WORTH ANOTHER GO? THE EDITORIAL VERDICT
Hades II
A layered action loop that makes returning an opportunity to connect a revised setup with more confident control of space and Magick.
Game facts
- Developer
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher
- Supergiant Games
- Released
- 25 September 2025
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS (Steam edition)
- Model
- Paid game
- PEGI
- 12 — Nintendo Switch edition; not a separate PC classification
- Players
- Single-player
- Length
- Long
- Difficulty
- 4 / 5 · Challenging
- Steam Deck
- Verified
PEGI source ↗ · Steam Deck status source ↗
Edition: Base game
The score, explained
The interest and responsiveness of the core decisions and actions.
How progression, exploration and goals fit together.
The coherence of the visual, musical and narrative presentation.
How clearly the game explains its rules and offers useful ways to engage.
The depth of optional goals, alternative approaches and reasons to return.
An attempt begins with a deliberate setup
Hades II gives Melinoe several ways to define a run before the first encounter. Weapons, Arcana and the resources developed at the Crossroads create a starting plan, but the opening rooms still ask whether that plan works under pressure. Her cast and Magick-dependent Omega actions make spacing a central part of the answer. A powerful charged move is only useful if the surrounding enemies allow it to be prepared safely. Replay Brook values that extra layer of deliberate setup because it gives returning a clear purpose. A new attempt can test a different relationship between control, commitment and recovery, making the familiar early route a practical place to discover why a combination that looked promising in preparation succeeds or struggles in motion.
Different directions give the loop more room
The underworld and surface routes provide distinct journeys, changing the situations in which a preferred build must operate. Boons and weapon options introduce further variation inside those routes, while incantations and other Crossroads developments create longer-term goals. The structure is strongest when these layers encourage a player to ask a new question on returning. Perhaps a different cast effect will make a crowded encounter manageable, or another Arcana arrangement will support a weapon whose timing previously felt awkward. Character conversations provide continuity around those experiments. The result is a return loop with several sources of motivation, allowing progress to involve a clearer understanding of combat, a new practical option or another development among the people who share Melinoe's task.
More reasons to return also mean more to manage
The expanded collection of materials, upgrades and preparations can make the space between attempts feel busy. A player who wants to choose a weapon and immediately fight may need time to decide which progression threads matter most. The combat itself also rewards a rhythm that is not always compatible with constant rushing. Cast placement and charged actions ask for a moment of control, and ignoring that requirement can make an otherwise promising setup feel weaker than it is. Repeated routes remain the basic structure, regardless of the variety around them. The recommendation is strongest when preparation and revision are part of the pleasure. If only reaching a completely new location feels like progress, the game may demand more repetition than the surrounding narrative can make comfortable.
Return to connect a better plan to better execution
Hades II suits players who enjoy both designing an approach and learning to perform it. The Crossroads gives an attempt a useful beginning, while changing rewards ensure that the opening plan remains flexible rather than final. Melinoe's distinctive resource and space-control systems make improvement more specific than simply attacking faster. A successful return can come from recognising when to hold a position, when to spend Magick and when a charged action needs another setup first. Choose it for that combination of thoughtful preparation and active adaptation. Players seeking a compact sequence of unrelated combat challenges will find a more layered commitment here. Its replay value is strongest when the next attempt feels like a concrete revision of something understood during the previous one.
The verdict
A layered action loop that makes returning an opportunity to connect a revised setup with more confident control of space and Magick.
Reasons to play
- Arcana gives preparation a clear purpose
- Surface and underworld offer distinct routes
- Crossroads development supports new experiments
Reasons to think twice
- Progression threads can make preparation busy
- Charged actions require a deliberate rhythm
See the game
Assist & accessibility
Parents’ guide
Players: Single-player. No in-game purchase marker in the checked Steam listing. Separate downloadable content may be sold.
Age classification: 12. Nintendo Switch edition; not a separate PC classification
A useful starting tip
Choose a small set of effects that work together rather than collecting boons solely because each looks strong in isolation.
A different direction
Compare this with Hades: A rewarding return loop where changing weapons and boons tests growing combat skill while the household keeps developing around each attempt.
Official sources
Reviewed: November 2026
You might also like
HadesRead review →
Dead CellsRead review →
Enter the GungeonRead review →