A roguelike action RPG where you battle through the Underworld as a witch princess, wielding dark magic and godly boons to defeat the Titan of Time.

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Hades II Guides | GAM3S.GG

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<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Hades II builds upon the foundations of its predecessor while carving out its own distinct identity in the roguelike genre. As Melinoë, sister to Zagreus from the original game, players embark on a mission to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time. The game maintains the signature fast-paced combat that fans loved while introducing new mechanics centered around witchcraft and sorcery. Each run through the procedurally generated environments offers fresh challenges and opportunities to grow stronger, with permanent upgrades ensuring progress even through defeat.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The sequel expands the mythological universe established in the original Hades, delving deeper into Greek mythology while exploring its connections to the ancient traditions of witchcraft. This marriage of mythologies creates a rich narrative tapestry that unfolds gradually through countless character interactions. The game's early access state already offers substantial content, with Supergiant's proven track record suggesting a development path that will incorporate community feedback into regular major updates.</p>
<h2>What Makes Combat Different This Time?</h2>
<p>Hades II's combat evolves the original's formula with the addition of witchcraft as a central mechanic. While maintaining the satisfying, responsive hack-and-slash action, Melinoë's journey introduces magical elements that transform the gameplay experience in meaningful ways.</p>
<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1280/720;object-fit:contain;" src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1145350/ss_c8d2b18451a2cc4d5b4fdd78ed84a5e64e051eac.1920x1080.jpg?t=1741889622" alt="" width="1280" height="720"><figcaption>Hades II</figcaption></figure>
<ul><li>Infuse weapons with ancient magick</li><li>Cast powerful spells using the Arcana Altar</li><li>Summon and command witchy familiars</li><li>Collect reagents with Tools of the Unseen</li><li>Combine divine boons with dark sorcery</li></ul>
<p>The combat flows with the same satisfying rhythm fans expect, but with added strategic depth from magical abilities. Dodging, striking, and casting spells creates a dance-like flow that feels both familiar and fresh. The expanded arsenal of weapons each have distinct playstyles, from swift daggers to crushing hammers, all customizable through both Olympian boons and dark magic enhancements.</p>
<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1280/720;object-fit:contain;" src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1145350/ss_ef0f63061d0a0a9a7e46f3b84f125d25330e8f19.1920x1080.jpg?t=1741889622" alt="" width="1280" height="720"><figcaption>Hades II</figcaption></figure>
<h2>A Deeper, Richer Mythological World</h2>
<p>Hades II expands its mythological canvas beyond the Underworld of the original game. Players journey through diverse, hand-painted environments that showcase Supergiant's artistic prowess. From moonlit groves to cavernous depths, each area features distinct enemies, challenges, and opportunities for narrative discovery.</p>
<p>The expanded cast of characters includes returning favorites alongside new faces from Greek mythology. Gods like Apollo join the pantheon of Olympians offering boons, while new chthonic entities populate the realms below. Each character is fully voiced with Supergiant's characteristic attention to dialogue quality, creating meaningful interactions that evolve based on your choices and progress.</p>
<p>The narrative unfolds organically through these character interactions, with the story adapting to player choices and achievements. This approach to storytelling—where plot elements are revealed through natural conversation rather than forced exposition—remains one of the game's strongest elements, rewarding curiosity and repeated playthroughs.</p>
<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1280/720;object-fit:contain;" src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1145350/ss_f28befd916e59b8bf0a8a801b8a498b8adaa01eb.1920x1080.jpg?t=1741889622" alt="" width="1280" height="720"><figcaption>Hades II</figcaption></figure>
<h2>How Does Progression Work?</h2>
<p>Progression in Hades II operates on multiple interconnected systems that ensure each run feels rewarding, even in failure. The core loop involves gathering resources during runs that can be spent on permanent upgrades, gradually increasing Melinoë's power and unlocking new gameplay options.</p>
<p>The Arcana Altar serves as a major new progression system, allowing players to harness magical abilities that complement the divine boons from Olympian gods. This witchcraft-focused progression path opens up new strategic possibilities, letting players customize their approach based on preferred playstyles. The familiars system adds another layer, providing companions that assist in combat and exploration in various ways.</p>
<p>For players concerned about difficulty, the returning God Mode feature provides an optional, gradually increasing damage resistance that makes the game more accessible without removing the challenge entirely. This scalable approach to difficulty ensures both newcomers and veterans can find their preferred balance of challenge and progress.</p>
<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1280/720;object-fit:contain;" src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1145350/ss_b88cb7b48a86f07a7288bf37141f6558279f9bfc.1920x1080.jpg?t=1741889622" alt="" width="1280" height="720"><figcaption>Hades II</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Supergiant's Artistic Vision</h2>
<p>Visually, Hades II showcases Supergiant's distinctive artistic style with even more polish and detail. The hand-painted environments burst with color and atmosphere, while the 3D character models move with fluid, expressive animations that bring the mythological cast to life. Small visual touches—like spell effects, environmental reactions, and enemy designs—create a cohesive world that feels both magical and tangible.</p>
<p>The soundtrack continues Supergiant's tradition of outstanding audio design, with composer Darren Korb returning to create a score that blends ancient instruments with modern sensibilities. The music dynamically responds to gameplay situations, intensifying during combat and shifting to more atmospheric tones during exploration and dialogue.</p>
<p>Voice acting remains exceptional, with each character embodying a distinctive personality through both writing and performance. The dialogue system retains the depth and variety that made the original game's characters so memorable, with thousands of unique lines ensuring conversations rarely repeat.</p>
<h3>System Requirements</h3>
<table><tr><th>Requirement</th><th>Minimum</th><th>Recommended</th></tr><tr><td>OS</td><td>Windows 10 64-bit</td><td>Windows 10 64-bit</td></tr><tr><td>Processor</td><td>Dual Core 2.4 GHz</td><td>Quad Core 2.4ghz</td></tr><tr><td>Memory</td><td>8 GB RAM</td><td>16 GB RAM</td></tr><tr><td>Graphics</td><td>GeForce GTX 950, Radeon R7 360, or Intel HD Graphics 630</td><td>GeForce RTX 2060, Radeon RX 5600 XT, or Intel Arc A580</td></tr></table>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Hades II successfully builds upon everything that made the original a genre-defining roguelike while introducing enough new elements to establish its own identity. The witchcraft systems integrate seamlessly with the existing formula, creating deeper strategic options without overwhelming the core action gameplay. The expanded mythological world, with its larger cast of characters and new environments, provides a rich backdrop for both the moment-to-moment action and the overarching narrative.</p>
<p>As an Early Access title, the game already offers a substantial experience with dozens of hours of content, and Supergiant's transparent development approach suggests a bright future as updates continue to expand the game. For fans of action roguelikes, Greek mythology, or simply well-crafted games with exceptional art direction and storytelling, Hades II delivers an underworld adventure worth dying for repeatedly.</p>

Craving a roguelike experience that masterfully blends fast-paced combat, rich storytelling, and endless replayability? Hades II delivers Supergiant Games' first-ever sequel, expanding on everything that made the original a masterpiece. As Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, you'll harness witchcraft and divine powers in an ever-shifting mythological realm where every death is just another step in your journey.

Hades II

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<p data-start="155" data-end="560">Let me be very honest with you right from the start… I didn’t enjoy Hades 2 at first. Yeah, I know. Everyone online is calling it a masterpiece, the next evolution of roguelikes, GOTY potential and all that. But when I booted it up I caught myself thinking: “Maybe I should just play Hades 1 again instead.” But hold on… because things changed. Big time. Let me walk you through it.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1080;" src="https://assets.gam3s.gg/Hades_2_Guide_Best_Overpowered_Builds_for_All_Weapons_cf144b792e.jpg" alt="Hades 2 Guide: Best Overpowered Builds for All Weapons" srcset="https://assets.gam3s.gg/xsmall_Hades_2_Guide_Best_Overpowered_Builds_for_All_Weapons_cf144b792e.jpg 64w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/thumbnail_Hades_2_Guide_Best_Overpowered_Builds_for_All_Weapons_cf144b792e.jpg 245w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/small_Hades_2_Guide_Best_Overpowered_Builds_for_All_Weapons_cf144b792e.jpg 500w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/medium_Hades_2_Guide_Best_Overpowered_Builds_for_All_Weapons_cf144b792e.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="1080" data-placeholder="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAGCAIAAAB1kpiRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAxUlEQVR4nAG6AEX/AF14aQMDAhkbGxYZGSgzM0BJSxETExUWFgsNDEJXSgBPZ1oyQDcrNjYYIyR4jIzs+/MwQ0EbICEXGRg/VksARltPMj46EhYWXH985dzN4M+5zf/5XXdtKC4rO1FEACY0K198bScrJ+H//ZSjmnB4a5nCuzQ8Op3Lr1h6ZgAHCAciKyY3Pz0jLCyGj4bg1McmMDAhJiROaVYQEhEAAAAAEhQUMjo6AAAANzs8u724AAAAJCcoAwMDAAAA6Qg2GpaWYhoAAAAASUVORK5CYII="></figure><p data-start="562" data-end="894">Hades 2 drops you into a bigger, darker, deeper world than the first game. Melinoë takes center stage instead of Zagreus, and right away you can feel the difference in tone and pacing. Everyone is calling it richer, more ambitious, more detailed, better looking… you name it. But to be fair? It didn’t click for me in the beginning. I felt off. The pacing threw me off. The new systems felt like too much. I genuinely thought: “Yeah nope, give me the comfort of Hades 1 again.”</p><p data-start="1048" data-end="1293">Let’s get this out of the way: the visuals are stunning. Supergiant went all-in on detail, shading, animations, lighting… everything feels alive. The characters look sharp, the environments are insane, and the overall vibe hits harder than ever. It just didn’t pull me in immediately. Weird, right? Because it’s gorgeous, but my brain was still stuck in Hades 1 mode and needed some adjusting.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/675;" src="https://assets.gam3s.gg/1758129245326_how_to_unlock_weapon_aspects_i_edc554846a.jpeg" alt="How to unlock Weapon Aspects in Hades 2 ..." srcset="https://assets.gam3s.gg/xsmall_1758129245326_how_to_unlock_weapon_aspects_i_edc554846a.jpeg 64w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/thumbnail_1758129245326_how_to_unlock_weapon_aspects_i_edc554846a.jpeg 245w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/small_1758129245326_how_to_unlock_weapon_aspects_i_edc554846a.jpeg 500w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/medium_1758129245326_how_to_unlock_weapon_aspects_i_edc554846a.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="675" data-placeholder="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAGCAIAAAB1kpiRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAxUlEQVR4nAG6AEX/AEtVSlhnXUxXSlR2ZjJAPSY6QScyOSoqK0lCQDU+KAB/jnIwMy8qJCMnJyYhJShcfH9ge39WVkh2XWpQQUgAen1nIyIiFxMVGhgZLzc0UGJdd3dxUEg9VUpNQjxTAIaPfTQ2Mi8qJiUlJHF3Y6+yjs7DnqWul0NDNj4wKwAlLClWUUJ1bmBlRkfd07j19M7//9q/wKg9ODY3My0AAwAABQQECAcGDgUFKh8iJSMjIiMbLSkqHhseIiAe55U2WIslLFMAAAAASUVORK5CYII="></figure><p data-start="1444" data-end="1585">So here’s where things flipped. I kept going. I did a few more runs, stubborn as always, and somewhere around run 4 or 5 it suddenly clicked. The combat felt smoother. The magic system started to make sense. The boons and builds got exciting. The world opened up and felt massive. All those “this feels weird” moments transformed into “ok wait… this is actually really good” moments, and from that point on? I was hooked. Big hooked. “It’s midnight but one more run” hooked.</p><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255"><strong data-start="1928" data-end="1982">Things I Loved (after actually giving it a chance)</strong></p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e135969ea4511ad5ea2cda01627f29311"><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255">The world is bigger and deeper than Hades 1</p></li><li data-list-item-id="ee9fafc86fb07ee056cc8ee1d36226868"><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255">Combat feels more layered with witchcraft and new abilities</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e620e49ce4f9d2aaffa210540aa490328"><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255">Environments are beautiful and immersive</p></li><li data-list-item-id="ee2a8edcffb5a1da80b31c7e8bac18b18"><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255">Characters and story hit harder the more you play</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e05661cf9ab0da578c5c484d5c2959dde"><p data-start="1928" data-end="2255">That classic roguelike loop? It’s still here and stronger than ever</p></li></ul><p data-start="2257" data-end="2371">The replayability is insane. The builds feel fresh. The game rewards learning without being unfair (well… mostly).</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/675;" src="https://assets.gam3s.gg/1758132345078_how_to_beat_chronos_in_hades_2_5e31a47de2.jpeg" alt="How to beat Chronos in Hades 2 - VideoGamer" srcset="https://assets.gam3s.gg/xsmall_1758132345078_how_to_beat_chronos_in_hades_2_5e31a47de2.jpeg 64w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/thumbnail_1758132345078_how_to_beat_chronos_in_hades_2_5e31a47de2.jpeg 245w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/small_1758132345078_how_to_beat_chronos_in_hades_2_5e31a47de2.jpeg 500w,https://assets.gam3s.gg/medium_1758132345078_how_to_beat_chronos_in_hades_2_5e31a47de2.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="675" data-placeholder="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAGCAIAAAB1kpiRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAxUlEQVR4nAG6AEX/AGJEN7BkXbdpYHVSSGBCN1tCOVEzLEUnIUElHEIlHwB1YFWpal+kcXFzZ2dIOTNJOzQ7KSZGNTBxV0pwVUoAiHFohol5r6ieQENHHB0YEA8JAAIAIyUgOjs3PDgyAIdsWLenj5KKgzMwLh0YEhAPBwIAAC4vIrR5ZaqEjQBuVka1noWUj4QyNDAREQQSEw4REw4qKB7/2qf//dgAFxIMOykcPDgrFxYRFhYNGRgQExEKIx8ZX1dBWU44N+c0UNSawtEAAAAASUVORK5CYII="></figure><p data-start="2373" data-end="2612"><strong data-start="2373" data-end="2408">Things That Annoyed Me at First</strong></p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ea4535d707494e2257c34af35cefe1cf7"><p data-start="2373" data-end="2612">Early game pacing feels slower than Hades 1</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e6748914326cbd4bb6b876e3ab8ec852e"><p data-start="2373" data-end="2612">Some systems feel overwhelming until you learn them</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e9d30689d2d719d77edc1bded0657155f"><p data-start="2373" data-end="2612">You might die a few times simply because you’re used to Zagreus’ flow</p></li><li data-list-item-id="e3c7c3353fb585a5c46ea29474bee700d"><p data-start="2373" data-end="2612">he adjustment period is real</p></li></ul><p data-start="2614" data-end="2721">Honestly though, the game expects you to take your time with it. Once you accept that, everything improves.</p><p data-start="2723" data-end="2967">Hades 2 went from “not feeling it” to “why did I play 5 hours straight?” It wasn’t love at first sight for me, but once I got comfortable with Melinoë’s style, the witchcraft, the new mechanics, and the larger world… it grabbed me completely. If you loved Hades 1 you might need a moment to adjust, but trust me… give this game a few runs and you’ll see exactly why everyone is calling it a top-tier sequel.</p>

In-depth, unbiased, and honest Hades II Review by GAM3S.GG. Find out more about gameplay, how to get started, and our review score.

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