Verdict: Hades II’s Early Access period offered a substantial, evolving action roguelike, but it was not the complete story. Version 1.0 arrived on September 25, 2025, adding the true ending and other finishing content. So this is now best read as a retrospective: the combat and character writing drew strong praise, while one reviewer found the early gathering and crafting systems a drag. The finished game is available across PC, Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
What Hades II Early Access was like
Hades II is Supergiant Games’ first sequel: a Greek-myth action roguelike about Melinoë, an immortal witch and sorceress fighting Chronos, the Titan of Time. Repeated runs drive both combat progression and an unfolding story. Supergiant said knowledge of the original Hades or Greek mythology was not required, though returning players can pick up more connections and challenges.
Early Access began on May 6, 2024, initially on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Supergiant described the game as an evolving project where player feedback could inform interconnected elements such as balance and narrative. It was not presented as a small proof of concept: the developer said the Early Access build already had more environments, foes, and fully voiced characters than the original Hades at its full release. That comparison is Supergiant’s, not an independent content count. Supergiant’s v1.0 announcement and Early Access launch post frame the two stages.
Players who wanted the complete narrative had a reason to wait: Supergiant’s 2024 launch advice said the true ending would not be available until v1.0. That guidance is historical now; the story reached its intended ending with the full release.
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- Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.
What changed with the full release
Hades II left Early Access with version 1.0 on September 25, 2025. Supergiant said the update added the true story ending, events for dozens of voiced characters, new music, Fated List prophecies, late-game unlockables, and other finishing touches. The studio reported that development had lasted more than four and a half years, including about a year and a half in Early Access. Those are Supergiant’s figures from its 2025 launch announcement, not measures of playtime or content volume.
The game’s core loop centers on weapons of Night, magical attacks, Olympian Boons, permanent upgrades, familiars, and gathering reagents. The Steam listing also describes God Mode. These are store and publisher descriptions rather than claims of independent hands-on testing. The Steam listing categorizes the game as action, roguelike, roguelite, mythology, and action RPG.
Rank #2
- Battle beyond the Underworld to vanquish the Titan of Time as the Princess of the Dead in this bewitching sequel to the original rogue-like dungeon crawler. Hades II lets players explore a bigger, deeper mythic world with the full might of Olympus at their call in a story that reacts to their every setback and accomplishment.
How the finished game plays, and where it can frustrate
In his September 24, 2025 v1.0 review, PC Gamer’s Tyler Colp gave Hades II an 88 and praised its flexible combat and memorable characters. He also found that resource gathering and crafting made the opening hours feel tedious, with progression sometimes resembling busywork before the broader game opened up. That is one critic’s experience, not a universal response or a claim about every build during Early Access. Colp listed his PC test setup as an RTX 5090, Intel Core i9 12900K, and 32GB RAM, and marked Steam Deck compatibility Verified. Read the PC Gamer review.
That tension is central to the sequel’s appeal: it offers a broad set of combat and build options alongside more progression systems to manage. Players who enjoy planning upgrades and collecting materials may find those layers rewarding; players who want to get straight to action may be less patient with the opening stretch.
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Rank #3
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- Number of Local Players: 1 to 2
Should you play it now, or revisit the Early Access builds?
For most players, the completed version is the natural place to start. It has the ending and finishing content that the 2024 Early Access release lacked, while preserving the run-based structure and evolving character story that defined the project. Going back to old Early Access builds makes sense mainly if you are interested in seeing how a major game changed during development, rather than getting the most complete version of the narrative.
- Start with v1.0 if you want the intended story arc and complete release experience.
- Consider an older build only for historical interest in the development process; it cannot offer the later ending and additions.
- Expect an adjustment period if gathering and crafting systems tend to feel like chores rather than satisfying progression.
- You can begin without playing Hades; Supergiant says the sequel is designed to be approachable on its own, while returning players may recognize more connections.
Platforms, editions, and save compatibility
As of Supergiant’s FAQ update on April 14, 2026, Hades II is available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The game reached version 1.0 on PC and both Nintendo systems in September 2025; Xbox and PlayStation releases followed on April 14, 2026. Supergiant says the Xbox and PlayStation versions run at 120 frames per second and include bonus content and quality-of-life improvements.
Rank #4
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Standard physical game cards for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 launched November 20, 2025. In its April 14, 2026 FAQ, Supergiant said there were no physical editions planned for Xbox or PlayStation. The publisher also lists the game as Steam Deck Verified.
| Platform or format | Availability and details |
|---|---|
| Steam and Epic Games Store | Available; cross-saves are supported between the two PC stores. |
| Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 | Available digitally and as standard physical game cards; cross-saves are supported between the two Nintendo systems. |
| Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 | Available since April 14, 2026. Supergiant says these versions run at 120 frames per second and include bonus content and quality-of-life improvements; no physical editions were planned as of the FAQ update that day. |
| Steam Deck | Verified, according to Supergiant. |
Supergiant says technical limitations prevent cross-saves between these platform groups and other versions. Check the official Hades II FAQ for its current platform and save details.
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Who is Hades II for?
The finished game is an easy recommendation for players who want action built around repeat runs, varied combat choices, and a continuing character story. Newcomers do not need the original to follow the premise, while returning fans have more context to draw on. The main caution is the early progression friction described by Colp: players who dislike gathering and crafting may find the start slower than the combat and cast later promise.
Quick Recap
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