Creating a sequel to one of the greatest roguelites ever made couldn't have been easy, but Hades 2 did it.
When Hades launched in 2020, it quickly became one of those rare games that seemed impossible to criticize. The combat was fantastic, the progression loop was addictive, the story was surprisingly emotional, and every run somehow felt meaningful. It wasn't just one of the best roguelites ever made—it was one of the best games of the decade.
So when Supergiant Games announced Hades 2, the obvious question wasn't whether it would be good. It was whether it could possibly live up to the original.
After spending dozens of hours with Hades 2, I can confidently say that it does. Not because it completely reinvents the formula, but because it understands exactly what made the first game special and expands on it in almost every direction.
A New Heroine, A New War
This time, players step into the role of Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister of Zagreus. Her mission is simple on paper: defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time, and save her family. Of course, this is Hades, so nothing is ever that simple.
The story quickly grows into another mythology-filled adventure packed with gods, monsters, betrayals, and enough dialogue to make most RPGs jealous. One thing worth mentioning is that Melinoë feels very different from Zagreus.
And that's both a strength and a weakness.
Zagreus was incredibly charming. His rebellious attitude, humor, and constant sarcasm made him instantly likable. Melinoë is far more serious, focused, and disciplined. She fits the darker tone of Hades 2 perfectly, but I often found myself missing Zagreus’ personality.
That doesn't mean Melinoë is a weaker character. Quite the opposite. She's determined, intelligent, and compelling throughout the entire journey. My preference for Zagreus says more about how memorable he was than any shortcomings on Melinoë's side.
Familiar Combat With New Layers
If you've played the original Hades, you'll feel at home almost immediately.
Combat remains fast, responsive, and incredibly satisfying. However, Hades 2 introduces one major addition that fundamentally changes how battles unfold: Magick.
The new mana-like resource powers Omega abilities, enhanced versions of your attacks and specials that can completely transform a build. Some weapons become devastating ranged powerhouses. Others focus on crowd control or massive burst damage.
The result is a combat system that feels deeper and more flexible than the original. Every run encourages experimentation, and few things are more satisfying than discovering a build that suddenly turns you into an unstoppable force of destruction.
More Weapons, More Builds, More Reasons to Play
Hades 2 offers six Nocturnal Arms, each with a distinct identity.
Whether you prefer the versatile Witch's Staff, the fast and deadly Sister Blades, the explosive Argent Skull, or the massive Moonstone Axe, every weapon feels viable and rewarding. Personally, I found myself constantly switching between weapons simply because each one offered a completely different experience.
Combined with boons from the Olympian gods, Arcana upgrades, Magick enhancements, and countless synergies, the number of possible builds is staggering.
Just like the first game, Hades 2 constantly creates that dangerous feeling of:
“One more run.”
And then suddenly it's two in the morning.
The World Feels Bigger Than Ever
One of the biggest improvements over the original is the world itself.
The first Hades mostly relied on a sequence of chambers connected together. Hades 2 still uses a similar structure, but the environments feel significantly larger and more varied.
Fields of Mourning offers open battlefields filled with wandering spirits. The City of Ephyra feels more like an actual location than a collection of combat rooms. The Rift of Thessaly introduces entirely new environmental challenges and visual variety.
Yes, everything eventually boils down to fighting your way through rooms.
But Supergiant does an excellent job of disguising that structure and making each area feel unique. Exploration never becomes the main focus, but the expanded environments help the game feel more adventurous than its predecessor.
Boss Fights Continue to Steal the Show
Without spoiling any surprises, the boss fights are once again among the best parts of the entire experience.
In fact, I would argue several encounters surpass those found in the original game. They are more demanding, more creative, and often require players to rethink their approach entirely.
Some bosses forced me to abandon strategies that had carried me through multiple runs. Others punished greed and demanded near-perfect execution.More importantly, they remain incredibly memorable.
Several fights stayed with me long after I had finished playing for the day, which is exactly what great boss encounters should do.
Music Worthy of Olympus
If there's one thing Supergiant never misses, it's the soundtrack.
Darren Korb once again delivers some of the best music in gaming. The mix of folk influences, rock elements, orchestral themes, and atmospheric melodies perfectly complements the game's mythological setting.
One standout moment comes in Oceanus, where the encounter with Scylla and the Sirens becomes a musical performance as much as a boss fight. The way the soundtrack evolves as you approach them is simply brilliant.
It's one of those moments that reminds you why Supergiant has built such a strong reputation over the years.
The One Area Where Bigger Isn't Always Better
If I have one significant criticism of Hades 2, it's that the game occasionally sacrifices elegance for complexity.
The original Hades was remarkably streamlined. Everything felt intuitive. Everything had a purpose.
Hades 2 introduces a much larger collection of resources, reagents, materials, currencies, and progression systems. Bones. Psyche.
Various crafting ingredients. Incantation materials. And several other resources you'll constantly be collecting.
To be clear, these systems add depth. But there were moments when I missed the simplicity of the original game's progression loop.
Sometimes it felt like I was managing an RPG inventory rather than preparing for another run. It's never a major problem, but it's one of the few areas where I think Hades 2 slightly overcomplicates things.
A Worthy Successor
Sequels often struggle because they're forced to follow greatness.
Hades 2 embraces that challenge and succeeds. It doesn't reinvent the formula.
Instead, it expands nearly every system from the original, introduces memorable new characters, improves build variety, adds fantastic boss fights, and delivers enough content to keep players busy for dozens upon dozens of hours.
Not every addition is perfect, and I still slightly prefer Zagreus as a protagonist. But those are small complaints in what is otherwise an outstanding game.
Hades 2 may not replace the original for everyone, but it absolutely earns its place alongside it.
And that's probably the highest compliment I can give.
Review copy played on Nintendo Switch 2.
