Hades 2 may still be in early access, but that hasn’t kept plenty of fans from wondering what lies in store next for the Greek mythology-focused franchise. After developer Supergiant Games released a portion of the game in May 2024, fans of the series have been working their way through the roguelike gampeplay of Hades 2 and discovering brand-new characters pulled directly from classic myths.
The characters of Hades 2 and its predecessor are largely responsible for the franchise’s success. Of course, its great gameplay loop and eye-catching art style are just as much to thank for its popularity, but Ancient Greek mythology is a fun well to pull from. However, it also leaves the franchise in a tricky situation, making a strong argument for Hades 2 to be the end of the series altogether.
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The Argument For and Against a Sequel to Hades 2
The Pros to More Hades
The clear upside to more Hades after the second game is simply that it’s incredibly successful. Supergiant Games has managed to bring a rich and beautiful roguelike world to life, and once the full version of Hades 2 is here, there are bound to be fans hungry for more. Hades 2 already has plenty of content, and the promise of more makes one wonder just how Supergiant Games could one-up such a strong sequel. Exceeding the high bar that has already been set by Hades 2 would be no easy task, but it’s not impossible.
Another major pro to continuing the Hades franchise after Hades 2 is that it allows Supergiant Games to dive even deeper into the fascinating world that it has built. The series may be focused on Ancient Greek mythology, but the story being told is the unique work of its developers, and getting the chance to see what a third chapter has in store could prove to be incredibly compelling.
Supergiant Games has confirmed that Hades 2 will be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on its eventual launch day.
The Cons of More Hades
The biggest con of all is that, even though the Hades franchise’s Greek mythology use holds a lot of inspiration, it also limits the series and how far it can go with its story. Granted, Greek mythology is filled with fascinating characters and gods, but there will eventually become a point where all the heavy-hitters have been used. This leaves a potential third Hades game with a treasure trove of lesser-known characters, but they may not be as interesting to players. Of course, this is purely speculation, and C-list and D-list Ancient Greek characters can still be given compelling twists, but a cast of mostly deep cuts may not be the best choice, especially when trying to ignite hype. The future of Supergiant Games remains uncertain, but after Hades 2, it may be a stronger choice to explore a brand-new IP.
Furthermore, a third Hades game could feel as though the series is overstaying its welcome. Hades 2 is getting closer to the finish line, and that long wait being repeated with a hypothetical third entry may ultimately fill a lot of fans with fatigue instead of excitement.
The first Hades won the Best Action and Best Indie categories at the 2020 Game Awards.
Supergiant Games Deserves the Freedom to Prove Itself in Other Genres
Hades was the game that put Supergiant Games on the map, and while Hades 2 is a thrilling promise, it would be exciting to see what else the developer can do beyond the franchise. With the wait for Hades 2‘s full version still underway, it may be a while before gamers get to know what Supergiant Games has up its sleeve next, but no matter what path the developer takes, there will be some interesting upsides and downsides to consider.
