Supergiant Games hasn't released that many games, but each title has showcased a unique perspective, the developer's attention to detail, and a vibrant world for players to enjoy. In a surprising move, the studio announced its very first sequel with Hades 2 to follow Supergiant Games' 2020 hit roguelike Hades, and fans are excited to see the developer move forward with one of its IPs. Although the confirmation of a follow-up to Hades is great news for gamers that enjoyed the Greek myth-inspired action RPG, Supergiant Games could actually take the IP in another new direction.
Some beloved games have had their own screen adaptions in the past, but this hasn't always been a successful transition. A video game might have an enthralling world and phenomenal gameplay, but when they make the leap to TV or film this doesn't quite translate to the new medium. There are, of course, examples of where this works really well, like the recent HBO adaption of The Last of Us or Netflix's Arcane, the latter of which could set the groundwork for a great Hades TV series.
Why Hades Would Work So Well On Screen
One of the most obvious recommendations for an adaption of Hades is the visual presentation of the game and the design of its characters. The various Chthonic and Olympian gods, deceased heroes, and creatures of the underworld are all designed like anime characters, and they're practically begging for an animated adaptation. Each of the characters also has their own compelling history and complicated relationships, and a TV show could continue to explore these intriguing subplots in addition to Hades' own rich narrative. The world is interesting, the design is arresting, and there's definitely a lot left to be discovered within the IP.
A film might not be able to do the multiple narratives and the large cast of characters justice, but a TV show has the perfect episodic structure to properly cover all the content. This could complement Hades and its upcoming sequel really well, and show off more of the world that players have already come to love. Arcane on Netflix has shown how successfully game worlds can translate into an animated series, especially ones with rich lore and well-realized characters.
What A Hades TV Show Could Look Like
What Arcane demonstrated so strongly is that adaptions don't need to completely recount what happens in a game, but can instead expand the universe of the IP and tell new stories within that familiar space. Viewers could come to Arcane with no prior knowledge of League of Legends and still become incredibly invested in the story, or conversely be a massive LoL fan and still find something surprising and new in the TV series. Hades and Supergiant Games could use this template and either tell the stories of the vibrant world around Zagreus, or expand upon what players might have already experienced in the game.
Hades 2 is already expanding the IP with a new narrative, new characters, and a new protagonist, showing off the broad potential of the world that Hades created. For an IP that's based on Greek mythology, there's still a deep well of storytelling potential to dive into, and a TV show could continue to build on the various subplots and key narrative threads that have already been established. After the success and award-winning streak of Netflix's Arcane, Hades could be the next game to step up and offer its own TV adaption.
Hades 2 is in development.