Hades

Hades is a rogue-lite action game from Supergiant Games in which you take on the role of Zagreus, son of the ruler of the Underworld, who tries again and again to escape the Underworld for the world of the living. Each run through the temple takes tens of minutes, and dying sends the player back to the start, but with permanent progress — unlocked weapons, upgrades, and revealed character dialogue that give the game a solid narrative backbone instead of the usual pointlessness of repeated attempts. The combat system combines fast melee attacks, ranged shots, dodging, and so-called "boons" from the Greek gods, letting the player assemble a different combination of abilities on every run, which fundamentally changes the pace and style of play from one attempt to the next.

On Xbox Series X|S, the game runs in high resolution with smooth performance and fast loading, which for this type of gameplay based on repeated attempts significantly shortens the wait between runs and keeps the player in the flow of the game. Hand-painted graphics, a distinctive comic-book style, and Darren Korb's energetic soundtrack, combining rock and Middle Eastern motifs, help create an atmosphere that has become one of the studio's trademarks. The narrative gradually reveals the intricate relationships between characters from Greek mythology in a modern, often humorous, and unexpectedly honest telling, where even side characters get room for their own development.

The game received an exceptionally positive reception upon release and is today considered one of the defining titles of the rogue-lite genre, inspiring numerous other games that combine action with story-driven content unlocking. Even years later, Hades remains among the titles recommended on Game Pass as a first choice for anyone looking for a game with high replayability, a satisfying combat system, and meaningful progression between attempts that never feels like mere repetition of the same content.

Why play it: For its high replayability, satisfying combat system, and meaningful progression between attempts, it's a top choice for anyone looking for a roguelite that never feels repetitive.