The hack-and-slash genre has many fascinating representatives. Franchises likeGod of War,Devil May Cry,Bayonetta, andNinja Gaidenare among the most beloved in the gaming industry, backed by a long track record.
However, much to my chagrin, another name rivals them in quality despite not doing so in popularity:Darksiders, a series so great that it also deserves recognition as an essential experience in the genre.
The work of the late Vigil Games, now in the hands of Gunfire Games,is one of the most outstanding of its kind, with entries that belong in the conversation of thebest hack-and-slash.
That being said, even if the journeys of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse are memorable in many ways, each one belongs to a different class. So, ride with me to the Judgment Day asI rank everyDarksidersgame.
4Darksiders Genesis
Great Spin-off
Darksiders Genesis
Darksiders Genesisis the only game in the franchise that doesn’t use the traditional hack-and-slash perspective, but that didn’t stop it from becomingone of the most underrated games of 2020.
Airship Syndicate made a magnificent adaptation of the series in a top-down style, capturing with great quality everything that characterizesDarksiderswhile pleasantly resemblingDiablo.
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With interesting puzzles, fluid combat, rampant action, and great bosses, the game maintains its predecessor’s identity without question, making ita recommended action-adventure experience.
Unfortunately,Darksiders Genesisgets repetitive as the hours go by. Most challenges have the same solutions, and the controls can frustrate various encounters, so it’s not a perfect title.
Plus, I wish that the first time we could play as Strife wasn’t through a spin-off, but I can’t deny his joint adventure with War is fun, stimulating, and somewhat responsible for the fourth installment being a reality.
3Darksiders 3
An Underrated Soul
Darksiders 3
Despite mostDarksiders 3’s reviews being negative or mixed, I find myself on the side of fans who acknowledge the great value of Fury’s journey.
Generally speaking, I’d say it’s a less refined product thanDarksiders Genesis, but it’s also the game that was tasked with reviving the series at its toughest moment, sothe context is relevant to this list.
Just when we all thoughtDarksiderswould never get another installment, Gunfire Games found a great opportunity by fusing the first game’s Metroidvania approach with the increasingly popularSouls-Like mechanics.
In truth, some of its hack-and-slash nature was sacrificed, and the whip may not feel like Death’s scythes or War’s sword. Regardless, the novel bosses, the fantastic interconnected level design, and the eye-catching combat are still there.
The story is also of a high standard, with Fury growing more than any other Horseman of the Apocalypse and with plot twists that make its predecessors proud. All in all,an underrated title thatis more than enjoyable despite its defects.
2Darksiders
Magnificent Beginnings
As an Xbox 360 owner who was always aGod of Warfan but suffered much from its PlayStation 3 exclusivity,Darksiders was the savior that kept my love for hack-and-slash games alive.
Through adrenaline-pumping combat, mechanically and intellectually challenging bosses, and creative puzzles and platforming, the title is pure entertainment, always stringing together engaging and exciting sections.
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Add to that itswonderful story, magnificent characters, splendid development, and one of the best endings in video game history, and you havean epic with few precedents that ranks among its generation’s best games.
The similarities toGod of Warare undeniable, and this reducesDarksiders' originality, but it’s a terrific starting point that served as the basis for the identity the series would develop over the years.
1Darksiders 2
The Hack-And-Slash Master
Darksiders 2
If I’m being truthful, I have to admit I seeDarksiders 2as an absolute hack-and-slash masterpiece andthe true winner of the GOTY of 2012(along withDishonored, but that’s another story).
Death’s tale is tremendous in every way,standing out in each aspect we know and love about the genre.
Whether we’re talking about combat, puzzles, platforming, enemies, bosses, soundtrack, exploration, secrets, progression, or anything else,this dark fantasy is entirely supreme.
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By combining its hack-and-slash approach with RPG and open-world mechanics, it achievesan unprecedented freshness in an extremely rigid genre in form and content.
In addition, it perfectly matches the events of Darksiders, expanding even further on its universe’s grandiose mythology and building a great path toward an ending that will be of biblical proportions.
It suffers from repetitive missions, yes, but what’s a millimeter-long blemish on a mile-long piece of art?Darksiders 2 is one of the best hack-and-slash games ever made,and indeed the best entry in the entire series.
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