HADES
The roguelite and roguelike genres have suffered from one issue for a long, long time- though repetition and starting from scratch are very much baked into the whole concept, how do you stave off the monotony and exhaustion that can set in because of that formula? Supergiant Games’ Hades answers that question expertly. It’s a game where progression is constant, and even on failed runs, you end up making meaningful progress through at least one of the numerous avenues that are always available. On top of that, that structure and repetition that a roguelite game demands is used to ingeniously tell what is an engaging and captivating story. Hades takes its roguelite structure, throws in engaging RPG mechanics, uses it to weave a compelling story, and caps it off with excellent combat and memorable boss fights. There should be little doubt in anyone’s mind that this is one of the best games of its genre, and will be a blueprint for others in the space for years to come.
