How Hades II Redefines Narrative-Driven Roguelikes (And 5 Games That Did It First)

If you thought roguelikes were all about dying over and over again with no real story payoff, Hades II just reminded everyone why that’s not the case. Supergiant Games has done it again, blending fast-paced combat with rich storytelling in a way that makes every run feel like a new chapter rather than just another reset. But Hades and its sequel weren’t the first to take roguelike mechanics and infuse them with deep, evolving narratives.

Before Zagreus and Melinoë fought their way through the Underworld, other indie games were already experimenting with ways to keep players engaged in more than just the combat. Some of them flew under the radar, but they laid the groundwork for what roguelikes could be. If you loved Hades II and want more story-driven roguelike experiences, here are five games that did it first.

What Makes Hades II Stand Out?

Hades II builds on everything the first game did right. The dialogue system is even deeper, making each run feel like a meaningful progression rather than just a gameplay loop. Supergiant Games somehow made Greek mythology feel fresh again, and the new protagonist, Melinoë, brings a different perspective to the world.

Combat-wise, the game expands on the original formula with new abilities, weapons, and enemies, but what really makes it special is how the story reacts to your failures and successes. Conversations shift, relationships evolve, and every attempt to escape or complete a mission adds something to the narrative. It’s a roguelike, sure, but it plays like an unfolding myth where even death has meaning.

This balance between gameplay and story isn’t easy to achieve, but these five roguelikes tried—and in some ways, succeeded—long before Hades came onto the scene.

1. Children of Morta – A Family’s Fight Against Darkness

Most roguelikes focus on a lone hero fighting against impossible odds. Children of Morta takes a different approach. You’re not just playing as one character—you’re playing as an entire family, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and personal struggles.

The Bergson family serves as the guardians of Mount Morta, and their fight against the Corruption isn’t just about beating enemies; it’s about protecting what they love. The story unfolds between runs, showing the family dealing with loss, hope, and their growing responsibilities. Even when you fail, the game pushes the narrative forward, making sure you feel like you’re always making progress, even when the dungeon floors say otherwise.

2. Sunless Sea – A Roguelike That Feels Like a Novel

If you like your roguelikes with a side of existential horror and slow-burning dread, Sunless Sea is worth checking out. It trades fast combat for methodical decision-making, where every choice you make can send you down wildly different narrative paths.

Set in a dark, underground ocean, the game is all about managing your ship and crew while uncovering the eerie secrets of the world. Every run tells a different story, whether that means running into eldritch horrors, getting caught up in political schemes, or just trying to keep your crew from eating each other. The writing is incredible, and the game’s branching narrative structure makes it feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional roguelike.

3. Moon Hunters – Where Every Run Builds a Myth

Instead of telling a fixed story, Moon Hunters turns every playthrough into a legend in the making. The choices you make—who you help, who you fight, what kind of character you become—shape how your hero is remembered.

This roguelike RPG is built around short, replayable campaigns where players take on the role of a mythic hero. By the end of each run, your actions determine how you’re remembered by the world, adding a unique twist to traditional roguelike storytelling. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about crafting your own legacy.

4. Tainted Grail: Conquest – Dark Fantasy Meets Deckbuilding

If you’re into deck-building games like Slay the Spire but want something with a stronger narrative focus, Tainted Grail: Conquest delivers. Set in a twisted, Arthurian-inspired world, it mixes roguelike mechanics with deep lore and text-heavy storytelling.

Every run pushes you deeper into a cursed world filled with strange, otherworldly horrors. The choices you make in dialogues and encounters impact how your journey unfolds, adding layers of depth beyond just picking the right cards for battle. It’s one of the more underrated roguelike RPGs out there, but if you like games where every decision feels meaningful, it’s worth diving into.

5. Hades – The Original Blueprint for Narrative Roguelikes

Even though this list is about games that did it before Hades II, it’s impossible to ignore how much of a game-changer the original Hades was. While roguelikes had experimented with storytelling before, none had done it as seamlessly as Supergiant’s 2020 hit.

Every run added new dialogue, characters reacted to your progress, and even failures led to meaningful interactions. It blurred the line between traditional RPG storytelling and roguelike repetition, proving that a game about endless runs could still deliver an engaging, evolving narrative.

Hades II may be pushing things even further, but it all started with Zagreus and his endless attempts to escape the Underworld.

The Future of Narrative Roguelikes After Hades II

Hades II raised the bar again. Games like Dead Cells and Rogue Legacy have always focused on progression-based storytelling, but more developers are starting to integrate deeper narratives into the genre.

With the success of both Hades games, we’re likely to see more roguelikes experimenting with character-driven stories, evolving dialogue, and reactive narratives. The indie scene has already proven that roguelikes can be more than just endless dungeon runs—now it’s just a matter of what comes next.