Netflix confirmed last year that a new crop of mobile games would launch for subscribers in 2024. Key among these is Hades, a previous winner of Stuff‘s Game of the Year. The Netflix launch marks the first time the absolutely epic roguelike is available in mobile format so of course the streaming service has made it exclusive.
Unfortunately, you’ll only reap the benefit of the 19 March release of the title if you’re an Apple customer. The game will be available on iPhone and iPad and only to Netflix subscribers. Even though it’ll be free, Netflix has opened pre-orders (more or less) for players keen to explore the tale of Zagreus.
Go to Hades
If you haven’t already hammered the pre-order link above so hard that you’ve left a dent in your iPhone screen, you should. Hades is a roguelike title that sees you playing as the son of the titular Greek god. Zagreus has many of the issues a young man faces and he’d really like to depart his father’s kingdom. Getting out of the Underworld will take some doing, however.
The resulting randomly-generated trips towards the Earth’s surface are a nigh-perfect blend of engaging gameplay loop, smoothly-developing and excellently-written narrative, and gradual unlocking of new weapons and abilities. It’s enough to keep you focused on the rapid combat for hours at a time. Even when players achieve their ultimate aim, there’s still more to see, experience, and unlock.
For Android fans, there’s unfortunately no timeline for a Hades release on mobile and there probably never will be. Supergiant Games has “no plans for additional versions of Hades at this time.” It’s that “at this time” remark we’re holding onto dearly in the hopes that plans might change down the road. We’ll have to make do with the game’s sequel that’s in the works, for now. Pity, that. It’s really an incredible game.
