Hades II

Hades II is the sequel to Supergiant Games' acclaimed roguelike, in which you play as the protagonist Melinoë, daughter of Hades and Persephone, trying to defeat the Titan Kronos. The game builds on repeated runs, collecting boons from the gods, and assembling builds from weapons, spells, and abilities that shuffle differently each time. New additions include incantations, potion brewing, and an expanded map with new areas compared to the first game, through which the player gradually progresses toward the final battle. Between runs, the player returns to the Crossroads, where they grow herbs in the garden, cook, and build relationships with other gods and characters of the underworld. Also new is the Arcana system, sets of cards with permanent passive abilities that replace the Mirror of Night from the first game and allow fine-tuning the build setup even before a run.

Hades II launched on Nintendo Switch in autumn 2025 alongside version 1.0, meaning as a finished game without an early access phase. The main advantage of this version is portability – the game can be played both docked on a television and on the go on the console's display, with resolution and frame rate adapting between the two modes to the Switch's weaker hardware compared to PC or newer consoles. Fast combat with many enemies can therefore lose some smoothness in more hectic sections, but content-wise the game is identical to the other platforms. The console's portable display also shows a simplified user interface adapted to the smaller screen so that text and icons remain readable even on the go.

Why play it: For players who want roguelike expeditions into Greek mythology anytime, anywhere, the Switch version is a clear choice despite slightly weaker performance. The complete story and content remain the same as on more powerful platforms, with only a compromise in graphical sharpness and frame rate in busy scenes full of enemies. The short runs of roguelike gameplay also naturally suit playing in short sessions, which the Switch's portability only reinforces.