The Sequel Nobody Thought Was Possible (But Everybody Wanted)
Supergiant Games built its reputation on standalone experiences — one and done, no sequels. That's what made the announcement of Hades II such a shock. And now that it's playable in Early Access, the question isn't just "is it good?" It's "does it justify breaking that tradition?" The short answer: absolutely yes.
Story & Setting
Hades II puts you in the role of Melinoë, a princess of the Underworld and sister to the original game's hero, Zagreus. Where Zagreus fought his way up to the surface, Melinoë is training to fight her way down — deeper into the underworld — to confront the Titan Chronos, who has imprisoned her father Hades.
The narrative is darker in tone than the first game, leaning into mythological themes of time, fate, and sacrifice. The writing remains sharp, layered, and full of personality. Returning characters feel fresh, and the new cast is immediately compelling.
Combat: Familiar but Evolved
If you loved the fluid, satisfying combat of the first Hades, you'll feel right at home — but Melinoë's toolkit goes deeper. She can use both a melee weapon and a casting tool simultaneously, opening up new dual-resource management systems that take time to master.
Boons from Olympian gods return, and many gods are new to the series here. The addition of Arcana Cards — a meta-progression system that layers passive bonuses onto your runs — adds meaningful strategic decisions between attempts.
What's Already Impressive in Early Access
- Visual design: Gorgeous, hand-painted art style with stunning new biomes.
- Audio: Darren Korb's soundtrack is, once again, exceptional — blending ancient-world instrumentation with modern production.
- Polish: For Early Access, the game feels remarkably complete in its existing content. Bugs are rare.
- Replayability: Even with content still being added, dozens of hours of engaging runs are already available.
What's Still Missing
As an Early Access title, Hades II is not yet the full experience. Several biomes, weapons, and story chapters are still in development. The current build ends at a certain story milestone, and full game completion isn't yet possible. That said, Supergiant has been transparent about the roadmap and consistent with updates.
Who Should Play It Now vs. Wait
| Player Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Hades 1 veterans hungry for more | Buy now — you'll love every hour |
| Newcomers to the series | Consider waiting for 1.0, or play Hades 1 first |
| Roguelite fans looking for something fresh | Early Access is worth it |
| Players who hate incomplete games | Wait for full release |
Verdict
Hades II in Early Access is already better than most finished games. Supergiant has outdone themselves in nearly every measurable way: deeper mechanics, richer story, more complex systems, and the same impeccable level of craft that defined the original. If this is what Early Access looks like, the full release is going to be something special.
Early Access Score: 9/10 — A sequel that earns its existence in every run.