Even the most loyalXboxfan can admit that the Microsoft brand of home console didn’t have a great generation of exclusives with the Xbox One. Not only did the Nintendo Switch kick off with two of the bestMarioandZeldatitles ever, but competitors Sony flooded its PlayStation 4 withnumerous award-winning titles. Thankfully, the future is looking bright for the Xbox Series X/S. The acquisition of Bethesda has added to an impressive collection that should provide memorable experiences throughout the ninth generation of home consoles, with Activision set to follow suit soon.
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One of the best exclusive franchises that has eluded Xbox players isGod of War.The franchise has consistently released excellent games, with the most recent release, simply titledGod of War, being considered by some as the best yet. Chances of the franchise ever coming to Xbox are slim, but luckily there are already many excellent adventure and hack-and-slash titles that can fill the void.
Updated on July 18th, 2022, by Jack Pursey:The upcoming entry in the beloved God of War series,God of War Ragnarok, has recently received its official release date after months of speculation. The game is set to hit stores on the 9th of November 2022 and will undoubtedly be a huge seller.
Unfortunately, the hack and slash game is another Santa Monica Studio title that won’t be released on Xbox. So, to give Xbox players a few more ideas for alternatives to play, we’ve updated this list to include a few more games.
18Elden Ring
God of War Ragnarokwill have some serious competition at this year’s gaming award shows, asElden Ringis already being considered by some as the clear favorite for Game of the Year awards.
Elden Ringis the latest action RPG from esteemed studio FromSoftware, who have coined a unique style of game known asSouls-like. Such games includeDark Souls,Bloodborne,andSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which have all been huge hits with fans and critics.Elden Ringis no different, exemplified by its whopping96 Metascore on Xbox Series X/S.
17Nier: Automata
PlatinumGames’Nier: Automatawas released in 2017 and is the sequel to 2010’sNier. The game is primarily a hack and slash action RPG, but it also incorporates an impressive range of other genres throughout its20+ hour campaign, such astext adventureand shoot ‘em up.
Nier: Automatawas a hit with critics, scoring90 on Metacritic, and receiving a ton of awards, includingRole Playing Game of the Year from the D.I.C.E. Awards.
16Hades
Hadeswas developed by Supergiant Games and first released on PC and Nintendo Switch in September 2020, before eventually arriving on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in August 2021.
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The game was soon regarded as one ofthe roguelike genre’s best-ever releases, thanks to its addictive gameplay loop, excellent progression system, and range of charismatic characters. The game is centered around a Greek mythology theme, which will appeal to fans of the classicGod of Wargames.
15Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificewas initially released in 2017 on PC and PS4 before coming to Xbox One in 2018. The game was developed by Ninja Theory, who were best known at the time for their work onEnslaved: Odyssey to the WestandDmC: Devil May Cry.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificestood out in the late 2010s for its story, which offered an interesting and moving depiction of psychosis. The game has similarities to the most recentGod of Warwith itsemphasis on storytelling, hack and slash combat, and Norse mythology.
14Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeancewas initially released in February 2013 and, as the name suggests, is a spin-off of theMetal Gear Solidseries. Instead of the iconic Solid Snake, the game puts players in the shoes of Raiden. Along with a change in protagonist, the combat mechanics also saw an overhaul, with hack and slash replacing theMetal Gear Solidseries’ quintessential stealth.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeancewas developed by PlatinumGames, who have become one of the hack and slash genre’s most esteemed studios thanks to games likeBayonettaandNier: Automata.
13DmC: Devil May Cry
As mentioned before,DmC: Devil May Crywas developed by Ninja Studio, the same team that worked onHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The game is a reboot of the iconicDevil May Cryseries, set in a parallel universe. The decision to reboot the series was extremely divisive, with Ninja Theory evenreceiving death threatsfrom some fans.
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The game was well-received by fans and critics when it was released, though, exemplified by its86 critic score and 8.0 user score on Metacritic.
12Alice: Madness Returns
When thinking of similar IPs to the brutal, goryGod of War,Lewis Carroll’sAlice in Wonderlandisn’t likely to jump out in many people’s minds. However, the franchise surprised the gaming industry in 2011 when Electronic Arts announced that they were publishing a hack-and-slash, psychological horror game set in theAlice in Wonderlanduniverse.
Alice: Madness Returnswas developed by Spicy Horse. They silenced any doubters that thought the game would just be a gimmick, providing a memorable action-adventure experience that is still thoroughly enjoyable today.
11Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Much like the aforementionedAlice in Wonderland, J. R. R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsisn’t an IP that is commonly associated withGod of War.
Still,Middle-earth: Shadow of Waris certainly worth including on this list. The game’s hack and slash gameplay lets players take down a multitude of enemies at once, in a way that is reminiscent of classicGod of Wargames. Moreover,Shadow of Waralso provides cinematic storytelling, impressive visuals, and explorable open areas similar to the latestGod of Warentry.
10Ryse: Son of Rome
Launch titles can often be fundamental to a console’s success in its first couple of years. Microsoft looked to hit the ground running by providing its players with a hack and slash title to challengeGod of War,titledRyse: Son of Rome.
It soon became clear that the game wasn’t going to meet the high expectations, as reviews for the game were somewhat lackluster. Though the game is rough around the edges, it can still be a thoroughly enjoyable seven-hour adventure. A seven-hour runtime made it difficult to justify its full price upon release; However, now that it’s come down in cost and isavailable with Game Pass, it’s certainly worth checking out.
9Lords Of The Fallen
Lords of the Fallenis what would happen if someone putGod of WarandDark Soulsin a blender. The game falls short of either franchise’s quality, butthe influences are clear to see.
The main strength ofLords of the Fallenis its boss fights. Whereas the standard enemies can be fairly rudimentary, the boss battles feel epic and engaging.The fights are challenging, testing both the player’s skill and resourcefulness to obtain the best equipment. A sequel was announced in December 2014, though the game is still in development, with news on the game being scarce.
