Hello! And welcome to a special article where a bunch of us sit down to talk about our game of the year. And for 2020, that game is Hades. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and we hope you’re leaving such an unusual year with some good memories of the games you’ve played.
Chris Donlan: There are a lot of Roguelikes and Roguelites – what makes Hades stand above the rest? Is that even the right lens to be viewing it through?
Malindy Hetfeld: I have a counter question if I may. Just to clarify. I’m not sure what the roguelike lens entails, because that means we all have a fixed idea of what that genre is about.
Bertie Purchese: There’s an unassuming density to Hades. It’s very breezy in tone and look, but underneath there’s so much. But it’s not apparent at first.
Malindy: OK, actually what Bertie just said gave me my answer. I don’t think it’s the right lens to be viewing the game through.
Bertie: And the best Roguelikes/lites – whatevers – do this. They dangle new toys, or new things, in front of you to unlock the more you play. And Hades just seems to keep opening and broadening in ways you didn’t expect.