Hades became one of the most popular and beloved video games of the early 2020’s. The game won acclaim for its action-packed play and surprisingly rich storylines, based in Greek mythology. 
In Hades, the player takes on the role of Zagreus, son of the Greek god Hades. In Greek mythology, Hades is the ruler of the underworld and of the dead that dwell in it. In the game, Zagreus escapes his father’s castle to fight his way out of the underworld. Along the way, Zagreus can find useful items and win the favor of gods and other characters from Greek mythology.
Hades is often classified as a Rogue-like or Rogue-lite game, for its similarities to the computer game Rogue (1980). In that game, the player explores a dungeon that changes with each playthrough, and dying forces the player to start over at the game’s beginning. In Hades, Zagreus likewise fights through an underworld that changes with each playthrough. In addition, death returns Zagreus to the game’s starting point. However, Zagreus can retain certain upgrades earned in each playthrough, and the game’s storylines progress and evolve with each attempt.
Hades was developed by the software company Supergiant and released in 2020. It won the first-ever Hugo Award for best video game. The Hugo Awards are a prestigious honor traditionally bestowed on science fiction and fantasy literature.
