Hades II The Highest Rated Game of 2025 Full Review

Supergiant Games’ Hades II is here a bold, soulful roguelite that improves on its predecessor across the board. Released September 25, 2025 for PC and Nintendo Switch (including Switch 2), the sequel centers on Melinoë and already sits at the top of 2025’s review charts. Here’s everything you need to know: platforms, performance, gameplay systems, story and characters, critical reception, and whether it’s coming to Xbox, PlayStation or Game Pass.

Hades II is the rare sequel that respects what made the first game beloved while expanding and refining nearly every system. It’s smarter, richer, and more varied from combat and progression to character writing and soundtrack. If you loved Hades (2020), you’ll find Melinoë’s witchier, more tactical playstyle instantly compelling. If you haven’t played the first game, Hades II still stands strongly on its own as one of 2025’s best games.

Release date Where you can play it

Hades II launched as a full 1.0 release on September 25, 2025. At launch the game is available on:

• PC (Steam and Epic; the game came out of ~16 months of Early Access on PC)

• Nintendo Switch (original)

• Nintendo Switch 2

Supergiant has announced a physical edition that follows the digital launch, slated for release in November 2025. At the time of release there are no confirmed PlayStation or Xbox console versions, and the developer has said it has not ruled those out in the future but the initial focus is PC and Nintendo platforms. Because Xbox/PlayStation versions are not part of the launch window, Hades II is not on Xbox Game Pass at release; if console builds arrive later, Game Pass inclusion could still be possible (the original Hades did arrive on Game Pass after launch), but nothing is confirmed.

Switch & Switch 2 specifics

Supergiant and published coverage emphasize strong performance options on Nintendo hardware:

• Switch 2 (TV mode): Supports up to 120 fps in TV mode; if running at 1080p the Switch 2 can operate at 60 fps.

• Original Switch: Can run at high refresh rates only at lower resolution (readability can be tighter in portable mode).

• Both Switch versions support cross-save with PC (Steam/Epic), so your progress will move between PC and Switch.

What’s new

Hades II keeps the core loop of fast, rewarding runs and combines it with meaningful progression and character drama but it adds several big changes that alter the feel and longevity:

• New protagonist: You play as Melinoë, daughter of Hades and Persephone, a witchier, mana-driven combatant whose toolkit and resource management feel distinct from Zagreus.

• Two-path structure: Early in the game you unlock a choice between two nightly paths a descent (Tartarus-style) toward Chronos, and an ascent up toward Mount Olympus. Each path contains unique regions and bosses; alternating routes multiplies run variety and reduces repetition.

• Weapon and build variety: Mel’s weapon roster and cast mechanics reward battlefield control and build planning. Many weapons have multiple variants and unlocks that dramatically change playstyle.

• Elemental essences & Hexes: Boons now interact with elemental essences and include powerful ultimate abilities (notably from Selene) with their own talent trees, adding strategic depth and long-term customization.

• Permanent progression and minigames: Hecate’s cauldron and a refined permanent upgrade system give meaningful sense of progress between runs, while small farming and familiar systems add flavor and mechanical hooks.

• Familiars: Pets and animals (like a hunting wildcat or a helpful hound) contribute both utility and charm one familiar can even grant an extra second chance mechanic in a run.

• Music & art: Darren Korb’s score lifts the sequel to operatic heights, and Jen Zee’s art continues to be a standout that fuels both atmosphere and fan creativity.

Story, characters and voice acting

Hades II keeps Supergiant’s signature strengths: compact, sharp writing and unforgettable characters. Melinoë’s relationships mentor figures like Hecate, rivals-turned-allies like Nemesis, and the leak of gods and titans are rendered with care and lots of personality. The cast is large and veteran-heavy; Judy Alice Lee leads as Melinoë, with Logan Cunningham returning as Hades and an extensive supporting voice cast bringing depth and humor to the game’s many interactions.

The narrative shifts the aim from escape to confrontation: Melinoë’s goal is to stop her grandfather, Chronos, the Titan of Time. The structure makes the journey feel different from the first game while keeping the emotional payoff Supergiant does so well.

Combat feels both familiar and new. Melinoë plays more like a spell-focused class: she has a mana system, a trap/cast ability that reshapes encounters, and weapons that encourage deliberate spacing and timing. Enemy design often encourages clever use of Mel’s casting mechanics (placing traps, controlling space) rather than brute force.

Critics praise the tuned variety of divine boons Supergiant tightened or reworked many godly offerings so almost every boon feels attractive and useful, and synergy hunting remains a major joy. There are also harder challenge modifiers (risk-reward boss variants), chaos runs, and a revised “heat” system for players seeking extra difficulty and rewards.

Early reviews have been stellar. Metacritic scores reported top marks (around the mid-90s across PC and Switch builds at the time coverage was collected), placing Hades II among the highest-rated games of 2025 and even nudging ahead of its predecessor in some aggregates. Reviewers singled out the game’s art, writing, combat polish, and soundtrack as immediate strengths.

Will it ride this into Game of the Year territory? The critical momentum and fan enthusiasm make it a major contender but the rest of 2025 still holds surprises. Even so, Hades II is already being discussed as the year’s high bar for narrative roguelites.

Beyond single-player runs, community chatter (from social forums) shows excitement and some debate about new or temporary modes players have been testing a “Head 2 Head” PvP-style mode that reduces matches to two teams and sparks discussion about whether smaller team sizes (3v3) would improve ranked play and onboarding for new players. Opinions vary: some players love the tighter team fights, others worry large-team modes are the series’ signature. Maps and balance in new modes have been a focus of constructive feedback.

Is Hades II for you?

If you value Tight, replayable combat and build variety, Rich character writing and rewatchable soundtrack and roguelite that adds meaningful long-term progression,
then Hades II is a must-play.

If you are on PlayStation or Xbox and prefer to wait for a native console release or inclusion on Game Pass, know that Supergiant hasn’t ruled those platforms out but they aren’t part of the launch window. For Switch and PC players, cross-save support and strong performance options make jumping in easy.

Final thoughts

Supergiant Games followed up a near-perfect original with a sequel that doesn’t rest on laurels. Hades II is thoughtful sequel-craft: it keeps the magic of the first game while adding new systems that deepen choice, storytelling and joy. It’s a game you’ll lose hours to, and one reviewers are rightfully celebrating as one of 2025’s best.