Summary
Hades 2rules. It builds on the strong foundations ofits breakout hit predecessor, and since its early access release earlier this month, has seized the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. Even in its current early access form, it feels robust and surprisingly complete, and just as mechanically solid and narratively compelling as the game that came before it.It’s actually got more content now than Hades did in its full launch.
Like many, I’ve been playing the game since it came out. Not everybody wants to play it in early access – TheGamer editor-in-chief Stacey Henley makes a strong case forwaiting until the game releases in full to dive in– butlike my colleague Ben Sledge, I have no intention of biding my time. Features lead Jade Kingbought a brand new Steam Deck just to play the game, and so did I. I’ve played it in bed, on my sofa, on long flights, and at the bar while waiting for my friends to arrive. Even with other games sitting in my library waiting for my attention, I keep returning to Hades 2.
There’s an argument to be made for playing Hades 2 now, before it releases in full. Early access games, in general, are worth playing becauseyou get to watch and contribute to the evolution of the final product. It’s also very cool to explore the mechanics that are already in the game, even if there’s no way for us to actually finish the game becausethe ending hasn’t been made yet. If you’re in it for the love of the game, and not because you want to see an ending, there’s really no reason not to start seeing everything that Hades 2 has to offer in its current state.
The Perils Of Burning Out
That said, I’ve been actively trying to limit my playtime now that I’ve started to make some serious progress. I’m not very far into the game – I’m still struggling against Scylla and the Sirens, and I’ve only just unlocked the hot springs. I decided not to play with God Mode this time round, because I want to feel the full satisfaction of completing a full run without any assistance, so progress is a little slower. I’m fine with that.
I’m very aware of my own patterns when it comes to games. I get hyper fixated, play them every day for weeks, and then one day I boot it up and realise I have no desire to play it anymore. The itch has been scratched, and it no longer brings me joy. I don’t want to get to Hades 2’s full release in 2025 and feel like there’s nothing left for me to discover, even though I know logically that this won’t be the case.
Hades 2 Is Very Easy To Burn Out On
The thing about Hades 2 is that, precisely because it already feels so full, it’s hardnotto want to play it as much as possible. There’s so much to unlock, so you want to unlock everything. Is it incredibly satisfying to unlock mechanic after mechanic, despite knowing that you can never really see the end? Yes. That’s the danger.
Once we’ve unlocked everything, there’s a good chance that we’ll have to do it again in the full release. Will that put players off? Nobody knows what Hades 2 will look like in a few months, or exactly how much content is going to be added. We don’t know how much the game will have changed and how much will stay the same. I know myself, and I know that I’ll be playing Hades 2 in short bursts over the coming months in order to not burn out completely. Hades 2 will deserve my attention when it’s finished – it’s my job to make sure I’m still happy to give it that time next year.
Hades 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades 2 is the sequel to Supergiant Games' smash-hit roguelike dungeon crawler. This time you’ll play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and Zagreus' sister, as she takes on the forces of the Titan of Time.
