Highlights

  • Hades 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the popular roguelike indie game, continuing the immersive journey through Greek mythology.
  • The game could potentially explore different mythologies in future installments, offering new narratives, characters, powers, and gameplay opportunities.
  • While there are potential challenges and considerations in deviating from Greek mythology, Supergiant Games has the potential to create a multi-dimensional franchise with endless possibilities.

For the first time in the studio's history, Supergiant Games is releasing a sequel. Hades 2, a follow-up to 2020's hit roguelike, is set to launch into early access sometime next year. While the game is sure to improve upon the original Hades, specific information about it is sparse, and it's unclear if Supergiant intends to turn the IP into a long-running franchise beyond this second entry. If there ever is a third Hades, though, there's one cue it could take from God of War.

Like the original God of War games, Hades is a story that centers on Greek mythology. Players fight a number of mythological beasts and characters like Theseus and Hades himself, and the protagonist develops close and sometimes contentious relationships with many Greek gods and demigods. Of course, God of War in the modern era is better known for its focus on Norse mythology, as Kratos flees Greece after the events of God of War 3. A follow-up to Hades 2 could benefit from a similar approach.

Future Hades Games Could Feature Different Mythologies

hades 2 hecate and protagonist melinoe

The God of War universe contains mythological pantheons beyond Greece, as evidenced by the shift into Norse mythology in the 2018 game and the references to Egyptian mythology in the recent games. This shift opened the door to an all-new narrative and unique gameplay opportunities, as Kratos could make use of different equipment and abilities that fit that setting. In short, adopting a different mythological backdrop allowed for new opportunities.

Something similar could work wonders for the Hades franchise, if Supergiant keeps it going after Hades 2. Zagreus, Melinoe, or some other hero could travel to Egypt, Japan, or Scandinavia, and the game could basically hit the refresh button, introducing all-new weapons, characters, powers, and narratives. There are many examples of Greek mythology in gaming, and for good reason, but Hades could blaze a new path by giving representation to mythological stories and figures that aren't as ubiquitous in the medium. The core gameplay of Hades is strong enough to work in just about any setting.

All that being said, there are some potential issues with this idea. A major reason why God of War switched mythologies is because it had to; Kratos all but annihilates the Greek pantheon by the end of God of War 3, so there weren't too many stories left to be told in that setting. Hades doesn't have this issue, so it would be harder to justify. There is still plenty of Greek mythological ground that Hades hasn't covered, so some might argue that it would be best for the franchise to stick to its roots. Additionally, while Greek and Norse mythology have proven to go over well with audiences, other stories may not be so well-suited to a video game adaptation. What many in the western world consider fantasy is thought of as sacred in other parts of the world, and a combat-centric game featuring this content could come across as being in bad taste.

Ultimately, Supergiant Games will have to decide if it wants to tell a contained story with a shared cast of characters or branch off in a wildly different direction. Other mythologies are referenced in Hades, and players may pick up on even more connections once Hades 2 launches in early access. The series could have virtually endless potential if it follows God of War's lead with the mythology swap, but it could miss out a lot of opportunities by leaving Greece behind, and Supergiant might already have a plan for a third game with the same characters and setting. Even if Supergiant doesn't make a non-Greek Hades game, perhaps another developer will see the potential of the concept.