5 Best Video Games Like God Of War

One of the most iconic PlayStation properties of the past 20-plus years is "God of War," which debuted on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The series protagonist is Kratos, an ancient Greek warrior who swears vengeance upon the Olympian gods, carrying out a one-man crusade against them. The inaugural PS2 title spawned an entire franchise, with "God of War" changing drastically over the years and shifting to the Norse pantheon of deities in 2018. No matter the change in settings and divine targets, the series has retained combo-driven hack-and-slash gameplay, with puzzle and platforming elements.

Following the success of "God of War," there have been numerous adventure titles that have followed in its footsteps. Many of these games blend history and fantasy, mirroring Kratos' expansive saga, while others focus more on the intuitive combat mechanics and light platforming. Some of the franchises mentioned here predate "God of War," but have since taken cues from the hit Sony property as they reposition themselves for modern audiences. These are the five best video games like "God of War" that fans should check out next, to keep the hack-and-slash action going.

Maintaining a narrative emphasis on period piece settings with religious overtones, 2010's "Dante's Inferno" was very loosely inspired by Dante Alighieri's 13th century epic poem, "Divine Comedy." Dante is reimagined as a 12th century Knight Templar during the Crusades who ventures into Hell to save the soul of his beloved Beatrice. Delving deeper into the circles of Hell, Dante battles demons, the souls of the condemned, and other monsters with his holy cross. On the way toward his confrontation with Lucifer, Dante encounters condemned historical figures and is given the option to absolve them of their sins and save their souls.

With its combat system and broader similarities in its art design, it's safe to say that "Dante's Inferno" is heavily inspired by "God of War." Some have gone as far as to call the 2010 title a video game rip-off of Kratos' titles — and they admittedly wouldn't be far off. That shouldn't distract one from the overall enjoyment derived from Dante's hellish hack-and-slash adventure, with its own thrilling boss battles and atmospheric level design. Unfortunately, the only way to play "Dante's Inferno" currently on modern platforms is through digital purchase on the Xbox Store, but it's worth a try.

Konami's long-running horror-themed platforming title "Castlevania" was boldly rebooted in 2010 with "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow." Completely separate from the classic "Castlevania" timeline, "Lords of Shadow" introduces 11th century knight Gabriel Belmont, part of a holy order defending the land from monsters. After Gabriel's wife Marie is murdered, he sets out to slay the Lords of Shadow and claim pieces of their God Mask to resurrect her. But unbeknownst to Gabriel, this is all part of a shadowy conspiracy that will leave him transformed forever into one of the most monstrous figures the world will ever know.

Though "Castlevania" had ventured into 3D gameplay before, it was "Lords of Shadow" that made this perspective feel fresh and contemporary. Like Kratos, Gabriel is a character driven by the loss of his family, obsessed with finishing his quest despite the warning signs along the way. Even Gabriel's primary weapon, a retractable whip known as the Combat Cross, feels and handles like Kratos' Chains of Chaos. A reinvention of the "Castlevania" franchise, the first "Lords of Shadow" is a stellar game that fares better than its direct follow-ups and their attempt to continue the rebooted story.

The 2010 fantasy hack-and-slash game "Darksiders" follows the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse after Armageddon has wiped out humanity on Earth. The game's 2012 sequel "Darksiders II" has Death set out to prove the innocence of the preceding title's protagonist, War, in triggering the apocalypse prematurely. As Death searches for evidence and a way to restart humanity, he discovers an unholy corruption spreading in lands inhabited by the architects of creation. With the use of restored holy weapons, Death drives back the corruption, along with the demons and Nephilim behind it.

"Darksiders II" takes a more expansive and exploration-oriented approach than its more tightly focused and linear predecessor. This aligns with the "God of War" games set in Scandinavia, and their own more exploration-friendly environments, compared to the original trilogy. Similarly, the combat mechanics in "Darksiders II" have been refined compared to the preceding game, making for a more intuitive experience. When "Darksiders" was remastered for the Nintendo Switch, it became clear that "Darksiders II" was the pinnacle of its trilogy and most appealing to "God of War" fans.

Another fantasy adventure delving into Norse mythology with prominent melee combat gameplay is the 2017 title "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice." Also blending in Celtic culture and folklore, the game has its protagonist, Senua, travel from Orkney to the Helheim, a Norse afterlife. Senua is determined to save the soul of her dead lover, who was brutally sacrificed by Norse raiders to their gods in a ritual. Pushing relentlessly into Helheim, Senua battles Hela and her forces while contending with her own inner darkness.

Offering a healthy mix of puzzle-solving and narrative-driven elements alongside the expected hack-and-slash gameplay, "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice" provides its own distinct experience. At the same time, the game provides a strong commentary on mental illness framed within its period piece story. "Senua's Sacrifice" would spawn its own direct sequel in 2022, "Senua's Saga: Hellblade II," but players owe it to themselves to start with the first game. A fresh take on Norse mythology that actually predated "God of War" repositioning itself accordingly, "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice" blends gameplay variety and narrative depth to great effect.

In its defense, the "Devil May Cry" franchise had been doing combo-driven hack-and-slash action for years before "God of War" debuted. The franchise's 2019 installment, "Devil May Cry 5," is one of the most robust entries in the Capcom video game series, offering four playable characters and including DLC. The game has a mysterious figure named V hire demon hunters Dante and Nero to defeat a particularly powerful demon named Urizen. As their group sets out to complete this assignment, Dante reconciles with his own demonic nature and his complicated dynamic with his brother Vergil.

For "God of War" players looking for a greater emphasis on the combo-heavy combat mechanics, the "Devil May Cry" series certainly satisfies on that score. "Devil May Cry 5" is perfectly accessible to franchise newcomers while also being the game that takes the longest to beat. The presence of four playable characters, each with their own distinct playstyle, offers more gameplay depth than any prior entry in the series. Setting a major milestone for the "Devil May Cry" series, the 2019 game is a hack-and-slash masterclass.