18 Games Like Hades That Keep the Action Going in 2026

Our Top Picks for Games Like Hades

Picking just a handful of favorites from all the amazing games like Hades is tough, but these five have earned a permanent spot in my rotation. They nail the balance of fast-paced action, rewarding progression, and that “just one more run” feeling that keeps me coming back.

Dead Cells

ROGUELITE

Dead Cells is pure adrenaline. Its fluid combat and procedurally generated levels make every run feel alive, and the huge variety of weapons and abilities means no two runs ever feel the same. For anyone who loves Hades’s combat, this is an instant hit.

Enter the Gungeon

ROGUELIKE

This bullet-hell roguelike is chaotic in the best way. Dodging bullets, experimenting with a ridiculous arsenal, and unlocking new characters kept me hooked for hours. If you love Hades’s frantic battles, this one delivers the same adrenaline rush.

Slay the Spire

DECKBUILDER

Slay the Spire combines roguelike elements with deck-building strategy, making each run a careful puzzle of cards, enemies, and choices. I loved crafting the perfect deck, adapting on the fly, and watching synergies unfold – Hades fans who enjoy strategy and experimentation will find a lot to love here.

And if these five don’t satisfy your craving for roguelike action, keep scrolling. Our full list has even more hidden gems that might just become your next obsession.

18 Games Like Hades You Shouldn’t Miss

If you’ve ever lost track of time in Hades, you know the thrill of fast-paced combat, crazy synergies, and “just one more run” obsession. Lucky for you, there’s a whole treasure trove of games like Hades that capture that same rush, and I’ve tracked down 18 of the very best.

Dead Cells

The Roguelike That Makes Dying Feel Rewarding

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• Genre
• Roguelike, Metroidvania, Action-Platformer
• PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS
• Creator/s
• Motion Twin
• Average Playtime
• 15–20 hours
• Metacritic Score
• From the first run,

Dead Cells

• hooks you. You die a lot, but somehow, it doesn’t feel frustrating. Each level is procedurally generated, which keeps you on your toes, and the
• enemies push you to adapt

constantly. I loved how it turns failure into a kind of game itself; every death is just another chance to experiment and get better.

Combat feels tight and satisfying. Whether I was swinging a sword, firing a bow, or tossing grenades, everything had weight.

I found myself chaining attacks and abilities in ways that made each run feel completely different. One run I went in as a nimble dagger-wielder, the next as a heavy-hitting brawler and both felt fresh. Playing on a sharp display really made those pixel details pop,

Dead Cells

looks incredible when paired with one of the best gaming monitors.

Pro tip

Do all your blueprint hunting on the lowest difficulty – it won’t stop you from earning achievements and makes sacrificing a skill slot much easier. After maxing out your Legendary Forge, focus on grinding cells to level up faster.

The game’s depth is impressive too. Beginners can enjoy the fluid combat and gorgeous pixel art, while more experienced players have plenty of skill synergies, biome strategies, and unlockables to chase mastery. Add a moody soundtrack and tense level design, and you’ve got a game that’s exciting from start to finish.

Final Verdict:

Dead Cells

is just… addictive. It scratches the same strategic, high-stakes itch as Hades, but in its own chaotic, rewarding way. I can’t recommend it enough.

Enter the Gungeon

Most Chaotic Bullet-Hell Adventure

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• Genre
• Bullet-Hell, Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler
• PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Creator/s
• Dodge Roll
• Average Playtime
• 40–50 hours
• Metacritic Score

Enter the Gungeon

• throws you into a bullet-filled dungeon where your main goal is to find the ultimate gun. From the moment you step in, it’s chaos in the best way,
• dodging endless waves of bullets
• , blasting through quirky, over-the-top weapons, and
• uncovering secret floors that keep every run feeling fresh

. The pixel-art aesthetic is vibrant and playful, giving each floor its own unique personality, and the fast-paced action keeps your adrenaline up throughout. If you’re a fan of the best roguelike games, this one’s a must-try.

The game is tough from the start. My first few runs were rough, and I was getting absolutely destroyed, but that’s part of the thrill. Unlike Hades, Gungeon doesn’t have traditional meta-progression; you start each run with the same stats.

The difference comes from the guns and items you unlock over time, which gradually tip the odds in your favor. As I kept playing, the challenge became rewarding, I could feel my skills improving, and the sense of accomplishment from finally clearing a floor was huge.

Pro tip

You can flip a table and push it into another room. That way, upon entering a new room, you already have cover without searching for it. You can also flip a water barrel and roll it into a fireplace to put out the fire.

Progression in

Enter the Gungeon

is subtle but incredibly satisfying. At first, I was focused on beating the final boss and unlocking a few NPCs. Soon, I was hunting character pasts, exploring secret floors, finding shortcuts, and collecting every gun and item I could.

Final Verdict:

If you love tough, fast-paced action and quirky, unpredictable guns,

Enter the Gungeon

will keep you coming back for more. It’s chaotic, challenging, and endlessly fun, offering a rewarding experience for anyone willing to learn its ropes.

Slay the Spire

Masterful Deckbuilding Roguelike

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• Genre
• Deckbuilding, Roguelike, Turn-Based Strategy
• PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Creator/s
• MegaCrit
• Average Playtime
• 50–70 hours
• Metacritic Score

Slay the Spire

drops you into a world where building the perfect deck is the key to survival. Each run challenges you to carefully choose cards, manage resources, and outsmart enemies with clever strategies. The visuals are simple yet stylish, focusing on clarity and character, letting the gameplay shine. Fans of strategy games will find themselves constantly planning, adapting, and experimenting.

The game’s slow, turn-based approach is a welcome change from high-action titles. You can see how much damage enemies will deal, which forces you to balance attack and defense every turn.

Losing even a small amount of HP can snowball into defeat, so every choice counts.

Slay the Spire

is also a roguelike, die, and you start again, but that permanent-death mechanic only makes each run feel fresh and rewarding.

Pro tip

When choosing a card reward, look at your deck and the rest of the act ahead. What does your deck lack? Are you having trouble blocking or drawing? Pick cards that cover gaps in your deck, or skip if nothing is helpful.

You vs. the RNG is part of the thrill. You can’t force a perfect deck; you have to work with the cards offered after each fight. Sometimes, a synergy emerges, creating an OP combo. Other times, you end up with a quirky hybrid deck that somehow carries you to victory.

Final Verdict:

Slay the Spire

is a strategy gem that rewards careful planning and creative deckbuilding. Every run feels unique, making it endlessly engaging for fans of tactical gameplay.

• Curse of the D
• e
• ad Gods

Isometric Roguelike with Curses

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• Genre
• Roguelike, Hack-and-Slash, Dungeon Crawler
• PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Creator/s
• Passtech Games
• Average Playtime
• 20–40 hours
• Metacritic Score

Curse of the Dead Gods

• immediately threw me into its dark, isometric dungeons, and I was hooked by the
• fast-paced combat
• and

risk-reward mechanics.

You move through three sequential dungeons, fighting enemies, collecting upgrades, and experimenting with a variety of melee and ranged weapons. The visual style is sharp and moody, with detailed environments that make each dungeon feel alive, even if grim and foreboding.

The core of the game is all about strategy and adaptability. As you fight, your curse meter fills up, introducing new challenges and risks.

Each curse changes gameplay slightly, keeping me on my toes, but the fifth curse? That’s where the tension spikes and the threat of losing a run becomes real.

Pro tip

Don’t overlook any offhand crit damage secondary weapons, the critical damage combo can be brutal. You can dodge all game and survive, but when you get parry down, that’s when you can really do some damage.

I loved how the game lets you “pay” with blood for upgrades or weapons, balancing risk and reward in a way that kept every decision meaningful. If you’re a fan of dungeon-crawlers, you might also want to check out this list of the best dungeon crawler games for more gems like this.

Compared to Hades, the combat felt just as snappy and satisfyin g, and I could explore different playstyles with each run. However, unlike Hades, there’s very little story to drive progression, and the later bosses rely more on reflexes than strategy.

Final Verdict:

Curse of the Dead Gods

offers polished, tense combat and clever risk-reward mechanics that make each run exciting. Fans of roguelikes who enjoy experimenting with weapons and upgrades will find plenty to love here.

Dandy Ace

A Great Roguelite With A Crazy Good Mechanic

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• Genre
• Roguelite, Action, Card-Based Combat
• Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, Microsoft Windows, macOS
• Creator/s
• Mad Mimic
• Average Playtime
• 8–15 hours
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• Jumping into

Dandy Ace

, I was immediately thrown into this wild, ever-changing magical palace. You play as Dandy, a cocky but lovable magician trapped by Lele, a rival who’s way too full of himself. The goal?

Survive, fight through floors packed with all sorts of crazy magical creatures, and get strong enough to finally escape.

Every floor felt fresh, enemies and layouts change constantly, so I was always on my toes.

The combat completely won me over. It’s fast, fluid, and packed with options. I spent half my first run just experimenting with cards, mixing attacks, dashes, buffs, and elemental effects. Every combination feels powerful, and landing a perfect card combo? Pure satisfaction.

The game also throws little treats at you, like random cupcakes for healing, which kept me smiling through even the trickiest fights.

Pro tip

Playing with secondary card effects turned a tough fight into something ridiculously fun. The combos you can pull off are insane once you start thinking strategically.

Final Verdict:

Dandy Ace

is a magical, chaotic, and seriously fun roguelite. If you like fast combat, tons of combo freedom, and colorful visuals, this one’s a must-play.

Dreamscaper

A Surreal Roguelike with Dreams and Dungeons

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Genre Roguelite, Action, Souls-like Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now, Xbox Series X/S Creator/s Afterburner Studios Average Playtime 10–20 hours Metacritic Score Playing

Dreamscaper

felt like stepping into a dream I didn’t want to leave. By day, you build relationships and manage your life, and by night, you dive into surreal dungeons full of combat, loot, and chaos.

Pro tip

Focus on upgrading your main combat abilities first, and pay attention to the dream-world interactions, they can give helpful buffs and make later runs smoother.

The visual style is ethereal and sparkly, sometimes dazzling, sometimes confusing but always memorable. Combat isn’t as fast as

Dead Cells

, but the mix of dungeon crawling and character-driven storytelling makes it stand out.

Final Verdict:

If you enjoy roguelites with a strong sense of style, character development, and a mix of action and exploration,

Dreamscaper

is worth a look. It may not be as fast-paced as some peers, but it has a unique charm that’s hard to forget.

Warm Snow

Brutal Elegance in a Dark Chinese Fantasy

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Genre Action, Roguelike, Dark Fantasy PC (Steam)

Creator/s BadMudStudio Average Playtime 15–30 hours Metacritic Score N/A Stepping into

Warm Snow

felt like walking through a living painting drenched in blood and shadows. From the very first swing of my blade, I knew this wasn’t going to be a gentle ride.

The combat is ruthless but satisfying, forcing you to think on your feet as you slice through enemies and navigate the unpredictable world.

Pro tip

The story-related items aren’t just collectibles, they unlock the true ending once you gather enough. Tracking them turns each run into a deeper, more rewarding experience.

Each run pulled me deeper, thanks to clever randomization, deadly foes, and those little story-related items that reveal hidden lore.

The opening action can feel repetitive, but mastering the controls and experimenting with different builds quickly made every session feel fresh.

Final Verdict:

After several intense runs,

Warm Snow

proved itself as a roguelike that’s both punishing and addictive. Its stunning visuals, tight controls, and hidden story elements make it a standout for anyone craving a dark, rewarding challenge.

Spelunky 2

The Platformer That Will Break You… and Keep You Coming Back

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• Genre
• Platformer, Roguelike, Indie
• PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
• Creator/s
• Mossmouth, BlitWorks
• Average Playtime
• 50–100 hours
• Metacritic Score
• I looked into

Spelunky 2

• expecting a challenging sequel, and it absolutely delivered… sometimes to the point of frustration. The
• game drops you into procedurally generated caves filled with traps

, enemies, and treasure, where every run is unpredictable.

One minute you’re dancing across platforms with perfect timing, the next a falling spike or off-screen trap wipes you out in an instant. But the thrill of discovering hidden rooms, powerful items, or bizarre random events makes every brutal death feel like a story worth telling.

Pro tip

Skulls that are actually skeleton mobs look different than plain skulls: their eye sockets are deeper and darker. Spot them early to plan your moves and avoid surprise damage.

I found myself laughing at my own mistakes just as often as I cursed them. For fans of platformers and roguelikes, the way

Spelunky 2

twists expectations is what keeps it addictive, and it sits comfortably among the best platformer games you can find.

Final Verdict:

If you love high-risk, high-reward platformers and can embrace frustration as part of the fun,

Spelunky 2

will keep you hooked for dozens of punishing but memorable runs.

Returnal

Sci-Fi Roguelike That Will Make You Scream… and Keep Trying

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• Genre
• Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike, Bullet Hell
• PC, PS5
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• Housemarque
• Average Playtime
• 40–60 hours
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• From the moment you crash-land on Atropos,

Returnal

• throws you into
• a relentless sci-fi loop where every mistake feels punishing but strangely addictive

. You play as Selene, a lone space traveler trapped in a mysterious time loop.

Each death resets the alien-infested arenas, keeping the action unpredictable while slowly revealing the planet’s secrets. The story is told in fragments through data logs and haunting visions, making every discovery feel earned and tying gameplay and narrative together beautifully.

Pro tip

Practice dashing in your first few runs: dashing is crucial in Returnal. One mistimed dash amidst heavy enemy fire can end your run. Master it early to survive and thrive in each loop.

Returnal’s bullet-hell combat, roguelike progression, and stunning visuals make it unforgettable. Even if the repetition frustrates, fans of intense action and atmospheric storytelling will find it compelling and it’s a standout among the best bullet hell games.

Final Verdict:

Returnal

is tough, rewarding, and atmospheric, perfect for players who love a challenge and don’t mind dying… a lot.

God of War: Ragnarök

Norse Gods, Brutal Fights, and a Father-Son Journey That Hits Hard

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• Genre
• Action-Adventure, Hack and Slash
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• Creator/s
• Santa Monica Studio
• Average Playtime
• 30–50 hours
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Jumping back into Kratos’ world felt like slipping on a familiar glove, but this time, it was colder, darker, and somehow more personal. From the first icy step into this war-torn Norse world, I was hooked.

You’re Kratos again, leading Atreus through epic battles, jaw-dropping environments, and moments that hit you right in the heart.

The combat is fluid, the story is emotional, and the mix of humor and tragedy keeps you on your toes. Visually, the game is nothing short of breathtaking, each mountain, ruin, and battlefield feels alive.

Pro tip

Mix up weapons and runic abilities. Boss fights punish predictability, so use the Leviathan axe, shield, and magic attacks together to stay ahead.

That said, some parts felt rushed. The dialogue occasionally clashed with the epic Norse tone, and a few plot points, especially toward the end, made it feel more like a superhero blockbuster than a mythological saga.

But the quiet father-son moments, the stunning set pieces, and the sheer scale of battles more than make up for it.

Final Verdict:

God of War: Ragnarök

is an emotional, action-packed adventure that fans of epic narratives and rich combat will love. Even with a few pacing bumps, it’s a journey worth taking.

Hollow Knight

Dive into a Dark, Insectoid World Full of Secrets

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• Genre
• Metroidvania, Action-Adventure
• PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
• Creator/s
• Team Cherry
• Average Playtime
• 40–60 hours
• Metacritic Score
• If you’re hunting for standout titles in the world of
• Metroidvania games
• ,

Hollow Knight

• immediately makes its case. You step into the vast, insectoid kingdom of Hallownest, uncovering secrets

, battling challenging foes, and slowly piecing together a story hidden in the environment itself.

Pro tip

If you’ve got extra Geo, buy map markers. They’re perfect for marking places you couldn’t reach yet because of missing abilities and they’ll save you from endless backtracking later.

The game combines intricate platforming, sharp combat, and countless collectibles, rewarding curiosity at every turn. Its hand-drawn visuals and hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack make every area a memorable experience, even when the darkness feels a bit overwhelming at first.

Final Verdict:

Hollow Knight

is a challenging, enchanting journey that rewards patience and exploration, and its depth and design make it one of the finest Metroidvanias ever made.

Pyre

A Fantasy Sports RPG Unlike Anything Else

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• Genre
• RPG, Party-Based, Fantasy Sports
• PC, PS4
• Creator/s
• Supergiant Games
• Average Playtime
• 20–30 hours
• Metacritic Score
• If you’ve ever wondered what the
• best sports video games
• would look like if they were mashed up with a story-rich RPG,

Pyre

is your answer.

You take a team of exiles through mystical competitions called Rites, where strategy, timing, and clever character swaps are just as important as raw skill. Outside the matches, the game surprises you with memorable characters, tough choices, and a story that pulls you in.

Pro tip

Swapping characters (and the orb) strategically is key. Throwing the Orb into the Pyre can start the next round without banishing anyone, giving you a big tactical advantage.

Visually,

Pyre

is stunning, painterly arenas and vibrant colors make each match feel epic, while the art and music make the quieter moments just as unforgettable.

Final Verdict:

Pyre

is an inventive, gorgeous RPG that combines narrative, strategy, and a completely unique sports mechanic. It’s a short but memorable ride that indie fans won’t want to miss.

FAQs

What is the best game like Hades?

If you enjoyed Hades, you’ll love other games with roguelike elements, fast-paced combat, and procedural generation. Titles like

Dead Cells

,

Enter the Gungeon

,

Slay the Spire

, and

Curse of the Dead Gods

offer similar gameplay and challenging enemies. These games provide customization options, skill trees, and plenty of replayability for fans of the roguelike genre.

What style game is Hades?

Hades is a roguelike dungeon crawler featuring fast-paced combat, procedural generation, and a great story. Players gather resources, unlock abilities, and face challenging enemies while progressing through levels that change every run. The game blends roguelike gameplay with RPG and action mechanics for a deeply engaging experience.

Is Hades a roguelike or a roguelite?

Hades is a roguelike. It includes classic roguelike elements like procedural generation, skill customization, and surviving waves of enemies. Each run feels unique, requiring strategy, skill, and adaptation. Fans of the roguelike genre often compare it to games like Dead Gods and Vampire Survivors.

Is Hades one of the hardest games?

Hades is challenging, especially for newcomers. Its fast-paced combat, difficult enemies, and roguelike gameplay demand skill and strategy. Players must adapt to procedural levels and progressively tougher monsters. While it’s tough, its rewarding progression and customization options make it a must-play for fans of challenging roguelike titles.