Hades Makes Dying Over and Over Again Feel Like Time Well Spent

Every death in Hades sends Zagreus back home, where his father is usually waiting with another unpleasant remark. As the rebellious son of the Underworld's ruler, Zagreus is desperate to escape his family's gloomy kingdom. Unfortunately, the monsters standing between him and freedom aren't making things easy.

Supergiant Games' 2020 roguelike makes dying surprisingly rewarding. Every escape attempt gives you a chance to experiment with different weapons and divine blessings, while returning home often brings new conversations and developments in Zagreus's story. Even when a run ends embarrassingly early, there's usually something waiting back at the House of Hades that makes you want to try again.

Another Day, Another Argument With Your Father

The House of Hades is the last place Zagreus wants to be, but it's one of the game's most interesting locations. After every failed escape, he returns home to find familiar faces waiting with new conversations, advice, or complaints.

Achilles is always ready with advice, while Nyx helps Zagreus understand more about the Underworld. Hypnos, meanwhile, seems to take particular pleasure in hearing how Zagreus died this time. Hades himself is considerably less welcoming, treating his son's escape attempts as another nuisance to deal with.

These conversations gradually reveal more about the characters and their relationships without relying on lengthy cutscenes. Even a particularly terrible escape attempt might lead to an interesting exchange back home.

Six Weapons Give You Six Different Ways to Get Killed

Zagreus starts with the Stygian Blade, but I found myself enjoying the other Infernal Arms even more. The Shield of Chaos lets you block incoming attacks, the Twin Fists are great for getting right into an enemy's face, and the Heart-Seeking Bow is perfect when you'd rather keep your distance.

The Olympian Boons make experimenting with these weapons even more entertaining. Zeus adds lightning to your attacks, Poseidon sends enemies flying, and Athena can help you deflect incoming projectiles. With the right combination, a weapon you've used dozens of times can suddenly feel completely different.

I particularly enjoy pairing Zeus's lightning with the Twin Fists, turning a flurry of punches into a barrage of electrical damage. Athena's deflecting dash is another great option when things get crowded. Unfortunately, the gods don't always cooperate, and it's frustrating when a promising build falls apart because the Boons you need never show up.

The Gods Are Helpful Until They Decide They Aren't

The Olympian gods are a dysfunctional family, and their rivalries can make Zagreus's escape attempts even more complicated. Their conversations are often amusing, especially when they start complaining about one another.

Sometimes you'll have to choose between two gods, only for the rejected one to turn hostile and make you fight for their forgiveness. Other combinations unlock powerful Duo Boons, giving you another reason to experiment with their blessings.

Supergiant's character designs are just as memorable as the dialogue. Each god has a distinctive look, backed by excellent voice acting, while Darren Korb's soundtrack brings energy to the action. Together, they make Greek mythology feel surprisingly lively for a game set in the Underworld.

Even a Failed Escape Can Leave You Stronger

Dying means losing most of your temporary upgrades, but you don't return home completely empty-handed. Darkness lets you strengthen Zagreus through the Mirror of Night, while Nectar helps build relationships with other characters and earn useful Keepsakes.

Even a short, unsuccessful run can bring you closer to another upgrade or a new weapon. It's nice knowing that getting killed by the same boss for the fifth time hasn't been a complete waste of time.

Of course, better equipment won't save you if you keep making the same mistakes. Learning enemy attacks and improving your timing are still essential, but permanent upgrades give you a little more room to survive. I think Hades handles this balance particularly well, making each attempt feel worthwhile without taking away the challenge.

Eventually, Even Hell Starts Looking Familiar

The cramped chambers of Tartarus give way to the lava-filled landscapes of Asphodel, making each new region feel different at first. But after enough escape attempts, even the Underworld starts to become predictable.

Familiar enemies keep returning, and once you've learned a boss's attacks, much of the excitement disappears. Different Boon combinations help keep combat interesting, but even a great build can't always make fighting the same boss for the twentieth time exciting.

The Pact of Punishment helps by letting you increase the difficulty after your first successful escape, introducing tougher enemies and new challenges. Still, repeating familiar fights just to unlock another conversation or collect more resources can eventually feel more like a chore than an adventure.

There's Always a Reason to Try Again Tomorrow

Hades is a brilliant example of how roguelike progression can work alongside a compelling story. Even after a disastrous run, there's something satisfying about returning home to find that Zagreus's relationships have moved forward. Few games make dying repeatedly feel quite so worthwhile.

The familiar environments and slow pace of certain storylines can become frustrating, especially after dozens of escape attempts. But the combat remains satisfying, and the characters are memorable enough to make another trip through the Underworld tempting.

I wouldn't recommend Hades to anyone who hates repetition, but for everyone else, there's a good chance you'll spend far more time with Zagreus's dysfunctional family than you ever intended.