75 Hours In: Why The Underworld Path is My Priority for the Hades 2 v1.0 Launch

After sinking over 75 hours into the Early Access of Hades 2, experiencing dozens of successful runs and countless failed attempts, a clear conviction has emerged regarding the game’s two primary paths. The sequel brilliantly introduced a structural fork in the road for Melinoë, offering players the choice to descend through the familiar Underworld to confront Chronos or ascend to the Surface and rally the forces of Olympus. While the ascent to Mount Olympus is a breathtaking addition that adds immense variety and challenge, my extensive time with the current build has led me to a firm decision: upon the official v1.0 release, I will be prioritizing the Underworld Route first, and here is why that is the best choice for both veteran and new players seeking the core roguelike experience.

The Strategic Imperative: Mastering Core Systems

The Underworld is not just the initial path; it is the fundamental boot camp for Melinoë’s entire arsenal and the dense web of meta-progression systems. While the Surface offers a high-stakes, late-game challenge, the descent is where you truly learn the mechanics that underpin the entire game.

• Smoother Learning Curve: The progression of enemies, biome complexity, and the pacing of boss encounters in the Underworld (Erebus, Oceanus, Mourning Fields) provide a much fairer difficulty ramp. This allows players to fully internalize the critical new systems: the Magick resource, the charging Omega Moves, and the synergy between your various Nocturnal Arms and the new array of Olympian Boons like Apollo’s Daze or Hestia’s Scorch.
• Resource Priority and Tool Unlocks: Early-game meta-progression hinges heavily on resources primarily found in the Underworld, such as Silver and Ash. Prioritizing the Underworld means optimizing your runs for these crucial reagents, which are essential for unlocking new weapons, weapon aspects, and the most impactful Arcana Cards at the Altar. Neglecting this foundation in favor of the Surface early on will only slow down your overall power curve.
• Fundamental Combat Mastery: The tightly-packed rooms and enemy compositions of the Underworld areas demand precision in the new, slower dash mechanic. Unlike the original Hades, Melinoë’s limited dashes force players to master tactical positioning and clever use of the Cast, skills that are more deliberately honed in the confined spaces of the Underworld before tackling the wide-open, overwhelming encounters of the Surface.

The Narrative Core: The Heart of the House of Hades

For a game so critically acclaimed for its storytelling and character development, the narrative weight of the Underworld route cannot be overstated. It is the direct continuation of the House of Hades saga.

• Connecting the Lore: Melinoë’s journey downward is about rescuing her family and restoring the seat of the Underworld. This path is populated with beloved characters from the first game, such as Odysseus and Schelemeus (now a trainer), alongside new faces like Nemesis and Arachne. These interactions are vital for establishing Melinoë’s place in the pantheon and understanding the stakes of the conflict.
• The Chronos Conflict: The entire premise of the game is the Titan of Time’s siege on the House of Hades. The Underworld path is the most direct confrontation with this central villain and the most direct way to unlock the full narrative potential and subsequent end-game content. The story beats you find here are the emotional bedrock of the sequel.

V1.0 Anticipation: A Polished Pathway to Victory

While Supergiant Games is known for delivering polished experiences across both routes, the Underworld remains the most thoroughly fleshed-out and complete feeling segment of the game as Early Access concludes. It’s the guaranteed, top-tier experience to jump into on launch day.

The Surface path, by its nature of being the ‘ascension’ and late-game challenge, has often been the subject of later balance and content patches throughout Early Access. For the absolute best, most balanced, and most narrative-rich playthrough to kick off Hades 2 in its final form, the descent into the familiar but brilliantly redesigned Underworld offers the perfect blend of challenge, progression, and high-value story content. It provides the essential building blocks for Melinoë to become the powerful Witch of the Crossroads she is meant to be, ensuring every subsequent run, on either path, is built on a foundation of mastery.