The Quill #3: Video Games #3

Are you a fan of challenging video games with high replay value? What about Greek mythology? If those questions seem unrelated, then chances are you’ve never heard of Hades, a roguelike action role-playing game developed by Supergiant Games. Released in 2020, Hades is a game of repetition, progression, and mastery of the controller.

The premise is quite simple. Players take control of Zagreus, the resentful son of Hades who desires to escape the restrictive Underworld. He chooses to leave not only due to his turbulent relationship with his father, but also to track down his long-missing mother. However, Hades is not willing to let his son walk away so easily and goes out of his way to ensure that Zagreus remains in the Underworld forever. Even the assistance of famous Greek gods, such as Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Hermes, will not be enough to secure Zagreus’ freedom. That will instead depend on the skill of the player, whose level will inevitably increase with each time they die. These efforts will lead the player through several famous locations across the Greek Underworld, battling iconic mythological figures along the way. And of course, the game culminates in a climactic battle against Hades himself, but be warned: the god of the Underworld is no pushover.

While I admittedly have yet to finish Hades, it’s a game that has given me countless hours of enjoyment regardless. If you’re someone like me and live for the thrill of the challenge and the mythological references, then this may be the game for you!

Hades is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, so consider giving it a shot. And if you like it, make sure to check out Hades 2 as well. At the moment it’s only available on PC, but a console release is expected at a later date.