Hades II review: Supergiant delivers a stunning sequel with Melinoë

Supergiant Games’ Hades II builds on the brilliance of the original with polished gameplay, strong characters and a gripping plot. Featuring Melinoë’s daring quest to free her family, the game blends familiar mechanics with fresh ideas to deliver a memorable roguelike experience

Escape, fight, die, repeat – that was the simple formula with which I played Hades, and the sheer number of times I died trying to get Zagreus to meet his mother Persephone is simply uncountable.

Yet, through all my time with Hades, it never felt like Bloodborne or Elden Ring. The characters, the dialogue and the dungeons spurred me on to keep trying.

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So, when I finally beat Hades (after two years of trying), I did not mind diving back in again a few months later. Hades remains one of the greatest roguelike games ever made, and succeeding it is not easy. But with Hades II, Supergiant has managed to outdo the original and deliver a worthy contender to Clair Obscur 33 for Game of the Year.

For those who have not played Hades II in its early access phase, the game shifts focus away from Zagreus to his younger sister Melinoë, who is born at the end of Hades when Persephone finally relents and returns to the underworld.

But happiness seldom lasts in hell. Chronos, the leader of the Titans, escapes his imprisonment in Tartarus and takes Hades, Persephone and Zagreus hostage. Melinoë, however, manages to escape with the Titan goddess of witchcraft Hecate and grows up and trains in Erebus until she is deemed old and skilled enough to attempt the impossible – freeing her family.

Once Melinoë is ready, her descent into the underworld begins. You start by escaping Erebus and facing your mentor Hecate as the first boss battle. From there, the journey dives underwater into Oceanus, where you fight everything from sharks and piranhas to a siren trio posing as the rock band ‘Scylla and the Sirens’.

In terms of combat, Melinoë wields her own unique weapons and signature moves, which you unlock one by one by acquiring resources. Along the way, you gain allies such as the hauntress Dora, the strategist Odysseus, Hecate, the spider Arachne and even an admiral skeleton.

There is plenty here that feels familiar to Hades but also enough novelty to showcase Supergiant’s growth over the past five years. After more than a year in early access, the final game is incredibly well polished. I did not encounter a single bug or glitch. This is top-notch game making.

Hades II is a must-play, whether on the Switch, PC or Mac. You will not be disappointed.

Sneak Peek:

Title: Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games
Game Type: Single Player Roguelike Action RPG
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
Price: Rs. 1,300 on Steam and USD 29.99 on the Nintendo store

Verdict (all scores out of 10):

Innovative Gameplay: 9
Game Handling & Quality: 9.5
Value for Time: 9
Value for Money: 8.5
Overall: 9

What Stands Out

• Plot and character development after the journey in Hades is excellent. Melinoë stands out as a brilliant protagonist with a strong, vivid personality
• The combat is brilliant, with mechanics that feel like a beautiful synthesis of elements from previous Supergiant games. The dialogues and characters are top-notch as well

Fails to impress

• Some may not enjoy the more detailed weapons and resource-gathering systems in Hades II. This game is not as straightforward as Hades was