Supergiant Games. (2020). Hades [Video game]. Supergiant Games.

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games. Released in 2020, it is available on multiple platforms, including macOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and iOS. The game follows Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the Underworld to reach Mount Olympus, aided by boons from other Olympian gods. Each playthrough presents a randomized series of rooms filled with enemies and rewards, encouraging repeated attempts and skill development.

The gameplay features a hack-and-slash combat system where players utilize a combination of main weapon attacks, special attacks, dash abilities, and magic to defeat adversaries while avoiding damage. As players progress, they can collect treasures to enhance attributes, unlock new weapons, and acquire abilities, thereby improving their chances in subsequent escape attempts. The game world comprises four main regions: Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and the Temple of Styx, each with unique challenges and bosses.

Between escape attempts, players return to the House of Hades, serving as a hub where they can interact with various characters from Greek mythology, such as Sisyphus, Eurydice, and Patroclus. These interactions provide narrative depth and opportunities to strengthen relationships, some of which can develop into romantic subplots. Additionally, players can use resources gathered during runs to purchase permanent upgrades, construct new Underworld features, and customize aspects of the game through the Pact of Punishment, which allows for increased difficulty and additional challenges.

Hades received critical acclaim for its narrative, gameplay, art style, music, and voice acting, with some considering it among the greatest video games of all time. It sold over a million copies and garnered several game-of-the-year awards. A sequel, Hades II, was announced in 2022 and released in early access in 2024, featuring Melinoë, the sister of Zagreus, as the protagonist on a quest to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time.