*Hades II* has a PS5 average score of 91! Is it really a Game of the Year contender?

If you’re still waiting for an action Roguelike that can turn “just one more run” into “three more hours,” then the latest media reception for the PS5 version of Hades II has made the signal very clear. As of publication, the game’s PS5 reviews on Metacritic have gone live, with 5 outlets having scored it so far, bringing its average to 91. Combined with its PS5 launch at 1:00 AM Beijing time on April 15, both the release window and these scores have basically pushed expectations to the max.

Based on the information currently available, Hades II is not simply reusing the previous game’s formula with a fresh coat of paint. It still builds on the original’s polished combat loop, but this time expands the stage into a larger, deeper mythological world, with the protagonist now being the immortal Princess of the Underworld. That premise alone feels perfect for Supergiant to show its strengths: letting players break down routes and combine boons amid high-pressure combat, while gradually piecing the story together like a puzzle. This is exactly the kind of rhythm design that platformer and puzzle players get hooked on most easily: satisfying on the control level, while also delivering a puzzle-like sense of progression structurally.

Looking at the score breakdown, the praise from high-scoring outlets is remarkably consistent. Finger Guns awarded it a straight 100, saying the game excels in combat, visuals, storytelling, and the way it expands as a sequel. PlayStation Universe gave it a 95, praising it for preserving a complete gameplay and narrative experience, while also noting that its Roguelike elements are well balanced. That said, they did mention the lack of manual aiming, which could cause some control frustrations in certain battles. In other words, it’s not without rough edges, but those issues aren’t enough—at least for now—to outweigh its overall level of polish.

Of course, a 91 doesn’t mean there are no concerns. RPGamer gave it an 80, still leaning positive overall, saying the game remains compelling thanks to its combat and story, with excellent audiovisual presentation as well. But they also pointed out a crucial issue: if the balance between boons isn’t handled well enough, some fights can end up feeling artificially prolonged. For a game that emphasizes “staying fresh across repeated runs,” that kind of issue matters more than raw numbers alone, because it directly affects whether each build feels interesting and whether each run flows smoothly.

Looking at the broader trend, what makes Hades II most impressive may not be simply that “it’s another highly rated sequel,” but that it continues to prove there is still room for growth in the action Roguelike space. The first game had already set a benchmark back in 2020, and the fact that the sequel is now being viewed by critics as a contender for the year shows that players are still fully on board with the combination of “high-quality combat + strong narrative progression + replayable build variety.” If you enjoy refining your route through repeated failure and figuring out enemy mechanics and boon synergies like solving a puzzle, then this is very likely one of the PS5 titles you should put near the top of your list this year.

My buying advice is straightforward: if you played the first game, or if you already love high-intensity action and repetitive build-crafting loops, then Hades II is almost certainly a safe pick; if you care more about absolutely precise manual control feedback, then it may be worth waiting until launch to see how players respond to the aiming and boon balance in practice. At the very least, judging from this latest review wave, Hades II is no longer just “stable”—it genuinely has a chance to heat up the 2025 Game of the Year conversation all over again.