Hades

Overview

Hades stands as a pinnacle achievement in the roguelike genre, blending lightning-fast combat with an unprecedented approach to narrative storytelling. Developed by Supergiant Games, this isometric action RPG places you in the role of Zagreus, the defiant son of Hades, as you battle through the ever-shifting chambers of the Underworld. What truly distinguishes Hades from other roguelikes is how it transforms the inherent repetition of the genre into a narrative strength, with each death advancing both the story and your character's capabilities in meaningful ways.

The core gameplay loop revolves around escape attempts from the Underworld, with each run taking you through procedurally generated chambers filled with enemies, rewards, and choices. Death is inevitable but never frustrating, as it returns you to the House of Hades where story developments unfold, relationships deepen, and permanent upgrades can be purchased. This clever design ensures that players of all skill levels can experience the full narrative while providing escalating challenges for those seeking mastery.

Combat & Progression Systems

Hades features a combat system that's immediately accessible yet offers tremendous depth. Players can choose from six distinct weapons—the Stygian Blade, Heart-Seeking Bow, Shield of Chaos, Eternal Spear, Twin Fists, and Adamant Rail—each with multiple aspects that dramatically change playstyles. The fluid, responsive controls make every dodge, strike, and special attack feel satisfying while demanding strategic thinking.

• Primary attacks and specials unique to each weapon
• Cast abilities that embed damage-dealing crystals in enemies
• Dash maneuvers for positioning and avoiding damage
• Calls that summon powerful god-assisted attacks
• Keepsakes that provide run-specific bonuses

What truly elevates the combat is the Boon system. During each escape attempt, Olympian gods offer Boons that modify your abilities in transformative ways. Zeus might add chain lightning to your attacks, while Aphrodite reduces enemy damage output. With thousands of possible build combinations, no two runs ever feel identical, encouraging experimentation and discovery.

The Mirror of Night provides permanent progression, allowing you to invest Darkness (a persistent currency) into character enhancements that carry over between runs. This brilliant design ensures that even failed attempts contribute to long-term growth, striking a perfect balance between roguelike challenge and accessibility.

How does Hades integrate storytelling into its roguelike structure?

Unlike traditional roguelikes where narrative takes a backseat to gameplay, Hades weaves its story directly into the gameplay loop. The game features over 20,000 lines of fully-voiced dialogue that dynamically responds to your actions, choices, and progress. Characters remember previous interactions, comment on your weapon choices, and react to significant milestones, creating a living world that evolves with each run.

The narrative centers on Zagreus's quest to escape the Underworld and find his birth mother, but branches into dozens of character-specific storylines involving the residents of the House of Hades and the Olympian gods. By gifting characters Nectar and Ambrosia (earned during runs), you deepen relationships and unlock both personal stories and powerful Keepsakes.

This innovative approach to storytelling solves the fundamental disconnect often found in roguelikes: the contradiction between narrative progression and repeated gameplay. In Hades, death isn't a failure state but a narrative device that moves the story forward, making each return to the House of Hades an opportunity for new dialogue and character development.

Visual & Audio Design

Supergiant Games' signature artistic style shines brilliantly in Hades. The hand-painted environments bring the Underworld to life with rich, vibrant visuals that distinguish each biome—from the fiery depths of Asphodel to the verdant splendor of Elysium. Character portraits are expressive and distinctive, with designs that cleverly reinterpret Greek mythology through a contemporary artistic lens.

The animation work deserves special mention, with fluid combat movements and subtle character expressions that convey personality even during intense battle sequences. Environmental effects like lava, shimmering water, and spectral energy create a dynamic atmosphere that enhances the otherworldly setting.

Composer Darren Korb's soundtrack perfectly complements the action with an innovative blend of Mediterranean-inspired instruments and modern rock elements—a style the developers dubbed "Mediterranean metal." The music dynamically adapts to the intensity of combat, building tension during boss encounters and easing during exploration phases. The voice acting is uniformly excellent, with performances that bring the diverse cast to life through nuanced delivery and personality-driven inflections.

Content & Replayability

Hades offers exceptional value through its ingenious approach to replayability. Beyond the main storyline, which can take 20-30 hours to complete (depending on skill level), the game introduces the Pact of Punishment system that allows players to increase difficulty across multiple dimensions for greater rewards.

The Heat system within the Pact lets you customize challenges by adding elements like tougher enemies, stricter time limits, or reduced healing options. Each weapon has its own progression track with separate Heat levels, effectively multiplying the content available to dedicated players. This approach ensures that Hades remains challenging long after the main storyline concludes.

Additionally, the game features a robust achievement system called the Fated List of Minor Prophecies, which guides players toward experiencing different build combinations and gameplay approaches. Completing prophecies rewards resources that further character progression, creating a virtuous cycle of experimentation and reward.

System Requirements

Conclusion

Hades represents a masterful fusion of fast-paced roguelike action and narrative-driven RPG elements that redefines what's possible within the genre. By transforming the cyclical nature of roguelikes into a storytelling strength, Supergiant Games has created an experience where failure feels rewarding and repetition reveals new layers of depth. The combat system offers immediate satisfaction alongside long-term mastery, while the progression mechanics ensure players of all skill levels can experience the rich narrative.

With its stunning artistic direction, memorable character designs, and innovative approach to mythology, Hades delivers a cohesive vision that stands among the finest action RPGs available. Whether you're drawn to challenging combat, character-driven storytelling, or simply the thrill of building overpowered combinations of godly powers, this dungeon crawler offers a compelling journey through the Underworld that remains fresh even after dozens of escape attempts.