HADES: THE ESCAPE THAT TAUGHT ME TO LOVE DYING
9.5 of 10 bananas. The roguelike that made losing feel like progress.
By the Alpha. The first Hades, not Hades II. PS5 listing. Updated Oct 2026.
Platforms: PS5 disc is the Amazon button. PC on Steam, Switch, Xbox, and PS4 also exist. This page sells the PS5 copy only.
Get Hades on AmazonSit with me a moment. Most roguelikes make death feel like a reset. Hades makes it feel like a scene. Every time Zagreus drops, I walk back into the House of Hades, someone has something new to say, and I want to try again right away.
What It Wants To Be
Supergiant Games' action roguelike. Zagreus, son of Hades, tries to fight his way out of the underworld, one run at a time. Gods of Olympus hand out boons that shape each build. Full release September 2020. Steam app 1145360.
What Works
Combat is fast and readable. Boons mix in wild ways, so no two runs feel the same. The story moves forward even when you lose, which is the genius of it. Art, voice acting, and Darren Korb's music are all excellent. God Mode makes it friendlier for players who want the story without the pain.
What Breaks
Listen well. After many escapes, the same biomes start to repeat. Some weapons and aspects are clearly stronger than others. If you dislike repetition by design, the loop will never click for you.
Who Should Play
Play if you want the best gateway into roguelikes or a story game with fantastic combat. Skip if runs and resets make you angry. Then read my Hades II verdict for the sequel.
STRENGTHS
- Fast, readable combat
- Boons that make every run unique
- Story that moves even when you lose
- God Mode for gentler play
HONEST COSTS
- Biomes repeat over time
- Some builds clearly stronger
- Repetition is the design
- Button is PS5, not PC
Affiliate note: this Amazon link supports the troop at no extra cost to you. One CTA per review. Platforms listed honestly above.