Hades 2: release date prediction, trailers, gameplay, and more

By Jesse Lennox May 6, 2024

Just like Zagreus’ never-ending quest to escape the Underworld in Greek mythology, it seems we too are destined to continue fighting through new levels of demons and monsters in the sequel to the amazing roguelike Hades. We’re not complaining, as that game was one of the best games released in 2020, and no one expected a sequel at all, let alone one announced so soon. Hades 2 will be the first sequel studio Supergiant Games have ever made, and it makes sense given how successful and popular the first game ended up being. Aside from some notable exceptions like Rogue Legacy 2 and Spelunky 2, not many roguelikes ever get a direct sequel, so there’s a lot of mystery surrounding how Hades 2 will be different from the first game. But there’s no need to dive into the depths of the Underworld yourself in search of answers, as we’ve pulled all the information we could from the jaws of Cerberus.

Contents

Release date
Platforms
Trailers
Gameplay
Preorder

Release date

Melinoe promising to beat the Titan. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hades 2 entered early access on May 6, 2024.

We don’t have any information about when a 1.0 release date might hit. The first Hades was in early access for almost two years, but we know that a slightly bigger team is working on Hades 2 from the start so this game may hit 1.0 a bit faster. We’re speculating that toward the end of 2024 is the very earliest it could release.

Platforms

Melinoe standing in a stone circle. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hades 2 is currently planned to be released on PC and consoles, though it was not specified which consoles. We can assume PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are planned, with last-gen systems and the Switch being up in the air at the moment.

The early access period for the game will be exclusive to PC platforms.

Trailers

Hades II - Reveal Trailer

The very stylish and well-animated trailer introduces us to the new protagonist of Hades 2, Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld and immortal witch. Being the brother of the original protagonist Zagreus, she is also based on an existing mythological figure. It will be a direct sequel to the events of Hades but have a completely independent story. Knowledge of the first game, or Greek mythology in general, will lead to some satisfying connections.

Melinoe is on a quest to free her father Zeus from the Titan of Time, Chronos. Chronos, along with Hades and other Godly figures, have escaped the Underworld to begin a war on the Gods of Olympus which Melinoe seeks to prevent.

Gameplay

Hades II Technical Test - Live Gameplay

The trailer shows off a bit of gameplay that looks quite similar to that of the first game. The perspective and basic flow of clearing rooms, choosing between boons given by different gods, and unleashing special attacks all look to be returning. It also goes without saying that you will be repeating many, many runs with randomly generated rooms and enemies. It also appears that Hades 2 will feature a greater mix of spells, as Melinoe is a witch, as well as melee options.

There were also glimpses at some hub world interactions, which was a major part of Hades as well, where you will once again be able to speak with and learn more about the various characters in the game.

Supergiant released a massive three-hour-long stream of the game in its early technical test stage. In it, they walk us through seven different runs of the game to show it off for everyone who isn’t lucky enough to be selected to play in the test.

The first area is called Erebus, the forested region we’ve seen before, where Apollo is shown off as one of the new gods with a new set of boons to pick from. Other new gods will be Hestia, Goddess of Flame, and Selene, Goddess of the Moon. Other returning and new characters we spotted were Dora, Nemesis, Odysseus, Hypnos, Demeter, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Zeus, and Artemis.

A new item you will be collecting is called Ashes, which you can use back at the hub with an altar. When you do, you unlock various arcana cards that serve as permanent upgrades and must be unlocked in a somewhat sequential manner.

The Silver Lake is where you will unlock new weapons, while the Cauldron introduces a crafting system. These let you do things like add new weapons to the Silver Lake and bring more characters into your hub.

The biggest new combat tool is called Omega attacks, which use your new magick meter. These charge up your various spells or weapon attacks to be more effective and gain massive areas of effect. The only two weapons shown off were the Witch’s Staff and Sister Blades.

Preorder

Art for Nemesis in hades 2. — Supergiant Games

Hades 2 has no preorders up, nor information on how early access will be handled. Once details are out, we will update this post.

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Gaming

Should you play Hades 2 in early access or wait for the full game?

Melinoe fighting under a full moon in Hades 2.

After what felt like a much longer wait than it really was, Hades 2 is out now in early access. PC players can dive into the roguelike sequel right now and start their war against Chronos. Not everyone is rushing to buy their copy, though. Since its release, I've seen a common question across social media and my own personal circles: "Should I play it now or wait for 1.0?"

It's a great question. Personally, I rarely ever play games in early access. I'd much rather prefer to wait for a game's full release so I can play the feature-complete version all at once. I intended to do the same with Hades 2, especially since it's more narrative driven than your average roguelike, but I made a rare exception here. Call me weak, but the good news is that I can now answer that burning question: Should you play Hades 2 now or later? You won't be let down either way.
Should you play early access or not?
If you're skeptical about early access, I don't blame you. The term generally implies that a game is incomplete in key ways, which can lead to an unfulfilling experience. This year's surprise hit Palworld is an extreme example of that. While it hooked players right out of the gate, the early access version was fairly bare bones. That led to a major player drop-off as developer Pocketpair, Inc. looked to staff up to keep up with demand. Roguelikes tend to be especially unsatisfying in early access too. Rogue Legacy 2 initially launched with a limited taste of a full run, including only four character classes. You were better off waiting for 1.0 unless you actively wanted to help shape the game.

Gaming

How to unlock all weapons in Hades 2

Hades 2 key art from its first trailer.

Hades 2's Melinoë is a very different main character from the first game's Zagreus in terms of personality and in how she fights. Being a witch, magic is core to her moveset, but she still wields all sorts of new weapons. You won't find the standard sword or spear here, as she starts off with just a witch's staff . You'll need to unlock the rest in traditional roguelike fashion. Each item requires you to gather up different materials, but most have some overlap so you will need to be selective about which one you craft first. We're still in the early access period, but for now, here are all the Nocturnal Arms in the game and how you can unlock them.
How to unlock every Nocturnal Arm
Ignoring the Witch's Staff, which you start with, there are four additional weapons to unlock.
Sister Blades
These fast, close-range melee daggers are the easiest to unlock and cost one Silver.
Umbral Flames
This is a medium-range weapon that prioritizes magic and fire attacks for three Silver and three Cinder.
Moonstone Axe
The heavy Moonstone Axe is your big, but slow damage dealer. It will cost you 15 Silver to pick up, so you will need to save up a bit.
Argent Skull
This si an explosive casting weapon that won't be available to unlock until you reach a certain point in the game that we won't spoil here. It will cost you two Glassrock and one Bronze to make.

Gaming

Hades 2 shows the Steam Deck’s biggest advantage over the Nintendo Switch

A Steam Deck sits next to a Switch OLED.

It's always an exciting week when the sequel to one of the greatest games of all time surprise releases on a Monday. That's what happened on May 6 when Hades 2 surprise launched into early access. Players are already diving into the surprisingly robust roguelike, testing their might in its new biomes. I've been enjoying it myself from the comfort of my couch -- and not on my Nintendo Switch, where I played the first Hades. Instead, I'm curled up with my Steam Deck.

The PC-only launch means that Hades 2 is a Steam Deck "exclusive" for the time being (or at least exclusive to portable PCs like it and the Asus ROG Ally). It'll likely come to Nintendo's system -- or its predecessor -- once it hits 1.0, but developer Supergiant doesn't expect its game to leave early access until at least the end of 2024. Until then, you'll need a device like the Steam Deck to play it on the go. That's a reminder that Valve has beaten the Switch at its own game, and Nintendo will have to get creative again with its next system to regain its throne.
Early access on the go
Based on my time with it so far, Hades 2 is a phenomenal match for the Steam Deck. It's already Verified for the platform, and for good reason. It looks fantastic (especially on an OLED screen) and runs smoothly. I've already taken it on the go and found that it's not a huge drain on the Steam Deck's battery. At this point, I don't imagine I'll need to play it any other way.