By Fletcher Wilkinson Hades 2 has finally arrived on Xbox, and after spending a serious amount of time with it now and basically getting all the achievements, I can say this is not just more of the same. This is a sequel that takes what worked before and reshapes it into something a bit more strategic, a bit more layered, and in some ways, a bit more ambitious.
If you played the first game, you’ll immediately recognise the structure and what made you fall in love with this franchise, but the moment-to-moment gameplay and overall feel are quite different once you get deeper into it.
This time around, you step into the role of Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, and the narrative picks up after the events of the original and gives us a proper conclusion that we have wanted for years. Does it dethrone its once godly predecessor or does it fall into hell and freeze over? Well my name is Fletcher and this is Xbox Nation, and let’s dive into my review of Hades 2 on Xbox.
So delving right into it and without going too deep into spoilers, the threat this time is a god known as Chronos and the stakes feel much larger than the original entry. What I love right out the gate is that Supergiant has kept that incredible attention to detail when it comes to storytelling. Dialogue constantly evolves depending on your actions and even your weapons, your progress and how well or poorly a run goes all gets amalgamated into that overarching story.
It’s one of the few roguelikes out there where repetition doesn’t feel like a constant struggle because characters always have something new to say, and the world feels like it’s reacting to you even if you don’t make it too far.
I think it is worth noting that things really start to shift in the gameplay and that’s where Hades 2 first caught me off guard when I tried it out on PC during the early access phase. At a glance, you may think it looks very similar to the first game, but Melinoë plays completely differently to that of Hades.
If you were someone who relied heavily on fast, aggressive dash-heavy combat from the previous entry, you’ll certainly need to re-adjust. As I mentioned at the start, the combat here leans much more into magic, spacing, and control. You’re often setting traps, managing cooldowns, and thinking about positioning rather than just rushing enemies down.
It creates a slightly slower, more tactical flow, and while that might not click immediately, it becomes incredibly satisfying once you start building around it.
With that change comes the difference in weapon variety and again this is solid, and each option encourages a different approach depending on your playstyle. Some of the builds push you towards ranged spellcasting, others reward more calculated melee play, but overall, the game feels like it wants you to think more than react.
The boon system also returns, and this is where things get really interesting. The gods still grant you abilities, but the level of synergy you can create between different powers feels more expanded this time. Once you start understanding how different boons interact, you can create some ridiculously powerful builds.
There’s a real sense of experimentation here, and it rewards players who are willing to try new combinations rather than sticking to what’s safe.
Beyond combat, there’s also a lot more going on between runs. There are a ton of different crafting systems, resource gathering elements, and multiple ways to upgrade your abilities over time. I don’t think I even uncovered half of what’s available, especially if you plan to spend over 100 hours with the game.
It never feels like a wasted run because you’re almost always progressing in some way, even if you fail. That constant sense of forward momentum is what makes Hades 2 so difficult to put down.
The level design in this game is just absolutely phenomenal, and no matter how many descriptive words I use here, it’s hard to fully capture how impressive it is. The environments feel much more varied than the original Hades, with a strong mix of tight combat arenas and more open areas that encourage exploration.
The boss encounters were always going to be a highlight, and while some may feel tougher depending on your build, they’re consistently memorable and well designed. There’s also a great ramp-up in complexity the further you get, introducing new mechanics that keep things fresh.
Speaking of Xbox specifically within this review, I did have a chance to play this across both my Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, and overall the performance is flawless. Even with a lot happening on screen, the game holds a very stable 60fps without any noticeable drops or stuttering.
I have been notified by the Hades 2 developer Supergiant that 120fps is supported with a compatible display on the Xbox Series X! (Please in this instance ignore the con on the below rating)
The same goes for the Xbox Ally X, where performance was surprisingly strong. While there are occasional dips in more intense moments when unplugged, it remains highly playable and well optimised overall.
Visually, Hades 2 is exactly what you’d hope for. The art direction is once again incredible, with detailed character designs, smooth animations, and environments that feel alive with colour and movement.
The audio is just as strong. The soundtrack blends styles beautifully and complements the action perfectly, while the voice acting adds charm and emotion to every character. It genuinely elevates the entire experience.
Now for the big question: does it surpass the original? In some ways, absolutely. It’s deeper, more complex, and offers far more systems to engage with. On the other hand, the original had a near-perfect combat flow that made it instantly satisfying.
Hades 2 takes a more deliberate approach, and while that might not click straight away, once it does, it becomes just as rewarding, if not more so.
Replayability is where the game truly shines, offering dozens upon dozens of hours of content and constant reasons to return.
Overall, Hades 2 is a fantastic sequel that doesn’t just play it safe. It takes risks, evolves the formula, and delivers one of the best roguelike experiences available on Xbox.
If you enjoyed the first game, this is absolutely worth your time. And if you’re new to the series, this is a brilliant place to jump in.
With its inclusion on Game Pass, Hades 2 is easily one of the best Xbox games of 2026 so far.
Jordan Campbell