Hades II - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

If you were ever on the fence with trying the original Hades, or thought Supergiant Games couldn’t possibly outdo themselves after the first game, then you owe it to yourself to check out Hades II. This year has been stellar when it comes to great games, and Hades II still manages to stand out from the pack for me. It’s an absolutely fantastic follow-up to the original and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Hades II is much more than a sequel. Supergiant Games’ work exceeds all expectations, with a gameplay loop that keeps you hooked at every moment, even as you die trying. Its immersive narrative and thrilling action make it an essential title for action lovers.

Hades 2 is a masterpiece. It's something I will probably never stop playing until I unlock everything. The new trope should be if it ain't broke, take a lot of cooler things, an amazing soundtrack, and some of the greatest storytelling, put them all in a caldron, and out comes the king of roguelikes. This also proves, that things do get better...with time.

Hades II doubles down on the quality of its predecessor, offering improved combat, a larger world, a deeper narrative with richer characters, and an enormous amount of replayability. Once again, Supergiant Games proves they are masters of the genre, retaining their title as creators of the best roguelike in the medium, while raising the bar even higher.

Rarely does a sequel so perfectly develop upon its predecessor's excellence as Hades 2 does while still retaining everything that made the original so great. While adding meaningful features, building upon the world, and mixing up the gameplay, it manages to remain balanced and free from bloat.

Hades 2 is a game you need to play. It is that good. It is worth it. You will regret it if you don’t give it a chance and support a developer like Supergiant that consistently gives us meaningful, well-designed, memorable, and most importantly fun games.

Hades 2 is everything that a gaming sequel should be, and it's one that will keep me coming back, whether it's on PC or Switch 2. (Cross-save works great, by the way.) Because even after conquering Chronos and scaling the surface, there's still so much more to do. Every time I thought I had this game or this story figured out, something else would happen that would turn everything on its head. Like the late "Rowdy" Roddy Piper used to say, when I thought I had the answers, Hades 2 changed the question. Heck, I might still discover something mind-blowing even after this review is posted. I look forward to seeing it. There's always something new to find in the House of Hades, a house that's eternal and yet never gets old.

Hades II is a triumph in every way, and the degree to which the studio has built on the original makes it feel like we have gotten two sequels in one.

I don’t know what more you could ask for from a Hades sequel. Everything that the first game did so well, Hades 2 does it even better, letting you enjoy the story and characters of this world on a more intimate level than before while the game’s combat, encounter, and level design feel more refined as you control the battlefield and slay Chronos’ minions by the hundreds. It all comes together to remind you that Hades and Hades 2 really are the ultimate roguelikes.

Hades II is the pinnacle of the roguelike genre, a position I previously granted its predecessor, but one that its sequel has handily earned.

Polished to perfection, Hades 2 is an absolute triumph that feels uniquely distinct from its predecessor, serving as a gracious evolution of the formula with dozens and dozens of hours worth of incredibly engaging content. An easy GOTY contender.

Topping the original Hades was a damn near impossible feat, but Supergiant Games pulled it off. While it still has some of the accessibility issues of its predecessor, Hades 2 manages to improve upon the combat, world-building, and content of the first game, making Melinoe’s journey stand out. It may not surprise or shock Hades fans with originality, but it upped the stakes in a way that makes it a must-play game.

Hades 2 is an unbelievable triumph for more reasons than a pair of human hands can count. Supergiant Games' sequel is a bold evolution of the original that flawlessly executes new ideas to deliver the best roguelike of this generation.

Hades 2 is the perfect addition to the roguelike RPG genre and it offers something for everyone: challenging combat for more seasoned gamers, unique and diverse characters and designs, excellent acting, stunning world and level design and it feels as though it was made with heart and soul, especially for the Greek mythology nerds such as myself.

The world is more gorgeous than ever, and it’s a joy just to be able to make a return. Hades 2 stands as a worthy sequel and companion to the original, both of which stand together as brother and sister.

While you are experiencing a grand journey across an uncompromising depiction of Greek mythology, it is the small moments in Hades 2 that shine brightest. Intimate conversations between old friends or bittersweet reunions with long-lost family members as the moon of Selene hangs daintily overhead. Putting aside slaughtering demons and becoming a witch so powerful that not even titans can stop you, these are what make Hades 2 so special. If Supergiant is now destined to leave this universe behind, it goes out on the highest note possible.

Maybe it's witchcraft. Maybe it's magic. Either way, Supergiant manages to draw down the moon with its Herculean action and epic narrative in Hades 2.

How do you even sum up something as beautiful, special, memorable, and admirable as Hades 2? There is no one out there doing what Supergiant does as well as it does, and this exceptional action roguelite is some of this team’s best work on nearly every level (which is an astonishingly high bar to clear). It's the type of video game that reminds me why I love video games so damn much. The art is breathtaking, the characters are captivating, the combat is fast, fun, endlessly varied, and tactical, and the music is spectacular. May moonlight guide us. All of us.

More than a sequel, Hades II is a testament to the talent of Supergiant Games. The studio has once again proven that there's no one like them in the industry. Hades II is not only one of the best roguelites of recent years, but it's also one of the best games of 2025, demonstrating the talent in the indie scene and the potential the genre holds.

Hades 2 improves on its already near-perfect predecessor in every way. It deepens the delightful formula with more variety, countless surprises, even more beautiful environments, and a flawless sense of progression. A roguelite with this much variety is an unprecedented achievement. Perfection has been perfected.

Despite being an iterative sequel, Hades II improves upon its predecessor in every way that matters, making it one of the best action-roguelites out there.

The best roguelite of recent years, Hades 2 will repeatedly beat you down but leave you gasping, desperate for more. With hours of frenetic gameplay beautifully wrapped in spectacular graphics, captivating voice acting and an incredible soundtrack, Hell has never looked nor felt so fantastic as this.

Hades II on Switch 2 delivers a masterclass in roguelite design, expanding on its predecessor with a darker tone, richer character arcs, and deeper mechanical systems. Supergiant Games refines the formula with a compelling new protagonist, rewarding exploration, and an ambitious progression loop that keeps each run fresh and addictive.

Hades II isn’t Hades, and it’s the only thing keeping Hades II from being as remarkable as Hades. While it can’t surprise players in quite the same way, this game’s bottle contains so much duplicated lightning that only a player with unrealistic expectations could be disappointed. It’s an engrossing audiovisual treat that’s structured beautifully and boasts gameplay I struggle to keep away from...In all honesty, I wasn’t sure if Supergiant could make a sequel that did such an impressive game as Hades justice. I had doubts that any developer could match such an insurmountable creation. Hades II isn’t more than a match, but it's absolutely worthy of standing alongside it.

Hades II refines and expands everything that made the first game a phenomenon. Melinoë’s journey against Chronos blends sharp roguelike design, impactful narrative, and layered progression that makes every run rewarding. Deep build variety, stellar voice acting, and an outstanding soundtrack keep the experience fresh, even after countless defeats. Visual improvements are modest, but the atmosphere and combat shine. Supergiant delivers one of the most polished and captivating roguelikes to date.

In this brilliantly balanced and elegant sequel of titans and witches, it’s not Melinoë’s godliness that shines. It’s her strength of character. The task before her feels Sisyphean, but she perseveres.

Believe it or not, we struggled to find any flaws in Supergiant Games' latest offering. Hades 2 is a masterful game in every way: the sheer amount of content is breathtaking, the character designs are a feast for the eyes, and the gameplay boasts a depth that puts most roguelikes currently on the market to shame. So if you enjoy the genre, you simply have no excuse: you absolutely must play it.

Supergiant Games refines and expands its acclaimed roguelite formula with a deeper story, richer worldbuilding, and a superb new protagonist, while offering even more varied combat and stunning art design; though some early areas and builds feel repetitive and unbalanced, it remains a polished, addictive, and masterfully crafted sequel worthy of the genre’s throne.

Hades II delivers an excellent sequel to a fantastic game. It does just enough new things to feel refreshing, while never forgetting what made the first entry so great. The game looks stunning and plays beautifully on the Switch 2. With a bit of effort, you can finish it in just a few hours, but at that point, you’ve really only seen the tip of Olympus. Hades II has become one of the best games of the year and is one everyone should definitely try. With Blue Prince, Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Hades II, it’s going to be tough to decide what my favorite game of the year will be. But Hades II absolutely deserves to be in that conversation.

Hades II is bigger and bolder than the original Hades. It's another adventure that will no doubt see players happy to welcome Melinoë and her unique moveset to the Hades family with open arms. It ambitiously but successfully doubles the content offering without sacrificing any of the quality we've come to know Supergiant for. And while it's different beast to the original Hades, Hades II builds such a strong identity for itself that it stands strongly beside its predecessor in ways you'd never expect.

More fun, bigger, sexier, and even more addictive than its predecessor, Hades II is pure witchcraft. As a game, it excels in every department, and as a sequel, it strikes a great balance between familiarity and significant new features... But I wish I could stop time so I could keep playing forever.

Hades II marks the first sequel done by Supergiant Games, one that takes the beloved essence of the original and betwitches it with all the right elements indicative of a stellar roguelike sequel.

Hades II is an absolute blast from moment one, and only gets better from there. Everything from the dialogue to the music, visuals, combat, and build possibilities feels polished to a mirror sheen. It’s going to take you a long time to even reach the depths of Hades or the peak of Olympus, but when you finally do you’ll get hooked all over again.

It feels like Hades really kicked off the trend of the plethora of action roguelikes that have come after it, but I've yet to find one that surpasses this series. Hades 2 once again delivers on the first game's promise by refining its systems, adding even more content, and telling another engaging story with brilliantly acted and interesting characters from Greek mythology. It's a must-play game, especially on the Switch 2.

Hades II is a benchmark for the genre. The story, characters, writing, and art direction exceed the expectations set by the original Hades. Further, the new gameplay mechanics and the addition of a second area make for a game that can keep you occupied for dozens of hours without ever getting boring. While the ending is extremely disappointing, I can confidently recommend Hades II to everyone, regardless of whether you've played other entries in the genre or not.

Hades 2 expands on its predecessor with deeper combat, sharp writing, and endless replayability. It’s dense, complex and endlessly engaging.

Hades II succeeds in this crazy gamble of respecting the essence of its predecessor while adding layers: enriched gameplay, deeper narrative, reinforced artistic direction, grandiose soundtrack. That said, the game does not completely transcend repetitiveness—cycle after cycle, run after run, we end up recognizing the same biomes, the same room constructions, the same visual motifs—which can limit the wonder after long sessions. If you accept this condition—that repetition is part of the journey—then you will live an adventure blessed by the Gods.

Hades II is a worthy successor to a modern legend – bigger, darker, and more complex than its predecessor. It may not reach the absolute flawlessness of the first game, but still stands as one of the most remarkable roguelites in recent years, once again cementing Supergiant Games’ place atop the gaming Olympus.

Supergiant Games is five-for-five with Hades II, a huge, triumphant sequel that manages to diverge mechanically and offer more challenges and variety than its predecessor. It helps that it’s nearly faultless on Switch 2 in particular. Sometimes there’s a bit too much going on, and in shooting for a bigger, more tragic story, I think it’s lost a bit of heart. But, quite frankly, I don’t want time to stop because if it does, I won’t be able to play Hades II anymore.

So does Hades II live up to the original? Absolutely. It retains much of what made the first title great while offering a different kind of gameplay. With Hades II, Supergiant Games proves that even Zeus can’t claim a monopoly on lightning striking twice.

Whether you were witness to all the work done on Hades 2 during early access or not, there's no denying how much effort developer Supergiant Games has put into this masterful sequel. Hades 2 is one of the best roguelite experiences ever, with clever improvements to its established formula that accentuate its strongest attributes. More importantly, it achieves this without requiring you to be the most well-versed player on what came before, but not at the expense of offering a new challenge to those that have spent hours digging away at the first game's most brutal endeavors. It's deeper and more complex than the original in every way, from its greatly expanded combat system to its larger, more complex web of character interactions that powers its more ambitious narrative.

Hades II improves on nearly every aspect of its phenomenal predecessor with deeper combat and customization, a substantially larger world, and creative witchcraft abilities.

Supergiant Games is a studio that's established a legacy of making excellent one-off games in different genres. Hades was their first successful venture into the roguelike space, and if for some reason you've ever wondered whether that was just a fluke, Hades II proves, without a doubt, that Supergiant is a master of their craft.

The depiction of that most formidable son of Zeus embodies the tonal shift of Hades II, which dials down its predecessor’s soapy charm—what with the whole pantheon on the same page this time around—and leans into tragedy.

Hades II is hard to put down, and is the most fun I've had with a roguelike in years. Supergiant Games' trademark dedication to beautiful art direction, compelling writing and memorable music has come to the forefront in their latest game, combined with engaging gameplay that expands on its predecessor in exactly the ways that a good sequel should. Whether you've played the original Hades or not, Hades II is a truly amazing experience and sets the new standard for roguelike narrative storytelling and gameplay.

While it might be a tad iterative, Hades II remains potent, razor sharp and brilliantly put together.

It will take me dozens more hours to see all of what Hades II has to offer, and that’s not even considering some specific endgame challenges it adds after you complete your first run. I am fully invested in squeezing all of the story juice from this delicious fruit, and that’s primarily due to how masterful the gameplay feels. Moving, dashing, attacking, and casting are all incredibly satisfying, and it’s rare to see any video game so skillfully combine gameplay with aesthetic and story. Without a doubt, Hades II lives up to its predecessor, and surpasses it in a number of ways. While it can at times be overwhelming in terms of collectibles and crafting materials, there are also so many ways to enjoy the experience, through options like God Mode and Aim Assist, or just grinding out in-game achievements and other unlockables. Ultimately, my first complete run through the first Hades signalled the end of my time with that game, but for the sequel, it felt more like I was just getting started.

Hades II is an exceptional roguelike that perfects its predecessor’s formula with frenetic combat, greater variety, and outstanding art direction. While it offers a solid adaptation on Nintendo Switch, we miss having more graphic options on Nintendo Switch 2. Nevertheless, its addictive gameplay makes it an indie must-have on Nintendo’s platform.

Hades II is exactly what you'd expect from a much-refined sequel and even though it's been 5 years since the original, you'll be immediately drawn back into the iconic action-packed gameplay, especially thanks to its unique combat foundations.

What makes it notable and what makes it good also makes it feel simply like more Hades. Now, “more Hades” is absolutely nothing to complain about, and Supergiant remains excellent at all of the narrative elements of video game design. This isn’t the revelation that Hades was, though, and the attempts to make it mechanically different don’t distinguish themselves. Despite that, Melinoë and her travails are narratively rich, and the basic combat (whose debt to Supergiant’s first game Bastion remains unmistakable) is still strong enough, to ensure that Hades II is an excellent game that nails a precarious equity between story and action—and that should be enough to convince anybody to play it.

As a sequel, Hades 2 is ambitious, and delivers one of the most satisfying roguelite experiences in years. Yet, it can’t escape the shadow of its predecessor, and in trying to add every idea possible to amplify its scale, the story ends up losing the trademark weight of the studio.

Immortal family drama is at the heart of Hades II, just as it was its 2020 predecessor. This time, though, the stakes are higher, the cast is larger, and the action is more demanding, mostly for the better.