Claim it. Hades 2 hits Xbox Game Pass on April 14, 2026 — that’s the highest-rated PC game of 2025 landing for free on a subscription you might already pay for. Normally $29.99, currently $23.99 on pre-order. If you have Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, this is an automatic add.
The News: Xbox Partner Preview, March 26
Supergiant Games dropped this announcement yesterday at the Xbox Partner Preview showcase. Hades 2 launches April 14 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and day-one on Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate and PC). Cloud Streaming is also included. The PS5 version does NOT come with PS Plus — you’ll need to buy it there at $29.99.
This is the first time Hades 2 comes to Xbox or PlayStation. Before now, the game was PC-only (Steam + Epic Games Store) and Nintendo Switch/Switch 2. The console versions skip Xbox One and PS4 entirely — Xbox Series X|S and PS5 only.
What Makes Hades 2 Worth Playing
The short version: Hades 2 is a roguelike action game where you play as Melinoë, the sister of Zagreus (the protagonist of the first game). Your job is to fight through the Underworld to reach Chronos, the Titan of Time. You die a lot. You unlock new stuff each run. You try again.
If you played the first Hades, everything you liked is back and then some. The combat is faster, with more build variety — you get ranged options, spellcasting, and an Arcana loadout system that adds a layer of meta-strategy before each run even starts. The writing is still excellent. The voice acting is still excellent. The music is still excellent.
If you didn’t play Hades 1, you don’t need to. This is a standalone game.
How Good Is It, Actually?
Metacritic: 95/100 — highest-rated PC game of 2025. It beat out Blue Prince, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (which is also on Game Pass right now). OpenCritic also ranked it #1 for 2025.
Some context: the original Hades got a Metacritic score of 93. The sequel scored higher. It won Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2025 and the D.I.C.E. Awards. It also won Best Game on Steam Deck in the Steam Awards.
When it hit v1.0 in September 2025 on PC, it peaked at 112,947 concurrent Steam players on launch day. Over two million copies sold during Early Access alone.
Not a hidden gem situation. Just a genuinely excellent game that’s been console-locked until now.
Xbox Series X|S: 4K, 120fps
The Xbox version runs at 4K resolution and 120 frames per second. Supergiant says the console launch includes extra bonus content and quality-of-life improvements they’ve been building since the v1.0 launch — and those same improvements will hit PC via a patch on the same day.
The game isn’t demanding. It runs on Switch hardware. On Series X, expect a locked 120fps in performance mode with no issues.
Which Game Pass Tiers Get It?
- Game Pass Ultimate — Yes, day one on April 14
- PC Game Pass — Yes, day one on April 14
- Xbox Cloud Gaming — Yes, included
- Game Pass Standard — No. Standard doesn’t get day-one titles.
- Game Pass Core — No.
If you’re on Standard or Core, you’ll need to either upgrade or buy it at $29.99. If you’re on Ultimate or PC Game Pass, mark your calendar for April 14.
Is It Worth Playing the First Hades Before This?
You don’t have to, but it helps. The lore connects. Characters from the first game appear. The gameplay systems are evolved versions of what Hades 1 introduced.
Good news: Hades 1 has been on Game Pass for a while and is regularly $5-10 on sale. If you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time — you have two weeks before Hades 2 drops.
That said, plenty of people jump straight to Hades 2 and have no trouble. The game does a reasonable job of establishing its own world.
What to Expect Going In
A typical run takes 20-40 minutes. You’ll die at the first real boss a dozen times before it clicks. Then it’ll click, and you’ll lose four hours without noticing.
Main story completion takes around 25-30 hours across multiple runs. Full completion — maxing relationships, unlocking everything, seeing all the endings — is 60-80 hours. Roguelikes don’t really end in the traditional sense; there’s always one more run.
The game is harder than Hades 1 early on. Melinoë’s move set takes some getting used to. Stick with it through the first few unlocks before deciding whether it’s clicking for you.
PS5 Players: You Have to Buy It
Hades 2 is not coming to PS Plus. If you’re on PlayStation, the $29.99 price tag applies. Whether that’s worth it at a 95 Metacritic is a decision you can make — the score speaks for itself — but don’t expect a free PS Plus drop anytime soon. This is a brand-new release.
For context: Hades 1 took years to land on PS Plus.
Bottom Line
Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass: April 14 is a day-one add. No debate. This is the game reviewers called the best of 2025. You would pay $29.99 for it otherwise.
If you’re on Standard or Core, this is worth checking whether an upgrade makes sense. Between Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on April 2 and Hades 2 on April 14, Ultimate is putting out some of the best day-one content in years right now.
Also worth reading: Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate worth it in 2026? and the full March/April Game Pass wave 2 lineup.
