Sequels don’t usually get to feel this confident straight out of the gate. Hades II doesn’t just return to the Underworld – it expands it, reshapes it, and somehow makes the whole thing feel even sharper, faster and more addictive than before.
Available now on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere and PlayStation 5 for £24.99 – and launching day one on Game Pass (Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers) – Supergiant Games’ long-awaited follow-up arrives with serious momentum behind it, not least after the original set such a ridiculously high bar.
And yes, it’s already sitting front and centre in our Best Games of April feature… for good reason.
At A Glance
- Game: Hades II
- Developer: Supergiant Games
- Publisher: Supergiant Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5
- Price: £24.99 / Game Pass (Day One)
- Game Type: Roguelike / Action
A New Protagonist, A Bigger Fight
This time, you’re not escaping the Underworld – you’re pushing beyond it.
You play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, stepping into a war against the Titan of Time. It’s a shift that immediately gives Hades II a different energy. Where the original was about breaking free, this one is about confronting something far larger, with the full weight of Olympus behind you.
That sense of scale carries through everything. The world is broader, the cast is bigger, and the story unfolds in that same layered, reactive way Supergiant perfected before, changing subtly depending on how, and how often, you fail.
Combat That Builds On A Brilliant Foundation
If you played the original, you’ll feel at home within seconds. But Hades II doesn’t just copy what worked – it evolves it.
Combat remains fast, fluid and deeply satisfying, but now leans into witchcraft and sorcery alongside weapon mastery. You’re not just dashing and striking, you’re weaving abilities together, stacking Boons from Olympian gods and shaping builds that can feel wildly different from run to run.
And that’s where it really shines. The sheer variety of combinations, upgrades and playstyles means no two attempts ever quite feel the same, even as you start to master the systems.
The Supergiant Touch Still Hits Hard
What continues to set Hades II apart is everything around the action.
The characters, the dialogue, the way the story quietly progresses between runs; it all returns, but bigger and richer. New faces join returning favourites, and every interaction adds another layer to a world that already felt alive in the first game.
Then there’s the presentation. Hand-painted environments, slick animation and an electrifying soundtrack all combine to give Hades II that unmistakable Supergiant identity. It’s stylish without trying too hard, confident without losing its charm.
A Worthy Follow-Up To A Modern Classic
We scored the original Hades a 5/5, calling it “an opus… a thrilling achievement” that kept giving more the deeper you went. That’s the shadow Hades II steps into, and somehow, it doesn’t feel weighed down by it.
Instead, this feels like a natural continuation. Familiar enough to click instantly, but different enough to keep you hooked for the long haul. We’ll let you know for sure in our full review.
A Game Pass Must-Play
Dropping day one into Game Pass is the real kicker here.
For subscribers, there’s almost no barrier to jumping in, and given how replayable Hades II is shaping up to be, it’s the kind of game that could easily take over your rotation for weeks, if not longer.
Whether you’re returning from the first game or stepping into this world for the first time, this is one of those releases that demands attention.
Back To The Underworld, And Beyond
Hades II doesn’t just revisit what worked – it builds on it with confidence, expanding the world, deepening the systems and keeping that addictive loop firmly intact.
If the original kept you coming back run after run, there’s every chance this one will do the same… only bigger, bolder and harder to put down.
Find Hades II on the Xbox Store, playable on Xbox Series X|S, Play Anywhere, PC and through Game Pass. It’s on PlayStation 5 too.
