Supergiant Games has released a number of uniquely original games over the years, but Hades was arguably its developer's biggest hit. The 2020 roguelike came out of Early Access and wowed fans with fluid combat, strong world design, and an engaging narrative, so fans were pleased when it was announced that Hades 2 is in development. This may have been a surprise from a studio that has only ever released standalone IPs until now, but Hades 2 seemed inevitable after the success of the first. Although there's a new protagonist, Hades 2 retains a lot of the elements from the first game, like its ties to Greek mythology.
Unsurprising for a game named after the Greek god of the dead, mythology and ancient religious aspects thread all the way through Hades, forming the basis for its narrative and settings. Supergiant Games has put its own clever twist on some of the most well-known stories and figures of the Greek canon, and Hades is fit to bursting with references to characters that loom large in narrative classics like the Iliad. As a follow-up to that text, the Odyssey seems like a perfect companion to Hades 2.
Hades' Connections With the Iliad
The Iliad is one of the oldest surviving works of literature, and it's impressive when audiences consider how much this piece has influenced subsequent fictional works. Even if someone has not read the Iliad, they will likely be familiar with some of the most famous faces featured in the tale, like the Trojan princes Paris and Hector, the mythically beautiful Helen, and the skilled hero Achilles. Chronicling the last years of the Trojan War, the Iliad is a who's who of Greek heroes and villains, and it's a tale that Hades couldn't ignore in its attempts to bring the mythos to life.
While not all the major players in the Iliad's narrative make an appearance in Hades, one or two do crop up from the epic poem. Most notable are Achilles and Patroclus, the ill-fated lovers who both lose their lives during the conflict. Serving as Zagreus' mentor and trainer in Hades, the game continues the story of the slain Achilles after his descent into the underworld, and even gives players the chance to finally reunite Achilles with Patroclus after the events of the Iliad.
How Hades 2 Could Similarly Use The Odyssey
If the Iliad is the definitive story of the Trojan War, then the Odyssey is the definitive tale of its aftermath. Both attributed to the Greek poet Homer, while the Iliad has more of an ensemble cast, the Odyssey focuses mostly on a single hero: Odysseus. With Hades' references to prominent figures in the Iliad like Achilles and Patroclus, it would make sense for Hades 2 to contain characters from the Odyssey. Particularly as the Odyssey serves as a sort-of sequel to the Iliad, so too is Hades 2 a tangential follow-up to the first game.
There are a couple of obvious figures who would be right at home in the world of Hades 2, like the extremely resourceful aforementioned hero, Odysseus. The Ithacan king and favorite of Athena makes his own journey into the underworld and meets many deceased heroes of the Trojan War like Achilles, as well as the prophet Tiresias. There's also Circe, the enchantress and minor goddess who Odysseus and his crew encounter on their lengthy voyage home. In some myths, Circe is the daughter of Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft that players already know will be making an appearance in Hades 2.
Hades 2 is in development.