[1][2] Set "sometime" after the events of Hades in the same universe,[3][4] the sequel stars Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister to the protagonist of the first game, Zagreus.

[5] Alongside her mentor Hecate,[6] she aims to defeat Chronos, the titan of time, who returned to enact revenge on all gods and mortals who opposed him in the past and took her family prisoner.

[9] However, as this would also be the studio's first sequel, they were aware they wanted to expand on Hades in meaningful ways without losing the core of the original game.

Studio head Amir Rao cited examples of Portal 2 and Diablo II as successful sequels they wanted to follow.

[23][24] When comparing technical test to the first game, Elijah Gonzalez of Paste commented that Hades' "blend of convincing characterization, witty dialogue, and excellent performances is alive and well here.

[25] Gonzalez opined that while Melinoë has more initial "clarity of purpose" than Zagreus, she's also "dragged down by self-doubt and the pressures of being a savior, making her a similarly complicated and engrossing protagonist".

[25] During the technical test, Kotaku praised the sex appeal of the game's character designs, writing that "sexiness is woven into their personalities.

[28] On the early access, Hernandez wrote, "even in its current unfinished state, it's evident I will be spending dozens of hours in Hades II" and that "many players will be drawn primarily to the frenetic combat: Supergiant Games fills the dungeons with mobs of creatures so imposing that Melinoë has to slow down time to survive them.

[28] Mitchell Saltzman of IGN rated the early access game a 9/10 despite it being "a work in progress" with missing or placeholder assets.

[29] Saltzman wrote that "Hades 2 feels impossibly huge and unbelievably polished by any standard, much less an early access game.