It’s no surprise thatHades 2has been popular thanks to its moreish roguelike structure, engaging action gameplay, and diverse cast of likable (and extremely attractive) characters. It seems that success has rubbed on its predecessor too, asthe firstHadesmanaged to break its own concurrent player record on Steam over the weekend.
While it’s not managed to come close to its sequel’s record, the firstHadessaw 54,240 concurrent players on Sunday, May 12 (as spotted byVG247), which is the most it’s ever had since its 2020 release. If you look at the data onSteamDB, you’ll see its player count began to shoot up around May 2 and May 3, just a few days before the early access launch ofHades 2on May 6.
By comparison,Hades 2reached 103,567 concurrent playersless than a day after it came out. Since then, its player count has fluctuated, but it’s still attracting fans in the tens of thousands. At the time of writing, it has 59,110 players whereas the firstHadesis sat at a still respectable 37,380 players.
So, why the sudden influx of players forHadeswhen its sequel is the new hotness? There’s no definitive answer, but I reckon there are a couple of factors. The first is probably newer fans who picked upHades 2without touching the original, now deciding to check it out. You arguablydon’t need to play the firstHadesto understand the plot of the sequel, but newcomers who’ve become engrossed in the setting and characters will want to know what came before.
The other reason is perhaps due toHades 2technically being unfinished. It may be jam-packed with content, but it is an early access game at the end of day, with it even lacking a decisive ending. As such, players who might’ve exhausted themselves on whatHades 2currently offers may have returned to its predecessor to help ease the wait for future content.Developer Supergiant Games’ roadmapcurrently promises a true ending as well as more areas, characters, and a new main weapon.
If you’ve been playingHades 2non-stop since launch, I’d recommend giving the first game a look if you haven’t already. They may be very similar, but there are enough differences that make the firstHadesits own beast compared to the sequel, including protagonist Zagreus’ playstyle. It’s also just a very good game that could keep you entertained all the way up untilHades 2‘s full release.
