Hack-and-slash games are characterized by brutal melee battles, in which the player character faces off against massive hordes of enemies. They typically come with complex combat systems, that, when properly mastered, allow players to string together elaborate combos and devastating special attacks.
Some hack-and-slash games can be quite lengthy. They come packed with lore-heavy worlds and their combat systems grow more challenging as players progress. Here's which hack-and-slash titles take the longest to beat.
To keep these metrics consistent, the number of hours has been taken from the "All Styles" section of each game, as mentioned on their respective HowLongToBeat pages.
10 Torchlight 2 (27.5 Hours)
Torchlight 2 is a vibrant, fast-paced hack-and-slash game that lets players uncover a vast horde of riveting content. Its extensive skill tree and randomized dungeons will compel players to explore what the game has to offer time and time again.
It helps that the game also has multiplayer, giving people more of a reason to check out this game for themselves. Torchlight 2 may not be the most innovative title around, but it's still a blast to play through and is a great pick for fans of hack-and-slash games.
9 Nier: Automata (36.5 Hours)
Yoko Taro's stock reached new heights with the release of Nier: Automata, a unique hack-and-slash game that blends RPG elements and a variety of different gameplay loops to make for a great time. The hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic setting is a blast to explore, with its boss fights being an exhilarating challenge every single time.
Nier: Automata integrates endings in a pretty engaging way in the game, prompting players to replay key segments of the experience and getting the opportunity to check out different characters and new ending paths after experiencing one of the game's many conclusions. This will prompt players to sink a ton of hours into this engaging title that deserves all the love in the world.
8 Diablo 3: Eternal Collection (36.5 Hours)
Diablo 3: Eternal Collection is the ultimate version of Blizzard's iconic loot-driven action RPG, featuring all the expansions and updates released to date. It's a far cry from the game's launch which was lampooned by gamers all over.
The current iteration of Diablo 3 is a great game to check out for fans of quality hack-and-slash titles. The gameplay is tight and engaging, with players having more fun with their friends in multiplayer too!
7 Grim Dawn (40 Hours)
Grim Dawn is a dark and gritty hack-and-slash game set in a post-apocalyptic world full of monsters, magic, and mayhem. The captivating setting of this title serves as a rich backdrop for some amazing hack-and-slash goodness.
Players who love retro hack-and-slash games will gain a ton of mileage from this title. It may not set the world on fire, but Grim Dawn's fun story and a wealth of gameplay systems mean that players will definitely be occupied for many hours on end.
6 God Of War: Ragnarok (42.5 Hours)
Fans of Kratos' comeback in the PS4 reboot finally got their hands to check out God of War: Ragnarok, an excellent sequel that is bigger and more epic in every way. The scope of the world is massive, with the story taking place during the onset of the apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok that spurs Kratos, Atreus, and the Norse gods into action.
Of course, as is to be expected from a first-party PlayStation franchise, God of War: Ragnarok features jaw-dropping visuals, making its action-packed combat system look genuinely awe-inspiring throughout this epic adventure. The new weapons, varied enemy types, and the opportunity to explore all nine realms made for a great time indeed.
5 Diablo 2 (53.5 Hours)
Diablo 2 is a classic hack-and-slash game that remains popular to this day, with this game propelling Blizzard's name to new heights in the gaming industry. The title became an instant hit courtesy of its addictive gameplay, deep character customization, and endless replayability.
With a wealth of loot to collect and challenging enemies to defeat, Diablo 2 is an engaging experience in every way. The sheer amount of content in this title is staggering and shows just how engaging the classic era of hack-and-slash gaming really was.
4 Nioh: Complete Edition (72.5 Hours)
Nioh: Complete Edition is the definitive version of Team Ninja's take on a Soulslike while adding some unique design choices of their own. The end result is a challenging and rewarding action RPG set in feudal Japan that is a riveting experience for fans of the genre to check out.
The game features a deep and complex combat system with interesting mechanics like the Ki Pulse to keep players invested in every action they carry out in the game. Along with this, the game has a decent variety of weapons and skills to master that make combat a deadly dance where players need to be precise to cut down enemies with ease.
3 Nioh 2: Complete Edition (84 Hours)
Building upon the success of its predecessor, Nioh 2 offers even more content and customization options to make the experience feel more refined than ever before. The kinks of the combat system were also worked upon, with the vast array of weapons being quite satisfying indeed.
The game's levels may still be somewhat rudimentary compared to what the Soulsborne series has to offer, but that's a small complaint in the grand scheme of things. The Complete Edition offers every piece of DLC along with the base game, further enhancing the length and quality of the game's content.
2 Path Of Exile (95 Hours)
Path of Exile is a free-to-play online action RPG, which may ring warning bells in the minds of many people who consider these titles to be nothing more than ridiculous money sinks. However, unlike most free games around, Path of Exile is an engaging experience that respects the player's time... and wallet.
From its infamously massive skill tree to a riveting gameplay loop, Path of Exile can be quite an addictive experience for players. The combination of looting, battling, and upgrading gear will keep players hooked for hours on end.
1 Elden Ring (106 Hours)
Many people were worried about the open-world approach that Elden Ring was taking, but FromSoftware showed everyone just how much they'd improved as developers. The game ended up being a massive commercial success that sold millions of units and became their most popular game by a country mile.
The open world of the game is absolutely massive and players can explore these areas and tackle other threats if they're stuck on a particularly hard boss. It's this inherent beauty of Elden Ring's world design that has made it such an amazing game in every way.