"Traditional hack & slash/brawler action games need to come back, because we don't get them anymore!" A false narrative...

[BrawlMan]

Long story short, I've seen this statement be passed around recently and back in June of 2025 when more gameplay was revealed for Ninja Gaiden 4. Or when gameplay got revealed for games like Tides of Annihilation or Romeo is a Dead Man. Some people going on about how they're "finally making a comeback" or "this is what we need! (to be beat Dark Souls/Souls genre/Souls Fatigue)". They've already been back since 2019-2020. My main issues with these are:

1. While there was an action game drought in the AAA space at least, that stopped being a thing after God of War 4 (2018), and Devil May Cry 5 (2019).
2. These two genres, Souls and Stylish Action, have co-existed fine with each other and are still doing so now. I get not everybody likes Souls style or are tired of them, but don't take it out on people minding their own business, or just want to make a fun game with their own take or not. Certain game snobs have gone really overboard with this, and got into either fan hate territory or claiming "Souls games are killing Action Games!". It's the new "Casual Gamers are Killing Hardcore Games!". Fuck you for shouting shit that ain't even close to true.

Here's list of traditional melee action games that have released after DMC5 and 5:SE -

• Astral Chain (2019)
• Oneechanbara Origin (2019 in Japan, 2020 everywhere else)
• Punishing Gray Raven (2019)
• Streets of Rage 4 (2020)
• No More Heroes III (2021)
• SIFU (2021)
• Bayonetta 3 (2022)
• Soulstice (2022)
• Evil West (2022)
• God of War: Ragnarok (2022) - Both Norse Era games still count, even though there is a shift in perspective.
• Gungrave GORE (2022)
• Hi-Fi Rush (2023 on Series X/PC, & then 2024 on PS5)
• Wanted: Dead (2023)- Though that's a piece of garbage to me.
• Zenless Zone Zero (2023)
• FFXVI (2023)
• FFVII Remake, Inter-grade, & Rebirth sort of count, depending on how you customize certain characters with Materia. You can have Cloud, Tifa, and Yuffie play like Platinum Games characters, if you equip them the right way.
• Stellar Blade (2024)
• Ninja Gaiden II Black (2025)
• Lost Soul Aside (2025)
• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (2025)
• Ninja Gaiden 4 (2025)
• Romeo Is A Dead Man (2026)
• Phnatom Blade 0 (2026)
• Tides of Annilation (TBA)

I know not everybody can be on top of everything, but there's plenty of traditional non Souls action games that have been coming out the past five years, coming out in 2025, and plenty this year in 2026 and beyond.

 

[Clippy]

I refuse to believe that Devil May Cry 5 is SEVEN years old now.

 

[BrawlMan]

I refuse to believe that Devil May Cry 5 is SEVEN years old now.

It wasn't gonna stay a year old forever. All that means is DMC5 has been awesome for 7 years and will continue to do so.

 

[Zerohour2k12]

Despite what others think, the genre stays strong, there's great indie titles like Assault Spy, Kiborg, Valdis Story and Soulstice. Some may not have a Style meter but they're solid action games.

 

[DinoRexMax]

If you're mentioning Beat 'em Ups like Streets of Rage 4, there's also TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, MMPR: Rita's Rewind, and Double Dragon: Gaiden - Rise of the Dragons.

 

[BrawlMan]

If you're mentioning Beat 'em Ups like Streets of Rage 4, there's also TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, MMPR: Rita's Rewind, and Double Dragon: Gaiden - Rise of the Dragons.

Indeed!

 

[saturnsh2x2]

I need to get to a lot of these, but I can personally vouch for No More Heroes 3, and really want to check out Romeo is a Dead Man.

Eternights is also one worth mentioning; it's basically Tokimeki Memorial grafted to a hack-and-slash, as weird as that sounds.

 

[UnDubious]

If you're mentioning Beat 'em Ups like Streets of Rage 4, there's also TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, MMPR: Rita's Rewind, and Double Dragon: Gaiden - Rise of the Dragons.

Final Vendetta is a solid indie beat-'em-up too, with great Neo Geo-style sprites and SOR-inspired gameplay. It's worth playing on Hard to see what the gameplay has to offer.

 

[BrawlMan]

Final Vendetta is a solid indie beat-'em-up too, with great Neo Geo-style sprites and SOR-inspired gameplay. It's worth playing on Hard to see what the gameplay has to offer.

It's a good came, but only became worth it after that patch update and addition of Casual Mode for those who found it too difficult, even on Easy Mode. Plus, there was that game breaking bug where the third boss could get you into a throw/stun loop before said patch updates It's a 7/10 brawler for me. Once I did my 1CC/No Death S-Rank runs for Claire and Duke, I felt little reason to go back again, unless I am co-oping with my older brother, or boredom. I always tell people to get the game on a sale. The soundtrack is excellent , and I like the game more than Fight n' Rage.

 

[NOTthatHARD]

If you're mentioning Beat 'em Ups like Streets of Rage 4, there's also TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, MMPR: Rita's Rewind, and Double Dragon: Gaiden - Rise of the Dragons.

And Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

 

[DinoRexMax]

And Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

Fuk, I forgot about that one...

 

[NOTthatHARD]

Fuk, I forgot about that one...

Also River City Girls 1 and 2, The TakeOver and G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra.

 

[BrawlMan]

I didn't care for RCG1&2, but I am glad they exist. Wrath of Cobra is average from what I hear. I love The TakeOver though.

 

[Lokgamer]

Long story short, I've seen this statement be passed around recently and back in June of 2025 when more gameplay was revealed for Ninja Gaiden 4. Or when gameplay got revealed for games like Tides of Annihilation or Romeo is a Dead Man. Some people going on about how they're "finally making a comeback" or "this is what we need! (to be beat Dark Souls/Souls genre/Souls Fatigue)". They've already been back since 2019-2020. My main issues with these are:

1. While there was an action game drought in the AAA space at least, that stopped being a thing after God of War 4 (2018), and Devil May Cry 5 (2019).
2. These two genres, Souls and Stylish Action, have co-existed fine with each other and are still doing so now. I get not everybody likes Souls style or are tired of them, but don't take it out on people minding their own business, or just want to make a fun game with their own take or not. Certain game snobs have gone really overboard with this, and got into either fan hate territory or claiming "Souls games are killing Action Games!". It's the new "Casual Gamers are Killing Hardcore Games!". Fuck you for shouting shit that ain't even close to true.

Here's list of traditional melee action games that have released after DMC5 and 5:SE -

• Astral Chain (2019)
• Oneechanbara Origin (2019 in Japan, 2020 everywhere else)
• Punishing Gray Raven (2019)
• Streets of Rage 4 (2020)
• No More Heroes III (2021)
• SIFU (2021)
• Bayonetta 3 (2022)
• Soulstice (2022)
• Evil West (2022)
• God of War: Ragnarok (2022) - Both Norse Era games still count, even though there is a shift in perspective.
• Gungrave GORE (2022)
• Hi-Fi Rush (2023 on Series X/PC, & then 2024 on PS5)
• Wanted: Dead (2023)- Though that's a piece of garbage to me.
• Zenless Zone Zero (2023)
• FFXVI (2023)
• FFVII Remake, Inter-grade, & Rebirth sort of count, depending on how you customize certain characters with Materia. You can have Cloud, Tifa, and Yuffie play like Platinum Games characters, if you equip them the right way.
• Stellar Blade (2024)
• Ninja Gaiden II Black (2025)
• Lost Soul Aside (2025)
• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (2025)
• Ninja Gaiden 4 (2025)
• Romeo Is A Dead Man (2026)
• Phnatom Blade 0 (2026)
• Tides of Annilation (TBA)

I know not everybody can be on top of everything, but there's plenty of traditional non Souls action games that have been coming out the past five years, coming out in 2025, and plenty this year in 2026 and beyond.

You forgot "Ultra Age" and "Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin"

Post automatically merged: Today at 12:38 AM

I need to get to a lot of these, but I can personally vouch for No More Heroes 3, and really want to check out Romeo is a Dead Man.

Eternights is also one worth mentioning; it's basically Tokimeki Memorial grafted to a hack-and-slash, as weird as that sounds.

I've finished Eternights and its a great game, actually.

 

[Crashbandi]

For me it's not that there aren't hack and slash/ brawler games, I just want another good Musou game. I wasn't impressed with Origins. Abyss is alright however; I just don't like the Rogue like aspect.

I want a 5th Orochi Warriors game that is better than 4.

 

[BrawlMan]

You forgot "Ultra Age"

I can't keep track of every single one, but thank you. I never played the game though.

Abyss is alright however; I just don't like the Rogue like aspect.

That one didn't do it for me, and I've only played the demo of Origins. I am waiting on Dynasty Warriors 3 Remake.

 

[Crashbandi]

I can't keep track of every single one, but thank you. I never played the game though.

That one didn't do it for me, and I've only played the demo of Origins. I am waiting on Dynasty Warriors 3 Remake.

I didn't know they were remaking 3 that will be awesome. That was my first Dynasty Warriors game, and almost instantly fell in love.

 

[Lokgamer]

Wait, I just noticed something weird... Gungrave is a Hack'n Slash or brawler???

 

[BrawlMan]

I didn't know they were remaking 3 that will be awesome. That was my first Dynasty Warriors game, and almost instantly fell in love.

As many others. Though my first DW game was DW2. I played it at a Circuit City.

Wait, I just noticed something weird... Gungrave is a Hack'n Slash or brawler???

That one is more of Stylish Action Arcade 3rd Person Shooter, but Grave and Bunji (along with other characters and a few melee focused characters) do have melee attack which can be slightly expanded and upgraded in Gungrave GORE.

 

[Crashbandi]

As many others. Though my DW game was DW2. I played it at a Circuit City.

That one is more of Stylish Action Arcade 3rd Person Shooter, but Grave and Bunji (along with other characters and a few melee focused characters) do have melee attack which can be slightly expanded and upgraded in Gungrave GORE.

Man I was so impressed with G.O.R.E. I got it for the nostalgia reasons cause I really like Gungrave on the PS2 and figured it would be cool to try and modern version. And boy was i surprised.

 

[BrawlMan]

Man I was so impressed with G.O.R.E. I got it for the nostalgia reasons cause I really like Gungrave on the PS2 and figured it would be cool to try and modern version. And boy was i surprised.

When GORE first came out, I didn't like it due to the bad platforming and QTEs. I couldn't finish the game and found too frustrating on the mechanics that didn't work. Around 2024, I got the same on a sale, because they fixed all the problems with patch updates, removing the bad platforming, QTEs, and is easier yet still challenging difficulty. Then they added one final update, where Grave moves like he does in Overdose. Though only if you're playing the 9th gen versions, the Switch 1 version, or on PC.

BTW, Iggymob is remaking this game in Unreal Engine 5.

 

[dkpopman]

There's been so many action games that it's hard to even keep up with the ones I'm interested in. I have no idea why people act like its a dead genre nowadays, I totally agree with you.

I really enjoyed my time with FF16, and when I logged on to see discussions about the game, I was flabbergasted. It kinda seems like action games are a thing that most capital g Gamers like the concept of moreso than actually playing them. Stellar Blade was pretty good, too.

 

[BrawlMan]

I have no idea why people act like its a dead genre nowadays, I totally agree with you.

Because some people love to keep grifting, love to hear themselves piss and moan, look only in the one direction, or all the above.

 

[saturnsh2x2]

You forgot "Ultra Age" and "Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin"

I have a Switch copy of Sakuna; really need to get back and go through all of it. I liked what I played of it so far, I just don't touch my Switch much nowadays.

 

[NOTthatHARD]

I didn't care for RCG1&2, but I am glad they exist. Wrath of Cobra is average from what I hear. I love The TakeOver though.

Yeah, The TakeOver is GREAT.