Hades has rightfully made a big splash this year since its official 1.0 release. The roguelite romp through the Underworld has delighted Supergiant followers, roguelite fans, and Greek mythology buffs in equal measure. In fact, critical reviews have been so glowing that some are seeing it as the best game in its genre.
The roguelite genre has had a renaissance over the past few years, with numerous critical darlings being released. So, is Hades truly the best the genre has seen yet? Below, find five reasons why Supergiant’s newest game is the best yet (and five titles that may be better).
10 BEST: The Story & Writing
Supergiant is known for its high-caliber writing, but Hades may boast some of the studio’s best yet. Not only is the writing of excellent quality, but there are reams of it; in fact, players may find themselves bordering on 100 hours of gameplay and they’ll still be finding new lines.
The game is up there as one of the best-written ever, but compared to other roguelites, it eclipses them. It does this with the established Greek mythos, too, iterating on its intertextual history to provide narrative layers to well-established characters.
The Gods aren’t only fun to talk to, but their conversations and rewards can change by giving them nectar. It’s a nice touch, and figuring out who to give nectar works well on both a gameplay and story level, with all of it enveloped in vivid, memorable writing and characterization.
9 BETTER TITLE: Enter The Gungeon
Enter The Gungeon‘s aesthetics fool players. This isn’t a cutesy game; it’s a bullet hell nightmare. While it lacks Hades‘ sense of charm and polish, it eclipses it in sheer intensity. The title is difficult, but it eases players in well – it acts as a perfect entry into the bullet hell genre. The game has received rave reviews for its consistent commitment to one theme: looting and shooting.
For players who prefer a consistent challenge and a breathless speed, then they’re going to prefer this game. It’s perfect for the Switch, too.
8 BEST: Fluid, Satisfying Combat
Combat is the bread-and-butter of roguelites. If a roguelite has poor combat, it isn’t going to last very long; the genre cannot stand on story and visuals alone. Thankfully, the combat in Hades is fluid, fast and, well, real buttery.
Players feel godlike, but not overly so – there still remains a distinct challenge. While enemies can fall quickly, the gameplay remains engaging. Each small amount of HP loss adds up, and the bosses stay a consistent challenge. When augmented by systems such as boons and keepsakes, it all pops.
7 BETTER TITLE: Dead Cells
Dead Cells made a big splash when it released in 2017. The game wore its Metroidvania and Souls-like influences on its sleeve, packing the genres into a memorable, ever-changing roguelite package.
The roguelite genre was alive and well, but Dead Cells felt, and still feels, like an important moment. The port to Switch helped it immensely, but it has earworm-like qualities for players – once someone starts playing it, it’s difficult to get it out of their head. It still stands out with sheer polish alone, and its Souls-like-inspired combat may just be a cut above what Hades offers.
6 BEST: Art Style
Supergiant Games is known for its unique, eye-catching visuals. From Bastion to Pyre, the studio had a pedigree for colorful, refined art design. Hades is no different. The game’s take on Greek aesthetics is so good, that it would be unsurprising if many saw it as their favorite interpretation of the mythos.
Each boss, enemy, and character feels reflective of their personality, with each layer of the Underworld feeling logical and unique. From the lighting to the designs themselves, Hades stands out as the best-looking roguelite out there. Reviewers agree, too.
5 BETTER TITLES: Darkest Dungeon
Hades has a strong theme, but it doesn’t relentlessly stick to it as much as Darkest Dungeon. It’s a roguelite where players feel immersed in its sanity-draining, grim gothic world. The aesthetic makes it seem like it is a chore to play, but the greatest aspect of Darkest Dungeon is how it hooks players in despite this commitment to the dark.
The title’s turn-based gameplay is satisfying, but how the game ensures players get close to their characters, just to see them turn insane or die permanently, makes this one of the most memorable roguelites around. The disappointment can sometimes be crippling, but players always return. Reviews were glowing on release and for good reason.
4 BEST: The Ever-Evolving Gameplay Loop
Some games don’t truly start until a player has beaten them once. That is especially true for Hades; players will spend a few dozen runs beating the game for the first time, only for the core gameplay loop to change. And then it changes again. And again.
Perhaps the strongest reason for Hades‘ status as the best roguelite is how it never plays it safe with its core gameplay loop. The game isn’t afraid to take risks, and it leads to a roguelite gameplay loop that is ever-evolving in both challenge and sheer entertainment.
3 BETTER TITLE: Slay The Spire
Slay The Spire is a mix of two things gamers love: roguelite design and card-based mechanics. Players enter the usual roguelite set-up, but the deck-building qualities of Slay The Spire makes it wholly unique in the genre. Imagine the addictiveness of Hearthstone, but it’s packaged in a roguelite – now that’s dangerous.
Hades does lack the precise strategy of Slay The Spire. Oftentimes, builds in Hades can feel too much up to chance, but with Slay The Spire, players can satisfy their strategic itch.
2 BEST: Personality
How many roguelites can a player pet the dog in? How about Cerberus? It may seem small, but this sort of inclusion typifies Supergiant’s commitment to adding wholesome, memorable moments in their games that exist outside of the main story. Whether it’s a trivial side attraction or the delivery of dialogue, Hades is full to the brim with personality.
It’s a positive that is difficult for games to capture, but it is one of the reasons why Hades is so memorable and, to some, it may be the primary reason why it’s the best roguelite ever. Supergiant Games have industry-leading music and voice acting, too, which helps.
1 BETTER TITLE: The Binding Of Isaac
The Binding of Isaac still stands as the daddy of roguelite games. Hades may reach that level one day, but as of now, no other roguelite has proved to be as addictive as this RPG-inspired journey through a hellish basement.
When the game released in 2011, it was the watershed moment for the roguelite genre. It still stands as the genre’s crowning achievement, but give Hades a few more years, and perhaps fans will be talking about both games on equal terms.
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