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 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.
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### 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.)
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### 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