GameTimeline

Release & story order

Hades games timeline

Supergiant’s Hades from the September 17, 2020 full release through Hades II 1.0 (September 25, 2025)—US release dates, Underworld story order (Zagreus then Melinoë), why early access is history rather than a second title, and how roguelike runs still tell one continuous family myth. Neighbor action shelves: Hollow Knight, Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Bayonetta.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Supergiant shipped each finished Hades chapter—Hades 1.0 (September 17, 2020 on PC and Switch after 2018–2019 early access) then Hades II 1.0 (September 25, 2025 on PC and Switch after May 2024 early access). Early-access builds are the same games in progress—not separate release-order titles.

  • Play path → Hades → Hades II (same order on Release and Story tabs)
  • Newcomers 2026 → buy current 1.0 editions; early-access history is context only
  • Skip Hades 1 → possible for II, but you lose family setup and god banter payoff
  • Bastion / Transistor / Pyre → optional Supergiant neighbors, not required priors
Story order tips

Underworld family path: Hades (Zagreus tries to escape) → Hades II (Melinoë’s war on Chronos). Release order and story order match for the two main games; you can start Hades II cold, but the first game’s cast and tone enrich every conversation.

  • Core fiction: Hades (Zagreus) → Hades II (Melinoë)
  • Story unfolds across many successful and failed runs—keep talking to NPCs
  • Hades II assumes the House of Hades cast as living continuity
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Hades

    Hades

    PCSwitchPlayStationXboxRoguelikeMainline

    Hades left early access on September 17, 2020 (PC and Nintendo Switch)—Zagreus fights out of the Underworld with Olympian boons, Darren Korb’s soundtrack, and a story that advances every escape attempt. Epic early access began December 6, 2018; Steam early access December 10, 2019. PlayStation and Xbox arrived August 13, 2021. This list uses the 1.0 date.

    Overview
    Roguelike action where death is the loop and relationships are the campaign—boon builds, god banter, and a mythic family drama that rewards dozens of runs without treating failure as a soft reset of the plot.
    In-game setting
    Series opener. Story slot is Zagreus’s escape era. Next mainline game is Hades II. Action neighbors: Hollow Knight and Bayonetta.
    Should you play it?
    Required first for the intended path. Play before Hades II if you want the House of Hades cast fully introduced. Soulslike-adjacent grit neighbors: Dark Souls and Sekiro.
    Release date
    US/global 1.0 September 17, 2020 on Windows, macOS, and Switch. Consoles August 13, 2021. Prefer current digital Hades for newcomers—early-access builds were the same game unfinished, not a second title on this list.
  2. Hades II

    Hades II

    PCSwitchSwitch 2PlayStation 5Xbox SeriesRoguelikeMainline

    Hades II reached 1.0 on September 25, 2025 (PC, Switch, and Switch 2) after early access from May 6, 2024—Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, hunts Chronos with new regions, weapons, and Magick builds. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions followed April 14, 2026. This list uses the 1.0 date as the finished sequel.

    Overview
    Supergiant’s first numbered sequel: dual surface/underworld routes, witchcraft Magick, and a Chronos war that expands the family myth without abandoning run-based storytelling.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel after Hades. Story label is Melinoë’s era. Current end of the official Hades path as of August 2026. Scale neighbor: Elden Ring.
    Should you play it?
    Requires Hades for full cast payoff; playable alone if you accept colder introductions. Current series endpoint among released mainline games.
    Release date
    1.0 September 25, 2025 on Steam, Epic Games Store, Switch, and Switch 2. PS5 / Xbox Series April 14, 2026. Early access (May 6, 2024) was the same game in progress—not a second title.

FAQ

Play order, early access vs 1.0, whether Hades II needs the first game, roguelike story structure, Supergiant context, and related pages.

Play order

Hades (2020 1.0) → Hades II (2025 1.0). That is the US/global finished-game path and this page’s recommended play order. Release and Story use the same ladder.

For these two games, Story matches release order. Play Hades first, then Hades II. There is no mid-series reorder. Early-access builds are not separate Story titles.

Story & runs

Strongly recommended. Hades II is playable alone, but Melinoë’s cast, jokes, and emotional stakes land harder if you already know Zagreus and the House of Hades. This page still treats Hades as the required start for the intended path.

Editions & related

No as a separate title. Hades early access ran from December 2018 into the September 17, 2020 1.0 launch. Hades II early access ran from May 6, 2024 into the September 25, 2025 1.0 launch. Those builds are the same games in progress—this list dates the finished 1.0 releases.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.