Hades 2 reviews highlight Supergiant’s ambitious sequel with praise and criticism

Critics share varied impressions of Hades 2, praising its depth and ambition while noting mixed design choices.

Hades 2, the first sequel from Supergiant Games, has launched to widespread discussion, with critics praising its scope, storytelling, and combat variety, while noting some mixed elements in its expanded systems.

Jade King of TheGamer described Hades 2 as “an experience of routine,” noting that its roguelite structure builds narrative depth and character relationships across repeated runs. King highlighted the new protagonist Melinoë’s journey against Chronos, the Titan of Time, as a compelling continuation of the mythology, praising how character arcs unfold in “compelling and unpredictable ways.”

In The Guardian, Chris Schilling called the sequel “exemplary sequel-craft,” commending the variety of weapons, spells, and familiars that keep runs dynamic. Schilling praised Greg Kasavin’s script for its wit and emotional depth, while also noting Darren Korb’s score and Jen Zee’s artwork as standout elements that surpass the original.

Cole Kronman of Kotaku offered a more mixed assessment, recognising Hades 2 as “well designed” but critiquing its emphasis on resource management, which he felt placed “more obstacles between you and having fun.” Kronman praised the game’s reactivity and dual progression routes through Tartarus and Olympus, calling them its strongest addition, but criticised what he described as “fussy resources” and “tedious writing.”

Joe Pring of Dexerto praised the sequel as “a bold evolution of the original,” calling Melinoë “superbly written and acted.” He highlighted the Arcana system as Hades 2’s “best addition,” allowing players to customise builds with tarot-style modifiers, and praised the combat depth unlocked through mana-driven mechanics.

Leana Hafer of IGN called Hades 2 “an exceptional action roguelite,” praising its layered design, diverse characters, and music, while noting small visual issues on Switch handheld play. Hafer described the game as “some of Supergiant’s best work on nearly every level.”

Across reviews, critics agreed that Supergiant has delivered an ambitious and expansive sequel, though opinions differ on whether the new systems enhance or dilute the streamlined formula of the original.