Hades

What Is Hades?

Hades is a rogue-like action-adventure game where you fight your way out of the Underworld as Zagreus, son of Hades, while uncovering a deeply personal story through repeated runs. Developed by Supergiant Games (the studio behind Bastion and Transistor), it launched on Windows via the Microsoft Store in 2020. Key highlights: a fluid combat system with six distinct weapons and dozens of upgrade boons from Olympian gods; a narrative that evolves with each death; gorgeous hand-drawn art and voice acting; and a soundtrack that pumps you up through every escape attempt. It's built for players who enjoy challenging combat but also want a story that respects their time—whether you're a seasoned rogue-like veteran or someone who usually avoids permadeath games.

First Impression: A Stunning Descent

Boot up Hades, and you're immediately thrown into a moody, painted courtyard. A gravelly narrator greets you, your father smirks from his throne, and before you know it, you're slashing through skeletons in the first room. The game doesn't waste time explaining itself—it trusts you to learn by doing. Within minutes, I was dashing, striking, and casting magic with a rhythm that felt natural, even for someone like me who usually fumbles with twin-stick controls. The first death came quickly (a lava pit, of course), but instead of a game-over screen, I found myself back in the House of Hades, where characters greeted me with new dialogue, side quests, and upgrades. That moment—when I realized dying wasn't a failure but a chance to get stronger and learn more—hooked me completely.

Combat That Flows Like a River of Fire

The combat is where Hades shines its brightest. Each run starts with a choice of six weapons, from the fast-clawing Twin Fists to the heavy-yet-precise Shield of Chaos. You're not locked into one playstyle; you can experiment each run. During a run, you pick up Boons—blessings from gods like Athena (defensive) or Zeus (lightning chain attacks)—that stack and synergize. A typical run might start with a simple sword slash and end with a screen-clearing lightning storm combined with a damage-reflect shield. The controls are crisp: a dash that dodges through attacks, a special move, and a cast that can be recalled or left on enemies. There's a learning curve, yes—enemies telegraph their moves, and you'll need to time your dashes—but feedback is immediate. You feel every hit and every dodge. After a few hours, muscle memory kicks in, and you're weaving through bullet-hell patterns like a dancer.

The God Boon System: Build Your Own Chaos

The clever part is that Boons aren't random junk—they're tied to distinct Olympian personalities. Aphrodite makes enemies weak and charms them; Artemis boosts critical damage. You can specialize into a “build” mid-run, or mix opposites. The game nudges you toward synergy without forcing it. If you pick a boon from Dionysus (hangover damage), you'll naturally look for Demeter's slowdown effect to stack. It's satisfying to discover a powerful combo accidentally, then try to replicate it in the next run. This system keeps each playthrough fresh—not just because rooms are procedurally arranged, but because your own strategy evolves.

Death? More Like a Story Reset Button

Here's the secret sauce that sets Hades apart from every other rogue-like I've played: death is not the end of progress; it's the engine of the story. Every time you return to the House of Hades (the hub), characters react to your last run. Your friend Sisyphus might comment on how you died; Achilles might give you a new quest; your father Hades will mock you with fresh, cutting lines. Side storylines unfurl across dozens of runs, and you build relationships by gifting nectar. This means you're never frustrated by a failed escape attempt—you're eager to get back to see what new dialogue or scene awaits. The narrative doesn't pause while you grind; it moves forward even when you fall. For a genre where repetition is the norm, Hades turns that repetition into a narrative reward. It's the first rogue-like I've finished the main story of—and then kept playing for the epilogue.

User Experience: Smooth, Smart, and Forgiving

The interface is a joy to navigate. Menus are clean, with quick tooltips explaining every boon and upgrade. The pause button (Esc on keyboard) gives you a full overview of your current build. Learning curve: Hades starts easy and ramps up difficulty through optional “Heat” levels you choose after each clear. You can also turn on “God Mode” that gives passive damage reduction, always adjustable—no shame in using it. On a mid-range Windows PC (i5, GTX 1060), it ran at smooth 60fps even with dozens of enemies and particle effects. No crashes, no stutters. The controller support is excellent, but keyboard and mouse are perfectly playable. One minor gripe: the text can be small on a 1080p monitor, but it's readable.

How Does It Compare to Other Action-Adventure Games?

Most action-adventure rogue-likes (Dead Cells, The Binding of Isaac) treat narrative as a garnish—a few paragraphs after a boss. Hades treats story as the main course. Every character has a full voice-acted arc; the world feels lived-in and reactive. Another differentiator: you never lose progress permanently. Upgrades like the Mirror of Night (skill tree) and weapon aspects carry over forever. Compare that to, say, a traditional Souls-like where respawning enemies reset half your resources. Hades respects your time by ensuring each run, even a failed one, adds to your power or knowledge. It's the kind of game where “one more run” feels like a promise, not a chore.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

If you enjoy action games, compelling stories, or even just superb game design, Hades is an easy recommendation. It's not for people who want no challenge or can't stand repetitive loops—but the variety of boons and weapons keeps the loop interesting for 50+ hours. My advice: start on Normal difficulty, explore every god boon at least once, and talk to every character after each run. Don't skip the story. For $24.99 on the Microsoft Store, you're getting a fully polished game with no microtransactions or DLC strings attached. It's one of the best action-adventure games of the decade, period.

FAQ

How do I start my first escape attempt in Hades?

After the opening cutscene, you'll spawn in the House of Hades. Simply interact with the glowing red gate at the bottom right of the main hall to begin your run. No special setup needed.

What are Boons and how do I equip them?

Boons are temporary blessings from Olympian gods that enhance your abilities. You receive them during runs by entering golden reward chambers. Each Boon automatically activates upon pickup; no manual equipping is required.

How can I permanently upgrade my character between runs?

Use the Mirror of Night in your bedroom (left side of the House of Hades). Spend Darkness—earned during runs—to unlock stat boosts, extra lives, and other permanent upgrades. Accessed via: House of Hades > Bedroom > Mirror of Night.

Why do I keep dying to the same boss, and how can I prepare?

Dying is core to the loop; each failure makes you stronger. Upgrade your Mirror of Night, unlock weapon aspects with Titan Blood, and learn boss attack patterns. Use keepsakes from characters (equipped before a run in the Courtyard) for targeted boosts.

How do I unlock new weapons and aspects?

You start with Stygius (sword). Earn Chthonic Keys to unlock the other five weapons at the Armory (right side of the House). Unlock aspects for each weapon by spending Titan Blood—defeat bosses or trade with the Wretched Broker. Access: House > Armory.

What's the best way to increase relationships with NPCs?

Give gifts (Nectar) to characters like Zagreus, Sisyphus, or Dusa. You can buy Nectar from the Wretched Broker or find it during runs. Gifting unlocks unique dialogues and later rewards. Each character has a heart gauge visible in their interaction menu.