Hades II

Hades II is the game I start 'for one run' and look up from an hour later. A run through the underworld as Melinoë is short enough to fit a weeknight, and each death still earns you something, which is the part Supergiant gets right better than anyone. The combat is quick, the writing is warm, and the Greek mythology is played with enough affection that my history-loving side was never bored. Fourth place is about taste. Run-based games are not for everyone, and if repetition bothers you, the loop will wear thin.

The combat feel is excellent and the run structure is exactly right for handheld play. I put it here rather than in the main list for one straightforward reason: it is still in Early Access. The original Hades is finished, fully polished, and one of the safest recommendations in gaming right now. Hades II is close to that level and may get there by the time you read this, but on an evergreen list the unfinished caveat matters. Watch for the 1.0 release and revisit.