Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Games & Tech

Hades

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game by Supergiant Games. It follows Zagreus, son of Hades, on his repeated attempts to escape the Greek underworld.

What it is

Hades blends real-time isometric combat with a roguelike structure. Each run through the underworld is procedurally arranged, and dying sends you back to the House of Hades to try again—but the story and your relationships with other characters keep moving forward.

Why it matters

Hades became a standout indie title for weaving a compelling narrative into the roguelike genre. Its success across PC and consoles, including wide availability in Canada, showed the global reach an independent game can achieve.

Key details

Supergiant Games developed and published Hades. It launched in early access in December 2018 and got its full release on September 17, 2020. A sequel, Hades II, was announced in 2022 and entered early access in 2024.

In short

  • Roguelike action RPG set in the Greek underworld.
  • You play as Zagreus, son of Hades, trying to escape.
  • Death is a core mechanic that advances the story.
  • Developed by Supergiant Games; sequel Hades II is in early access.
Canadian angle

Hades was widely available on Canadian console and PC platforms, and its success made it a notable example of an independently developed game with international reach, including among Canadian players.

Quick questions

What kind of game is Hades?
It's a roguelike action role-playing game with isometric combat.
Who is the main character?
Zagreus, the son of Hades, who is trying to escape the Underworld.
When was Hades released?
It entered early access in December 2018 and fully launched on September 17, 2020.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades_(video_game)
    Supports: Gameplay, protagonist, setting, and general release information.
  2. Supergiant Games — https://www.supergiantgames.com/games/hades/
    Supports: Official description of the game, genre, and premise.
  3. Fandom — https://hades.fandom.com/wiki/Hades_(game)
    Supports: Overview of gameplay loop and sequel mention.
  4. IGN — https://www.ign.com/wikis/hades/Beginner's_Guide_-_Basics_and_Features
    Supports: Basic premise and gameplay description.
  5. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades_II
    Supports: Sequel identity and early-access release information.