Hades 2

Hades 2 continues the story of the award-winning roguelike and takes the action beyond the underworld. The main character is Melinoe, the princess of the kingdom of the dead, who takes up dark witchcraft and opposes the Titan of Time. Melinoe fights with both sword and sorcery: her arsenal includes spells, as well as special techniques that are unlocked through encounters and victories. The fighting style is noticeably different from what fans of the first part are used to. The Supergiant Games studio develops a successful formula: fast fights, short runs and constant repetitions that are difficult to break away from. The world has become deeper and is rooted in Greek mythology, where ancient secrets and funny scenes have a place. Between races, the heroine returns home, where she communicates with family and allies, and these scenes move the story forward. Even a lost campaign adds cues and reasons for new meetings. The plot is told through victories and defeats: an unsuccessful attempt does not set you back, but adds more meetings and conversations to the heroine. Olympian gods like Apollo and Zeus offer blessings, and the collected gifts transform the weapons into a veritable arsenal. Races go through different areas of the underworld and surrounding lands, and the composition of enemies is selected randomly. Sometimes you come across challenges with additional conditions for which rewards are given. There are a lot of voiced characters, and almost everyone gets their own lines throughout the events, which makes the runs not feel the same. The controls remain familiar, but the sets of skills and spells have changed noticeably. Early access allowed the authors to refine the balance together with the players, and updates gradually added weapons, gods and entire branches. For anyone who enjoys fast-paced combat and stories that unfold over time, this title gives plenty of reasons to come back.