Hades 2 Switch 2 Review

Hades 2 Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

Fans of roguelikes have been eating well on Nintendo platforms lately, with Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, Linked Banner of the Spark, and even Donkey Kong’s new Emerald Rush. But if there’s one roguelike that dominated conversation, it’s Hades 2, the follow-up to the incredible Hades, which originally released in 2020. That game was considered so good that many wondered how a sequel could live up to expectations. I didn’t have to ask myself that, because I came into Hades 2 completely fresh. What’s it Like? Pick your Tarot cards, select your weapon, and enter the night as we review Hades 2 for Nintendo Switch 2.

Hades 2 follows Melinoë, Zagreus’s sister and daughter of Hades and Persephone, as she sets out to defeat the titan Kronos, who has taken control of the House of Hades. Not much is revealed at the start, but the narrative is expertly woven like Arachne’s silks. Exposition is drip-fed, with characters slipping minor details as you interact with them during your runs. Every failure of a run is an opportunity to learn more about the Underworld and its denizens. Melinoë reveals her inner thoughts, characters remember small details like if you barely scraped through a previous fight, and interactions are brought to life by a talented voice cast. You can nurture relationships with characters by gifting the nectar of the gods or using hot springs to deepen bonds and as someone who rarely engages with relationship-building in cozy games, I found each connection in Hades 2 led to more discovery and the addictive nature of the game kept me curious and eager to learn more.

The gameplay loop starts with you embarking on a night, fighting your way through rooms and levels, and being rewarded after each room with upgrades to skills and abilities that increase your chances of success. You will fail a lot. Each failure brings you back to the Crossroads, where you can upgrade abilities or tarot cards, learn more about the story, and try again. Failure rarely felt frustrating, and each run carried the excitement of thinking, “This could be the run.” Most of the time, it wasn’t. It took me roughly 30 runs to finally knock Kronos down a peg or two, and right after doing so, I wanted to dive back in immediately. Combat is fast, furious, and slick. Dodging feels perfect, and there is a large selection of weapons and abilities to find what works best for your playstyle. My weapon of choice ended up being the torches. On my successful run, I focused on leveling my main attack instead of my specials, which gave it a huge damage buff every 12 seconds. By refining that mechanic throughout the run, Kronos was taking that massive hit every 2 seconds by the time I reached him.

Experimentation may initially frustrate players due to the lack of obvious options. I kept failing with the default staff, then got further using the axe, and eventually even further with the dagger and sickle. Finally, I was encouraged to try the torches, which allowed me to really start making progress. At first, I could only reach the end of the second area. After an hour or so, with the right tarot cards and boons, I realized the kind of build that suited my style: a simpler attack-and-dodge setup rather than relying on AOE and special moves. Suddenly, I was making significantly more progress, until I reached Kronos himself. None of this was frustrating, as every failure, as mentioned before, led to more discovery and unlocked new tarot cards and items. The strength of Hades 2 lies in its variety. No two runs are the same, and while a bit of RNG is involved, your combat choices ultimately determine your success.

Hades 2 is presented in a gorgeous art style that oozes charm. Character portraits have a trading card quality, with foil-like highlights that make each persona stand out. Combat and spell effects flash and crackle across the screen, creating an exciting isometric battlefield as you fight through varied environments. Each area is intricately detailed with an almost cel-shaded look, bringing depth and texture to the Underworld. My only complaint is that the screen can sometimes become too chaotic, making it difficult to gauge whether a projectile is yours or an enemy’s. This is made slightly worse when your health drops and the screen flashes red, which occasionally left me feeling like I was being hit even when I wasn’t. Boss fights, however, remain a highlight, with encounters that are a spectacle of spellcraft and chaos, backed by striking designs that feel both imposing and creative, with varied gameplay mechanics woven in. The soundtrack is equally impressive. At times it is haunting, with melodies of sirens’ vocals echoing from below, and in other moments, it shifts to shredding guitar riffs that send your adrenaline surging as you dodge countless spells flying your way. It is every bit as memorable as the visuals, working hand in hand to pull you deeper into Melinoë’s journey.

Hades 2 is incredibly well-optimised on both the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2. On Switch 2, the game runs at a silky-smooth 120fps at 1080p in TV Mode, and 60fps at 1080p in Handheld Mode. The original Switch handles it at a stable 60fps at 720p in both modes. Owners of the Switch version can also download a free upgrade to the Switch 2 version, making the jump seamless and well worth it for the improved performance.

For players looking into accessibility, Hades 2 includes several options to make time in the Underworld more comfortable. You can reduce screen shake, remap all buttons, enable aim assist, and even turn on auto-fire. The game also features a God Mode, which is not quite what you might expect. Instead of making you invincible, it increases your resistance to damage by 2% with every death, up to a maximum of 80%. If that feels too strong, you can also tweak the setting to find a balance that suits you. As always, I recommend further research to make sure Hades 2 meets your specific needs. At $45 AUD, Hades 2 is an exceptionally polished game with mechanics to master, secrets to uncover, and near-endless replayability.

Hades 2 is an incredible experience with a gripping story, evolving mechanics, and endlessly satisfying combat. Every run feels like an adventure, every failure feels like progress, and every success feels earned. The art, music, and voice work combine to create a world that is as thrilling to play as it is to simply exist in. Since starting What’s It Like, I have played and reviewed a lot of great games, yet Hades 2 stands tall among the very best. It is a game I will keep coming back to for years to come, and one I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a masterpiece on Switch 2.

So, What’s It Like? Hades 2 is like the Original Hades, only bigger, bolder, and better.

Hades 2 is a What’s It Like certified exceptional game.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by Supergiant Games, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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