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.

—

### 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 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. While questions surround the whereabouts of Hades and Zagreus, similar questions linger around 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 are found over the course of the game, pointing to some of Supergiant’s most masterful storytelling to date.

—

### Storytelling Through Roguelite Runs

While roguelite runs focus on gameplay success, there’s never a run where players don’t learn more about the story, meet new characters, push arcs forward, and come a step closer to solving some of the overarching mysteries the narrative presents.

To this point, much of this sounds like it plays out similarly to the original *Hades*. That’s not a bad thing. If you’re going to borrow ideas, why not from the best—especially if that’s yourself?

However, as the game progresses, its scope grows wider, surpassing the original title. As Chronos’ true machinations start to take shape, it becomes clear that the *Hades* 1-style Underworld run is only the beginning. There’s much more to explore, far more characters to meet, and new ways to interact with them.

There are additional methods to push the story and gameplay progress forward, like the Cauldron in The Crossroads, where Melinoe crafts run-altering spells, an Arcana with Tarot cards that grant useful buffs, and an upgrade system for the Nocturnal Arms—Melinoe’s weapons of choice.

—

### A New Supporting Cast to Love

While there’s no replacing some of the minor characters from the first game, the supporting cast of *Hades 2* quickly grows on you through their well-crafted stories and the pacing of their arcs.

– **Dora** is Melinoe’s roommate. She’s smarter than the other Shades but can’t remember her past and is content to live her afterlife without ever leaving her room.

– **Hecate** is a calculating leader, straddling the line between a maternal figure and a strict teacher who equips Melinoe with survival tools.

– **Moros**, the incarnation of Doom, yearns to help but is limited by what the Fates allow.

– **Eris** is a devil-may-care free spirit who may or may not be a double agent causing misery just for the fun of it.

All their stories unfold masterfully, offering just enough intrigue to keep you invested and eager for the next run.

Characters encountered during runs, like Narcissus and Echo, start quirky but reveal surprising depth as the story progresses.

—

### Meet Melinoe: A Different Kind of Protagonist

Inevitably, Melinoe will be compared to Zagreus, and in a head-to-head comparison, she might not come out on top. Zagreus had a defiant charm, driven by the desire to find the mother he never knew. Their conflict was fiery yet somehow endearing.

Melinoe lacks Zag’s charm but possesses a wholesome determination fueled by never having known her family, with only a portrait from her infancy to keep her motivated. She’s single-mindedly driven to defeat Chronos, which somewhat stunts her character development in the early hours.

There’s even an encounter with Chaos from the first game where they almost lament how much more amusing Zagreus was.

However, as Melinoe encounters more characters and strengthens relationships with the gods, her personality blossoms. Having spent her life learning to fight, she now fights for others.

Her mission’s focus broadens from self-driven to serving others. This evolution is evident in the game’s gift-giving mechanics and the resultant interactions. Helping others grow helps Melinoe discover who she truly is, making this one of *Hades 2*’s most compelling ongoing storylines.

—

### A Perfect Entry Point with Layers for Veterans

One of the benefits of *Hades 2* using mostly new characters is its accessibility to newcomers. You can jump in blind and still enjoy Supergiant’s storytelling without feeling lost.

For players of the original, there’s so much more to appreciate: the bittersweet discovery of Hypnos’s state, pride in seeing Skelly’s evolution into Commander Schelemeus, and a tantalizing mystery about the fate of key characters.

This blend of heartbreak, pride, and curiosity forms a seed of intrigue that grows over dozens of hours into a deeply fulfilling narrative experience.

—

### Gameplay Loop That Supports the Journey

Of course, a desire to see this journey through depends on the gameplay loop’s strength—and here, *Hades 2* excels again.

At the beginning (an important qualifier), *Hades 2* is structured similarly to the original game. Players dive into the realm of Erebus with a Nocturnal Arm of choice, battling hostile Shades and monsters, facing bosses, and ultimately confronting Chronos.

The main difference: instead of fighting upward like in the first game, players fight downward, aiming to reach the Underworld.

Individual chamber layouts are randomized, each with foes, hazards, and rewards. Runs may feel familiar but are rarely the same—especially as gods and characters offer Boons to strengthen Melinoe in unique ways.

Combat remains crisp. Each weapon has a main function, an alt-fire option, and a dash move.

Melinoe’s upbringing as a witch adds new layers: a casting circle traps enemies and can be enhanced by divine Boons. A magic meter lets her unleash charged attacks that feed a Hex meter, unlocked by moon goddess Selene. Hex actions provide healing, attack boosts, and effects like resurrecting minor foes as allies.

The combat system is easy to grasp yet offers a high skill ceiling without feeling unattainable.

—

### Bosses That Impress and Inspire

Bosses remain marvelously imaginative. Hecate, as the first boss, is a warm-up test.

Traveling through the second world, Oceanus, you’ll hear a faint song leading to the reveal of the second boss: Scylla and the Sirens—a reimagining of the mythical sirens as a girl punk group.

It’s a clever concept, having players survive a deadly rock performance that blends the game’s soundtrack in a brilliantly inventive way.

Other bosses feature unique narrative and mechanical quirks, but I won’t spoil them here.

One boss merits further mention, but more on that later.

—

### A Gameplay Revolution: The Surface Run

Much like the story, the gameplay starts familiar but soon expands drastically.

After meeting Hermes, the messenger god references a war atop Mount Olympus—an entirely different run that takes place on the surface.

This introduces a new objective sequence: players must find a way to reach the surface, realize Melinoe can’t survive there, and solve how she can stay without being dragged back to the Underworld.

What began as a familiar experience evolves into something fresh and expansive.

Think of it like the “Second Quest” in *The Legend of Zelda*—a drastic jump in complexity and scale.

Objectives shift, level layouts transform, and Melinoe navigates enemies and chambers in new ways.

This all culminates in an epic final boss fight on the surface, delivering the pinnacle of the *Hades* boss formula.

Despite progress equipping Melinoe for tough challenges, the surface’s final boss taunts you with your unpreparedness, signaling there’s more to accomplish and an even bigger climax ahead.

—

### See You at The Crossroads

While runs and combat are thrilling, *Hades 2* is equally engaging between runs.

The first game introduced this with Zagreus talking to House of Hades denizens via fresh dialogue during encounters, exploring parts of the House, and gift-giving.

*Hades 2* vastly expands on this.

The Crossroads begins as a humble hub but grows over time, and fostering this growth is a core joy.

At its center is the Cauldron. With the right ingredients, Melinoe can cast spells affecting gameplay in diverse ways: adding stations, unlocking rooms for rest and recharge, and pushing the story forward.

Many Cauldron spells unlock Crossroads locations and activities, like gardening.

Players can plant seeds found during runs and use the harvest as Cauldron ingredients, Arcana unlocks, or weapon upgrades.

Finding specific ingredients can be luck-dependent, sometimes requiring multiple runs.

—

### New Ways to Connect

The most exciting Cauldron spells open Crossroads areas with new outlets to know everyone better:

– Hot springs
– A fishing hole
– A tavern

All feed into a relationship system. Occasionally, players can even pursue romance, with scenes that balance lightheartedness and sincerity.

While focused on defeating Chronos and exploring the surface, I found myself equally invested in coaxing Dora out of her shell.

If there’s one minor downside, it’s that friendship and romance options feel a bit limited—the more love, the better.

—

### Always on Time

The original *Hades* remains one of my favorite modern-era games, sparking interest in a genre I hadn’t given much thought to before.

Since then, roguelites have exploded in popularity across the gaming landscape.

Many imitators emerged—games like *Returnal*, *Curse of the Dead Gods*, *The Rogue Prince of Persia*, *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate*, and add-ons like *Splatoon 3’s* Side Order DLC have explored the genre.

Some offered distinct takes with varying degrees of success.

Few, however, have matched the critical and fan acclaim of *Hades*.

Supergiant Games helped build this genre-monster into what it is today—and *Hades 2* only cements their mastery.

—

### Building On a Masterpiece

This sequel didn’t have to improve on everything from its predecessor but chose to build on it.

The story and characters are more engaging; stakes feel higher.

Combat remains fluid with more dimensions, making gameplay more involved.

Between runs, there’s enough to do to keep the game on your mind long after you’ve stopped playing.

*Hades 2* represents everything a gaming sequel should be.

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

—

### Endless Discovery

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

Every time I thought I had the game or story figured out, something else happened to upend my understanding.

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 after this review is published.

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

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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### A Gameplay Loop That Supports the Story

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

—

### 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.

—

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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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.

—

### 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