Hades II is the sequel to the Roguelike game Hades by Supergiant Games. It was released to Steam in Early Access in May 2024. Its predecessor is considered one of the most successful Roguelike games, and this entry continues the deep combat system and great art. For players who like a challenge and Greek myths, it’s a very good choice.
When I start the game, I control Melinoë on her first night adventure. Melinoë is the daughter of Hades and Persephone, and the younger sister of Zagreus from the first game. The basic combat mechanics are simple: I use two attack types and a Cast to slow enemies. Her fighting style fits her chthonic nymph identity.
After each fight I win, I get a reward, often a Boon from an Olympian god. These Boons come from different gods: Apollo’s Sunlight Arrow bounces between enemies; Athena’s Divine Aegis makes a shield when you dodge; Dionysus’s Drunken Strike slows foes. By choosing and mixing Boons, I can build different combat styles for each level’s enemies and situation.
Two important side characters I met are Hecate, the goddess of magic, and Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance. By giving Nectar or Keepsakes at The Crossroads, I can raise my favor with them. After a gift, Hecate offers more talk about magic and fighting, and her portrait unlocks in the Codex to show her backstory; Nemesis sometimes appears in the Underworld to challenge me, and when I give her Ambrosia, she shares her struggle and view on justice. You can view their full story and portrait in the Codex, which brings these characters to life.
As a Rogue-like game, the difficulty is very high, so I was soon defeated and sent back to The Crossroads. The Crossroads is Melinoë’s home base between the Underworld and the Overworld, surrounded by lava fountains and broken pillars. Here I can talk to NPCs, check the Codex, buy items from merchants, or choose to head to the Underworld or the Overworld. It’s not only where you respawn after dying but also the hub for story and side quests.
The crossroadsIn the environment, the game has two routes: the Underworld route and the Overworld route. Each route has four distinct biomes, plus The Crossroads where Melinoë lives, making nine different areas in total. The Crossroads is the main scene and the place you return to after every death.
In social and cultural terms, The Crossroads mixes the solemn vibe of the Underworld with the rituals of the Olympian gods. Passing souls and craftsmen share Underworld gossip here, priests offer sacrifices at the lava altar, and each Boon hand-off feels like its own small ceremony. This blend makes The Crossroads both a meeting place of powers and the social stage where Melinoë learns about the world and finds help.
Mechanics: fluid melee and Magick Bar spell switching; random Boons system
Dynamics: loot loop and random dungeon layout keep you curious about the next route or Boon choice after a loss.
Aesthetics: Discovery, Challenge, Sensation
Ethical view: game mechanics and the depiction of “body”
The game partly ties Melinoë’s power to her bloodline (biological preset) while showing cultural or social boosts through Boons. On the plus side, this highlights the clash of birth and divine favor; on the minus side, it might make players think “power depends on birth.” To break this idea, you could add a “bond system”: by building trust with NPCs, players unlock “mind power” instead of relying only on bloodline or Boons, stressing how choice and social ties shape identity.
