Groups comparison
Mêlée weapons - 1978 to 2023
Player can use non-projectile weapons which require both the user and the target to be in direct contact with them.
Shields - 1983 to 2024
Player can wield a shield or other object to manually block incoming attacks.
Two-handed mêlée weapons - 1983 to 2021
Player uses or can use melee weapons that require both hands to use, such as great swords, battle axes and staves.
Hack and Slash (Hack and Slay;Hack & Slash) - 1984 to 2021
A sub-genre of beat 'em ups that originated from P&P RPGs where it's seen as derogatory. Differentiated from most beat 'em up by the fact that you primarily use melee weapons instead of bare hands.
Dual wielding (Guns akimbo) - 1990 to 2022
Player can wield two related weapons simultaneously, such as two handguns, two scimitars, and so on.
Improvised weapons - 1996 to 2018
Regular items (such as rakes, pieces of wood, furniture, etc.) can be used as weapons.
Player can use non-projectile weapons which require both the user and the target to be in direct contact with them.
Shields - 1983 to 2024
Player can wield a shield or other object to manually block incoming attacks.
Two-handed mêlée weapons - 1983 to 2021
Player uses or can use melee weapons that require both hands to use, such as great swords, battle axes and staves.
Hack and Slash (Hack and Slay;Hack & Slash) - 1984 to 2021
A sub-genre of beat 'em ups that originated from P&P RPGs where it's seen as derogatory. Differentiated from most beat 'em up by the fact that you primarily use melee weapons instead of bare hands.
Dual wielding (Guns akimbo) - 1990 to 2022
Player can wield two related weapons simultaneously, such as two handguns, two scimitars, and so on.
Improvised weapons - 1996 to 2018
Regular items (such as rakes, pieces of wood, furniture, etc.) can be used as weapons.
meleeweapons
shields
2hmeleeweapons
hackandslash
dualwielding
improvisedweapons