8 Hardcore games like Hades II that you should try

What brings it close to Hades II is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: cozy, relaxing feel and a third-person camera.

What brings it close to Hades II is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to single-player focus and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is visuals: pixel art.

Same family as Hades II: strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and an isometric view. They part company on game mode and progression: this one brings a sci-fi setting and multiplayer gameplay.

What brings it close to Hades II is strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on an isometric view. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and 2D presentation.

On paper it is what Hades II is — strong narrative focus, fantasy world and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds skill tree progression and an isometric view. They part company on combat and setting: this one brings tactical combat and a medieval setting.

What brings it close to Hades II is punishing difficulty, procedural generation and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on single-player focus and an isometric view. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and a cyberpunk setting.

What brings it close to Hades II is punishing difficulty, fantasy world and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and an isometric view. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings magic-based combat and 2D presentation.

Shelved next to Hades II for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds single-player focus and an isometric view. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings tactical combat and 2D presentation.