Hades 2 is Supergiant Games' long-awaited sequel to Hades. In this game, you play as Melinoe, the daughter of Hades and Persephone. Your goal? To reach the House of Hades and save your family from the clutches of Chronos.

The Titan of Time has taken over the House of Hades, imprisoned its members and loyal staff, and declared war on the 🥂Gods. Packed with familiar and new gods, characters, and myths, Hades 2 is a 𒈔thrilling roguelike RPG. Hades 2 is all about patience and taking your time; after all, you can’t fight time itself without patience.

𓄧Please note that Hades 2 is still in Early Access. Some details may still be subject to change.

Review

Although our lead Features Editor, Jade King, was a bit hesitant at the prospect of a seq🌺uel made by Supergiant Games as she played, she grew fonder of what Hades 2 had to offer. She♏ noted that while the characters were incredibl༺y attractive, that wasn’t all that the game had in store.

The new mechanics are not the same as the original game, and that's fine - in fact, it works really well to complete Melinoe's character and the story. Melinoe and Zagreus are in completely different situations and are chasing after completely different goals. One sought to escape the Underworld, and the other now attempts to break into it regularly. There may be some slight balance issues in the combat, but given the game's Early Access state, it can generally be overlooked and forgiven.

Zagreus fought in a really bull-rush manner, and his weapons were relatively simple to use. By comparison, Melinoe's weapons are a bit more nuanced and require you to utilize all of their features if you want to get the most out of each run. She can attack with them, certainly, but she can also cast ranged spells, and trap enemies in a temporary magic circle. Her magick meter does need to be monitored, but with the right combination of boons and some work, you can make her a force to be reckoned with throughout each of your adventures.

Every single run has memorable diaཧlogue, new discoveries, and deepening reꩲlationships with a pantheon worth fighting for. If Hades 2 can keep up this momentum, we could have yet another classic on our hands.

Hades 2 is filled with nuanced characters whose interactions gradually shift and change as you interact with them. They make each run out of the Crosswords with your time and your energy. As you grow, so do your companions. Some, like Arachne, seem sweet and innocent on the surface, but underneath, they harbor a bitter resentment for the very people that you are trying to help. Others, like Nemesis, put on a front of hatred but gradually begin to evolve into something else over time. It doesn't just feel like you're sinking your time into the game, but like the characters are putting their time and effort into their relationship with Melinoe, too.

The narrative is complex and well-crafted, encouraging players to dwell on it and consider the moral implications of every action and every word. Chronos isn't "good" but there are points when you question whether or not he holds some strange fondness for Melinoe, and her persistence (or perhaps, if he's just being condescending). While the game still has some way to go with the Early Access stages, what has been promised to come is bold, accomplished, and set to make Hades 2 a worthwhile sequel and endeavor.

Time Expenditure

At this time you can expect around 20-30 hours worth of content. A run into Tartarus or onto the Surface could take you anywhere f💛rom 20 to 40 minutes, dep꧑ending on your luck and skill.

Given that there is a great deal of content to see and no two runs are ever the exact same, Hades 2 has a high replayability factor. Characters are always full of dialogue (that seems to almost never runও out), there’s plenty of content at your home base, and there is even more endless potential when you start a run.

As you gradually build out the Crossroads and add new features to it, you get to interact with the various inhabitants flꦆitting in and out of the Crossroads, which only provides more time that you get to spend in the game.

Cost

Hades 2 is currently available in Early Access on Steam for $29.99. For an extra $9.99 you can also purchase the game’s soundtrack. There are plans to bring it to consoles, though that likel🍒y won’t be happening until the full game releases, expec🅰ted to be sometime in 2025.

What Other Players Are Saying

Worthy Of Its Laurel Wreath - Hilton Webster

Supergiant has never been a developer I wanted a sequel from. The games they make have always achieved exactly what they set out to do with very little that could improve upon them. I felt the same way about Hades until I got my hands on the sཧequel.

It’s not that it’s bigger and better like many sequels try to be. Many of the characters you love from the original don’t reappear (so far) and certain changes to the gameplay m༒ake it less roguelike with an increased focus on permanent unlockables instead. Yet the core of what made Hades so adored remains - incredible characters, beautiful randomness, and being an absolute joy to look and listen to without being afraid to steer things in a slightly new direct൩ion.

If you loved Hades, you’ll love the sequel too. But don’t be afraid to try it out if you haven&rs💧quo;t played the original. Melinoë doesn’t know that world either.

My Favorite Video Game Sequel Of All Time - Dennis Moiseyev

Just when you thought you couldn't top the masterwork of a roguelike that was Hades, Supergiant absolutely shattered expectations with Hades 2. You may even find the sequel to be more engaging and fun than even the original, which is saying a lot, especially given the fact that it's in the Early Access stage. Lots of systems have been added and expanded, the art, UI, characters are as outstanding as ever, the writing is stronger than ever from Supergiant, and the environment design and enemy variety are more than you could've ever anticipated!

Supergiant has another winner on its hands with Hades 2. It's exactly what you want to see from a sequel but also feels so meticulously crafted and inspired like no other video game sequel before it. The new changes and expanded game design systems are impressive and add refreshing new dynamics, especially your Magick abilities and everything the Crossroads hub has to offer. Melinoe, the new and returning gods and goddesses, as well as the new characters from Greek mythology are perfectly woven into the story and help make it be one of the most enjoyable games you'll delight in.

Even when there are sequels like Red Dead Redemption 2, The Last o🍬f Us Part 2, and Alan Wake 2, Hades 2 is an indie knockout that can easily rise above them.

I Can't Stop Thinking About It - Tallis Spalding

To be perfectly up front, I was mostly excited for Hades 2 because it looked like we'd have another game that made everybody hot again (and I was absolutely delighted on that front). However, the more I played, the more I found that I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Melinoe plays so differently from Zagreus, but that works incredibly well for her personality and the story.

The game is still in Early Access, but so much of it already feels so well fleshed out and complete. Rather than be disappointed that there isn't more, I'm excited to grow with the game and take on the new challenges as they come out. What currently is in the game, however, is more than enough to occupy a decent amount of time while remaining enjoyable.