If you're an Xbox fanatic but love God of War, these related games are sure to pique your interest.
Even the most die-hard Xbox fanatic might admit that Microsoft's home console didn't have a standout generation of Xbox One exclusives. Not only did the Nintendo Switch kick off with two of the best-ever titles Mario and Zelda, Sony's rivals have flooded the PlayStation 4 with numerous award-winning titles. Fortunately, the future of the Xbox Series X looks bright. The Bethesda acquisition adds to an impressive collection that should provide an unforgettable experience throughout the ninth generation of home consoles.
One of the best exclusive franchises that has eluded Xbox players is God of War. The franchise has consistently produced great games, and the latest game, simply called God of War, is considered by some to be the best of them all. The chances are slim that the franchise will ever hit the Xbox, but thankfully, there are already loads of great adventure and hack-and-slash games out there to fill the void.
Updated June 17, 2021 by Jack Purcy: E3 2021 has come to an end and many Xbox gamers have been thrilled with the offers made as part of the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase. At the show, players got their first glimpse of a host of new games, many of which will arrive on Game Pass on day one. Unsurprisingly, the pipe dream of bringing the God of War franchise to Xbox hasn't come true. So to help Xbox gamers relieve this itch, here are five more games that Xbox fans might like.
15. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Available platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice originally came out in 2017 on PC and PS4, and appeared on Xbox One in 2018. The game was developed by Ninja Theory, which at the time was best known for their work on Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and DmC: Devil May Cry.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice stood out in the late 2010s for its storyline, which offered an interesting and moving portrayal of psychosis. The game bears similarities to the recent God of War, with an emphasis on storytelling, hacking and slasher combat, and Norse mythology.
14. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Available platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, OS X, Shield Android TV
- Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S through backward compatibility
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was released in February 2013 and, as the name suggests, is a spin-off of the Metal Gear Solid series. Instead of the iconic Solid Snake, in the game players will take the place of Raiden. Along with the change of the protagonist, the combat mechanics also changed: instead of the quintessence of stealth in the Metal Gear Solid series, hack-and-slash appeared.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was developed by PlatinumGames, which has become one of the most respected hack and slash studios thanks to games like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata.
13. DmC: Devil May Cry
- Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
As mentioned, DmC: Devil May Cry was developed by Ninja Studio, the same team that worked on Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. The game is a reboot of the cult series Devil May Cry, which takes place in a parallel universe. The decision to reboot the series caused a lot of controversy, with Ninja Theory even receiving death threats from some fans.
However, the game was well received by fans and critics when it was released, as evidenced by its 86 critical scores and 8.0 user scores on Metacritic.
12. Alice: Madness Returns
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S through backward compatibility
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is unlikely to come to mind with the thought that God of War is similar to the brutal and bloody God of War. However, the franchise surprised the gaming industry in 2011 when Electronic Arts announced the publication of a psychological horror game with elements of hacking and slasher in the Alice in Wonderland universe.
Alice: Madness Returns was developed by Spicy Horse. They silenced all doubters who thought the game would be just a gimmick, providing a memorable action adventure that is still a great pleasure today.
11. Middle-earth: Shadow of War
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
Like the aforementioned Alice in Wonderland, JR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is not a game commonly associated with God of War.
10. Ryse: Son of Rome
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
Starter games are often instrumental in a console's success in its first couple of years. Microsoft decided to start from scratch, providing its players with a hack and slash game that would challenge God of War, called Ryse: Son of Rome.
It soon became clear that the game would not live up to high expectations, as reviews were somewhat scarce. Even though the game is rough around the edges, it can still be an enjoyable seven-hour adventure. The game's seven-hour runtime didn't justify its full launch price, but now that it's cheaper and available on Game Pass, it's definitely worth checking out.
9. Lords Of The Fallen
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
Lords of the Fallen is what should happen if someone puts God of War and Dark Souls in a blender. The game doesn't match the quality of any of the franchises, but the impact is clear.
The main strength of Lords of the Fallen is boss fights. While ordinary enemies can be pretty primitive, boss battles look epic and exciting. The battles are challenging, testing both the skill of the player and his ingenuity to get the best gear. A sequel was announced in December 2014, however the game is still in development and news is scarce.
8. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
Assassin's Creed Odyssey suffers from many of the inherent disadvantages of Ubisoft's open world games, such as repetitive tasks. However, it is still a well-crafted game that will appeal to anyone looking to experience elements of God of War Greek mythology in the open world.
7. Dante's Inferno
- Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
- Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S via backward compatibility
Of all the games on this list, Dante's Inferno is the one that most explicitly set itself the goal of competing with Santa Monica's God of War. The game is based on the poem of the same name by Dante Alighieri, depicting the nine circles of hell.
The gameplay of the game is reminiscent of the original God of War trilogy, making it an ideal choice for fans of the first games. Anyone who enjoys Dante's Inferno may want to watch the dark fantasy film Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic, which was based on the game and was released on the same day.
6. Ninja Gaiden II
- Available platforms: Xbox 360
- Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S through backward compatibility
There aren't many hack and slash franchises as famous as God of War, but the Ninja Gaiden series comes close. The first game was released in 1988 and was recognized as one of the best and most difficult beat 'em up games of its generation.
One thread that has linked Ninja Gaiden releases over the decades is complexity. The games in the series are historically known for their brutality, and Ninja Gaiden II is no exception. The game is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary installments in the series, as evidenced by its impressive 81 Metascore rating.
5. Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
- Available platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
- Playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S through backward compatibility
From cult franchise to cult franchise, the Castlevania franchise is best known today for one of the best releases of the late 90s, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and as one of two titles to enter the Metroidvania genre for its influence on gameplay style.
Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow was released in 2010 and is today recognized as one of the best games in the series. The game earned between 81 and 85 points for all three releases and was honored with the Music Critics Association's Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media.
4. Darksiders
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
From one 2010 release to the next, Vigil Games' Darksiders ranks with Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow as one of the best hack and slash games of the year. The series is currently in its fourth release, with Darksiders Genesis hitting stores in 2019. However, the original 2010 game is still considered the best in the franchise.
In the game, players control War, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. As with any good hack and slash game, War can acquire new abilities and weapons throughout its adventure to keep the gameplay fresh and fun.
3. Bayonetta
- Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
With the Xbox 360 Metascore 90, Bayonetta is one of the most critically acclaimed games on this list. The praise for the game was mainly directed at her fights. The hack and slasher mechanics are superb depth, ensuring that players get carried away with the process of taking down the many challenging opponents in the game.
The second game received even more critical praise than the first, as evidenced by its 91 and 92 scores between the two releases. Sadly, it has become a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
2. Dark Souls III
- Available platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Also Playable on Xbox Series X | S
FromSoftware's so-called soul-building franchise has been one of the most influential franchises of the past decade. The first game, Dark Souls, was particularly influential. It went against modern trends such as overprotectiveness and oversimplified complexity by placing players in an unforgiving world and giving them minimal guidance. Moreover, the game's storyline was surprisingly intertwined with the gameplay - a style that has been increasingly seen in games ever since.
Any of the Xbox Soulsborne games could make this list, but Dark Souls III takes the cake for being the most accessible of the three for new players, thanks to its more linear design and a rather sparing first hour of play.
1. Devil May Cry 5
- Available platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S
The Devil May Cry franchise is one of the few hack and slash franchises that rivals God of War in critical acclaim and commercial success. The series was originally a PlayStation exclusive, and the first game, which was originally planned as a new Resident Evil title, is one of the highest rated PlayStation 2 games on Metacritic, with a score of 94.
Devil May Cry 5 hit stores in 2019 and is considered by many to be the best release since the original game.
