How Many Times Do You Need to Escape to Finish Hades?

The burning question for any newcomer to Supergiant Games’ critically acclaimed roguelike, Hades, is: how many times do I actually need to escape the Underworld to “finish” the game? The answer, like much of Hades itself, is nuanced, but the short answer is: you need to successfully escape the Underworld a minimum of ten times to reach the game’s true ending and see the conclusion of the main narrative. This isn’t just about reaching the final boss, Hades, himself, but about the journey of Zagreus and his complicated relationship with his family and his own destiny. While the first escape might feel like the ultimate goal, it’s just the beginning of a rich story that unfolds with each subsequent triumph.

The Journey Beyond the First Escape

Your initial escape attempt culminates in a confrontation with your father, Hades, at the end of the Underworld. However, even after defeating him for the first time, Zagreus’ story is far from over. You’ll realize that the goal of reaching the surface is not a one-and-done deal. The true story of Hades unfolds gradually with each successful escape.

• The First Few Escapes: These first attempts will introduce the core gameplay loop, various characters, and their interactions. Defeating Hades here serves more as a checkpoint than an ending.

• The Mid-Game Escapes: As you escape more times, more story elements and relationships start to develop. Persephone’s presence and dialogues become more significant.

• The Tenth Escape and the True Ending: Crucially, it’s on the tenth escape attempt that things change. Instead of battling Hades for the tenth time, he steps aside, allowing Zagreus to pass. This pivotal moment allows Zagreus to finally have a proper interaction with his mother, Persephone, and ultimately sets the stage for further narrative development.

It’s also worth noting that these ten escapes don’t need to be consecutive. Each attempt, successful or not, pushes the story forward in some way. This is crucial, as the game isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress and gradually unraveling the secrets of the Underworld and its inhabitants.

Reaching the Epilogue

After the tenth successful escape, even though you have technically completed the main narrative, you aren’t finished with Hades. You can continue your attempts to escape, interacting with the characters of the game and discovering more lore and dialogue. This epilogue content is a crucial element to truly immerse yourself in the world. It further fleshes out character relationships and allows you to experience the game beyond the core story. Many players find this endgame content to be just as rewarding, if not more so, than the initial quest to escape ten times.

The Importance of Persephone’s Dialogue

A significant element of the game involves the dialogue with Persephone. To get the true ending and see all of her dialogue, you must speak with her a total of ten times. This is directly tied to your escapes, as she only appears after each successful run.

This means to unlock the complete story you must escape a minimum of nine times after having spoken to her once, making the total amount of escapes to get the full narrative 10. After ten total successful escapes, the final interaction and resolution with Persephone will be unlocked.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about escaping and completing Hades, designed to help new and veteran players:

How many times do I have to beat Hades to get the true ending?

You only need to defeat Hades nine times in order to get the true ending. On your 10th escape attempt, he will let you pass to allow you to speak with Persephone again.

Do I have to win 10 times in a row?

No, you do not need to win ten times consecutively. You can have unsuccessful attempts in between successful ones; each attempt adds progress to the narrative in some form.

How long does it take to beat Hades for the first time?

The average time to beat Hades for the first time and complete one full run of the Underworld is around 20 hours. This will of course vary depending on your skill and play style.

How long does it take to 100% Hades?

If you are looking to explore every aspect of Hades, you are likely to spend around 95½ hours to get 100% completion.

What is the fastest speedrun time in Hades?

The current speedrunning record is held by Lili, with an incredible sub-6 minute run time, clocking in at 5 minutes and 57 seconds.

Is Hades infinitely replayable?

Yes, Hades is highly replayable. The randomized nature of each escape attempt and the depth of the story elements mean there is always something new to experience.

Will there be a Hades 2?

Yes! Hades 2 is scheduled to be launched in early access in Q2 of 2024.

Can Zagreus go to Olympus?

Zagreus receives an invitation to Olympus, but due to the nature of the Underworld and how nobody is permitted to leave, this proves to be a significant narrative hurdle.

Is Hades hard to beat?

Hades can be a challenging game, as its roguelike nature means that each time you die, you start over from the beginning. Over time however, you will be able to upgrade your Mirror of Fates and Infernal Arms which will make it easier to beat the game.

Can you quit in the middle of a Hades run?

Yes, you can quit at any time. However, if you have taken any damage, you can only “Give Up,” which is the equivalent of a death, and you cannot save the progress of a run.

What is Zagreus the god of?

In Greek mythology, Zagreus is known as the son of Zeus and Persephone and is the god of rebirth.

Why isn’t Zagreus the main character in Hades 2?

Hades 2 is set to have the player take on the role of Melinoe, Zagreus’s half-sister and fellow child of Hades. This expands the lore of the game in an intriguing way.

Who is Hades’ girlfriend?

Hades’ girlfriend is Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, who is also the goddess of the underworld.

Does God Mode ruin Hades?

No, God Mode does not ruin Hades. It is a great way to get through the story and the game. You will not be locked out of any content and the records for those runs are kept separately from the ones without God Mode enabled.

Does Hades have alternate endings?

While Hades does have multiple story paths and conversations, there is only one true ending to be reached after your tenth escape and further interactions with Persephone in the game’s epilogue.

Final Thoughts

So, to truly “finish” Hades and experience the true ending, remember that you’ll need to escape the Underworld at least ten times. However, the fun of Hades is not just about reaching the ending but enjoying the incredibly rewarding journey with all of its twists and turns. As you progress, enjoy each escape and dialogue interaction, and you will undoubtedly find it to be one of the most rewarding roguelike experiences out there. The unique combat, engaging characters, and gripping narrative make Hades a game you will surely want to revisit and complete multiple times.