To that point, this was an indie studio that always had a new story to tell. It had never put out a sequel to any of its previous games. Imagine the pressure on this developer when it decided to buck that trend to craft a sequel to one of the best games of the modern era, one that helped define what it means to be a roguelite.

With all of that said, Supergiant Games has not only crafted one of modern gaming’s best roguelites, it has now crafted one of modern gaming’s best sequels. It’d be cliché to say *Hades 2* is everything *Hades* was and more, but it’d also be accurate. This sequel isn’t just good — it’s godlike.

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### Time Marches On

*Hades 2* takes place years after the events of the original game, but a lot has happened in the time that has passed. Original protagonist Zagreus is nowhere to be found. Neither, for that matter, is original antagonist Hades.

Instead, players are taken to a new setting called The Crossroads, where they meet a new lead character: Melinoe. She is the daughter of Hades, who has spent her life under the tutelage of the all-powerful witch Hecate.

The House of Hades has been taken over by Chronos, the Titan of Time, who seems to be waging a grander war against all of the gods. It’s up to Melinoe to topple the fiend, retake the Underworld, and find her family.

That’s the gist of the story, but much of it is shrouded in mystery.

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### Mystery and Masterful Storytelling

While questions surround the whereabouts of Hades and Zagreus, similar questions loom over the original game’s supporting characters. The most visible example is Hypnos, the God of Sleep, who has fallen into an eternal slumber for reasons unknown.

Other examples arise throughout the game, pointing to some of Supergiant’s most masterful storytelling to date.

While roguelite runs are as much about gameplay success, there’s never a run where players don’t learn more about the story, meet new characters, push story arcs forward, and get a step closer to solving overarching narrative mysteries.

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### Familiar Yet Expanding

To this point, much of this sounds similar to the original *Hades*. First off, that’s not a bad thing. If you’re going to borrow something, borrow from the best—especially if that means yourself.

However, as the game progresses, its scope grows wider, surpassing that of the original game.

As Chronos’ true machinations unfold, it becomes clear that the classic Underworld run is only the beginning. There’s much more to explore: far more characters to meet, more ways to interact, additional paths to push both story and gameplay forward.

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### New Features and Characters

Among the new features are the Cauldron in The Crossroads, where Melinoe crafts run-altering spells; an Arcana system with Tarot cards granting useful buffs; and an upgrade system for the Nocturnal Arms, Melinoe’s weapons of choice.

Though some minor characters from the first game aren’t replaced, the new supporting cast is deeply captivating, and their stories unfold beautifully.

– **Dora** is Melinoe’s roommate, smarter than other Shades, but she can’t remember her past and chooses to live in her afterlife without leaving her room.
– **Hecate** straddles the line between mother figure and strict teacher, providing Melinoe with the tools to survive.
– **Moros**, the incarnation of Doom, yearns to help but is limited by the Fates.
– **Eris** is a devil-may-care free spirit, potentially a double agent, who spreads mischief just for the fun of it.

The developers have crafted all their stories carefully, pacing each reveal to hold your interest and encourage more runs.

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### Characters Along the Way

Characters like Narcissus and Echo start quirky but deepen as you progress.

And then there’s Melinoe herself, the inevitable comparison to Zagreus.

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### Melinoe vs. Zagreus

Zagreus had a defiant charm — driven by a desire to find the mother he never knew, and unphased by his father’s anger. Their conflict echoed the playful violence of Popeye and Bluto.

Melinoe lacks that charm but brings a wholesome determination. She never knew her family and holds only a portrait of them as a baby to keep her motivated.

Her mission to defeat Chronos defines her early character development, which can feel stunted for the first dozen or so hours. Even an encounter with Chaos (returning from the first game) captures a lament over how much more amusing Zagreus was.

However, as Melinoe meets more characters and deepens her relationships with the gods, she grows. She transforms from someone who fights solely because she must, into someone who fights for others.

This evolution shows through the gift-giving mechanic and relationships that blossom from it. Helping others find their best selves helps Melinoe discover who she truly is — one of *Hades 2*’s most compelling storylines.

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### Sequel for Newcomers and Fans Alike

The positive side of using mostly new characters is that newcomers can jump in blind and enjoy Supergiant’s storytelling without feeling lost.

Still, there’s even more for those who played the original:

– Heartbreak upon finding Hypnos’s condition
– Pride in seeing Skelly grow into Commander Schelemeus, even if still the tutorial tackle dummy
– Confusion and curiosity about where first-game characters went and what happened to them

These seeds of curiosity bloom over dozens of hours into rewarding narrative payoff — provided you want to see the journey through.

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### A Gameplay Loop That Supports the Story

Thankfully, this is another area where *Hades 2* shines.

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### Time Loop and Combat

At the start, *Hades 2* follows a structure similar to the original. Players dive into the realm of Erebus with a Nocturnal Arm of choice, battle hostile Shades and monsters, and face multiple bosses culminating in a showdown with Chronos.

The key difference: instead of fighting upward (as in the first game), here the goal is to fight downward to reach the Underworld.

Chambers have randomized layouts, foes, hazards, and rewards. Runs feel similar but rarely identical, especially with gods and characters offering various Boons to enhance Melinoe’s power and abilities during each run.

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Combat remains crisp and engaging. Each weapon has a main and alt-fire function paired with a dash move.

New elements play into Melinoe’s background as a witch:

– A **casting circle** can trap enemies and be enhanced by godly Boons.
– A **magic meter** allows charged attacks, which can feed into a **Hex meter** unlocked by moon goddess Selene.
– Hex abilities offer varied benefits like healing, extra power, or resurrecting minor foes to fight alongside.

The combat is easy to grasp but offers a high skill ceiling without feeling daunting.

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### Marvelous Bosses

Boss encounters are imaginative and inventive.

– Hecate, the first boss, serves as a warm-up.
– In the second world, Oceanus, players meet the Sirens and Scylla — reimagined as a punk girl band. You survive a deadly rock show, cleverly integrating the game’s soundtrack.

Other bosses introduce clever quirks, both narratively and mechanically, without spoiling surprises here.

One boss in particular deserves mention, but more on that later.

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### Expanding Beyond the Familiar

Much of this may seem like a refined version of the original game, and if *Hades 2* had simply been another roguelite with four worlds, it would still be incredible.

Around 10-15 hours in, the game takes a turn.

After Melinoe’s first encounter with Hermes, the messenger god references a war on Mount Olympus.

This hints at an entirely new run — one on the surface. Here, players must find a way to survive outside the Underworld and solve the mystery of what will let Melinoe stay on the surface without her heritage pulling her back to the dead.

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### The Surface: A New Dimension

This new objective sequence adds a whole new dimension to what seemed like a familiar experience.

Think “Second Quest” from *The Legend of Zelda* — a drastic jump.

Surface objectives and level layouts are distinct, and progression between enemy-filled chambers unfolds differently.

The climax is the most epic boss battle in the *Hades* series, testing players in new and unexpected ways.

Even fully powered up and experienced, I found the surface’s final boss fight a humbling challenge — evidence of more to explore and a bigger climax ahead.

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### See You at the Crossroads

Individual runs and combat are entertaining, but *Hades 2* is equally captivating between runs.

The first game offered Zagreus fresh dialogue with House of Hades residents, exploration, and gift-giving.

*Hades 2* expands this enormously.

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### The Crossroads Hub

The Crossroads begin as a humble hub but grow richer and more complex:

– The **Cauldron** lets Melinoe cast spells that affect runs — adding stations, unlocking rooms for rest and recharge, and pushing story progress.
– Many Cauldron spells open new Crossroads areas and activities like gardening.
– Players plant seeds found during runs, growing ingredients used to craft spells, unlock Arcana cards, or upgrade weapons.
– Finding specific ingredients relies somewhat on luck, sometimes requiring multiple runs.

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### Activities and Relationships

The Crossroads offers hot springs, fishing holes, and a tavern — all feeding into a relationship system.

Players can develop friendships and even romances, with lighthearted scenes full of sincerity.

While my main goal remained taking down Chronos and surviving the surface, I also aimed to help Melinoe’s roommate Dora open up from her shell.

The only downside: there aren’t enough friendship and romance options. There can never be enough love.

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### Always on Time: Reflections

The original *Hades* remains one of my favorite modern games, introducing me to the roguelite genre.

Since then, roguelites have exploded in popularity, with games like *Returnal*, *Curse of the Dead Gods*, *The Rogue Prince of Persia*, *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate*, and expansions like *Splatoon 3*’s Side Order DLC exploring the space.

Some homages are better than others, some add distinct flavors, but few have reached the heights of *Hades* among critics and fans.

Supergiant Games helped build the roguelite genre into what it is today — masters of this craft.

*Hades 2* only reinforces that legacy.

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### Building on a Classic

The sequel didn’t need to improve on everything but chose to build on its predecessor.

– Stories and characters are more engaging
– The stakes feel higher
– Combat remains fluid and adds new layers
– The between-run activities offer hours of additional engagement

*Hades 2* is everything a sequel should be.

It’s one that will keep me coming back, whether on PC or Switch 2. (Cross-save works great, by the way.)

Even after conquering Chronos and scaling the surface, there’s still so much more to do.

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### Ever-Evolving

Every time I thought I had this game or its story figured out, something new happened to turn everything on its head.

Like the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper used to say, “When I thought I had the answers, *Hades 2* changed the question.”

I might still discover something mind-blowing even after this review is posted.

There’s always something new to find in the House of Hades — a house that’s eternal and yet never gets old.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146142/hades-2-review-score