Hades Review (Nintendo Switch): One of the Best Roguelikes Ever Made

One more run turns into a full night. Then dozens of hours later, Hades still finds reasons to pull you back into the Underworld.

Developed by Supergiant Games, Hades is a roguelike action game where Zagreus attempts to escape the Underworld while uncovering the truth about his past and the world around him. Each run is framed by failure and progress at the same time, with story developments, character interactions and new discoveries unfolding whether you succeed or not.

Combat is the game’s strongest pillar. Every weapon feels distinct and the variety created through boons, keepsakes and Mirror of Night upgrades makes every attempt feel different. Experimentation is constantly rewarded, and the game does an excellent job of making loss feel like progress. It is also one of the most approachable roguelikes, easing players into the genre without sacrificing depth or challenge.

The story and characters are where Hades separates itself from most games in the genre. Zagreus stands out as a sharp, charismatic lead, and the supporting cast is equally memorable. Full voice acting carries the experience, with an unusually large amount of reactive dialogue that keeps conversations fresh for a long time. Character relationships evolve naturally over time, with different interactions between Zagreus and each member of the Underworld’s ruling cast giving the narrative strong emotional weight.

Replayability is massive. Even after 120 hours, there is still content to uncover, relationships to build and systems to experiment with. The gameplay loop is highly addictive, and each successful escape carries real satisfaction. One of the game’s most striking strengths is how it makes reaching the surface feel meaningful every time, even when the journey changes over the course of the story.

The presentation ties everything together. The hand-drawn art style is consistently strong, the music enhances both combat and atmosphere, and performance on Nintendo Switch remains smooth throughout. On Nintendo Switch 2, the game’s art direction also benefits from a sharper handheld display, making everything stand out more clearly.

Not everything lands perfectly. Enemy encounters and room layouts can feel repetitive over long play sessions, and while dialogue keeps things engaging, the core structure of runs does not evolve dramatically. The House of Hades also feels more functional than lived in. Despite strong writing and character work, most characters remain in fixed positions, and the hub does not offer much in the way of interaction or exploration beyond progression systems. It works as a narrative staging ground, but it lacks the sense of life that the rest of the game consistently delivers.

Even with those limitations, Hades remains one of the most refined roguelikes ever made. It blends fast, satisfying combat with exceptional writing, strong progression systems and a loop that turns failure into motivation rather than frustration.

9.5/10

Pokémon Lens:

Hades and Pokémon share a similar design philosophy in how they encourage experimentation and long-term engagement. Building each run through different boons and weapons mirrors the way Pokémon games reward team-building, strategy and adapting to different challenges. Both also succeed in making progression feel personal, whether that is through evolving relationships in Hades or developing bonds with your team in Pokémon. For players who enjoy refining strategies and constantly discovering new combinations, Hades delivers that same satisfaction in a different genre.