Hades 2 Review – Supergiant Raises the Rogue-Lite Bar

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As someone who’s played a *ton* of rogue-lites over the years, I gotta say, *Hades* really stuck with me. It didn’t reinvent the genre, but the way the story unfolded with each run felt fresh. We’d seen plenty of games with that top-down, action-packed combat before, and some were okay, but *Hades* just felt different. It was the characters, the amazing atmosphere, and how polished everything was – that’s what really made it stand out.

After a long period of testing, Hades 2 is finally here! It expands on the original game in almost every way, offering more complex gameplay, a wealth of content, and improved ways to progress. While it might not redefine the rogue-lite genre, Hades 2 is beautifully designed and polished, standing out from most games with its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.

Like before, several characters offer help, all while continuing their own battle against the Titans.

This time, the hero is Melinoë, a young woman raised by the witch Hecate with one purpose: to defeat Chronos. He has mysteriously returned to life and taken control of the Underworld, imprisoning Melinoë’s father, mother, and brother, Zagreus. As the only one who can freely enter the Underworld, Melinoë must be the one to end Chronos’s reign.

Things don’t usually go according to plan, and soon our protagonist is on a grand journey to the top of Mount Olympus. The story can get a little confusing, and while the main character is capable, they don’t quite have the same charisma as another key figure. All the hidden plots add to this. Still, it’s compelling enough to make you want to play just one more time, either to see how everything resolves or to understand the bigger picture of the conflict.

Like the previous game, a diverse cast of characters offers help, all while fighting their own battle against the Titans. While some familiar faces have smaller roles, the new additions are a great benefit. Characters like Odysseus, a brilliant and charming strategist, and Nemesis, fiercely loyal and driven by anger, stand out. I won’t reveal everyone, but the new roster, while excellent and fully voiced with tons of dialogue, doesn’t quite reach the memorability of the first game – a high bar to clear! The character designs and portraits are still fantastic, though some changes, like the new look for Artemis, might not appeal to everyone.

These characters aren’t just for show; they help Melinoë on her quest. They do this through Boons, which change her abilities in many different ways. Melinoë has a more complex skillset than Zagreus, allowing her to cast spells in a circle and unleash powerful Omega attacks with unique effects. Add to that a completely new set of weapons, the Nocturnal Arms – each with Hidden Aspects that change how they work – and you’ve got a huge range of options for fighting Titans. At first, I wasn’t very impressed with weapons like the Witch’s Staff and Umbral Flames, but as I played more of *Hades 2*, I discovered how powerful and versatile they could be.

Just when things start to make sense, you’re usually defeated and returned to the beginning, realizing you should have run instead of trying to avoid attacks.

The Black Coat, Xinth is easily one of my favorite weapons. It’s fantastic for countering attacks – it blocks most damage from the front while powering up a devastating strike. Plus, its Omega Special launches homing missiles. A build focused on powerful, single hits feels natural with this weapon, but you can speed things up by dashing, allowing you to keep pace with quicker enemies. Add a few Boons to potentially deliver the same powerful hit twice, increase its range, or widen its area of effect, and you’ve got a truly massive damage output.

You could also reward successful blocks by firing off those seeker missiles. Alternatively, focus entirely on the seekers, perhaps with a special upgrade from Hephaestus that makes them deal massive explosive damage and recharge quickly. It’s not exactly like Panzer Dragoon Orta, but the feeling of locking onto enemies and destroying groups from a distance – especially when using Selene to briefly slow down time – was incredibly rewarding.

This just scratches the surface of build possibilities with a single weapon, and doesn’t even include the powerful options available through casts. But all these builds wouldn’t matter if playing *Hades 2* wasn’t so fun. It does take a little getting used to the new sprinting, particularly switching between sprinting and dashing.

It’s so satisfying when everything finally clicks in this game! But be warned – you’ll probably get wrecked and sent back to the Crossroads if you don’t learn quickly. You’ll be scrambling to dodge when you should’ve just run! That learning curve applies to the Omega Attacks and Combos too – mastering those is key to dealing serious damage. Honestly, if you loved the fast-paced action of the first game and just want to rush in and beat people up, you totally can. You don’t *need* to worry about the complicated stuff, though there’s a ton of strategy hidden in there if you want it, and some tactics that can really help you succeed. My only real gripe is that some of the abilities don’t quite flow together as smoothly as I’d like.

I was really excited about a build where you could hit F for a diving slam – it was supposed to give you invincibility or let you quickly move around enemies. But honestly, after throwing a big punch with Xanthe, the delay felt awful, even when I was frantically hitting the buttons! It’s so weird because some moves feel *amazing* – like flowing from a Moonstone Axe slash right into a charged Omega Attack just by holding the button. There are tons of Boons and upgrades, which is great, but I have to admit, I’m a little let down with how Dionysus turned out.

“Suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of rogue-lites, Hades 2 is well worth your time.”

The combat is consistently strong and enjoyable – impacts feel great, the controls are intuitive, and you’ll face a diverse range of enemies, including some incredibly challenging and surprisingly over-the-top bosses thanks to the Oath of the Unseen. The levels are also exceptionally well-designed. Areas like the Fields of Mourning, with its open spaces and rewarding exploration, and Mount Olympus, with its verticality and dive-bombing opportunities, each offer a unique experience. The game is more difficult than its predecessor, which can be frustrating, but mastering the available tools and abilities to overcome these challenges is incredibly rewarding.

The game is visually breathtaking. Everything – the environments, animations, effects, and character designs – works together seamlessly, creating a stunning experience. The music is equally impressive, ranging from quiet, haunting melodies while exploring the desolate city to powerful, epic themes during boss battles (and that’s not even mentioning the new music added for Scylla and the Sirens during early access!). Even if you’re only interested in the story, the game’s incredible detail and immersive presentation won’t let you down.

Hades 2 is essentially an expanded version of the first Hades game. If you didn’t enjoy the original, this likely won’t change your opinion. However, despite adding more areas, powers, customization options, enemies, and bosses, I’m impressed by how well it builds on the addictive, run-based progression that made the first game so beloved. I always find myself wanting to jump back in, whether I’m succeeding or failing, to see what’s new in the Crossroads, explore new spells at the Cauldron, adjust my Arcana, or tackle the unique challenges of the Chaos Trials.

If you enjoyed the first *Hades*, you’ll definitely love *Hades 2*. It takes everything that made the original game great and adds a lot of exciting new features.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-09-25 14:49