Hades

Hades is a roguelike dungeon crawler set in the Underworld of Greek mythology, where players control Zagreus, the prince and son of Hades, as he battles through randomly ordered rooms of enemies to escape to Mount Olympus. Aided by Olympian gods who grant themed boons like lightning damage from Zeus, Zagreus uses weapons, special attacks, and spells; upon death, he returns to converse with his father, spending collected currency on permanent upgrades to improve future runs in this isometric action RPG.

Hades: Review

Introduction

Imagine dying hundreds of times, only to return home to a palace full of gods who roast you with witty banter, unlock new upgrades, and eagerly await your next foolhardy escape attempt. This is the intoxicating loop of Hades, Supergiant Games’ 2020 roguelike masterpiece that transforms failure into narrative fuel and combat into symphony. Released after nearly two years in early access, Hades follows Zagreus, the rebellious prince of the Underworld, as he battles through hellish realms to reach the surface and uncover family secrets rooted in Greek mythology. Its legacy? A genre-defining triumph that proves roguelikes can be accessible, story-rich, and endlessly replayable. My thesis: Hades isn’t just Supergiant’s best game—it’s a pivotal evolution of roguelites, marrying tight action, procedural storytelling, and emotional depth to create one of gaming’s all-time greats.

Development History & Context

Supergiant Games, the San Francisco-based indie studio founded in 2009, entered Hades‘ development fresh off Pyre (2017), their experimental sports-RPG hybrid. With a lean team of about 20—led by creative director Greg Kasavin (writing), Jen Zee (art), Darren Korb (music/sound), and programmers like Gavin Simon and Andrew F. Wang—the studio sought to innovate on procedural narrative. Pyre‘s branching stories went unexplored by most players due to its linear structure, so Hades adopted a roguelike framework to encourage replays, evolving tales across runs.

Announced at The Game Awards 2018, Hades launched in early access on Epic Games Store that December, a bold timed-exclusive move aligning with Epic’s creator focus (ideal for streaming). Steam followed in 2019, full release hit PC and Switch in September 2020, consoles in 2021 (PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, published physically by Private Division), and iOS via Netflix in 2024 (later delisted). This ~22-month early access was intentional: player feedback refined combat, boons, and story beats, proving the model viable for polished indies.

The 2018-2020 gaming landscape was roguelite-saturated (Dead Cells, Slay the Spire), but Supergiant differentiated via mythology and meta-progression. Technological constraints? They rewrote their C#-XNA engine in C++ using The Forge framework for cross-platform performance, enabling buttery 60fps action on Switch/PS5. No crunch horror stories here—Supergiant’s mature process emphasized work-life balance, yielding a game that felt complete from day one.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot Summary and Structure

Zagreus (voiced by Darren Korb), Hades’ immortal son, chafes under his father’s rule in the House of Hades. Discovering a hidden letter from Persephone—his true mother, not adoptive Nyx (Jamie Landrum)—he vows to escape the Underworld’s layers: Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and Styx Temple. Each failed run revives him at home, where Olympians like Zeus (Peter Canavese) and Athena grant boons, weaving aid into the mythos.

The true story unfolds nonlinearly: Persephone (Laila Berzins), gifted to Hades by Zeus, bore stillborn Zagreus (prophesied heirless due to Hades’ non-chthonic origins). Grief-stricken, she fled; Nyx resurrected Zagreus via Fates’ bargain, concealing truths to avert Olympian war. Demeter’s wrath froze the surface; Zeus’ elopement rumor buried the scandal. Zagreus reunites them, forging family bonds amid pettiness—Hades (Logan Cunningham) as stern dad, Megaera/Thanatos romances exploring polyamory/bisexuality.

Themes: Family, Failure, and Fate

Hades subverts Greek myths into a “dysfunctional family sitcom.” Gods bicker like relatives: Ares’ warlust, Dionysus’ whimsy, Hermes’ snark. Themes probe familial reconciliation—Zagreus heals Hades-Persephone’s rift, mirroring Achilles-Patroclus’ queer bond or Sisyphus’ redemption. Failure as progress roguelike-ifies growth: deaths unlock dialogues (10+ hours scripted across chains, e.g., Orpheus-Eurydice arc). Fate vs. free will critiques prophecies, with Chaos’ realm embodying defiance.

Kasavin’s script—modern, irreverent—avoids exposition dumps; affinity systems (gifts like Nectar/Ambrosia) gate revelations. Subplots (fishing, petting Cerberus) humanize immortals. Epilogue feast? A half-truth truce, underscoring imperfect bonds. Reddit threads note confusion (e.g., Hades’ secrecy post-stillbirth protects Persephone), but layered reveals reward persistence.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loop and Combat

Isometric hack-and-slash shines: Zagreus dashes (intangible mobility), attacks, specials, casts (ranged magic), and calls (god summons). Six weapons—Stygian Blade (melee), Eternal Spear (poke), Heart-Seeking Bow (ranged), Shield of Chaos (block), Twin Fists (rushdown), Adamant Rail (gun)—unlock via keys, each with Aspects (e.g., Arthurian rail). Boons (e.g., Zeus lightning, Poseidon knockback) synergize (Duo boons like thunder-waves), yielding 1000s builds. Rooms randomize enemies/rewards from fixed pools; bosses (Furies, Hydra, Theseus/Asterius, Hades) escalate.

Progression and UI

Death drops run-gains but yields Darkness (Mirror of Night upgrades: health, boons chance) and Gems (House expansions: lounges, prophecies). Pact of Punishment post-Hades amps heat (e.g., tighter timers); God Mode eases newcomers. UI? Crystal-clear: boon icons, HUD minimal, tooltips contextual. Flaws: RNG spikes (bad boons), late-game grind (~50-100 runs for epilogue).

Mechanic	Strengths	Weaknesses
Boons	Infinite variety, thematic synergy	RNG-dependent early
Weapons/Aspects	Playstyle freedom (e.g., Chiron bow sniping)	Rail feels “bin-worthy” to some
Meta-Progression	Permanent unlocks motivate	Repetitive hub chats
Pact/Heat	Endgame replayability	Masochistic curve

Innovations: Fishing/petting tie lore to whimsy; prophecies gate content.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Underworld pulses: crimson Tartarus slums, lava Asphodel ruins, marble Elysium coliseum, ghostly Styx. House of Hades hubs as vibrant social nexus—NPCs react dynamically (e.g., post-romance Megaera). Greek fidelity (Gorgons, Sisyphus) blends horror/humor; surface cottage contrasts idyllic green.

Visuals

Jen Zee’s hand-drawn 2D—pottery-inspired profiles, heroic nudity homage—paints gods as “sexy, scintillating” (Guardian). Fluid animations, particle FX (boon lightning) mesmerize; isometric scrolling hides no details.

Audio

Darren Korb’s OST (Spotify/Apple) fuses guitar riffs, lyre, beats—”best yet” (TechRaptor), evoking underworld tension/joy. Logan Cunningham’s dual Hades/Charon gravel steals scenes; full VO (Cunningham as Hades: “audible sneer”) immerses. FMOD engine ensures punchy SFX.

Elements synergize: boon jingles hype builds; music swells in boss phases, amplifying epic escape catharsis.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Success

MobyGames: 8.6/10 (94% critics); Metacritic: 93/100 across platforms (99% OpenCritic recommend). Raves: “Masterpiece” (Nintendo Life 10/10), “Genre pinnacle” (ZTGD 9.5/10), “Heavenly hell” (Eurogamer). Sales: 700k early access, 1M+ post-launch (PC Gamer). Awards: GOTY (BAFTA, DICE, GDC, NYGA, SXSW, Hugo—first video game), plus music/narrative nods. Player quibbles: “Very hard” (Moby review), RNG frustration.

Evolution and Influence

Post-launch ports flawless (60fps PS5); iOS Netflix exclusive. Speedrunning boomed (64-heat clears “impossible”). Legacy: Early access blueprint (Hades II 2024 early access proves it); roguelites now prioritize narrative (Rogue Legacy 2, Dead Cells). Supergiant’s “gold standard” for indies—fanart/fics endure. Five years on: “Most influential ever” (TheGamer), redefining failure as joy.

Conclusion

Hades weaves roguelike rigor with Supergiant’s narrative artistry, birthing a timeless gem: addictive combat, evolving myths, stunning aesthetics. Minor gripes (RNG, repetition) pale against its symphony of systems. Definitive verdict: A pantheon entrant—top 50 all-time (IGN, GamesRadar), Supergiant’s zenith, roguelite’s apex. Play it eternally; escape the Underworld, embrace the family. 10/10—eternal masterpiece.