Updated Andrii Kovalenko2 min read

Games Like Hades: Action Roguelikes to Watch

Games like Hades — Dead Cells, Returnal, Skul, Hades II — plus an upcoming myth-soaked action roguelike where you fight the gods with a titan's power.

Hades set a high bar: tight combat, a run you actually want to repeat, and a Greek-myth story told through death itself. If you've finished it and want that feeling again, these are the action roguelikes worth your time — and one upcoming game that leans into the myth angle harder than most.

Hades II

The obvious start. The sequel puts you in the role of Melinoe, Zagreus' witch sister, fighting the titan of time — Chronos himself — with hexes, arcana cards, and a new cast of Olympians. It's in early access and already enormous.

Dead Cells

Pure momentum. Dead Cells fuses a roguelike's run structure with Metroidvania map design, and its combat is some of the most responsive in the genre. Hundreds of hours of weapon combinations later, runs still feel fresh.

Returnal

The high-budget take. Returnal wraps its roguelike loop in a third-person bullet-hell and a genuinely unsettling story, with a time-loop framing that makes the repetition feel intentional rather than mechanical.

Skul: The Hero Slayer

The clever one. You play a small skeleton who swaps skulls to change combat styles entirely, so a "build" can shift the way you fight mid-run. It's lighter than Hades but just as easy to lose an evening to.

Risk of Rain 2 and Enter the Gungeon

Two long-running favorites for when you want variety. Risk of Rain 2 stacks items into absurd, scaling power; Enter the Gungeon is a bullet-hell with a ridiculous arsenal and a sense of humor.

Coming soon: KUTO: The Lock of Time

If the Greek-myth side of Hades is what hooked you, KUTO: The Lock of Time — it's our own game, so take the recommendation with that in mind — runs with it. You play Jokoan Kuto, an outcast time guardian betrayed by the gods, who survives by merging with the titan Kronos and turns the titan's power back on them. It keeps the parts that make Hades work — fast melee, a run-based loop, permanent progress — and adds time itself as a second weapon. There's a longer overview of everything we know if you want the full picture.

Add KUTO: The Lock of Time to your wishlist on Steam to follow it.

Frequently asked questions

What games are most like Hades?
Dead Cells, Returnal, Skul: The Hero Slayer, Risk of Rain 2, and the direct sequel Hades II are the closest in feel and structure.
Is there a game like Hades with mythology?
Hades II pits you against the titan Chronos. KUTO: The Lock of Time binds you to the titan Kronos and turns his power back on the gods.
What is the closest game to Hades?
Hades II is the direct sequel. For the combat feel without the sequel, Dead Cells is the closest match.
Is Hades II worth playing?
Hades II is in early access and already very large in scope. If you enjoyed the first game, the new hexes, arcana cards, and second protagonist make it worth trying even in an unfinished state.
What makes Hades different from other roguelikes?
The main distinction is how it handles narrative — dialogue, relationships, and story progress survive each death, so the loop feels like it is moving forward even when a run fails. The combat is also unusually responsive for the genre.
Are there action roguelikes with permanent progression like Hades?
Yes. Dead Cells, Returnal, and KUTO: The Lock of Time all carry some form of progress across runs, so repeated attempts feel like they build toward something rather than resetting entirely.
What is KUTO: The Lock of Time?
A time-bending action Metroidvania set across multiple historical eras. You play Jokoan Kuto, an outcast who merges with the titan Kronos and uses the Scythe of Kronos alongside time powers — slow, rewind, dash, and others — to fight through enemies sent by the gods.
Is Enter the Gungeon similar to Hades?
In structure, yes — both are roguelikes with run-based progression and a large pool of unlockables. Enter the Gungeon is a twin-stick bullet-hell shooter, so the combat feel is quite different from Hades' melee focus.
What action roguelikes are good for fans of fast melee combat?
Dead Cells, Hades, Skul: The Hero Slayer, and the upcoming KUTO: The Lock of Time all center fast melee. Dead Cells and KUTO: The Lock of Time also layer in Metroidvania map design.
Does Returnal have a story like Hades?
Returnal has a story, but it is delivered through fragmented collectibles and environmental storytelling rather than through characters you build relationships with. It is more atmospheric and abstract than Hades.
Are there games like Hades with time travel?
Returnal uses a time-loop framing, though it is more of a structural conceit than an active mechanic. KUTO: The Lock of Time has actual time travel — Jokoan moves through eras from ancient Egypt and Rome to a cyber city and the far future.
How long is a run in games like Hades?
It varies by game and skill level. Hades runs can take 20 to 45 minutes. Dead Cells runs are similar. KUTO: The Lock of Time has not published run length data yet, but the multi-era structure suggests comparable depth.

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