Hades II Review: The Witch Queen Reigns

Introduction

Having sunk 80 hours into, I can say this without hesitation: Supergiant Games has done the impossible. They made a sequel to one of the most acclaimed games of the last decade and somehow made it better in almost every way. Playing as Melinoe, the witch-princess of the underworld on a mission to defeat the Titan Chronos, is one of the most satisfying action-roguelike experiences I have ever had. The console launch on PS5 and Xbox on April 14, 2026 brings this masterpiece to a wider audience, and every single one of them is in for a treat.

Gameplay & Mechanics

If you played the original Hades, you know the formula: fight through procedurally arranged rooms of enemies, collect boons from Olympian gods, die, return to a hub, upgrade, and try again. Hades II keeps that core loop but expands it in every direction. Melinoe plays fundamentally differently from Zagreus. Where her brother relied on raw aggression and dash-strikes, Melinoe leans into witchcraft – her attacks have a deliberate, magical weight to them that rewards timing over button-mashing.

The weapon roster is entirely new: Sister Blades offer quick slashing combos, the Witch's Staff provides ranged magical attacks with area denial, the Moonstone Axe delivers devastating slow hits, the Argent Skull functions as a thrown weapon with recall mechanics, and the Flames allow for close-range pyromancy. Each weapon feels mechanically distinct in a way that took the original several updates to achieve at launch. My personal favorite is the Moonstone Axe – there is nothing more satisfying than timing a fully charged overhead strike to catch a cluster of enemies mid-charge.

The Arcana card system replaces the Mirror of Night as your primary meta-progression tool. You unlock cards that provide passive bonuses – some straightforward like health increases, others wildly build-defining like cards that convert your dash into a damaging teleport. You can only equip a limited number based on a point budget, which forces genuine strategic choices rather than just stacking every upgrade. Combined with god boons, keepsakes, and the new hex abilities (powerful spells with long cooldowns), the build variety per run is extraordinary. I regularly stumbled into synergies I had never considered, even 60 hours in.

The surface world adds an entirely new set of biomes above the underworld, effectively doubling the game's environmental variety. These areas introduce new enemy types, new environmental hazards, and their own boss encounters. The transition between underworld and surface runs, tied to narrative progression, keeps the game from settling into predictable rhythms.

Graphics & Performance

Supergiant's hand-painted art style remains one of gaming's most distinctive visual identities, and Hades II pushes it further. Melinoe's character design – silver hair, witch's garb, heterochromatic eyes – is instantly iconic. The underworld has been redesigned with new areas that feel visually fresh while maintaining the first game's aesthetic DNA. The surface world introduces verdant forests, moonlit meadows, and crystalline caves that provide welcome contrast to the darkness below.

Performance on PS5 is flawless at a locked 60fps with zero noticeable drops during even the most chaotic encounters. Loading times are essentially nonexistent between rooms, maintaining the series' signature flow state. The Xbox Series X version performs identically in my testing. The PC version, which has been available since early access, runs smoothly on modest hardware – this is not a demanding game technically, which is a credit to Supergiant's efficient engine work.

Story & Narrative

Melinoe's quest to stop Chronos from unraveling time itself is a more ambitious narrative than Zagreus's escape-from-the-underworld premise. The supporting cast is massive – returning characters like Nyx and Hypnos interact differently with Melinoe, and new additions like Hecate (your witchcraft mentor), Odysseus, and Medea add narrative layers. The dialogue volume is staggering. Supergiant reportedly recorded over 400,000 words of voiced dialogue, and it shows – characters comment on your weapon choices, recent deaths, relationship developments, and even the order in which you complete objectives.

My one genuine criticism is that the ending, while satisfying, feels slightly rushed compared to the original's meticulous payoff. Some narrative threads involving secondary characters resolve abruptly, as if the team ran out of runway. This was a common criticism when the game exited early access in September 2025, and while subsequent patches have added context, the pacing of the final act still does not match the masterful buildup of everything before it.

Audio & Soundtrack

Darren Korb has outdone himself. The Hades II soundtrack blends folk instrumentation, heavy metal riffs, and electronic elements into something that is immediately recognizable as Hades while sounding nothing like any individual track from the first game. Ashley Barrett returns with vocal performances that will stop you mid-combat just to listen. The battle themes escalate perfectly with encounter intensity, and the hub area music shifts subtly based on your narrative progress. This is the best video game soundtrack of 2025-2026, and I will argue that point with anyone.

Value & Replayability

This is a roguelike – replayability is the entire point, and Hades II delivers it in excess. A single run takes 30-45 minutes, and the game is designed to be played across dozens of runs. The narrative unfolds gradually across deaths, with new dialogue, new relationship developments, and new mechanical unlocks appearing consistently through at least 50 runs. The Arcana system and weapon variety ensure no two runs play the same way. With the console launch priced at $30, this is an absurd amount of content for the asking price. I have spent $70 on games that offered a fraction of this value.

The 96% positive rating on Steam from over 62,000 reviews is not a fluke. This is a game that earns its reputation through relentless quality in every department. Whether you are a roguelike veteran or someone who bounced off the genre before, Hades II is the one that will convert you.

Final Verdict

Hades II is that rare sequel that respects its predecessor while having the confidence to be its own thing. Melinoe is a worthy successor to Zagreus, the combat systems are deeper and more varied, the soundtrack is transcendent, and the sheer volume of content justifies dozens of hours of play. The ending does not quite stick the landing, and some narrative threads deserve more resolution, but these are small complaints against a game that is otherwise operating at the highest level of its genre. If you own a PS5, Xbox, or PC, buy this game.

Buy if: You enjoy action games with deep progression systems, or you loved the original Hades and want more. At $30, this is mandatory.

Skip if: You fundamentally dislike repetitive run structures or prefer linear narratives. The roguelike loop is the experience – there is no way around it.

Technical Performance

PlayStation 5's SSD and hardware decompression allow fast loading times, with DualSense haptic feedback adding tactile depth to key moments. Load times are rock-solid, and the overall experience is framed by smooth and consistent frame delivery. Supergiant has clearly invested in optimizing for available hardware, with virtually no technical complaints to report.

Frame pacing holds up well during standard gameplay sequences. More intensive set-pieces – large-scale combat encounters, densely populated environments – occasionally stress the engine, but these moments are brief and do not undermine the broader experience. Players on PS5, XBOX SERIES X, PC can expect a polished, well-tested build at launch.

Bug density is low for a release of this scope. The most commonly reported issues at launch involve minor visual glitches and edge-case collision errors that Supergiant is likely to address in post-launch patches. Overall, the technical state reflects a developer that has spent proper time in QA, and the performance score of 9/10 reflects an honest assessment of what players will encounter on day one.

Who Should Play Hades II Review

Hades II Review is a near-essential purchase for fans of the genre for players who enjoy fast-paced combat and reflexes-based challenges. If melinoe's witch-themed combat with sister blades, moonstone axe, and flames feels distinct from zagreus appeals to you, this title will likely deliver exactly what you are looking for across PS5, XBOX SERIES X, PC.

Players new to the roguelike, action genre will find Supergiant Games's design approachable enough to serve as an entry point, while veterans will appreciate the depth hidden beneath the surface. The game rewards patience and exploration in equal measure, making it a strong fit for those willing to invest time in understanding its systems.

On the other hand, if the ending at full release feels slightly rushed compared to the original's payoff is a dealbreaker for your play style, temper your expectations accordingly. Casual players looking for a low-commitment experience may find certain sections demanding, though the overall experience justifies the effort. For those on the fence, a trial run or watching early hours of gameplay footage is recommended before committing to the full purchase price.