I've been simping for Supergiant for the better part of ten years--ever since Bastion. Here's to the recognition they deserve. While Bastion and Transistor are fun (I haven't gotten to play Pyre yet), it does feel like their short playtimes are a necessity compensate for the limited depth of their gameplay. Hades can keep you playing much longer, and it absolutely earns that. Where their previous games excelled in vibes and storytelling, Hades does too--it's just even more replayable and addicting than most games out there manage.

I'm normally a bit of a snob about roguelites. Too much metaprogression feels bad to me; I like the notion that with enough skill, I could beat the game on my first run. I never will, but the sensation of fairness is what matters. Most of my favorite roguelites, like FTL, Monster Train, Slay the Spire, and Into the Breach, only offer unlockable new options rather than powers; the game never gets substantially easier until you get substantially better (or luckier). When games like Rogue Legacy let you become more powerful with each successive run, it can start to feel like the game is designed around grinding to overcome challenges rather than developing skill and familiarity. Hades does exactly this, but it sets itself apart by considering how this altered gameplay loop should necessarily impact every other part of the game. The writing, themes, and the game's entire artistic vision hinge on this progression, and it makes the whole gameplay loop feel justified. A halfway-finished run can still advance the narrative in one way or another, while a finished run doesn't have to close the door on your motivation to keep playing thanks to all the additional content and options at your disposal. Hades is so brimming with polish, it makes it look effortless to make a game this good. It's only after you go back to play some of the games it resembles that its real level of quality is drawn into sharp focus.