Hades II Review: Supergiant Does the Impossible

Fun Score: 10/10 Verdict: A perfect sequel that makes an already great game better. The gold standard for Early Access done right.

Some sequels add more. Hades II makes things sharper.

Supergiant didn’t take the buttery combat and addictive loop of the original and just pile on content. They refined it. Every system feels like it was reconsidered, not just extended. For a studio following up one of the most beloved roguelikes ever made, that kind of restraint (and precision) is rare.

This isn’t a “more of the same” sequel. It’s a surgical upgrade.

The Core Loop Still Hits, But Better

The original Hades built its identity around a simple idea: death isn’t failure, it’s progress. Hades II keeps that philosophy intact while layering in new weapons and an arcana system that genuinely changes how each run feels. You’re not just trying different builds for variety’s sake. Each run opens up like a fresh puzzle.

Where the first game could occasionally feel like you were grinding a familiar path, the sequel keeps that pattern from setting in. Runs feel different in ways that matter, not just cosmetically.

What Makes It Work

The visuals are readable, even when the screen is chaos. That sounds like a low bar, but it’s not. A lot of action games lose you in their own effects. Hades II doesn’t. The visual language is sharp enough that when you take a hit, you know why. That clarity is what separates a fun roguelike from a frustrating one.

The animations feel right. Movement and combat have that quality where nothing calls attention to itself because everything is exactly where you expect it. It’s the kind of polish you only notice when it’s missing somewhere else.

The characters carry the game between runs. The storytelling in the first Hades was already exceptional. The sequel is keeping pace. Every character has real personality, every environment is dense with detail, and even in Early Access the emotional hooks are already there. You’re not pushing through story to get back to gameplay. The story is part of why you keep going.

Any Downsides?

Honestly, not many. A handful of players coming straight from the original found the new weapon mechanics took a run or two to click. That’s a learning curve, not a design flaw. Once it clicks, it clicks.

Is Hades II Worth It in Early Access?

Yes. This is one of the few Early Access releases where the product already feels complete in the ways that matter. The fun signals are loud. The friction is minimal. Supergiant has done something genuinely hard: made a sequel to a near-perfect game that earns its existence.

If you played the original, this isn’t just a recommendation. It’s an easy call.