Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Demon-hunting has long been a thrilling theme in video games, combining intense combat with supernatural storytelling and terrifying worlds.
Whether you're slashing through hellish creatures, negotiating with infernal creatures, or exploring post-apocalyptic landscapes teeming with demons, these games stand out critically for their execution of the genre.
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This list highlights five titles that have earned high Metacritic scores from critics—a strong indicator of quality—and offer some of the most satisfying demon-slaying experiences in gaming.
Doom: Eternal (2020)
Metacritic score: 88
DOOM Eternal refines demon-hunting into a relentless ballet of speed, aggression, and precision.
As the Doom Slayer, players are encouraged to stay constantly on the move, chaining together glory kills, weapon swaps, and environmental traversal to survive overwhelming demonic hordes.
Critics praised the game for deepening the combat loop introduced in DOOM (2016), turning every encounter into a strategic puzzle where resource management is inseparable from violence.
Its kinetic pacing and unapologetic brutality make it one of the most exhilarating demon-slaying experiences ever made.
Devil May Cry 5 (2019)
Metacritic Score: 89
Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5 represents the pinnacle of stylish demon hunting, where combat is not just about survival, but expression.
Players control Dante, Nero, and V, each with radically different mechanics that reward creativity and mastery.
Critics consistently highlighted the game’s fluid animations, deep combo systems, and the sheer satisfaction of improving skill over time.
Rather than overwhelming players with difficulty alone, Devil May Cry 5 turns demon slaying into a performance, where elegance and aggression coexist.
Bayonetta (2009)
Metacritic Score: 90
Bayonetta offers a bold, flamboyant take on demon hunting, blending supernatural combat with exaggerated style and personality.
As the titular witch, players summon infernal demons, unleash intricate combos, and manipulate time through perfectly timed dodges.
Critics praised the game’s tight mechanics and confident identity, noting how it balances absurdity with precision gameplay.
Bayonetta stands out for proving that demon hunting doesn’t need to be grim or grounded to be intense—it can be theatrical, playful, and brutally skill-based all at once.
Demon's Souls (2009)
Metacritic Score: 92
Demon’s Souls approaches demon hunting from a darker, more oppressive angle.
Set in a decaying kingdom overrun by demons, the game emphasizes tension, punishment, and deliberate combat.
Every encounter feels dangerous, and every victory is earned through patience and learning rather than reflex alone.
Critics praised the remake for preserving the original’s haunting atmosphere while modernizing visuals and performance.
Its influence on the entire Soulslike genre cements Demon’s Souls as a foundational demon-hunting experience built on fear, perseverance, and mastery.
Dante's Inferno (2010)
Metacritic Score: 78
Dante’s Inferno offers a mythologically driven take on demon hunting, drawing directly from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy to construct a brutal journey through the nine circles of Hell.
Players assume the role of Dante, a crusader who descends into Hell to rescue the soul of his beloved Beatrice, battling grotesque demons that embody human sins such as lust, greed, and betrayal.
While its Metacritic score is lower than some modern classics, critics acknowledged the game’s striking art direction, unapologetically dark themes, and visceral combat inspired by classic action games.
What sets Dante’s Inferno apart is its commitment to portraying Hell as a place of punishment and horror rather than spectacle alone, making demon hunting feel grim, personal, and morally charged.