Hades 2’s True Ending at Launch Needs to Make One Story Beat Clear

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 7, 2025 14 Views 8 Min Read
Hades 2's True Ending at Launch Needs to Make One Story Beat Clear



Hades 2 is still in early access, but it’s already considered one of the best roguelikes of the past several years. Whether that perception is reflective of Supergiant’s talent or a condemnation of the industry at large may be up for debate, but one thing is certain: Hades 2 is a faithful, meaningful expansion of the formulas and mechanics laid out by its smash-hit 2020 predecessor.

But as an early access game, Hades 2 is, by definition, incomplete. It’s quite feature-rich as-is, make no mistake, but Supergiant is still planning on expanding it through new areas, gameplay elements, and narrative beats ahead of its full launch. What exactly these new additions will entail is somewhat unclear, but if they are anything like the recent Olympic Update, then audiences can likely expect some major gameplay and story expansions over the course of the next year or so. Indeed, Hades 2 is a fascinating early access title to keep an eye on, and future patches are sure to only make this IP more intriguing. Some will be more vital than others long-term, though.

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What to Expect From Hades 2 in 2025

Hades 2 players are in for a great 2025 with several big updates in the near future and a possible release in the second half of the year.

Hades 2’s True Ending Will Have to Choose Between Decisive and Open-Ended

Hades Could End Here or Continue to Grow as a Franchise

Hades 2 is the first-ever sequel from Supergiant Games, which says a lot. The developer’s previous games, Pyre, Transistor, and Bastion, were all quite successful and are often cited as some of the best indie games ever made, so the fact that Hades is the only one to ever receive a follow-up is indicative of both its incredible quality and potential for growth. All of that is to say that the Hades IP morphing into an ever-present, never-ending franchise like Call of Duty is far from a given.

The first Hades doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, nor does it leave too many loose ends that a sequel could tie up. But at the same time, its ending doesn’t negate the possibility of future entries, as all the principal characters are still alive and active. But one could imagine a scenario that puts a bow on the Hades franchise: perhaps Hades 2 will end with the main cast denouncing violence entirely, or cutting themselves off from other godly conflicts. Conversely, Hades 2 could conclude in a way that directly sets up a third entry, leaving major questions unanswered or even introducing a new protagonist. Since Hades 2 is an unprecedented sequel from Supergiant, either scenario seems possible.

The Pros and Cons of Hades 2 Ending On a Definitive Note

One of the most respectable aspects of Supergiant as a developer is its restraint. While other studios latch onto an IP as soon as it shows signs of success, Supergiant is constantly looking ahead and starting new projects, pushing the envelope and never getting stale. Hades 2 sidesteps the issue of franchise fatigue not only because it’s just the second entry in a series, but because it doesn’t shy away from creative leaps. Supergiant could have easily made Hades 2 about Zagreus facing some new threat, banking on players’ love for the character, but it instead chose to introduce a new protagonist and turn the premise of the first game on its head.

So, unless Supergiant is able to act with this same boldness for a third entry, perhaps it would be best to make Hades 2 the end of the series. If the door is still left open for a sequel that may or may not come to fruition, then the finale of the game could be unsatisfying. On the other hand, if Hades 2 is too definitive with its ending, Supergiant could be closing itself off to new opportunities in its world. Thus, this narrative decision will need to be handled deftly—a feat that Supergiant will no doubt be able to manage.

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