Hades II has just rolled out its second significant update during its early access phase, prompting me to dive back into the game. Since its launch, I’ve invested over 30 hours of gameplay but deliberately held back from indulging further—I don’t want to exhaust my enthusiasm before the full version is released. However, with this latest update, I was eager to explore the fresh content and attempt to conquer the new final boss on my first attempt.

Unfortunately, I didn’t even manage to encounter the new boss. I successfully made my way to the latest area introduced in the update, but I was swiftly taken down by a formidable miniboss. Nevertheless, I remain thoroughly impressed with the enhancements Supergiant Games has implemented since May, elevating an already fantastic game experience.

The recent enhancements are truly remarkable. At its inception, Hades II presented players with six regions—four focused on an Underworld journey and two linked to a surface exploration. With each substantial update, Supergiant Games has introduced a new area featuring fresh adversaries, characters, and music to enrich the gameplay.

The first major update, which was released in October, unveiled the game’s inaugural new area, Mount Olympus. This location epitomizes grandeur, featuring stunning architecture, formidable foes, and an intense boss battle against Prometheus, all set to an amazing orchestral score. (I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit listening to this track on repeat.)

This update also introduced the game’s sixth and final weapon—a magical, Hades-inspired take on a mech suit. Yes, your primary attack consists of delivering powerful punches, while your special attack launches homing projectiles at nearby enemies. And yes, you get stylish wings as well.

The second major update also introduces a new area and boss, but what stands out to me are the many subtle enhancements that have been made. For instance, the Altar of Ashes—a spot where players can select various passive abilities through arcana cards—received a refreshing visual redesign, showcasing beautifully illustrated custom cards. Notably, one card features a whimsical depiction of Theseus and the Minotaur, who fans of the original Hades might remember, humorously illustrated in thongs!

Across all the major updates and numerous smaller patches, Supergiant has continuously refined various mechanics and elements, often in ways that are hard to keep track of. The studio is unafraid to eliminate features that no longer serve the game; in fact, the latest patch removed an entire gathering mechanic.

All these modifications have collectively enhanced the gameplay experience. Notably, Supergiant marks changes made in response to community feedback with an emoji in the patch notes, highlighting the valuable input from players—a key advantage of this early access format. It’s important to mention that Hades II greatly benefits from building upon the strong foundation laid by its predecessor, Hades.

Hades II might take some time to launch its full 1.0 version. Supergiant has not set a specific release date and is actively developing a third significant update slated for release in “the months ahead.” Given the studio’s success with earlier titles like Bastion and Transistor, there seems to be no rush.

However, considering Supergiant’s approach to Hades II‘s early access thus far, I’m perfectly okay with them taking their time. Despite being unfinished, I wholeheartedly recommend the game to anyone interested in experiencing its evolution. Engaging with it now allows players to witness just how much an already stellar game can improve.