Hades 2: How's Roguelite Performing on Steam Deck

Hades 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Roguelite Hades, has made its entry into Early Access on May 6, 2024, surfing a wave of excitement among fans of the genre. With its predecessor setting a high bar in terms of performance, especially on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, one of the burning questions from the gaming community was whether Hades 2 would deliver a similarly polished experience from the get-go. The game has not just met these expectations but surpassed them by receiving an official verification for Steam Deck, which indicates a seamless gaming experience on Valve's portable PC.

Our detailed testing shows that Hades 2 is more than just playable on the Steam Deck—it thrives. The game operates at a smooth 90 frames per second, even when the screen is crowded with enemies and complex effects. Transition hiccups are rare and have a negligible impact on the gaming experience. The title supports the Steam Deck's 1280x800 resolution from the start without compromising image quality. Although the font size could be an issue for some, with potential difficulty reading the descriptions of gifts and mementos, it opens room for improvement that developers Supergiant Games might address in future updates.

When it comes to settings, Hades 2 on the Steam Deck doesn't require much tweaking to perform at its best. The ideal settings that we have settled on ensure both optimal image quality and performance. Not only does the game run impeccably with these settings, but it also consumes a modest amount of power, implying a battery life that can reach up to six hours. The game's footprint is also minimal in terms of storage, needing a little over four gigabytes, making it accessible without the need for additional SD cards on any Steam Deck model.

Gamers with a Steam Deck can dive into Hades 2's Early Access with confidence, knowing they'll get a smooth and visually pleasing experience out of the box. However, given its current stage of development, players should anticipate ongoing content and technical updates as the game progresses towards its final release.

Yes, Hades 2 is well worth considering in Early Access if you're a fan of the Roguelite genre, and it runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, offering long battery life and high performance with minimal setup required.

Hades 2 continues the legacy of its predecessor, which was celebrated for its enticing storyline, fluid combat, and rich graphics. Hades, developed by Supergiant Games, was a critical darling after its release in 2020, securing multiple game of the year awards and heralding a new standard for Roguelike games. Hades 2 aims to build on the established mythological universe with new characters, deeper gameplay mechanics, and an expanded narrative following the adventures of Melinoe.