Hack and slash

Short description: Tabletop and video game genre

Video games

Platforms

* Arcade game
* Console game
* Game console
* Home console
* Electronic game
* Audio game
* Electronic handheld
* Handheld console
* Mobile game
* Online game
* Social-network game
* PC game
* Linux
* Mac

Genres

* Action
* Beat 'em up
* Hack and slash
* Fighting
* Platform
* Shooter
* Survival
* Battle royale
* Action-adventure
* Stealth
* Survival horror
* Adventure
* Interactive fiction
* Interactive movie
* Visual novel
* Gacha Game
* Role-playing
* Action role-playing
* Tactical role-playing
* Simulation
* Construction and management
* Life simulation
* Sports
* Vehicle
* Strategy
* 4X
* Auto battler
* Multiplayer online battle arena
* Real-time strategy
* Real-time tactics
* Tower defense
* Turn-based strategy
* Turn-based tactics
* Horror
* Massively multiplayer online

Lists

* Arcade games
* Best-selling games
* franchises
* fastest-selling
* Highest-grossing games
* arcade
* mobile
* Most-played games
* mobile
* Games considered among the best
* Game of the Year awards
* Negative reception

Development

* Game AI
* Game design
* Video game design
* Interaction
* Programming
* Art
* Graphics
* Music

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Part of a series on

Action games

Subgenres

* Action-adventure
* Action role-playing
* Open world
* Stealth
* Survival horror
* Beat 'em up
* Hack and slash
* Fighting
* Platform
* Metroidvania
* Rhythm
* Shooter
* Battle royale
* First-person
* Hero
* Light gun
* Shoot 'em up
* Tactical
* Third-person
* Survival

Topics

* Capture the flag
* Cover system
* First-person shooter engine
* Free look
* Quick time event
* WASD keys

Lists

* List of battle royale games
* List of beat 'em ups
* List of fighting game companies
* List of fighting games
* List of first-person shooters
* List of freeware first-person shooters
* List of third-person shooters
* List of Shoot 'em up game companies
* List of survival games
* List of gun games
* List of maze video games
* List of platform games

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Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up,[1][2] refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as guns) as secondary weapons. It is a sub-genre of beat 'em up games, which focuses on melee combat, usually with swords. Third-person hack and slash games are also sometimes known as character action games and spectacle fighters.

The term "hack and slash" was originally used to describe a play style in tabletop role-playing games, carrying over from there to MUDs, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and role-playing video games. In arcade and console style action video games, the term has an entirely different usage, specifically referring to action games with a focus on real-time combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns or fists. The two types of hack-and-slash games are largely unrelated, though action role-playing games may combine elements of both.

## Contents

* 1 Types of hack-and-slash games
* 1.1 Action video games
* 1.2 Role-playing games
* 2 See also
* 3 References

## Types of hack-and-slash games

### Action video games

In the context of action video games, the terms "hack and slash" or "slash 'em up"[1][2] refer to melee weapon-based action games that are a sub-genre of beat 'em ups. Traditional 2D side-scrolling examples include Taito's The Legend of Kage (1985)[2] and Rastan (1987),[1][3] Sega's arcade video game series Shinobi (1987 debut)[1][4] and Golden Axe (1989 debut),[5][6] Data East's arcade game Captain Silver (1987),[1] Tecmo's early Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors) 2D games (1988 debut),[1] Capcom's Strider (1989),[2][7] the Sega Master System game Danan: The Jungle Fighter (1990),[1] Taito's Saint Sword (1991),[1] Vivid Image's home computer game First Samurai (1991),[2] and Vanillaware's Dragon's Crown (2013).[4] The term "hack-and-slash" in reference to action-adventure games dates back to 1987, when Computer Entertainer reviewed The Legend of Zelda and said it had "more to offer than the typical hack-and-slash" epics.[8]

In the early 21st century, journalists covering the video game industry often use the term "hack and slash" to refer to a distinct genre of 3D, third-person, weapon-based, melee action games. Examples include Capcom's Devil May Cry, Onimusha, and Sengoku Basara[9] franchises, Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors and 3D Ninja Gaiden games, Sony's Genji and God of War, as well as Bayonetta, Darksiders, Dante's Inferno,[10][11][12] and No More Heroes. The genre is sometimes known as "character action" games, and represent a modern evolution of traditional arcade action games. This subgenre of games was largely defined by Hideki Kamiya, creator of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.[13] In turn, Devil May Cry (2001) was influenced by earlier hack-and-slash games, including Onimusha (2001)[14] and Strider.[15][16]

### Role-playing games

The term "hack and slash" itself has roots in "pen and paper" role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), denoting campaigns of violence with no other plot elements or significant goal. The term itself dates at least as far back as 1980, as shown in a Dragon article by Jean Wells and Kim Mohan which includes the following statement: "There is great potential for more than hacking and slashing in D&D or AD&D; there is the possibility of intrigue, mystery and romance involving both sexes, to the benefit of all characters in a campaign."[17]

Hack and slash made the transition from the tabletop to role-playing video games, usually starting in D&D-like worlds.[18] This form of gameplay influenced a wide range of action role-playing games, including games such as Xanadu,[19] and Diablo.[20]

## See also

* Action role-playing game
* Beat 'em up
* Dungeon crawl
* List of beat 'em ups, including hack-and-slash games
* Powergaming
* Roguelike
* Slasher film

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Complete Games Guide". Mean Machines (20 (28 April 1992)): 6, 14, 18, 20, 22, 26. May 1992. https://archive.org/details/Mean_Machines_Complete_Games_Guide_1992-05_EMAP_Images_GB_suppliment_issue_20/page/n4/mode/1up.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "First Samurai". Computer and Video Games (121 (December 1991)): 28–30. 15 November 1991. https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-121/page/n27/mode/2up.
3. ↑ Reed, Kristan (4 January 2007). "Taito Legends Power-Up". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/taito-legends-power-up-review.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gass, Zach (11 May 2020). "10 Awesome Hack and Slash Games That Aren't God of War". Screen Rant. https://screenrant.com/best-awesome-hack-slash-games-arent-god-war/.
5. ↑ Greg Kasavin (2006-11-30). "Golden Axe Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/goldenaxegen/review.html.
6. ↑ Patrick Shaw (2008-05-16). "Golden Axe: Beast Rider". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/185688/golden-axe-beast-rider/.
7. ↑ Weiss, Brett (9 July 2018). Classic Home Video Games, 1989-1990: A Complete Guide to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo and TurboGrafx-16 Games. McFarland & Company. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7864-9231-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=lmRjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA206.
8. ↑ "Nintendo Software". Computer Entertainer 6 (5): 12. August 1987. http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_aug87.pdf#page=12.
9. ↑ "The Story behind Development of "Sengoku BASARA"". Capcom. December 24, 2015. http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/feature/2015_basara01/02.html.
10. ↑ "Dante's Inferno Review - UGO.com". November 5, 2013. http://www.ugo.com/games/dantes-inferno-review.
11. ↑ Heavenly Sword Review, VideoGamer.com, 04/09/2007
12. ↑ Pementel, Michael (7 January 2019). "A Timeless Hack And Slash Historical Adventure: Remembering 'Onimusha: Warlords'". Bloody Disgusting. https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3540280/timeless-hack-slash-historical-adventure-remembering-onimusha-warlords/.
13. ↑ Hovermale, Chris (2019-03-10). "How Devil May Cry's arcade inspirations shaped character action games". Destructoid. https://www.destructoid.com/stories/how-devil-may-cry-s-arcade-inspirations-shaped-character-action-games-545783.phtml.
14. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 2001 issue, p. 56.
15. ↑ Fahey, Rob (2007-01-01). "Strider 1/2". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/strider-1-2-review.
16. ↑ Jones, Darran (24 Apr 2010). "The Making of... Strider". Retro Gamer (76). pp. 48-53.
17. ↑ "Women want equality - and why not?". Dragon #39 (TSR Hobbies, Inc.) V (1): 16. July 1980.
18. ↑ David Myers. "The attack of the backstories (and why they won't win)". http://www.loyno.edu/~dmyers/F99 classes/AttackOfTheBackstories.pdf.
19. ↑ "Hack and Slash: What Makes a Good Action RPG?". 1UP.com. May 18, 2010. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9030743.
20. ↑ Kruse, Cord (2008-09-05). "Diablo III: Timeline, Expanded RPG Elements, iTunes D3 Music". http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16949.

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Video game genres (List)

Action|

* Beat 'em up
* Hack and slash
* Fighting
* Maze
* Pac-Man clone
* Platform
* Shooter
* First-person
* MMOFPS
* Third-person
* Light gun
* Shoot 'em up
* Tactical
* Survival
* Battle royale

Action-adventure|

* Grand Theft Auto clone
* Immersive sim
* Metroidvania
* Stealth
* Survival horror
* Psychological horror

Adventure|

* Escape the room
* Interactive fiction
* Interactive movie
* Visual novel

Role-playing|

* Action role-playing
* Dungeon crawl
* MMORPG
* MUD
* Roguelike
* Tactical role-playing

Simulation|

* Construction and management
* Business
* City
* Government
* Life simulation
* Dating sim
* Digital pet
* God
* Social simulation
* Sports

Strategy|

* 4X
* Auto battler
* Multiplayer online battle arena
* Real-time strategy
* Time management
* MMORTS
* Real-time tactics
* Tower defense
* Turn-based strategy
* Turn-based tactics
* Artillery
* Wargame
* Grand strategy wargame

Vehicle simulation|

* Flight simulator
* Amateur
* Combat
* Space
* Racing
* Kart racing
* Sim racing
* Submarine simulator
* Train simulator
* Vehicular combat

Other genres|

* Breakout clone
* Deck-building
* Roguelike deck-building
* Digital collectible card game
* Eroge
* Exergame
* Incremental
* Music
* Rhythm
* Non-game
* Party
* Programming
* Puzzle
* Sokoban
* Tile-matching

Related concepts|

* AAA game
* Advertising
* Advergame
* Arcade game
* Art game
* Audio game
* Casual game
* Christian game
* Crossover game
* Cult game
* Educational game
* FMV
* Gamification
* Indie game
* Multiplayer video game
* Nonlinear gameplay
* Open world
* Nonviolent video game
* Online game
* Browser game
* Online gambling
* Social-network game
* Pervasive game
* Serious game
* Toys-to-life
* Twitch gameplay
* Video game clone

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