TL;DR: Hades is a "roguelike" action game where your teen plays as Zagreus, the son of the God of the Underworld, trying to escape his dad’s house. It’s stylish, fast-paced, and heavy on Greek mythology. Unlike most games where dying is a "Game Over" frustration, in Hades, dying is how the story moves forward. It’s rated T for Teen and is one of the rare games that actually builds emotional resilience and grit.
Quick Links:
- The Game: Hades
- The Sequel: Hades II
- For Mythology Fans: Percy Jackson & The Olympians
- Similar Challenge: Dead Cells
If you’ve walked past your teen’s room lately and heard a frantic clicking of buttons followed by a heavy sigh and the words, "Okay, just one more run," there’s a 90% chance they are playing Hades.
Released by Supergiant Games, this indie darling didn't just win "Game of the Year" from almost every major outlet; it managed to do something even more impressive: it made teenagers okay with losing. In a digital world where kids often rage-quit Fortnite or Roblox when things don't go their way, Hades teaches them that failure is just a prerequisite for growth.
At its core, Hades is a roguelike. If you aren't fluent in gaming subgenres, "roguelike" basically means the game is built around a cycle: you start a "run," you fight through randomized rooms, you get as far as you can, you die, and then you start back at the very beginning.
The twist here is that the "beginning" is the House of Hades. Every time Zagreus (the protagonist) dies, he emerges from a pool of blood in his father's lobby. Instead of a screen saying "Try Again," he gets to talk to his dog, Cerberus, chat with his mentor Achilles, and use the resources he gathered during his failed escape to buy permanent upgrades.
He gets stronger because he died.
It’s not just the gameplay loop that keeps them hooked. Hades is objectively "cool."
- The Art and Music: It has a vibrant, hand-painted art style and a soundtrack that slaps (think "heavy metal meets ancient lyre"). It doesn't look like a "kiddie" game, but it also isn't the gritty, brown-and-gray hyper-violence of Call of Duty.
- The Characters: The Greek gods are reimagined as incredibly stylish, witty, and—let's be honest—very attractive relatives. Your teen isn't just fighting monsters; they’re building relationships with Uncle Poseidon and Cousin Artemis.
- The Narrative: Most action games have a "stop and start" story. In Hades, the story happens between the action. The dialogue is top-tier, and the family drama (a son trying to find his mother while his overbearing father tells him he'll never amount to anything) is something many teens find surprisingly relatable.
Ask our chatbot about why teens are obsessed with roguelike games
We talk a lot about "growth mindset" in parenting circles, but Hades is basically a Growth Mindset Simulator.
In many games, failure feels like a waste of time. In Hades, failure is the only way to unlock the next piece of the story. It shifts the goal from "winning" to "learning." If your teen can handle dying to the same boss ten times in Hades without throwing their controller, they are practicing the kind of persistence that helps with difficult math homework or learning a new instrument.
If your kid has already beaten the final boss (multiple times—you have to "win" at least 10 times to see the real ending), here are a few ways to channel that interest:
The sequel is currently in "Early Access," meaning it’s still being finished, but it’s already excellent. It features a female protagonist, Melinoë, and focuses more on witchcraft and Titan mythology.
If the game sparked an interest in mythology, Rick Riordan’s books are the gold standard. They share the same irreverent, modern take on the gods. If they’ve already read the books, check out the Percy Jackson (Disney+) series.
If they love the "die, upgrade, repeat" mechanic, Dead Cells is the next logical step. It’s a bit more difficult and less story-heavy, but the gameplay is incredibly satisfying.
For older teens (15+) who want to dive into the "real" Greek myths that inspired the game, Stephen Fry’s retelling is witty, sophisticated, and doesn't shy away from the weirder parts of ancient history.
Another "tough but fair" indie game. It’s beautiful, melancholic, and requires a lot of patience and skill.
Check out our guide on the best mythology-based media for teens
Hades is rated T for Teen. Here’s the "no-BS" breakdown of why:
- Violence: It’s a game about fighting your way out of hell, so there is constant combat. However, it’s stylized. Enemies disappear in puffs of smoke or "dissolve." There is some blood, but it’s not gratuitous or "gory" in a realistic way.
- Language: Very mild. You might hear a "damn" or "hell" (it is the Underworld), but it’s cleaner than your average Marvel movie.
- Suggestive Content: The Greek gods were not known for their modesty. Some characters are depicted in ways that are meant to be alluring (lots of muscle, some cleavage), and there are optional "romance" subplots that are handled through text and dialogue. It never goes beyond "PG-13" territory—no explicit scenes, just heartfelt conversations and the occasional fade-to-black.
- Alcohol: There are references to wine (Dionysus is a character, after all), but it’s treated as a mythological element rather than a "party" vibe.
The "One More Run" Problem
The biggest issue with Hades isn't the content; it’s the time management. A single "run" usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes. Because the game is so engaging, it’s very easy for a teen to say "just one more" and suddenly it’s 1:00 AM.
Pro-tip: The game saves automatically every time you enter a new room. If you need them to come to dinner, they don't need to finish the whole run. They can literally quit at the start of any room and pick it back up later.
It’s a Single-Player Game
Unlike Fortnite or Call of Duty, there is no online multiplayer. This means:
- No toxic chat with strangers.
- No pressure to stay online because "the squad is waiting."
- No "pay-to-win" microtransactions. Once you buy the game, you own the whole thing. No "Hades Coins" or "Underworld V-Bucks" here.
Learn more about the difference between single-player and multiplayer safety
If you want to connect with your teen over Hades, you don't need to know how to play. Just ask these questions:
- "Which god gives you the best boons (upgrades)?" (They will likely have strong opinions on why Ares is better than Zeus).
- "How many times did it take you to beat Megaera?" (The first boss—she’s a major hurdle for new players).
- "What do you think about the way the game handles the story between Zagreus and his dad?"
That last one is a goldmine. The game is essentially a long-form exploration of a dysfunctional father-son relationship. Watching how Zagreus handles his father’s cynicism can actually lead to some pretty deep conversations about family dynamics and setting boundaries.
Hades is one of those rare "prestige" games that actually lives up to the hype. It’s educational (in a "stealth" mythology way), it’s mechanically brilliant, and it encourages a healthy relationship with failure.
If your teen is playing it, don't worry about the "Underworld" setting. They aren't learning anything dark; they’re learning that if they fall down 99 times, they just need to get up for the 100th.
- Check their progress: Ask them if they’ve reached the "Surface" yet. If they haven't, offer some encouragement—it’s a grind!
- Set a "Run Limit": Instead of a time limit, try a "run limit" for school nights (e.g., "You can do two runs after homework"). It fits the natural rhythm of the game better.
- Explore the myths: If they’re really into the lore, consider a family trip to a museum with a Greek antiquities wing or watch a documentary on Greek history together.