Hades II — Early Access Review
Developer: Supergiant Games | Platform: PC (Early Access) | Genre: Roguelike Action
Hades, released in 2020, set a new bar for what a roguelike could be — tight combat, extraordinary writing, and a progression system so satisfying that losing almost felt like winning. Its sequel had enormous expectations to meet. After spending considerable time with Hades II in Early Access, the verdict is clear: Supergiant hasn't just matched their original — in many ways, they've surpassed it.
What Hades II Does Differently
Where the original cast you as Zagreus escaping the Underworld, Hades II puts you in control of Melinoë, a witch trained to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time. The tone is notably different — where Zagreus was rebellious and quick-witted, Melinoë is more measured and mysterious. It's a shift that gives the sequel its own identity rather than feeling like a retread.
The new setting splits your runs between the surface world and the deeper Underworld, offering two distinct biome sets, new enemy types, and a richer environmental variety than the original.
Combat: Even Tighter, Even Deeper
The combat in Hades II expands on its predecessor with new weapon types (including a staff, a torch, and moon-infused blades), a new Omega Attack mechanic that rewards charging your strikes, and an expanded Boon system with new Olympian gods offering abilities. The addition of Arcana Cards — a persistent upgrade layer — adds meaningful build customization between runs.
Every weapon feels distinct and rewards different playstyles. The learning curve is accessible but the mastery ceiling is high — a hallmark of great action game design.
The Writing & Characters
Supergiant's writing remains exceptional. The new cast of gods, spirits, and underworld denizens are all well-realized, and the gradual story revelations that trickle through repeated runs are as compelling as ever. The voice acting is top-tier across the board.
What's Still Missing (Early Access)
- The story is incomplete — the full narrative arc isn't present yet.
- Some biomes and bosses are still placeholder or absent.
- Balance is still being tuned — some builds feel significantly stronger than others.
These are expected caveats for Early Access, and Supergiant has a strong track record of using player feedback to polish their games before full release.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Combat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Story & Writing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Replayability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Completeness (Early Access) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Should You Play It Now?
If you loved the original Hades, playing Hades II in Early Access is a no-brainer. There's already 20–40 hours of polished content available, and what's there is extraordinarily good. If you're new to the series, consider starting with Hades I first — then come here ready for something even bigger.
Overall: One of the best Early Access offerings available. Hades II is already exceptional and only going to get better.