Are you an avid fan of Hades, known for its thrilling roguelike gameplay and unique interaction with Greek Gods? You’re in luck as this article ventures into a list of 9 other games that mirror the excitement you find in Hades.
Get ready to traverse unique realms in Dandy Ace, Dreamscaper, Enter The Gungeon, and 6 different games that share similarities with the enigmatic world of Hades. Whether you’re attracted by the randomly generated thrill of roguelike games, the gritty settings, or the challenging gameplay mechanics, there’s something for everyone. Most importantly, each alternative comes highly regarded, reflecting players’ satisfaction across the board. Let’s embark on this epic journey through mythical battles, daunting creatures, and ineffable game settings.
Hades: The popular Greek God roguelike game
A brief overview of Hades
Hades is a critically acclaimed and widely beloved roguelike game that eloquently blends the ancient lore of Greek Gods with a unique gameplay experience. You experience the game from the perspective of Zagreus, the son of Hades, who’s on a mission to escape from the underworld. The charm of Hades lies in its entrancing story, elegant graphics, and innovative mechanics. Besides the gripping gameplay, interacting with realistic incarnations of Greek gods, heroes, and mythical creatures bestows an intriguing aspect to this game.
Success factors of Hades
The high replay value is one of the main factors behind the massive success of Hades. This roguelike game brilliantly combines storytelling and gameplay so that each failed escape attempt from the underworld is not a setback. Still, rather it introduces you to new dialogues and further explores the game’s compelling narrative. Along with the rich storytelling, the combat system in Hades is tight and engaging. Each run allows you to experiment with different god-given powers, making every combat scenario feel fresh and rewarding.
Popularity among the gaming community
Hades has been wildly popular amongst the gaming community and critics alike due to its compelling gameplay, ingenious intertwining of story with progression, and high replay value. Featuring stunning hand-drawn art, a solid and rewarding combat system, and a captivating narrative, Hades managed to captivate a broad spectrum of gamers. Whether it’s for their enchanting graphics, engaging battles, or deeply woven narratives, many players find themselves irresistibly drawn into the immersive world of Hades.
Awards and recognition to date
Hades’ excellence has been widely recognized as it bagged multiple prestigious awards. It won the Game of the Year award at the Game Developers Choice Awards and the BAFTA Games Awards, and it won Best Game Design and Artistic Achievement. It won the Best Action Game at The Game Awards and received much praise and nominations from various other establishments.
1. Dandy Ace
Introduction to Dandy Ace
Dandy Ace is an over-the-top action game that invites you to play as Dandy Ace, the fabulous magician. The game takes roguelike elements and splendidly combines them with a casting mechanic. Using your magical cards, you face hordes of adversaries and beat cunning bosses, making your way through a dreamlike mansion.
Release date and platforms
Released in March 2021, Dandy Ace is available on several platforms like Steam for PC users and is scheduled for release on consoles PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Genre and gameplay mechanics
Falling into the roguelike genre, Dandy Ace provides fast-paced action where players can create and combine magical cards, resulting in diverse playstyles. The game emphasizes dynamic combat, where your ability to adapt quickly is just as crucial as your chosen strategy.
Comparisons and similarities to Hades
Much like Hades, Dandy Ace will tap into your roguelike addiction with its challenging enemies, unpredictable environments, and replayable fast-paced gameplay. While the setting and character differentiate it from Hades, the underlying mechanics of procedurally generated challenges and strategic combat emphasize Dandy Ace to Hades.
2. Dreamscaper
Overview of Dreamscaper
Dreamscaper is an action RPG game that blends brawler, top-down shooter, and dungeon crawler gameplay elements. You fill the shoes of Cassidy, a distraught woman who delves into her dreams to confront the surreal nightmares and reveal a heartwarming story layered with twists and turns.
The game’s release date and platforms
Dreamscaper was released in August 2021 and can be played on Nintendo Switch or through Steam on PC.
Description of genre and gameplay
In this roguelike game, the dream world is a procedurally generated labyrinth that changes as you grow. The game rewards fast reflexes for intense combat but also encourages exploration, uncovering the story, and upgrades that can help your journey.
How it is similar to Hades
Dreamscaper’s similarity to Hades stems from the roguelike elements and its storytelling mechanic that mixes the narrative into the gameplay, offering more of the game’s story every time the character dies in the dream world.
3. Enter The Gungeon
Introducing Enter The Gungeon
Enter The Gungeon is a popular roguelike game known for its clever premise and addictive gameplay. It revolves around a band of misfits who descend into the Gungeon to find a gun that can kill their past. With its unique combination of bullets, guns, and mayhem, Enter The Gungeon offers an unparalleled experience.
Details on release date and available platforms
Since its initial release in April 2016, Enter The Gungeon is available on several platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Explanation of genre and gameplay mechanics
Enter The Gungeon is a bullet hell roguelike with a compelling twist. Armed to the teeth, you’ll dive into the unpredictable Gungeon, blasting through whilst dodging a hailstorm of bullets from quirky and formidable foes.
Connections and similarities to Hades
Like Hades, Enter The Gungeon gives players a new and challenging experience on each run. Hades excels in its storytelling, while Enter The Gungeon impresses with its innovative bullet hell roguelike mechanics, bringing a unique charm to the genre.
4. Children Of Morta
All about Children Of Morta
Embark on a touching adventure with the Bergson family in Children of Morta. This story-driven action RPG game takes you through Morta’s beautiful pixel-art mountains and forests to fight against the encroaching darkness.
Release date and platforms it is available on
Children of Morta, available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, was initially released in September 2019.
Genre and gameplay of Children Of Morta
Children of Morta is an action RPG structured as a dungeon crawler. Players jump into a diversified combat system, explore various procedurally generated dungeons, caves, and lands, and lead the family through the story.
Similarities and parallels with Hades
Children Of Morta and Hades share the vital elements of roguelike games and a strong narrative. Your progress through the game casually unveils the storyline, incorporating a good blend of brawler action and character-driven narrative, making the experience similar to playing Hades.
5. Curse Of The Dead Gods
Introduction to Curse Of The Dead Gods
Curse of the Dead Gods is a challenging game that throws you into labyrinths of deadly traps, relentless monsters, and treasures. The game demands strategic decision-making, allowing you to embrace the darkness or face its consequences.
Release date and platform availability
Released in February 2021, Curse of the Dead Gods is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Overview of genre and gameplay
Curse of the Dead Gods belongs to the action roguelike genre. Featuring intricate combat mechanics, dynamic lighting, and an innovative curse system, the game provides a unique brand of challenging roguelike experience.
Comparison with Hades
The mechanics of Curse of the Dead Gods have a definite roguelike flavor similar to Hades, and so does its death mechanic which serves as a narrative progression tool. The game’s challenging combat can also remind you of tense battles in Hades.
6. Dead Cells
Overview of Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a 2D roguelike-Metroidvania hybrid game that masterfully combines the exploratory nature of Metroidvania games with the high-stakes replayability of roguelikes. The game is set in an ever-changing castle teeming with gruesome creatures.
Release date and platforms
The Dead Cells game launched in August 2018 and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The game’s genre and gameplay mechanics
Falling under the Metroidvania-roguelike genre, Dead Cells offers thrilling, no-checkpoints action where you explore, evolve, and get stronger every time you die. The game employs a unique progression system, making each run dynamic, with many weapons to discover and secrets to uncover.
How Dead Cells is similar to Hades
Dead Cells shares the roguelike mechanics with Hades. Both games feature procedurally generated levels, giving players a unique experience every time they play. Also, like Hades, Dead Cells provides a satisfying loop of death and improvement.
7. Gunfire Reborn
Introducing Gunfire Reborn
Gunfire Reborn is a first-person shooter roguelike RPG. The game blends different genres to offer a novel shooting experience, where players can control uniquely designed heroes to explore procedurally generated levels.
Release date and platforms
Gunfire Reborn launched in May 2020 and is available on PC via Steam.
Genre and gameplay details
As an FPS roguelike RPG, Gunfire Reborn offers intense gunplay with various weapons, character abilities, and elements, encouraging strategies and adaptability in dynamically generated worlds.
Comparison and similarities with Hades
Although the gameplay of Hades and Gunfire Reborn might seem quite different at first, they share the core principle of roguelikes which is dynamically generated levels and permadeath. Most importantly, just like Hades, Gunfire Reborn offers highly engaging and addictive gameplay that keeps players coming back for more.
8. Transistor
An overview of Transistor
Transistor is a stylish action RPG set in a beautifully rendered futuristic city, where you wield an extraordinary weapon of unknown origin to fight your way through a series of foes. It is developed by the same makers of Hades, Supergiant Games.
The game’s release date and platforms
Transistor was released on major platforms in May 2014, including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and PC.
Genre and gameplay description
Transistor is an action RPG that combines strategic planning with fast-paced combat. The game allows you to customize your character’s functions to suit your play style while discovering a rich story set in a fascinating universe.
How Transistor Relates to Hades
Although the themes differ, Transistor shares many similarities with Hades from a gameplay perspective. It combines action with RPG elements and focuses extensively on the story, much like Hades. As both games are from the same developer, players can anticipate the same writing, art, and sound design quality.
9. Ancient Abyss
Introducing Ancient Abyss
Ancient Abyss is a 2D Zelda-like action game where you will venture into the deep abyss. It offers an intense, fluid combat experience in a mysterious, ever-changing world teeming with lurking enemies and deadly bosses.
Release info and platform availability
Ancient Abyss has been available since January 2021, and it can be played on PC through Steam.
Genre and gameplay details
Ancient Abyss is a roguelike action game. Each journey into the abyss is a new experience where you must explore and battle in a procedurally generated environment, making each run unique and unpredictable.
Comparison to and similarities with Hades
Much like Hades, Ancient Abyss integrates rich story elements with gameplay. Although the storyline and aesthetic are quite different, Hades and Ancient Abyss share the core aspect of the roguelike genre—every game is a unique experience that tests your strategies and adaptability.
