Overview
Supergiant Games set an incredibly high bar with the original Hades, a roguelike that won countless game-of-the-year awards and introduced millions to the genre. Hades II builds on that foundation with a new protagonist, an expanded world, and a depth of mechanical variety that feels genuinely fresh — even for veterans of the first game.
Story & Setting
You play as Melinoë, a witch and daughter of Hades, on a mission to confront the titan Chronos who has seized the Underworld. The narrative expands the mythological canvas significantly, pulling in characters from Greek mythology that the original only touched on. The writing remains Supergiant's strongest suit — every character feels alive, and dialogue evolves meaningfully as you progress through runs.
The storytelling-through-repetition model returns: each failed run reveals new conversations, relationship developments, and lore drops. It rewards persistence in a way few games manage.
Gameplay & Combat
Melinoë's combat toolkit is noticeably different from Zagreus's. Her witch background introduces a distinction between Omega Attacks (charged, powerful strikes) and standard attacks, adding a rhythm to combat that feels deliberate and deeply satisfying once mastered.
- Weapons: A diverse arsenal ranging from a Sister Blades to a Witch's Staff, each with unique movement feel.
- Boons: Gods like Apollo, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite return with redesigned ability trees.
- Incantations: A new meta-progression system using magical crafting, adding another strategic layer.
Build variety is enormous. No two runs feel identical, and the synergy system encourages experimentation rather than sticking to a single optimal strategy.
Visuals & Sound
Supergiant's art direction is again stunning. New biomes — including moonlit surface areas and ancient Greek countryside — are visually distinct and beautifully detailed. The music, composed by Darren Korb, continues the series' tradition of genre-blending excellence, weaving orchestral and folk-inspired tracks that match the tone of each region perfectly.
What Could Be Better
As an early access title at the time of this review, a few areas feel unfinished:
- Some biomes lack the same density of enemy variety as later areas.
- Certain boon combinations feel undertuned compared to the overall balance.
- The pacing of story reveals can feel slightly slower than the original's early hours.
These are minor issues that will likely be addressed as development continues.
Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story & Writing | Excellent |
| Combat & Mechanics | Excellent |
| Visuals | Excellent |
| Sound & Music | Excellent |
| Replayability | Very High |
Hades II is an exceptional roguelike that stands toe-to-toe with its predecessor even in early access. If you enjoyed the first game, this is an easy recommendation. If you've never played a roguelike before, this is one of the best possible entry points to the genre.