It’s rare that an indie release likeHadesachieves prolonged success. Most games that capture players' attention come from the AAA space, butoutliers likeStardew Valley,Rocket League, andHollow Knighthave achieved mainstream popularity that linger long after their release years. Supergiant’s latest release belongs in this category, as its simple gameplay and strong progression loop makes it perfect for sporadic, intense bursts of attention. It was a great fit for Xbox' subscription service, giving the indie gem an audience that it can truly take advantage of it.
RELATED:How a Norse Mythology-Themed Hades Could Look Like
Hades is a Visual and Technical Marvel
Hadesapproaches the often unwelcoming roguelike genre in a way that makes it accessible to newcomers.The lore ofHadesis sublime, taking the fundamentals of Greek mythology and twisting them to suit a strong, unfolding narrative. Its artistic license is evident while managing to stay faithful to the legends that inspired it.Hadesis visually abstract, yet beautiful with distinctive character models that serve to make each personality feel unique - be it Zeus' stoic maturity or Aphrodite’s enticing and flirtatious aura.
Hades' is Widely Available to All
Being from a larger, more well-known indie developer,Hadeswas brought to some consoles and systemsupon release, but quickly found a home on other popular hardware when the accolades had stopped flooding in. Support for PlayStation and Xbox consoles came some time after PC and Switch. Game Pass has surely brought it to new players, and there is sufficient time to give it a chance on that platform to gauge if it’s worth a purchase elsewhere.
Hadesis not a game that requires dozens of hours to discover its quality. It throws players into its gameplay loop almost immediately, and wonderfully written dialogue with Dusa, Hypnos, Nyx, or Hades himself makes the narrative feel as important to the experience as the mechanics. Within the first two hours players will likely find (and lose to)the first boss, Megaera, encounter one of the wayfaring strangers in Tartarus or Asphodel, and be scorned by Zagreus' overbearing father, which are elements that stick for hours to come.
PlayingHadeson Game Pass before it leaves on August 31would be a perfect way to whet players' appetite and see if it’s worth their time. For most, it absolutely will be, so whileHadesis playable on other devices and platforms, losing one way to access it will be a shame.
Hadesis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
