Hades is, quite simply, one of the best games I have ever played. The action is quick and responsive, and the writing punchy and full of humor. Hades is a roguelike (or rogue-LITE, for purists)—which, for the uninitiated, means roughly that each playthrough features randomly generated levels, and that each time through you only get one shot: die, and that's it. As this subcategory of games has evolved, a feature of persistent player growth has started to be introduced, where some (but not all) parts of your character growth are carried over to the next session, so that in each attempt you can get a little farther, a little farther, a little farther...
Hades is all about this iterative, incremental growth, so much so that the entire story is built around it. You play as Zagreus, the rebellious son of Hades, who wants nothing more than to escape the underworld and make it to the world above. The problem is that the underworld is designed to be inescapable, and it does a pretty good job of thwarting Zagreus's attempt to reach the surface. But Zagreus is both stubborn and immortal: every time he's 'killed', he emerges from a pool back home in the depths of the underworld, with nothing wounded but his pride.
And here in the palace, the story unfolds a bit more with each visit: you'll learn about Zagreus's motivations, his troubled relationship with his father, and about the others present who want to help or hinder his attempts. Zagreus is also aided by the Olympian pantheon, who've heard of his plight and offer little boons of aid, while various others await within the various levels of the underground to help Zagreus along or to get in his way. Every interaction, every conversation, fills in a little more of the story, and the amount of unique dialogue is staggering: 100 hours in and I've rarely heard a repeat line.
As you discover more of the story, you'll also unlock more weapons, more upgrades, and more customization features that help make each attempted escape feel exciting and unique.
Zagreus controls beautifully, zipping across the battlefield with a satisfying fluidity few games can match. Make no mistake, however: as is befitting a roguelike, Hades is brutally difficult—but here, too, the developers have devised a brilliant solution to accessibility: In among the options is a 'God Mode' setting, which, when activated, serves to make Zagreus slightly more resilient with each successive defeat. The feature can be toggled off and on at will, and, when deactivated, remembers your accrued damage reduction for when it is needed again. Using the feature adds a little 'God Mode' badge next to your completion time but otherwise changes absolutely nothing about the play experience or story.
And what a story: the developers paid close, close attention to the Greek Mythological source material. While I admit to being more amateur mythographer than a professional, my interest in the subject borders on obsession—I have read on mythology and Ancient Greece extensively since childhood and have even written and taught on the subject. While, like any retelling, Hades takes some liberties with its source material (if variations on a longstanding and varied mythological tradition with no authoritative 'source' can be said to be 'liberties' rather than 'different interpretations'), but the references and nods to mythology are widespread and sometimes surprisingly esoteric. It is clear that the developers hold a deep love and reverence for their source material and that they did their homework: just wait until you see their playful explanation for the Orphic Mysteries. Characters are well-rounded and complex, and you'll come to care deeply about the families, friendships, and even romances (both Zag's and others') that come to light as the story unfolds. Apart from the conspicuous omission of one major member of the Pantheon, most everyone you'd expect to have an interest in the unfolding drama in the underworld (and some you wouldn't) are present and accounted for, and characterized brilliantly. I had lamented for years that there was no game that really captured the Greek Myths the way I wanted to experience them. In the past year or so a few stellar answers to this need have surfaced, and Hades is among the absolute best.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that both the artwork and the music for this game are phenomenal: and that matters for this release, because it comes bundled with both a lovely little 32-page art book showcasing most of the cast and a download code for the complete soundtrack.
In short, this game is stellar: every step of each attempted escape from the underworld is an absolute joy. And once Zagreus reaches the surface—well, you'll just have go make the journey for yourself and see. You won't be disappointed.
Frequently bought together
$48.19
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jul 9
In Stock
Nintendo Switch
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
Battle Out of Hell
As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.
Unleash the Fury of Olympus
The Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.
Befriend Gods, Ghosts, and Monsters
A fully-voiced cast of colorful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what's really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
0:34
Click to play video
By Far One of the Best Games I've Played
Andi Hoffman
Reviews with images
Punishing but so gratifying in the end.
The game itself is very good. I still haven't finished it managed to reached the surface but Hades said nope and I'm grinding ever since.The hardware itself is very straightforward the box the game card and to my surprise it came with two booklets one for download the official music and the other one had like a guide that feature the artwork of the characters. 10/10, thank you, Supergiant!!
Top reviews from other countries
Andrea Serralde
Amazing Game: Beware the Addiction
Reviewed in Canada on April 12, 2022
Murray Read
A good mix of arcade action and story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2023Aldo Lupo
Divertente
Reviewed in Italy on July 16, 2023
Aldo Lupo
Reviewed in Italy on July 16, 2023
Images in this review
