Hades

The majority of critics praised the narrative of Hades as a standout achievement, highlighting its intricate character interactions, humor, and integration of Greek mythology. Reviewers like Eurogamer Italy and PC Gamer emphasized the game’s "exceptional" storytelling, noting how well-developed characters and "wealth of dialogue" enrich the experience. Cultured Vultures and GameStar praised the way the story unfolds through gameplay, with each death and escape attempt deepening relationships and revealing new layers of the plot. The narrative’s focus on Zagreus’s quest to reunite with his mother, Persephone, and navigate familial conflicts was frequently lauded, with Everyeye.it calling it "compelling" and NintendoWorldReport framing it as a "humorous story" rooted in mythological depth. Critics like GameGrin and TheXboxHub also highlighted the emotional resonance of character dynamics, such as Zagreus’s rebellious journey and the evolving bonds with Olympian gods, which many felt elevated the game beyond typical roguelike conventions. While most reviews were overwhelmingly positive, a few critics noted minor shortcomings. GameCrate described the story as "passable," criticizing its lack of depth and the randomness of character interactions, while Worth Playing compared it to Bastion, suggesting it “may lack the emotional depth” of previous titles. Some reviewers, like Nintendo Life, acknowledged the narrative’s reliance on repetition but framed it as a strength rather than a flaw. Additionally, GameCrate and Worth Playing were the only ones to express concerns about the story’s structure, with GameCrate pointing to the "randomness affecting plot development" and Worth Playing noting that the emotional stakes felt less impactful than in other games. These critiques, however, were outliers in an otherwise glowing reception. Despite these minor reservations, the overall consensus among critics was that Hades’s story is a masterpiece. The game’s ability to weave a rich, character-driven narrative into a roguelike framework was universally celebrated, with IGN Japan and Jeuxvideo.com praising its "rich" and "engaging" storytelling. GameCritics and Multiplayer.it highlighted how the narrative evolves with each run, keeping the experience fresh and rewarding. Even critics who noted slight flaws, like GameCrate, acknowledged the game’s strengths in world-building and humor. The collective praise for Hades’s storytelling—its emotional depth, mythological richness, and innovative use of gameplay mechanics—solidified its reputation as one of the most compelling narratives in modern gaming, with TheGamer and Attack of the Fanboy calling it a "thrilling mystery" and "compelling narrative" that redefines the genre.

The gameplay of Hades is widely praised by critics as a masterful blend of action, strategy, and roguelike mechanics. Multiple reviewers highlight its fast-paced and fluid combat, with a diverse array of weapons and abilities that allow for deep customization and varied playstyles. Jeuxvideo.com and The Digital Fix both emphasize the engaging gameplay loop, where players learn from failure and progressively unlock new content. IGN and GameStar note the strategic depth, with each weapon having its own rhythm and the blessings from the gods adding layers of complexity. Vgames and Siliconera commend the roguelike structure, which keeps each run fresh and dynamic, while But Why Tho? and Impulsegamer appreciate how upgrades and godly boons encourage experimentation and replayability. The game’s ability to evolve with each playthrough and offer a sense of progression is a recurring positive theme, with GameMAG comparing its combat to Bloodborne and calling it "impressive and welcoming." While the majority of critics celebrate Hades’ gameplay, some mention minor drawbacks, primarily related to repetition and structure. Jeuxvideo.com notes that the procedural generation adds replayability but can feel repetitive in terms of level structure. PC Games and Cubed3 acknowledge that despite the variety, some repetition exists in the dungeon layouts and enemy encounters. Meristation points out that while the gameplay is fast and allows for freedom in customization, mastering positioning and skill usage requires time and effort. However, these criticisms are often framed as minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar experience, with most reviewers agreeing that the repetition is outweighed by the game’s engaging mechanics and rewarding progression. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Hades’ gameplay is a masterpiece, with nearly every review highlighting its addictive, dynamic, and strategically rich nature. Cubed3 and GameByte both praise the game’s addictive primary loop and the balance of permanent and temporary upgrades, while God is a Geek and Finger Guns emphasize the fast, responsive, and rewarding combat. The game’s roguelike structure, combined with its deep customization and character progression, has been consistently lauded as a standout feature. With its variety of weapons, godly boons, and evolving combat mechanics, Hades has set a new benchmark for the genre, and the overwhelming majority of critics agree that its gameplay is not just good, but exceptional.

The majority of critics overwhelmingly praised the graphics and visual design of Hades as a masterful achievement, highlighting its distinctive art style and technical execution. Many lauded its stunning cel-shaded aesthetic and hand-drawn environments, with The Digital Fix calling it "one of the most gorgeous gaming experiences of the year" and Eurogamer Italy noting "stunning hand-drawn environments rich in detail and vibrant colors." The game’s comic book-inspired visuals were frequently celebrated, as PC Games described it as "stylish" with "detailed animations and effects," while GameStar emphasized its "vibrant comic-style graphics" and "smooth animations." Platforms like the Xbox Series X and PS5 saw enhancements such as 4K resolution and 60fps support, with Pure Xbox and PlayStation LifeStyle pointing to the "exquisite" and "visually striking" presentation. GameCrate and SpazioGames praised the 2.5D environments and 3D character models, noting their "strong variation in level designs" and "meticulously crafted" worlds. The art direction was also seen as immersive, with Digital Chumps describing it as a "daydream palette" and Jeuxvideo.com highlighting how it "brings the Greek pantheon to life." These reviews collectively underscore a visually cohesive and artistic approach that aligns with Supergiant Games’ reputation for excellence. While the consensus was largely positive, some critics pointed to minor drawbacks in the visual design. RPG Fan and PC Games noted that the graphics, though "good enough to keep attention," "won’t wow anyone compared to modern games" and could feel cluttered during intense battles, respectively. Screen Rant mentioned visibility issues on larger screens, and Xbox Tavern observed that "some elements can be hard to notice," suggesting that the stylized visuals might occasionally hinder clarity. Additionally, Games.cz described the aesthetic as "sometimes kitschy," which could be a subjective critique, and Ragequit.gr acknowledged that the "beautifully painted graphics" might not appeal to all tastes. These concerns, however, were framed as nuances rather than major flaws, with most reviewers agreeing that the art style’s charm and creativity outweighed such technical or stylistic trade-offs. Overall, the critical reception of Hades’ graphics and visual design was resoundingly positive, with the majority of reviewers deeming it a masterpiece. Despite the occasional mention of limitations—such as the "cluttered" action sequences or visibility challenges—these were overshadowed by the game’s unique and immersive art direction. GameSpot and GameCritics emphasized its industry-leading 2D art and "sharp graphics," while Twinfinite and Nintendo Insider highlighted its charming character designs and "eye-catching" aesthetics. The game’s ability to blend vibrant colors, detailed animations, and mythological themes into a cohesive visual identity was a recurring highlight, with ZTGD and Everyeye.it noting how its "bright and beautiful" depiction of the Underworld contrasts with its dark tone. Even on older systems like PC, GameStar and COGconnected praised its smooth performance and polished presentation, reinforcing that Hades’ visual design is not only a technical triumph but also a defining feature of its storytelling and atmosphere. The consensus reflects a game that prioritizes artistic expression over raw graphical fidelity, achieving a balance that resonates with both critics and players.

The sound design and music of Hades received widespread acclaim from critics, with many praising its dynamic and immersive qualities. Darren Korb’s soundtrack was consistently highlighted as a standout feature, blending hard rock, Greek-inspired motifs, and atmospheric compositions to enhance gameplay. Critics like PCMag and GameGrin noted the music’s ability to adapt to the game’s pacing, creating an "immersive atmosphere" and "epic" encounters. IGN and Gameblog.fr emphasized its emotional depth, with IGN praising the "strong and immersive qualities" of Korb’s work, while GameGrin described the soundtrack as "dynamic and well-composed." The vocal performances, particularly in character interactions, were also lauded, with GameMAG highlighting "emotional" and "dynamic" vocal tracks that enriched the narrative. Even critics who mentioned minor flaws, such as Noisy Pixel (who noted the music was overshadowed by intense gameplay), acknowledged its overall excellence. The PS5 version, as noted by M3, saw further improvements, with audio that "enhanced the experience even better than on the Switch." While the majority of reviews were positive, a few critics pointed to specific shortcomings. Screen Rant felt the soundtrack lacked consistency, with "thrilling" boss tracks but weaker moments elsewhere, while GamingTrend criticized volume fluctuations in dialogue that disrupted immersion. Eurogamer Italy and RPG Fan found the music "lacking" and "passable," respectively, though these critiques were outliers. RPG Fan also noted the soundtrack didn’t reach the heights of Supergiant’s previous work, and Xbox Achievements mentioned some combat tracks becoming repetitive. However, these concerns were relatively minor compared to the overwhelming praise, and many of these critics still acknowledged the music’s overall quality. For instance, RPG Fan called the music "catchy," and Xbox Achievements praised the "excellent" voice acting despite the repetitive tracks. The overall consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the sound design and music of Hades celebrated as a key strength. Over 80% of the reviews highlighted the soundtrack’s ability to elevate the gameplay experience, with PCMag calling it "haunting" and Worth Playing noting its "phenomenal" variety. Jeuxvideo.com and Vandal praised the "memorable moments" and "epic Greek atmosphere," while Gamer.no described the music as "top-notch." Even critics with minor reservations, such as Eurogamer Italy and RPG Fan, acknowledged the soundtrack’s contributions to the game’s atmosphere. The majority of reviewers, including IGN, GameGrin, and Cubed3, emphasized that the sound design and music were essential to the game’s immersive quality, solidifying Hades as a benchmark for audio in action games. These critiques, while valid, did not detract from the general acclaim, underscoring the game’s exceptional audio design.

The voice acting in Hades is universally lauded as a standout element, with critics consistently praising its quality, depth, and contribution to the game’s immersive storytelling. Multiple reviewers highlight the exceptional performances of the voice cast, noting how they bring characters to life with distinct personalities and emotional nuance. For instance, GameSkinny emphasizes that the voice acting “contributes to the game’s immersive experience and character development,” while Finger Guns and PlaySense commend the “performances that bring the characters to life” and their “unique identities.” The main character, Zagreus, is particularly praised, with GameByte noting Darren Korb’s “compelling performance” that captures the character’s emotional depth. Critics also highlight the sheer volume and variety of dialogue, with GameRevolution calling it “superb” and noting its coverage of “hours and hours of dialogue,” while BaziCenter and Cultured Vultures praise the “extensive” and “staggering” amount of unique lines that keep interactions fresh. The English dubbing and subtitles are also noted as well-executed, as mentioned by Vandal and IGN Japan, further enhancing accessibility and engagement. While the overwhelming consensus is positive, there are a few minor criticisms. NintendoWorldReport specifically points out that Hypnos is “the exception,” suggesting his voice acting falls short compared to other characters. This is the only direct negative note among the reviews, and even this is framed as a minor quibble rather than a significant flaw. Most critics focus on the strengths of the voice acting, with only a handful mentioning that specific characters might not resonate as strongly. For example, Vandal (on PC) notes that while dialogues are engaging, they don’t delve into specific details about voice acting quality, but this is more of an omission than a critique. Overall, the negatives are sparse and do not detract from the general acclaim, as the majority of reviewers emphasize the voice acting’s role in enriching the narrative and character dynamics. The critical reception of Hades’ voice acting is overwhelmingly positive, with nearly all reviewers deeming it a masterpiece. The consensus underscores its role in elevating the game’s storytelling, character relatability, and emotional impact. IGN, Cultured Vultures, and GameSpot all highlight the “phenomenal” and “exceptional” delivery, while GameMAG and Critical Hit praise its “top-tier” quality and “vibrancy.” The voice cast’s ability to convey a wide range of emotions, from humor to pathos, is repeatedly noted as a key strength, with RPGamer and PCMag emphasizing how it “enhances the overall narrative experience.” Even localized versions, like the Spanish dub mentioned by 3DJuegos, are praised for their “outstanding” execution. The near-unanimous praise reflects the voice acting’s integral role in making Hades a memorable and immersive experience, solidifying its reputation as a benchmark for narrative-driven games.

The technical performance of Hades is widely praised across all platforms, with the majority of critics highlighting its stability, smooth gameplay, and effective optimization. On the Nintendo Switch, several reviewers, including God is a Geek, Cubed3, and We Got This Covered, noted that the game runs well despite some minor frame rate drops during intense combat. GameStar and Siliconera also emphasized that the Switch version maintains high frame rates and is well-optimized for both handheld and docked modes. On PS5, TierraGamer, Digital Chumps, and PlayStation LifeStyle praised the game for running at 4K and 60fps with no significant technical issues, while Jeuxvideo.com highlighted the enhanced haptic feedback and overall polished experience. For Xbox Series X, XGN, Generación Xbox, and Hey Poor Player all reported smooth performance at 60fps with stable frame rates, and Eurogamer Italy noted excellent performance with no drops, even though cross-save was lacking. However, there were some platform-specific technical concerns mentioned by a few critics. On the Nintendo Switch, Cubed3 and Atomix pointed out occasional crashes and frame rate drops, particularly when the game is docked or during intense action sequences. Worth Playing and SpazioGames also noted minor slowdowns in handheld mode when many enemies are on screen, though these were not considered major issues. On the PS5, while the performance was largely praised, Everyeye.it mentioned that the DualSense features were not fully implemented, and Jeuxvideo.com noted that the PS5 version, while smooth, did not fully leverage the console's capabilities. On Xbox Series X, GameByte and Pure Xbox mentioned occasional frame rate slowdowns when transitioning between rooms, and Eurogamer Italy and GameByte pointed out the lack of cross-save functionality, which, while not a performance issue, affected the user experience. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Hades delivers a very good technical performance across all platforms, with only minor issues reported. Most reviewers, including God is a Geek, Cubed3, and Siliconera, emphasized that the game is stable and optimized, with only occasional frame rate hiccups or minor bugs that do not detract from the overall experience. While the Nintendo Switch version had some noted frame rate fluctuations and occasional crashes, these were not seen as deal-breakers. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions were praised for their smooth performance, high resolution, and frame rates, with only a few critics pointing out minor limitations in feature implementation or cross-save support. The majority of reviews, such as those from Hey Poor Player, GameSpew, and PCMag, highlighted the game's technical polish and stability, reinforcing that Hades is a well-optimized title that performs exceptionally well on all major platforms.

The majority of critics overwhelmingly praise Hades for its exceptional replay value, highlighting its robust roguelike mechanics, procedural generation, and deep progression systems. Many emphasize the game’s ability to keep players engaged through randomized elements, such as the "randomly generated rooms" (GameSpew) and "procedural generation" (PC Gamer), which ensure no two runs feel identical. The "Pact of Punishment" system (Merlin'in Kazanı) and the "variety of upgrades and boons" (GameSpew) are frequently cited as key drivers of replayability, allowing players to experiment with different weapon combinations, builds, and strategies. Additionally, the integration of story and gameplay—such as "new story tidbits and romance options" (GameSpace) and "the continuous unfolding of the story" (GameGrin)—creates a compelling reason to return, as each playthrough reveals more of the game’s rich narrative. Critics like IGN Italia and RPG Site note that the "vast post-game experience" and "numerous unlockable content" (Multiplayer.it) provide long-term incentives, while the "addictive loop of runs" (Push Square) and "tangible improvements" (Critical Hit) make every attempt feel meaningful. These elements collectively create a sense of discovery and growth, making the game feel like a "masterpiece" in terms of sustained engagement. However, a few critics point to potential drawbacks that could limit replayability for some players. Xbox Tavern and Gamersky express concerns about the repetitive nature of runs and enemy types, suggesting that the "repetitive structure" (Gamersky) might lead to fatigue before the story concludes. GameSpace and GameGrin acknowledge that while there are options to modify gameplay, the "repeated runs can feel exhausting over time" (GameSpew). Some reviewers, like Hey Poor Player, note a desire for "more content in the post-game," implying that the game’s core loop, while engaging, may not fully satisfy those seeking endless variety. Additionally, Merlin'in Kazanı mentions that "enemy variety may lack after multiple runs," and Game Informer points out that "story completion requires many hours of investment," which could deter casual players. These critiques suggest that while Hades excels in replayability, its reliance on repetition and grind might not resonate with everyone, particularly those who prioritize narrative-driven experiences over procedural challenges. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall consensus among critics is that Hades delivers a near-masterpiece level of replay value. Most reviewers, including GameGrin, Critical Hit, and PC Gamer, emphasize that the game’s "near limitless combinations of character builds" and "dynamic gameplay systems" keep it fresh and engaging for extended periods. Even the acknowledged repetition is framed as a strength by many, with Ragequit.gr and Digital Chumps praising the "uniqueness of each run" and the "feeling of success even in failure." While a handful of critics note limitations, the overwhelming majority—such as GameSpot, Worth Playing, and 3DJuegos—celebrate its ability to "encourage players to keep returning for more" through its blend of challenging combat, evolving storylines, and rewarding progression. This balance of innovation and depth ensures that Hades remains a standout example of how roguelike mechanics can coexist with narrative richness, solidifying its reputation as a highly replayable experience.