Hades follows Zagreus through escape attempts from the underworld where story advances regardless of success or failure. GPA scores it at the top for Roguelike and high on Action, with Emotional Story above 70.
Game Characteristics
Roguelike
90%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
75%
Graphics
75%
Emotional Story
70%
Story Depth
70%
Target Audience
Recommended for: Beginners to Advanceds (scores ≥ 50 indicate a good fit)
Hades II follows Melinoe, daughter of Hades, fighting through the underworld to reach Chronos. The roguelike structure deepens with each run — new dialogue, new relationships, new context. GPA scores it higher on Roguelike and Action than the original, with Emotional Story rising as the narrative accumulates across deaths.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
95%
Action
90%
High Difficulty
80%
Graphics
75%
Emotional Story
55%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Neva follows warrior Viola and her wolf companion through a hand-animated action game where the wolf's behavior changes as she grows from pup to adult. The combat timing rewards patience. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — a combination that correctly identifies a game where the relationship between the two characters is the mechanical engine.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
65%
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
80%
Story Depth
70%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Celeste climbs a mountain while working through anxiety and self-doubt, encoding the protagonist's mental state into the level design. Assist Mode lets players adjust any parameter without disabling achievements. GPA scores it high on Difficulty and Emotional Story — two axes that rarely align, and that together describe what makes this platformer different from its peers.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
80%
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
85%
Story Depth
75%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Hi-Fi Rush chains character-action combat to a persistent music beat, with every enemy attack and environmental cue synchronized to the soundtrack. Missing the rhythm reduces damage output. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics — the rhythm-action hybrid that generated the year's biggest positive surprise from its shadow-dropped release.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
50%
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
65%
Story Depth
60%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Ori and the Blind Forest introduced the Soul Link manual save system and a precision platforming vocabulary that the sequel expanded on. Moon Studios' debut is smaller and more focused than Will of the Wisps. Switch, Xbox One, and PC. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — the compact Metroidvania origin point that told a complete story in 8 hours.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
72%
High Difficulty
68%
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
80%
Story Depth
68%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Ori and the Will of the Wisps triples the first game's map size and adds direct melee combat to the precision platforming that defined Blind Forest. The hand-painted art and orchestral score from Gareth Coker carry the game's emotional weight. Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Graphics — the Metroidvania that reaches the widest audience because of its visual and narrative quality.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
75%
High Difficulty
65%
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
82%
Story Depth
70%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Rogue Legacy 2 sends a new heir into the castle every time the previous one dies, with each child carrying a random class, heirloom abilities, and traits that affect how the run plays. The Metroidvania map structure grows accessible as hereditary upgrades accumulate. GPA scores it high on Roguelike and Action — the combination that describes a game where permanent progression softens the permadeath loop without removing its weight.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
88%
Action
78%
High Difficulty
78%
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
0%
Story Depth
0%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart uses the PS5's SSD to transition between dimensions instantaneously within gameplay. The Rift Tether ability moves players through rifts without loading screens. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics — a technical showcase that also works as a character-driven platformer with genuine narrative warmth.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
40%
Graphics
95%
Emotional Story
60%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Dead Cells runs a roguelite loop through a plague-infested island, with weapon synergies that change substantially between runs. The movement speed and parry windows sit at the aggressive end of the genre. GPA scores it at the top for Roguelike and Action among 2D titles — a pairing that favors players who want mechanical depth over narrative.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
90%
Action
90%
High Difficulty
80%
Graphics
65%
Emotional Story
0%
Story Depth
0%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Spelunky 2 generates cave systems procedurally with enough physics interaction to produce emergent disasters. GPA scores it at the top for Difficulty and high on Roguelike.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
90%
Action
75%
High Difficulty
85%
Graphics
55%
Emotional Story
0%
Story Depth
0%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Sifu builds its brawler around aging — dying adds years that increase damage dealt but reduce health. The counter and parry system rewards precise timing over button mashing. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty, with a low Beginner score reflecting the commitment the parry system demands before it feels rewarding.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
90%
High Difficulty
90%
Graphics
80%
Emotional Story
50%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Children of Morta sends a family through procedurally generated dungeons with story advancing through a shared camp. GPA scores it high on Roguelike and Co-op.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
80%
Action
75%
High Difficulty
0%
Graphics
65%
Emotional Story
70%
Story Depth
65%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero restores the Budokai Tenkaichi format with a roster exceeding 180 characters and destructible arenas. The what-if story modes extend the Dragon Ball narrative into alternate timelines. GPA scores it high on Action and Emotional Story — the return of the series' most chaotic arena fighter format for fans of the original games.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
90%
High Difficulty
65%
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
55%
Story Depth
40%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor puts a dwarf miner on a solo extraction mission, with weapons firing automatically while the player focuses on movement and upgrade selection between waves. The DRG universe provides the enemy variety and environmental identity. GPA scores it high on Roguelike and Action — the auto-shooter entry that most successfully imports an existing IP's identity into the Vampire Survivors format.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
85%
Action
70%
High Difficulty
60%
Graphics
65%
Emotional Story
0%
Story Depth
0%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Returnal traps a space scout in a time loop on an alien planet, with roguelike structure and third-person shooter mechanics. The story surfaces through environmental objects between runs. GPA scores it at the top for Roguelike and near the top for Difficulty — the Action score is high enough that aim skill matters alongside the build decisions.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
90%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
90%
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
70%
Story Depth
65%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Enter the Gungeon sends players through bullet-themed dungeons with over 500 guns — ranging from the functional to the absurd — as the primary item pool. Dodge-rolling through enemy fire while managing ammo and synergies is the entire combat system. GPA scores it high on Roguelike and Difficulty — closer to a reflex-demanding shooter than the stat-management roguelites it shares shelf space with.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
90%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
85%
Graphics
65%
Emotional Story
0%
Story Depth
0%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a definitive high-speed action collection that pairs a fully remastered version of the acclaimed Sonic Generations with an all-new narrative campaign centering on Shadow the Hedgehog. While the Classic and Modern Sonic segments offer a nostalgic journey through beautifully enhanced iconic stages, Shadow's standalone adventure introduces a darker, more mature narrative tone. Controlling the Ultimate Life Form, players unleash devastating "Doom Powers" to confront his arch-nemesis, Black Doom, blending traditional physics-based platforming with intense, action-oriented combat mechanics.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
95%
High Difficulty
60%
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
50%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Astro Bot is built around the DualSense controller's haptic and adaptive trigger features, making the hardware the medium as much as the game is. The PlayStation IP cameos deepen for fans of the history. GPA scores it at the top for Action and Graphics among platformers, with the highest Beginner score in the action category.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
80%
High Difficulty
50%
Graphics
95%
Emotional Story
60%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
19. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
Match 64%
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
CyberConnect2
Genre: Brawler
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Hinokami Chronicles adapts the anime's major arcs into 2v2 fighter mechanics, with Breathing Styles as the special move framework. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — a positioning driven by the source material's emotional investment rather than the game's mechanical originality.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
50%
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
60%
Story Depth
50%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
Kena: Bridge of Spirits sends a spirit guide through a village haunted by unresolved grief, clearing corruption to free the dead. The Rot companions add a resource management layer to the combat. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Graphics — the visual quality from a small studio remains the most discussed aspect of its reception.
Tag Similarity
Roguelike
0%
Action
75%
High Difficulty
60%
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
75%
Story Depth
75%
Chart tags: Roguelike / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Emotional Story / Story Depth
About "Hades"
▸Game Composition (GPA Analysis)
Hades（ハデス） leads with its ローグライクアクション identity, anchored by the core feel of "Hades follows Zagreus through escape attempts from the underworld where story advances regardless of success or failure." The headline profile reads Roguelike 90% / Action 85% / High Difficulty 75%, making it a strong pick for fans of Roguelike and Action. Accessible enough for newcomers while offering enough depth to satisfy veterans.
▸Characteristics & Analysis
Our editorial team scored "Hades（ハデス）" by using its feel of roguelike, Greek mythology, and die-and-retry as the primary lens, weighting Roguelike and Action most heavily. Top similar titles include "ハデス2（Hades II）", "Neva（ネバ）", "セレステ（Celeste）".
Hades — A Roguelike Where Every Death Moves the Story Forward
Game Overview
Hades is a roguelike action game developed by Supergiant Games.
You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the Underworld and reach the surface. Each escape attempt takes you through a series of combat encounters, rewards, and increasingly difficult challenges.
If Zagreus falls, the run ends and he returns to the House of Hades.
But death is not simply a failure state.
Returning to the House of Hades gives Zagreus new conversations, story events, and opportunities to improve. Supergiant Games designed the game around this cycle, with more than 30 fully voiced characters and thousands of unique events and interactions unfolding across repeated attempts. (Supergiant Games)
That makes the central loop surprisingly simple:
Attempt an escape → fight → die → return → learn and progress → try again.
Gameplay Analysis
Death Is Part of the Progression
At its core, Hades follows the familiar structure of a roguelike.
Each run is different, failure sends you back to the beginning, and you gradually become better at dealing with the game's enemies and systems.
But Hades makes an important change to that formula.
A failed run does not simply disappear.
When Zagreus returns to the House of Hades, the characters around him can have new things to say. New events can become available, while permanent upgrades and resources can help prepare him for future attempts.
Supergiant describes the game as an experience in which Zagreus grows stronger and uncovers more of the story with every unique escape attempt. (Supergiant Games)
That means failure actually creates reasons to keep playing.
Building a New Character Every Run
Another major part of Hades is its build system.
During each escape attempt, Zagreus can receive Boons from the gods of Olympus. The choices you make determine how his abilities work for that particular run.
The official description emphasizes that each attempt allows players to combine the powers of different Olympian gods with Zagreus's own abilities in new ways. (Supergiant Games)
That creates a constant series of decisions.
Do you improve your basic attack?
Do you focus on special attacks?
Do you build around a particular combination of Boons?
Do you take a safer option now or gamble on a stronger build later?
Because the available choices change from run to run, the same weapon can feel quite different depending on how you build it.
This is a major reason why the game earns a 90% Roguelike score from GPA.
Fast Action With Meaningful Choices
GPA also gives Hades an 85% Action score.
Zagreus has several ways to attack and move, including his basic attack, special attack, dash, and cast. Combat rewards players for moving quickly, recognizing enemy patterns, and finding opportunities to strike.
But reflexes are only part of the equation.
The choices you made earlier in the run directly affect how you should approach combat.
A build focused on one type of attack may encourage aggressive play, while another combination can reward a more cautious approach.
As a result, getting better at Hades means learning both the enemies and your own build.
The Story Keeps Up With the Roguelike Structure
This is where Hades becomes particularly interesting.
Repeatedly starting over could easily work against a story-driven game. Instead, the game makes repetition part of the narrative.
Every time Zagreus returns to the House of Hades, the characters can react to what happened. Conversations change, relationships develop, and new pieces of the story gradually appear.
The result is a useful feedback loop:
You want to play another run because you want to improve.
And at the same time:
You want to play another run because you want to see what happens next.
Those two motivations reinforce each other.
That approach is reflected in GPA's 70% Emotional Story and 70% Story Depth scores.
Greek Mythology Without Requiring Homework
Hades is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, but you do not need to know the mythology beforehand.
Supergiant explicitly designed its interpretation so that players unfamiliar with Greek myth could still follow the game, while players who know the original stories can appreciate how the characters and relationships have been reinterpreted. (Supergiant Games)
The game puts its own focus on the relationships between its characters, using familiar mythological figures as part of a new story centered on Zagreus.
What the GPA Scores Tell Us
Title tendency chart (Hades)
Roguelike ◀
90%
Action ◀
85%
High Difficulty ◀
75%
Graphics
75%
Emotional Story
70%
Story Depth
70%
* Based on GPA sub-tag scores. Roguelike repetition and narrative progression fused into one loop.
Target player scores (50+ = recommended fit)
Beginner55
Intermediate75
Advanced75
The strongest GPA scores for Hades are Roguelike at 90%, Action at 85%, and High Difficulty at 75%. It also scores 75% for Graphics, 70% for Emotional Story, and 70% for Story Depth.
That combination explains the game's appeal fairly well.
At first glance, Hades is a fast-paced roguelike action game.
But its story is not simply layered on top of that gameplay.
The repeated runs are also how you experience the story.
That is why the game's 70% Emotional Story and 70% Story Depth scores are significant. The narrative has enough weight to give players another reason to return after a failed run.
The GPA audience scores are 55 for beginners, 75 for intermediate players, and 75 for advanced players.
New players may need some time to get comfortable with the combat, but players who enjoy learning enemy patterns and experimenting with builds have plenty of room to improve.
Author's Thoughts
The most satisfying thing about Hades is how rarely a failed run feels wasted.
Lose a boss fight, and you have learned something about its attacks.
Return to the House of Hades, and there may be a new conversation waiting.
Start another run, and you can try a different weapon or build.
That creates several reasons to keep going:
I want to get better.
I want to try a different build.
I want to see what happens next.
The game keeps turning those motivations into the same gameplay loop.
That is what makes its roguelike structure work so well with its story.
Conclusion
Hades combines fast-paced roguelike combat with a character-driven story that continues to develop through repeated runs.
Its GPA profile highlights the balance: 90% Roguelike, 85% Action, 75% High Difficulty, 70% Emotional Story, and 70% Story Depth.
It is a strong choice for players who:
Enjoy roguelikes
Like learning through repeated attempts
Enjoy experimenting with character builds
Want fast-paced action
Appreciate games with strong character writing
Are interested in Greek mythology
The key idea is simple: dying does not stop the game from moving forward.
Every failed escape teaches you something, gives you another opportunity to experiment, and can reveal another piece of Zagreus's story.
Instead of treating repetition as a limitation, Hades turns it into the reason to keep playing.
