At a time whereopen-world adventuresare dominating the gaming industry, with exploration and politicking becoming almost ever-present mechanics, it can be tough to find games that offer good old-fashioned action-heavy combat. PlatinumGames offered this experience to players in 2009 with the first of twoBayonettatitles.
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Over 10 years since its release,Bayonettais recognized as one of modern gaming’sbest hack and slash titles; while its sequel,Bayonetta 2,is considered by some to even better than its predecessor, exemplified by its huge 92 Metascore andOverall Best Game award from Destructoid. Fans of the series will be delighted to know thatBayonetta 3is in development, though news of the game’s release has been few and far between. ForBayonettafans who are becoming impatient with the lack of news about the next entry in the critically acclaimed hack and slash series,here are 10 games to fill the void in the meantime.
10Bloodborne
Beginning in 2009 withDemon’s Soulson the PlayStation 3, FromSoftware’s Soulsborne franchise has had numerous influences on modern gaming. At a time where games were becoming consistently easier and players were being flooded with tutorials and help-screens, FromSoftware reminded players of the reward that comes from being faced with asignificant challenge.
Bloodborneis an excellent choice forBayonettafans who are looking to get their feet wet in the Soulsborne franchise, as it offers a more aggressive style of combat thanDemon’s Soulsor theDark Soulstrilogy.
9Yakuza 0
If you were to putGoodfellasin a blender with a few Cartoon Network shows, the result would probably be something like theYakuzaseries.The franchisecenters around the real-life organized crime group Yakuza, but ensures that it doesn’t take itself too seriously by throwing in plenty of bizarre side quests and optional mini-games.
The game is an ideal choice forBayonettafanslooking for hand-to-hand combat gameplay, asYakuza 0makes players feel extremely powerful as they mow done hordes of enemies, often with nothing but their bare hands.
8Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Despite not being included in the unofficial title,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis considered to be in the Soulsborne family; the game has many differences from FromSoftware’s other games though, particularly with the combat.
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceditches the stamina bar, allowing FromSoftware to offer players a far quicker style of combat than evenBloodborne. The combat is excruciatingly difficult, but as a consequence, offers players extremesatisfaction when landing the final blow on a boss.
7Ninja Gaiden Black
Another game that is notorious for its difficulty,Ninja Gaiden Blackis a great starting place for players looking to get into Tecmo’sseries.
Beginning all the way back in 1988, theNinja Gaidenfranchise is one of the longest-running video game series still active today.Ninja Gaiden 4is believed to be in development, withrumors circulating last year that it may be an Xbox exclusive. In the meantime, Team Ninja’s first two modernNinja Gaidengames are safe bets for action fans.
6Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Considering that Bayonetta is a playable character in the game,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatemerits a recommendation. TheSuper Smash Bros.franchise began in 1999 and let players live out their fantasy of pitting iconic characters like Mario, Link, and Pikachu against one another in battle.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimateexemplifies how far the series has come since its inception, with its huge roster of characters offering a little something for everyone.
5Street Fighter IV
At least one conventional fighting game needed to make it into this discussion, andStreet Fighter IVis a safe bet forBayonettafans. Truth be told though, there are numerous fighting games from many different eras that could have filled this spot, such asTekken 3,SoulCalibur, andMortal Kombat 11.
The critical and commercial success ofStreet Fighter IVresulted in the fighting game getting numerous re-releases and expanded iterations.Super Street Fighter IV, Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition,andUltra Street Fighter IVare just some of the alternative releases of Capcom’s modern classic.
4Streets of Rage 4
From one arcade-inspired title to another,Streets of Rage 4offers a modern interpretation of the classicbeat ‘em up genre that dominated the arcades back in the ’80s.
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The indie game received tons of plaudits upon release in 2020. Not only did it receive impressive Metascores that ranged between 82 and 86, butStreets of Rage 4was alsonominated for The Game Awards’ Best Action Game award, though it ultimately lost out toHades.
3Batman: Arkham City
Released in 2009,Batman: Arkham City’s predecessor,Batman: ArkhamAsylum,set a new standard for superhero video games, much like howThe DarkKnightraised the bar for superhero films the year prior. Among the game’s many excellent features was its revolutionary combat mechanic. The smooth combat allowed players to fight off hordes of enemies at once and subsequently featured in all threeArkhamtitles.
Of the threeArkhamgames available, the second game,Arkham City,is the best choice to play. The game improved upon many ofArkham Asylum’score mechanics while offering an excellent open-world to explore.
2God of War 3
TheGod of Warfranchise is an obvious choice forBayonettafans and any of the series' games could have suitably filled this spot. Although the most recent entry,God of War(2018), has quickly become theseries' most critically acclaimed title, the original trilogy offers a moreBayonetta-like experience in terms of its all-action style.
God of War 3fine-tuned the combat mechanics that its predecessors created, and offered some of the series' most memorable boss battles.
1Devil May Cry 5
No prizes for guessing which franchise would top this countdown, asBayonettawas directed byDevil May Cry’s creator, Hideki Kamiya. Much likeGod of War,almost anyDevil May Crytitle could fill this spot, as they all offer a similar gameplay style to Platinum Games' hack and slash title.
Devil May Cry 5ensured that the hack and slash genre retained its place as one of gaming’s most renowned gameplay styles. It picked up numerous awards, includingBest Action Game at The Game Awards 2019andExcellence In Gameplay from the SXSW Gaming Awards.
