Hades was one of the greatest independent video games of recent years. Its Greek mythology-based premise, fluid gameplay, and revolutionary narrative—where death propelled the story forward—won over millions of players worldwide. This unprecedented success led the Supergiant Games team to break one of its founding rules: developing a sequel. Thus, after a successful and vital early access phase, Hades II arrives to showcase the studio's enormous achievement in crafting one of the top contenders for the Best Game of 2025 award.

If Zagreus' adventure had impressive elements that redefined the roguelite genre, the one starring Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, is equally remarkable. Hades' daughter must take the opposite path to her brother: descend into the Underworld to rescue her family, who have been imprisoned by the titan Cronos. With gameplay very similar to the previous instalment, the Supergiant team once again creates a narrative adventure that draws players deeper into its addictive gameplay loop. The plot expands to the roots of the Olympian pantheon, introducing deities and mythological figures with brilliant dialogue that brings every corner of the darkness to life.

Death is not the end in Hades II; in fact, it's necessary. With each failed attempt, more gameplay possibilities open up, and the story progresses, inviting you to learn more about what's happening in the universe of Greek mythology. The personal relationship system and central base development have been deepened, offering tangible narrative rewards even after the most frustrating defeats. This sequel knows exactly what it's doing and touches on the necessary elements to improve the experience, even when that seemed impossible at first. The studio's ambition is evident in the scale of the environments and the complexity of the new upgrade systems, making each run feel fresh and full of new mysteries to discover.

Magic, Melinoe's signature element

One of the elements that distinguishes Melinoe from her brother Zagreus is her use of arcane magic. The half-witch has a new bar dedicated to magical elements that can define runs. Unlike her brother's physical and agile approach, Melinoe uses spells and rituals that add an entirely new strategic layer to combat. This magical energy allows her to perform more powerful charged attacks and apply status effects to enemies, forcing players to manage two crucial resources—health and mana/arcane—in the midst of chaos. This new magical resource recharges naturally but can also be enhanced with God upgrades or specific boons, creating unique synergies with her weapons.

Arcane management is critical to success in the toughest encounters, especially against bosses that demand quick and powerful responses. The Blessings of the Gods, returning with new Pantheons and abilities, now interact more complexly with Melinoe's Arcane Magic system. For example, a blessing from Hecate can increase magical damage, while Poseidon's blessings can generate area effects when using arcane abilities. The addition of magic allows for much deeper playstyle customization; players can opt for setups focused entirely on physical damage or experiment with purely magical crowd control builds. This combat duality is a design triumph that expands replayability to unprecedented levels.

Sublime art direction shapes a world full of surprises

If there's one area where Supergiant Games never disappoints, it's their art direction. Hades II is no exception, as the game looks absolutely sublime, maintaining the vibrant color palette and hand-drawn style that has become their trademark. Every frame is a work of art, with fluid animations that make the fast-paced, frenetic combat unfold with stunning visual clarity. The team has created a world that is visually richer and denser than its predecessor.

This time, the environments expand to the surface, offering completely new settings, from a sea of eternal fog to vast desolate territories that contrast with the claustrophobia of Hades' halls. The introduction of new characters and enemies is a visual delight, each designed with a unique personality conveyed through their animation and attack patterns.

Hades II is not just a sequel, it is an expansion and an improvement in almost every way. Supergiant Games has taken the lessons from its previous game, listened to the community during early access, and delivered a title that perfects the addictive gameplay loop, expands the rich mythology, and sets a new standard of quality in the roguelite genre. The commitment to Melinoe, magic, and the epic tale of Cronos has proven to be a winning formula. For all these reasons, and for the way it has rewritten the rules of sequels, Hades II stands as an undisputed contender for the title of Game of the Year 2025.