Summary
It can be a monumental effort to create and release a quality indie game, let alone one that can stand alongside some of the best in the business.Hadesaccomplished this, and while it was the property of Supergiant, which is beloved in the industry, the small team and development cycle meant it was a surprise to see it win plenty of Game of the Year Awards over the likes ofThe Last of Us 2,Ghost of Tsushima, andAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s infinitely replayable by design, but that didn’t stop the developer from crafting a sequel, the aptly-titledHades 2.
For fans of the first game,Hades 2is one of the most exciting releases of the future, as its trailer from late last year showed all the promise of an improvement on a formula that is already sublime. However, there hasn’t been much news since then, and though this is by no means cause for concern, hearing something soon would definitely be welcomed.
RELATED:Hades 2 May Have an Opportunity to Handle Heroes From Greek Mythology Differently
Hades 2 is a Surprising, but Welcome Successor
Typically,Supergiant Games doesn’t make sequels to its projects, but the overwhelming critical acclaim ofHadesmeant the studio got to work on its first one.Hades 2follows Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, instead of the fan-favorite Zagreus of the first game. Her abilities are magic-heavy, and though she is a real figure in Greek mythology, the limited information about her meant the developer can take plenty of liberties as she assumes the role of protagonist and discovers her place in the underworld.
The gameplay looks to be similar to that ofHades, with a top-down view of the area and a roguelike design meaning death results in a trip back to the beginning. Tonally, the developer has calledHades 2’shadowy and alluring', with the focus of the story beingthe Titan of Time, Chronos. There’s still little known about the context of the tale and how the progression loop will (hopefully) improve upon the last game, no matter how hard that may seem.
Supergiant Seems Confident, but Quiet
Hades 2was announced at the 2022 Game Awards last December, and got fans excited for something familiar, but new. Since the reveal, the developer has been tight-lipped with its promotional material as it works on the follow-up to one of 2020’s best games. The reason for that is likely more than justified, as the company has yet to produce a dud, withBastion, Transistor,Pyre,andHadesunder its belt, so the silence could be more of a good sign than a bad one. The game may simply need some more time in the oven before an early-access preview.
However, the early access period forHades 2can’t come soon enough, especially as the first game took its time before finally hitting shelves. Early access may or may not arrive in 2023, but there has been no update on when, and with a busy end to the year with the likes ofSpider-Man 2,Starfield, andAssassin’s Creed Miragereleasing in the last few months of 2023, it could be hard to find a viable spot. If it is going to capture headlines, it would make sense to give players some kind of update soon, or at the very least a reassurance that development is going smoothly.Hadeswas good enough to compete with AAA offerings, soHades 2shouldn’t have a problem, and giving players more to be excited about could only help it even more.
Hades 2is in development.
MORE:Why Hades 2’s Postgame May Look Very Different From the First Game’s
