Hades 2: A Divine Sequel That Redefines Roguelike Excellence
When Supergiant Games announced a sequel to their 2020 masterpiece Hades, expectations were understandably sky-high. The original game had perfected the roguelike formula, combining silky-smooth combat with compelling storytelling and unforgettable characters. Now, with Hades 2 in early access, Supergiant has not only met those lofty expectations but somehow managed to exceed them in almost every way.
Meet Princess Melinoe: The Witch of the Underworld
This time around, you don't play as the rebellious Prince Zagreus. Instead, you step into the mystical boots of Princess Melinoe, Zagreus's sister and daughter of Hades. Where her brother was charming and impulsive, Melinoe is more refined and methodical—befitting her role as the Princess of the Underworld and a powerful witch.
The setup is brilliantly different from the original: Instead of trying to escape the Underworld, Melinoe is fighting to reclaim it. The Titan of Time, Chronos, has seized control of her family's domain, and it's up to her to gather allies and take back what's rightfully theirs. This shift in motivation gives the entire experience a fresh perspective while maintaining the emotional core that made the first game so compelling.
Magic Changes Everything
The biggest gameplay innovation in Hades 2 is the magic system. Melinoe's witchcraft abilities add layers of strategy that transform combat from the original's already excellent foundation. Every weapon now has Omega attacks—powerful charged abilities that consume mana but deliver devastating results.
For example, the starting magic staff's regular attack is a standard three-hit combo, but charge up an Omega attack and you'll unleash a magical blast that pierces through enemies both in front of and behind you. Managing your mana becomes a crucial part of combat strategy, adding depth without overwhelming complexity.
The magic system also extends to Melinoe's movement. While she has fewer dash charges than Zagreus, she gains an unlimited sprint ability that can be enhanced with various boons. Some boons turn your sprint into an offensive weapon, others make it a defensive tool, and the best ones do both.
A Living, Breathing Hub World
The Crossroads serves as your base of operations, and it's immediately more dynamic than the House of Hades ever was. This hidden sanctuary feels alive with activity as various refugees from Chronos's conquest make it their temporary home. Characters like the vengeful Nemesis, the wise Hecate, and the adorable frog Frinos all have their own stories and motivations.
What makes the Crossroads special is how it grows with your progress. Through incantations—Hades 2's version of the House Contractor—you can add new facilities like hot springs for intimate conversations with characters, training areas, and crafting stations. The progression feels more meaningful because you're literally building a community of resistance fighters.
Two Worlds, Twice the Adventure
Perhaps the most ambitious addition to Hades 2 is the surface world. After progressing through the Underworld regions, you unlock the ability to venture above ground to the mortal realm. This isn't just a cosmetic change—the surface levels feel completely different, with more open areas and experimental level design that showcases Supergiant's creativity.
Having two distinct paths means every run offers genuine choice. Do you focus on the familiar Underworld territories to build up your power, or do you brave the surface world for different rewards and story beats? This dual-path structure effectively doubles the content while keeping each run feeling fresh and purposeful.
Gods, Monsters, and Romance
The cast of Hades 2 is simply phenomenal. Returning characters have been redesigned and given deeper storylines, while newcomers like Hera, Hestia, and Apollo bring fresh energy to the Olympian pantheon. Each god offers unique boons that complement the new magic system beautifully.
But it's the relationships that truly shine. Supergiant has somehow managed to weave even more context-dependent dialogue into this massive cast of characters. Whether you're building a friendship with the bitter Nemesis, seeking wisdom from Hecate, or flirting with the spider-like Arachne (yes, really), every interaction feels meaningful and progresses naturally over dozens of runs.
The Testament of Night and Beyond
For veterans seeking greater challenges, Hades 2 includes the Testament of Night—essentially a revamped Pact of Punishment system. This allows you to customize difficulty modifiers for increased rewards, ensuring that even the most skilled players will find plenty of reasons to keep running.
The progression system has also been overhauled with Arcana cards—a grid-based upgrade system that lets you unlock and equip various bonuses. It's more strategic than the original's mirror upgrades, requiring you to balance powerful effects against limited equip slots.
Early Access Excellence
What's remarkable about Hades 2 is how polished it feels despite being in early access. The game already contains significantly more content than the full version of the original Hades, with more environments, enemies, and fully-voiced characters than most complete games.
Sure, there are some placeholder assets and the story doesn't have its proper ending yet, but what's here is so substantial and well-crafted that it's easy to forget this isn't the final version. Supergiant plans to continue early access development through 2025, with major updates adding new regions, weapons, and features.
The Verdict: Lightning Strikes Twice
Hades 2 accomplishes something truly special: it feels both familiar and completely fresh. Every system has been thoughtfully evolved, every character has been given new depth, and the core loop that made the original so addictive has been enhanced without losing its essential appeal.
Whether you're a series veteran or a newcomer to the world of Greek mythology and roguelike action, Hades 2 offers an experience that's both accessible and deeply rewarding. Even in early access, it's already one of the best games you can play right now.
In the world of video game sequels, lightning rarely strikes twice. But with Hades 2, Supergiant Games has proven that sometimes, the gods do smile upon us mortals. This is sequels done right—respectful of what came before while bold enough to chart new territory.
Death has never felt so divine.