Hades

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games.

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games. Set in the Greek underworld, it follows Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he repeatedly attempts to escape to the mortal world while interacting with Olympian gods and other figures from Greek mythology. The game was widely available on Canadian console and PC platforms, and its success made it a notable example of an independently developed game with international reach, including among Canadian players.

Gameplay

Hades is played from an isometric viewpoint and combines real-time combat with roguelike progression. Each attempt through the Underworld features procedurally arranged rooms, and repeated runs unlock more story, dialogue, and upgrades.

Story and setting

The game draws heavily on Greek mythology and is set in the Underworld. Zagreus, the son of Hades, attempts to escape to the mortal world, aided by boons from Olympian gods and other mythological characters.

Development and release

Supergiant Games developed and published Hades. It launched in early access in December 2018 and was fully released on September 17, 2020, with later ports to additional consoles.

Reception and legacy

Hades became widely recognized as a major roguelike action RPG and helped raise the profile of narrative-driven roguelike design. Its sequel, Hades II, continued the series with a new protagonist and setting.