Hades II vs Hades: Which Should You Play First?
Supergiant Games' first sequel doesn't replace its predecessor — it builds on it. Both Hades and Hades II are roguelikes, both feature god-tier writing and presentation, and both will sink hundreds of hours from anyone who clicks with the loop. The question isn't "which is better" (Hades II is bigger and arguably better) but "which should you play first?"
The answer is more interesting than you'd think.
Hades II
Hades
If you can only buy one: Hades II. It's bigger, has more weapons and gods, and is the best-reviewed game of 2025. If you can play both: start with Hades. Story callbacks land harder, the difficulty curve is gentler, and you'll appreciate Hades II's evolution far more.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Hades II | Hades | |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Sep 2025 (PC) / Apr 2026 (PS5+Xbox) | Sep 2020 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch 2 | PS4/5, Xbox, PC, Switch |
| Price | $29.99 | $24.99 |
| Protagonist | Princess Melinoë | Prince Zagreus |
| Goal | Defeat Chronos, Titan of Time | Escape from the Underworld |
| Direction | Both up to Olympus and down | Up only — escape attempts |
| Weapons | 6+ (Witch's Staff, Sister Blades, etc.) | 6 (Stygian Blade, Eternal Spear, etc.) |
| Run structure | Two routes, more variety | One route, increasing variants |
| Magick / resources | New magick system as resource | Boons + heat system |
| Script size | 400,000+ words | ~300,000 words |
| Critic consensus | Best-reviewed game of 2025 | GOTY 2020 nominee |
| Steam rating | 96% Overwhelmingly Positive | 97% Overwhelmingly Positive |
What Each Game Is
Hades II
Hades II is Supergiant's first sequel and the best-reviewed game of 2025 according to Metacritic and OpenCritic. You play Melinoë, sister of Zagreus, on a quest to defeat Chronos. Mechanically it's everything the original was plus a magick resource system, more weapons, more gods, two route directions (down to the Underworld AND up to Olympus), and a script roughly 50% larger than the original. The April 14, 2026 release brought it to PS5 and Xbox at 120fps with bonus content and QoL improvements.
Hades
The original Hades launched in September 2020 after a year and a half in Early Access, going on to win Game Awards 'Best Action Game' and earning GOTY nominations everywhere. You play Zagreus, son of Hades, attempting to escape the Underworld over and over. Six weapons, the full Olympian roster as boon-givers, gorgeous hand-painted environments, and writing that genuinely makes characters feel like they remember your previous runs. It's still a benchmark for what story-driven roguelikes can be.
How to Decide
PICK HADES II IF...
- You can only buy one game and want the bigger, newer experience
- You're a returning Supergiant fan who already played Bastion/Transistor/Pyre
- You want the latest console version with 120fps and QoL improvements
- You don't care about story chronology
- You want more weapons and god boons to experiment with
PICK HADES IF...
- You're brand new to roguelikes — Hades has the gentler onboarding
- You want story callbacks to land in Hades II later
- You're on a tight budget — Hades is regularly $15 on sale
- You play Switch 1 — Hades II is Switch 2 only
- You want to fully appreciate how Hades II evolved the formula
The Bottom Line
Both games are no-brainer purchases on their own. The interesting question is order. Playing Hades first costs you ~30 hours and $15-25 — and it makes Hades II measurably better. The character relationships, the worldbuilding callbacks, the way Melinoë's story echoes and inverts Zagreus's — these all hit harder if you've actually been on the original journey.
If you only have time or money for one: Hades II. It's the bigger, sharper, more ambitious version. But if you have the bandwidth, do them in order. You'll thank yourself.
Make Your Pick
Whichever way you go, here are the best places to buy:
HADES II ON AMAZON HADES ON AMAZONAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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