After over a year in early access, Hades 2’s full 1.0 release is set, but you may be wondering whether you need to play the original game first. We’ve got everything you need in this guide.
Hades 2’s 1.0 release on September 25 came over a year after it first landed on PC in early access, with the full launch coming alongside a drop on Nintendo Switch platforms. However, those on Xbox or PlayStation will need to wait a while longer.
If you’re mulling over whether to dive straight into Hades 2 or to go back and play Hades first, we’ve got a breakdown on whether it’s necessary.
Do you Need to Play Hades 1 Before 2?
It is not essential to play Hades before diving into Hades 2, as the stories are independent, but it’s recommended that you do to enjoy the full Hades 2 experience.
Hades 2 puts you in control of Melinoe, sister of Zagreus, in her quest to defeat Chronos, the God of time. Along the way, she is aided by other Greek Gods—which all reflect very similarly to the initial game, where Zagreus received assistance from the Gods in a bid to escape Hades.
While many of the mechanics are also similar, you can jump into Hades 2 as a new player and not feel overwhelmed, as there are plenty of tutorials and guidance. Even for experienced players, there are new additions, like the Magick meta, so even the old dogs will need to learn new tricks.
There are also many callbacks to the original game, with a plethora of returning characters. If you’ve played the original Hades, you’ll enjoy these more, but it isn’t confusing if you’ve no experience with the first title.
Is Hades Worth Playing in 2025?
The original Hades is absolutely worth playing in 2025, with the title still considered to be one of the best games of its genre despite it being seven years since its early access began.
Playing the original Hades before Hades 2 will give you a greater understanding of the larger world at play, and more background for several of the characters that return. Still, if you’re desperate to play Hades 2, there’s no reason why you can’t go back to the first Hades title after.
Right now, though, there’s no better time to play Hades as the title has returned to Xbox Game Pass on console and PC, so you can play with a subscription, and the title has also seen its price slashed on Steam.
What Hades tips would you give to a player who is entering the game for the first time? Let us know in the Insider Gaming forum.
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