Hades II 1.0 Lands With Its True Ending — Here’s What Actually Matters

Hades II is Finally “Finished” – and It Feels Like a True Sequel

Supergiant Games has pushed Hades II to version 1.0, ending its Early Access run and adding the game’s true ending alongside a mountain of tuning and content. It’s already sitting at a 94 on Metacritic, which tracks with what I’ve felt since the first public builds: this isn’t just more Hades, it’s a broader, meaner, and more flexible take on the formula. The full release is out now on PC (Steam, Epic) and Nintendo Switch, with Supergiant also rolling out on the Switch 2 platform; other consoles are slated to follow. That’s the headline. Here’s the gamer reality check.

Key Takeaways

• The 1.0 update brings the actual ending and late-game narrative beats, making your runs finally pay off in a proper climax.
• Two distinct routes (Erebus→Tartarus and Ephyra→Mount Olympus) turn the roguelike map into a choose-your-adventure that meaningfully changes runs.
• Cross-save across PC and Switch/Switch 2 makes this the rare roguelike you can grind at home and on the commute without losing progress.
• Switch 2’s 120fps mode is a flex; it won’t make you a god, but the responsiveness could matter on high-heat builds.

Breaking Down the 1.0 Update (What You Actually Get)

Let’s cut through the patch notes: version 1.0 adds the “real” ending and closes the loop on Melinoë’s arc against Chronos, the Titan of Time. If you bounced off in Early Access because the story wasn’t there yet, now it is. The final act, additional epilogue beats, and a bunch of god/weapon balance passes give runs structure beyond “just one more clear.” Supergiant has a habit of shipping “complete” feeling Early Access builds, then sneaking in late-game layers that reframe the whole loop; this feels like that move, again.

Mechanically, the big new lever is the Magick bar. It recharges through aggression, so it rewards forward momentum instead of kiting. Think of it like a tempo meter that turns good positioning into burst windows – perfect for boons that stack on-hit or trigger off empowered skills. God Mode, the incremental damage-resistance toggle from the first game, is back and still the gold standard for making a brutal roguelike welcoming without gutting its teeth.

The dual-route structure is the other headline. In Hades 1, you marched upward through a set ladder. In Hades II, picking between the Underworld route (Erebus→Tartarus) or the Surface route (Ephyra→Mount Olympus) isn’t cosmetic – it rearranges the enemy comps, hazards, and boss pacing across four biomes per path. That translates to builds that thrive in one route and struggle in the other, which is the kind of variance roguelikes live or die on. If you ever felt your Hades 1 runs blended together, Hades II’s routes keep the meta from calcifying.

The Gamer’s Perspective: Is It Worth Your Time If You Played EA?

Short answer: yes, because the true ending gives purpose to the grind and the balance passes freshen the sandbox. Early Access veterans know Supergiant respects your time — they rarely waste a run. The 1.0 storytelling cadence makes keeps, boons, and relationships feel aimed at an actual payoff rather than a “to be continued.” If you’ve banked a ton of resources already, 1.0 doesn’t invalidate your efforts; it channels them into late-game unlocks that matter.

If you’re new, start with God Mode on and don’t apologize. Hades II still uses failure as progress, and the Magick economy leans into aggressive play that newcomers sometimes avoid. The game wants you in the pocket, weaving in empowered casts and specials instead of panic-dashing forever. Once you find a comfort weapon and a couple of boons you vibe with, turn off the training wheels and go chase that first clear. It lands.

Platform Reality Check: Frames, Saves, and Where to Play

On the original Switch, the 60fps target at 720p is what you’d hope for and it holds up well in my experience with the series. On Switch 2, the claimed 120fps at 1080p in TV mode and 60fps handheld sounds ideal for a dash-heavy action game where frame timing sells readability. Will 120fps make you magically better? No. But it does make tight windows feel fair, especially in heat variants and bullet-hell boss phases.

Cross-save is the quiet MVP. You can push runs on PC, then finish a prophecy on the train with your Switch and not lose momentum. Setup is handled in-game and, crucially, it means you don’t have to pick between comfort and clarity anymore. If you’re wondering whether to wait for other consoles, fair — they’re on the way. But Hades has always been one of those games that fits handheld just as well as it shines on a big screen, so the current platforms are already a sweet spot.

Why the 94 Matters — and Why It Doesn’t

A 94 on Metacritic is rare air for any sequel, let alone a roguelike. It signals what the community’s been feeling: this is a confident, bigger follow-up that refuses to bloat. But scores don’t tell you if its particular cadence works for you. The dual-route structure and Magick economy nudge you toward proactive, risk-on play. If you preferred the more linear rhythm of Hades 1, be ready to relearn some instincts. Personally, that evolution is why I’m hooked — it makes each run feel authored by my choices, not just the boon RNG.

TL;DR

Hades II’s 1.0 update delivers the true ending, sharper balance, and real variety with two distinct paths. Cross-save and strong performance across Switch and PC make it easy to live with. If you’ve been waiting for the “finished” version, your moment’s here — and it’s absolutely worth the runback.