash, is a video game subgenre focused on fast, close-quarters melee combat designed to defeat numerous enemies with rapid, fluid attacks. The term covers a range of titles from traditional beat ’em ups to action role-playing games that emphasize loot-driven progression and character growth. Central to the genre is the emphasis on offense and timing, with players chaining attacks to clear crowds and face tougher bosses.

Gameplay typically centers on real-time combat featuring combos, dodges, blocks, and resource management such as stamina or mana. Weapons, armor, and skills shape damage, defense, mobility, and special abilities. Progression usually comes through experience, levels, and skill trees or unlockables, with loot drops and gear upgrades providing ongoing incentives to replay and master increasingly difficult encounters.

Historically, hack-and-slash evolved from arcade beat ’em ups and early action RPGs. The genre gained mainstream prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s with Diablo and Devil May Cry, and expanded through 3D action games such as God of War, Bayonetta, and Nier: Automata. Modern titles often blend elements from action RPGs and other genres, creating hybrids that emphasize spectacle, speed, and varied combat styles.

Classification varies by publisher and critic; some label games as action RPGs, others as hack-and-slash or action-adventure. Notable examples include Diablo, Path of Exile, God of War, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Nier: Automata. The genre is praised for kinetic combat and rewarding loot systems, while critics point to repetitive pacing or steep learning curves in certain entries.