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Hades

The 2020 game of the year Hades just got a PS5 release and it's still amazing with a bonus touch of a next-gen graphics and haptics!
Hades Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
98% User Score Based on 148,764 reviews
Critic Score 94%Based on 68 reviews

Platforms

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Hades Game Cover

About

Hades is a single player hack and slash game with fantasy and drama themes. It was developed by Supergiant Games and was released on December 6, 2018. It received very positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Hades" is a single-player fantasy hack and slash game with an intriguing story, exceptional gameplay, good visuals, and delightful music. As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, players battle out of hell using mythic weapons and the powers of Olympian gods, with plenty of replayability and unique character builds to discover. The game features a fully-voiced cast of colorful characters, creating a dense and emotionally engaging atmosphere.

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Hades screenshot
Hades screenshot
Hades screenshot
Hades screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 148,764 reviews
story17.9k positive mentions
grinding1.8k negative mentions
  • The story is deeply integrated with gameplay, allowing players to uncover narrative elements through repeated runs, making each death feel rewarding.
  • The gameplay mechanics are addictive and fluid, offering a satisfying blend of fast-paced combat and strategic depth, enhanced by stunning visuals and a compelling soundtrack.
  • The character development and emotional depth are exceptional, with well-written dialogue and memorable interactions that keep players engaged throughout their journey.
  • The game can become repetitive over time, with some players feeling that the gameplay lacks variety and overstays its welcome.
  • Progression can feel grindy, especially in the late game, where significant time investment is required to unlock achievements and complete character arcs.
  • Some users have reported stability issues, including freezes and crashes during intense gameplay, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • story
    34,452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Hades" is widely praised for its depth and integration with gameplay, allowing players to uncover narrative elements through repeated runs. Players appreciate the character development, engaging dialogue, and the way each death contributes to story progression, making failures feel rewarding rather than frustrating. The game effectively combines Greek mythology with personal themes of family and self-discovery, creating a compelling narrative that keeps players invested throughout their journey in the underworld.

    • “Even when a run doesn’t go well, you’re still making progress in some way, whether that’s unlocking new story moments, upgrades, or just learning how different builds work.”
    • “The story evolves because you fail, turning every death into a narrative beat instead of a setback.”
    • “Every character feels alive, memorable, and meaningful, and the way the story unfolds through repeated runs is nothing short of brilliant.”
    • “The story delivery relies too heavily on RNG, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “The story is so paper thin that it's hardly ever surprising; I was mainly surprised by the amount of universal praise that gets heaped onto the game for its story.”
    • “The game is not exactly true to Greek mythology; it does take some liberties when adapting it, but they are not that big and make sense according to the story they portrayed.”
  • gameplay
    25,159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Hades is widely praised for its addictive and fluid mechanics, offering a satisfying blend of fast-paced combat and strategic depth through various weapons and boons. Players appreciate the seamless integration of narrative and gameplay, where each run feels unique and meaningful, driven by character interactions and evolving storylines. While some find the gameplay repetitive over time, the overall experience is enhanced by stunning visuals, engaging voice acting, and a compelling soundtrack, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre.

    • “The mechanics and controls are smooth.”
    • “The gameplay loop is addicting, even after finding myself dying to the final boss, I can still come out of the Styx and feel accomplished for what I was able to do on that run.”
    • “Great gameplay, with different weapons, abilities, and modifiers all giving different play styles.”
    • “The gameplay simply isn't interesting enough to sustain it for that length; you see everything the game has to offer long before the story is over, it simply overstays its welcome.”
    • “The gameplay has nothing new after that, except making enemies stronger or nerfing yourself.”
    • “The gameplay loop is predictable - so when there is something that really does distract you, it's very noticeable.”
  • music
    16,185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Hades" has been universally praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting the work of composer Darren Korb. The soundtrack effectively enhances the game's atmosphere, seamlessly transitioning between intense battle themes and more serene melodies, making it a standout feature that complements the engaging gameplay and rich storytelling. Players often find themselves captivated by the music, with many tracks becoming favorites that they listen to outside of the game, solidifying its status as one of the best soundtracks in gaming.

    • “ The soundtrack: Darren Korb delivers one of the best video game soundtracks of the decade.”
    • “The art style is a vibrant, painterly tribute to Greek mythology, and the soundtrack is a heavy-metal-meets-lyre-plucking banger that makes every boss fight feel like a legendary event.”
    • “The music is extraordinary, perfectly capturing the mood of each area and encounter.”
    • “Compared to their past efforts, the music and even the art direction feel tepid.”
    • “The music is not just background noise; it’s integral to the experience, with energetic and emotionally resonant tracks that perfectly match the fast-paced action and darkly enchanting atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack while trading blows with the final boss is something you need to experience, blew me away.”
  • graphics
    12,041 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Hades" have been widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and intricate character designs that bring the game's mythological world to life. Players appreciate the fluid animations and the overall aesthetic, which enhances the immersive experience of the gameplay and storytelling. However, some users noted that the visual effects can occasionally become overwhelming during intense combat, making it difficult to track actions on screen. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a significant highlight, contributing to its acclaim as one of the best roguelikes available.

    • “The art style is stunning, with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic that brings the mythological world of the Greek gods to life.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the character art stunning, and I love the random levels; they feel unique each time, and the story is compelling and consistent.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning, from every urn, painting, or fence, to the beautiful artworks of the many characters featured within the game.”
    • “The graphics can become overwhelming during intense battles, making it difficult to see what's happening on screen.”
    • “The visuals can sometimes get so hectic that you can't really see what you're doing, causing you to take damage because you couldn't see anything and dodge it in time.”
    • “The graphics are decent, but the art style can make it hard to judge where attacks are and where safe spots are.”
  • replayability
    5,299 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game "Hades" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players noting the vast variety of weapon builds, god boons, and difficulty modifiers that keep each run fresh and engaging. Many reviewers highlight the seamless integration of story and character development, which enhances the desire to replay the game even after completing the main narrative. Overall, "Hades" is considered one of the most replayable games in the roguelike genre, offering countless hours of enjoyment and exploration.

    • “If you like challenging, replayable action RPGs with story depth and rich character interactions, this is a must-play.”
    • “The gameplay is very fun and there's a lot of diversity in replayability.”
    • “The replayability makes this game so much more addictive to me.”
    • “It does lose replay value rather quickly just like all permadeath roguelikes, but it remains entertaining nonetheless.”
    • “Despite the fact that the game is packed with content, I don't think it has nearly as much replay value as other action roguelites such as Isaac, Gungeon, or Dead Cells.”
    • “The lack of being able to make builds also hurts the replayability; there was no run where I felt like I had something special going, other than doing like 20 more damage or having an extra effect on something.”
  • grinding
    1,969 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the engaging story and character interactions that accompany the grinding, others find it tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game where significant time investment is required to unlock achievements and complete character arcs. Overall, players who enjoy grinding and roguelike mechanics may find the experience rewarding, but those who prefer a more streamlined progression may feel overwhelmed by the extensive grinding needed to fully enjoy the game.

    • “This game has great visuals, gameplay, and a meta-progression system that feels fair, not too grindy, not too easy.”
    • “The progression feels perfect so far, 16 hours in and still feel a long way to go but not really grindy like a lot of rogue-likes.”
    • “Fun and simple, the return to Hades upon death isn't tedious and there is always something new to do or learn.”
    • “And requires 100+ hours of tedious grinding along with tons of research to unlock the only interesting features in the game, so the game makes you hate it long before it actually gets interesting.”
    • “My only complaint is that having to beat Hades like 10 times to get the 'true' ending was pretty grindy.”
    • “The game is tedious.”
  • humor
    1,633 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Hades" is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging character interactions, often blending lightheartedness with deeper emotional themes. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, which frequently references Greek mythology in a humorous way, making the characters feel vibrant and relatable. The game's ability to balance comedic moments with serious undertones, alongside its stunning visuals and captivating gameplay, contributes to a uniquely enjoyable experience that keeps players coming back for more.

    • “The characters all have unique and vibrant personalities, and the amount of funny dialogue between Zagreus and the other characters (including the narrator) always made me chuckle.”
    • “The dialogue is genuinely funny, the characters are great, and I loved how Greek mythology is handled here.”
    • “The humor lands consistently, with witty banter and clever writing that keeps the experience engaging and entertaining.”
    • “I weirdly remember hating Hypnos the first time I played this game on a console, because I found his whole schtick of telling you to 'git gud' annoying and unfunny.”
    • “Making fun of damaged people because you can is not funny.”
    • “I can't express enough how fun this game is to play, not to mention how well-made it is, and how it doesn't have any annoying typical video game redundancies (long tutorials, unfunny repeated jokes, microtransactions/DLC, game taking long to be fun).”
  • character development
    1,311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in "Hades" is widely praised for its depth and integration into the gameplay, with players noting that each run reveals new story elements and character interactions, making every death feel meaningful. The game's vibrant character designs and voice acting enhance the narrative, allowing for rich relationships and emotional arcs that keep players engaged throughout their journey. Many reviewers highlight the unique and memorable character designs, which contribute to the overall immersive experience, showcasing a thoughtful reimagining of Greek mythology.

    • “Some of the best character development and support I have ever witnessed in a video game (the game does the work here, not the player).”
    • “The storytelling, voice acting, and character development are on another level—every run feels meaningful, not just mechanically but narratively.”
    • “The character development is great and the relationships between characters add a huge depth to the game.”
    • “Verrry little progress, very little character development and rising expenses for grind-able items that are used to improve character strength.”
    • “So all that story and character development just sort of... hangs around, unresolved, forever.”
    • “The rpg elements are very sparse in this one from a character development perspective, primarily consisting of some passive abilities you unlock via trinkets and permanent traits you can enhance by spending darkness, one of the game's primary forms of currency.”
  • emotional
    801 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Hades" is widely praised for its depth and resonance, with players noting the game's ability to blend humor and heartfelt moments seamlessly. Many reviews highlight the touching narrative centered around family dynamics, particularly the protagonist Zagreus's relationship with his father, Hades, which evokes a range of emotions from joy to sadness. The well-developed characters, sharp writing, and exceptional voice acting contribute to a rich emotional experience that keeps players engaged and invested throughout their journey in the underworld.

    • “Hades seamlessly blends addictive rogue-lite action with a compelling, character-driven narrative, creating an experience that is as emotionally resonant as it is mechanically perfect.”
    • “The story is touching, thoughtful, and funny all at the same time.”
    • “From the moment you take control of Zagreus, trying to escape the underworld, you realize it’s not just another hack-and-slash roguelike — it’s a beautifully crafted mix of fast, satisfying combat and surprisingly emotional storytelling.”
    • “The boring story with glacially slow pacing isn't enough to keep me engaged either.”
    • “It gets repetitive pretty fast - same enemies, similar weapons, boring story delivered through text boxes and audio.”
    • “A boring story with repetitive combat makes for an experience that I wish I hadn't wasted my time and money on.”
  • atmosphere
    768 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Hades" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and engaging storytelling, creating a vibrant and dynamic experience that draws players into the Greek underworld. Reviewers highlight the exceptional art style, memorable soundtrack, and strong voice acting, all of which contribute to a rich and captivating environment that enhances gameplay and character interactions. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of immersive gaming experiences.

    • “The soundtrack is electrifying, the art direction is gorgeous, and the world design drips with atmosphere.”
    • “The art style is vibrant and distinctive, and the soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing every encounter.”
    • “The atmosphere is sublime, with a carefully revisited Greek mythology cast and setting.”
    • “The overarching narrative and atmosphere turn it into a true guilty pleasure, where you stop noticing its flaws and keep diving into another hellish cycle—ironically fitting, isn’t it?”
    • “The atmosphere is strong and there's elements of mystery that keep it fresh.”
    • “The atmosphere this game creates with it being up to the player if they want to stop and explore lore after every run or just get their grind on is awesome.”
  • optimization
    415 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received widespread acclaim, with players reporting smooth and stable performance across a variety of hardware, including low-end systems and handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Many users noted that the game runs flawlessly, even at high resolutions and during intense gameplay, with minimal to no bugs or performance issues encountered. Overall, the game's optimization is considered exemplary, allowing for an enjoyable experience regardless of the player's setup.

    • “The graphics are fantastic, and the optimization is impeccable.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game was flawless - running a steady 144 fps even during intense battles, with frame drops being very rare.”
    • “On the Steam Deck, Hades runs beautifully, with smooth performance and quick load times that make it perfect for both long play sessions and short bursts.”
    • “I genuinely have better performance in Monster Hunter Wilds than I do in this game.”
    • “My only real critique is the fact that the game isn't optimized well in several specific fights and slows down the game from a smooth 120+ fps to a grinding laggy mess.”
    • “Very enjoyable, but my experience was somewhat hindered by the fact that the game has some performance issues, at least on my potato of a computer.”
  • stability
    156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While many players report a smooth experience with minimal bugs and excellent performance across various platforms, including Steam Deck and Linux, others have encountered significant issues such as frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches, particularly during intense gameplay or boss fights. Overall, the game is praised for its polished mechanics, but stability concerns persist for some users, especially those experiencing hardware compatibility issues.

    • “The game runs smooth on 120+ fps without hiccups, very stable and almost bug free.”
    • “Additionally, while I can only speak for my own experience here, the game has been incredibly stable; I have had virtually no glitches or bugs during my time with the game.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth as hell, it runs great, the art style is awesome, the voice acting is superb, and the music is great.”
    • “When there's more than a few enemies on screen and I attack, the game lags out. I've updated drivers, reinstalled, and done every type of troubleshooting, and it still doesn't run properly.”
    • “The game freezes on the main menu, and the background has glitches. When I close the game, my PC crashes.”
    • “Game freezes with all progress lost.”
  • monetization
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its complete package without any microtransactions, DLCs, or additional monetization, offering a refreshing experience in a gaming landscape often dominated by cash grabs. Players appreciate the focus on gameplay and storytelling, highlighting the absence of annoying monetization practices that typically plague modern titles. Overall, it stands out as a well-crafted game that prioritizes player enjoyment over profit-driven tactics.

    • “There are no core features hidden behind DLCs, there are no microtransactions, and the game is just what you get.”
    • “In a gaming landscape increasingly dominated by cosmetics, skins, and an excess of microtransactions, this game shines brilliantly for its pure, undiluted focus on what truly matters: the sheer joy of gaming.”
    • “No microtransactions, no subscriptions, just plain and simple fun.”
    • “What was once the epitome of convenience, choice, and freedom has slowly devolved into a confusing maze of microtransactions, nonsensical policies, and questionable updates that alienate loyal users.”
    • “So many modern game companies seem to have this mindset of trying to milk an audience for everything they can with endless DLCs and microtransactions and up-selling, to the point where it seems like games aren't designed to be possible to complete.”
    • “It feels like this was set up with a free-to-play economy in mind of purchasable gems, but without actually going the full mile with microtransactions; so we just have a long tedious grind.”
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94%Critics’ scoreBased on 68 critic reviews
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39h Median play time
55h Average play time
23h Main story
95h Completionist
13-90h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1,074 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Hades is a hack and slash game with fantasy and drama themes.

Hades is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 23 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 95 hours to finish. On average players spend around 55 hours playing Hades.

Hades was released on December 6, 2018.

Hades was developed by Supergiant Games.

Hades has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Hades is a single player game.

Similar games include Dead Cells, Hades II, Children of Morta, Bastion, God of War and others.