Summary
- Hades 2 is the surprising and eagerly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed indie game Hades, developed by Supergiant Games.
- The game follows a new protagonist, Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, and features similar gameplay mechanics and a roguelike design like its predecessor.
- Supergiant Games has been tight-lipped about the game's development and promotional material, but its track record and the success of Hades suggests that the silence may be a good sign. Early access for Hades 2 may not happen in 2023, but an update on the progress would be greatly appreciated by fans.
It can be a monumental effort to create and release a quality indie game, let alone one that can stand alongside some of the best in the business. Hades accomplished this, and while it was the property of Supergiant, which is beloved in the industry, the small team and development cycle meant it was a surprise to see it win plenty of Game of the Year Awards over the likes of The Last of Us 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's infinitely replayable by design, but that didn't stop the developer from crafting a sequel, the aptly-titled Hades 2.
For fans of the first game, Hades 2 is one of the most exciting releases of the future, as its trailer from late last year showed all the promise of an improvement on a formula that is already sublime. However, there hasn't been much news since then, and though this is by no means cause for concern, hearing something soon would definitely be welcomed.
Hades 2 is a Surprising, but Welcome Successor
Typically, Supergiant Games doesn't make sequels to its projects, but the overwhelming critical acclaim of Hades meant the studio got to work on its first one. Hades 2 follows Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, instead of the fan-favorite Zagreus of the first game. Her abilities are magic-heavy, and though she is a real figure in Greek mythology, the limited information about her meant the developer can take plenty of liberties as she assumes the role of protagonist and discovers her place in the underworld.
The gameplay looks to be similar to that of Hades, with a top-down view of the area and a roguelike design meaning death results in a trip back to the beginning. Tonally, the developer has called Hades 2 'shadowy and alluring', with the focus of the story being the Titan of Time, Chronos. There's still little known about the context of the tale and how the progression loop will (hopefully) improve upon the last game, no matter how hard that may seem.
Supergiant Seems Confident, but Quiet
Hades 2 was announced at the 2022 Game Awards last December, and got fans excited for something familiar, but new. Since the reveal, the developer has been tight-lipped with its promotional material as it works on the follow-up to one of 2020's best games. The reason for that is likely more than justified, as the company has yet to produce a dud, with Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, and Hades under its belt, so the silence could be more of a good sign than a bad one. The game may simply need some more time in the oven before an early-access preview.
However, the early access period for Hades 2 can't come soon enough, especially as the first game took its time before finally hitting shelves. Early access may or may not arrive in 2023, but there has been no update on when, and with a busy end to the year with the likes of Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and Assassin's Creed Mirage releasing in the last few months of 2023, it could be hard to find a viable spot. If it is going to capture headlines, it would make sense to give players some kind of update soon, or at the very least a reassurance that development is going smoothly. Hades was good enough to compete with AAA offerings, so Hades 2 shouldn't have a problem, and giving players more to be excited about could only help it even more.
Hades 2 is in development.