With its full release just around the corner, 'Hades II' has firmly cemented its status as one of the year’s most anticipated titles.

Revealed on the 25th, Hades II has secured the 'Must-Play' badge with a Metacritic score of 95 on PC (22 outlets), 95 on Nintendo Switch (4 outlets), and 94 on Nintendo Switch 2 (32 outlets). As of September 25, this stands as the highest score for any game released this year, with critics largely agreeing that it surpasses its predecessor in both visceral action and narrative depth. The consensus highlights a system that is significantly more nuanced and a story that feels remarkably expansive.

The developer has managed to inherit the elements that made the original a hit—namely the combat, weapon variety, and magic—while injecting fresh diversity through branching paths and richer interactions with supporting characters. Even for a roguelike where repetition is the name of the game, critics note that the sheer breadth of narrative and the variety of challenges ensure that players will find themselves hooked without ever feeling the fatigue of a grind.

For those uninitiated, Hades II is the sequel to the action-roguelike 'Hades' developed by Supergiant Games. While the original followed the journey of Zagreus, this entry shifts the spotlight to Melinoë. Set once again in the Greek mythological underworld, the plot follows the protagonist's quest to defeat the army of the Titan. Notably, the game supports cross-save functionality across PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, a feature that was absent in the first title.

Hades II is scheduled for official release on September 26 (Korea time).