Hades Archives

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand review

Paul's expertise includes videogames, Star Trek, and flannel shirts. He is involved in the gaming world with the expansion "Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand," which focuses on wave defense mechanics and roguelike elements within a World War II setting. The expansion allows players to select factions and face waves of enemies on a compact map, starting with limited units and making strategic decisions after each wave. Players can enhance their capabilities with various abilities, and the gameplay emphasizes survival, adaptation, and strategy. Matches can be completed in around 40 minutes, and the expansion is accessible for both veterans and newcomers. It operates independently from the main game and is budget-friendly, making it a recommended choice for players.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Videogame villains who sing at you are the best

The villain's monologue is a common trope in video games, often replaced by musical performances from antagonists in some titles. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Singer is an orc who sings operatic verses about battles, enhancing the experience. In Hades 2, Scylla's performances are humorously interrupted by a witch, contrasting her siren songs with Melinoe's indifference. The Joker in the Arkham series incorporates musical interludes, including a haunting rendition of "Only You" during the credits of Arkham City. In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Teh Earworm is a creature that plays catchy tunes, leaving players with memorable melodies. GLaDOS's song "Still Alive" from Portal has become a cultural touchstone, reflecting her personality and enhancing her character's narrative. Total Distortion features guitar warriors, where failure results in a memorable game-over song, integrating music into gameplay. Conroy Bumpus in Sam & Max: Hit the Road offers a satirical country song, critiquing the big-game hunter archetype. In Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell, Satan sings with Broadway flair, adding humor and depth to his character. Ursula in Kingdom Hearts 2 showcases her villainy through song, providing comedic relief with her playful references. I.M. Meen opens with a song that sets the tone for a game blending education and entertainment. In Cuphead, King Dice performs a jazzy number in "Die House," enhancing the stakes and his flamboyant personality.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

This week in PC games: vert-ramping trains, a retold murder mystery, and Cthulhu’s new gig as an AI Director

Edwin is currently sidelined by an illness following TennoCon, and he is expected to submit stories on Soulframe and Warframe: Tau before fully resting. New PC games being released this week include: - Ascend to Zero: A sci-fi action-roguelike with temporal manipulation. - Forensics: Crime Scene Detective: A game focused on managing fingerprint and bullet comparisons. - Soulforge Lost Path: A Survivorslike/bullet heaven game with limited inventory management. - D-Topia: A puzzle adventure about maintaining an AI-managed society. - The Incident at Galley House: A visual novel remake of a murder mystery text adventure. - Happy's Humble Burger Cult: A cooking horror game for 1-4 players. - Moss: The Forgotten Relic: A 3D platformer available for non-VR PC players. - Storebound: A cooperative horror puzzler launching into version 1.0. - Wreck Runners: A multiplayer game set in a haunted Bermuda Triangle. - Fogpiercer: A tactical roguelike deckbuilder focused on defending a train. - Frozen Ship: A first-person survival game launching in early access on the 17th. Additionally, today marks RPS’s 19th birthday, and the team will be scattered in the coming days for various events and holidays.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

25 Games Tested On The Steam Machine: A Good, But Pricey Device

Valve's Steam Machine, priced at ,000, was tested with a 2TB unit using default settings at 1080p resolution, upscaled to 4K. Various games were evaluated for performance, including: - Cyberpunk 2077: Smooth 60 FPS with light ray tracing; stability issues at resolutions above 1080p. - Mouse: P.I. for Hire: Ran flawlessly at 60 FPS with default settings. - Left 4 Dead 2: Performed admirably. - Borderlands 4: Had visual issues initially; became playable after adjustments. - Hades 2: Ran seamlessly at default settings. - Silent Hill 2: Struggled with performance. - Doom: The Dark Ages: Played smoothly; could use visual adjustments. - Megabonk: Performed impressively. - Spider-Man 2: Decent at default settings; improved with resolution increase. - Windrose: Struggled at default settings; medium settings improved performance. - Overwatch: Exceptional experience at default settings. - Grand Theft Auto V: Ran well after initial setup issues. - Gears of War Reloaded: Visuals improved after tweaks. - Fallout 4: Maintained solid performance without adjustments. - Control Ultimate Edition: Needed settings lowered for stable performance. - Arc Raiders: Playable but with fuzzy image quality. - Elden Ring: Performed admirably with some tweaks. - Vampire Crawlers: Provided a sharp experience. - Resident Evil 4 remake: Satisfactory but needed adjustments for better visuals. - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Became playable after adjustments. - Helldivers 2: Ran well but lacked sharpness compared to PS5 Pro. - Resident Evil Requiem: Solid experience but fell short against PS5 Pro. - The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Ran exceptionally well. - Peak: Required no adjustments and performed comparably to high-end PCs. - Warhammer 40K: Darktide: Achieved stable 60 FPS after tweaks. - Halo: Master Chief Collection: Unplayable due to login issues. - Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip: Ran smoothly at maximum settings. - Rage: Ran smoothly after adjustments. The Steam Machine is seen as intriguing but its high price limits appeal to dedicated enthusiasts. It offers access to a vast library of Steam games, particularly older or 2D titles, but may not be justifiable for non-PC gamers, especially with upcoming titles on rival consoles.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

The only indie roguelike action RPG that rivals Hades and Diablo for me just got an incredible new expansion

Hell Clock has gained popularity among action RPG enthusiasts, especially during the wait for Path of Exile 2. The developers at Rogue Snail delayed the Cursed War expansion to allow players to enjoy the new season of PoE 2 without feeling overwhelmed. Hell Clock offers a quick gaming experience with new content and features that enhance gameplay. It provides a refreshing alternative for players seeking excitement in the action RPG genre.

BetaBeacon

June 29, 2026

Your Android phone can play some Steam games. Here’s how

Old and new games were tested on a phone using GameHub. Low-power 2D games work best, while some newer 3D games struggled to launch or had performance issues. Older games like Skyrim ran smoothly, while a newer game like Dead as Disco required additional components to run. Playing games on GameHub is unpredictable, with older and 2D games being more likely to work well.

BetaBeacon

June 10, 2026

The 19 best games on the Nintendo Switch 2

- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Remastered have Metacritic scores of 95 and 94 respectively. - Hades II has a Metacritic score of 95 and has been praised for exceeding expectations with its gameplay loop and captivating storytelling. - Mina the Hollower, developed by Yacht Club Games, has a Metacritic score of 91 and is a top-down action adventure game inspired by Game Boy Colour classics.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

Mortal Sin is my favorite roguelite you haven’t played, and it’s a steal in this Steam key bundle

Mortal Sin is an indie roguelite game that combines elements from titles like Dark Messiah, Warhammer: Vermintide, Roboquest, and Hades. It features a visceral landscape filled with gore and a variety of melee weapons, encouraging aggressive gameplay. Players can execute limb-severing combos and must manage weapon durability to survive. The game is currently available for .50 as part of the Prestige Collection XL Bundle from Fanatical, requiring the purchase of two games totaling .99.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

Realm of Ink is a beautiful Hades-style roguelike with action-packed gameplay to boot

Realm of Ink is a roguelike game currently in early access, featuring a stunning art style inspired by Chinese ink-wash painting and fast-paced action reminiscent of Hades and Dead Cells. Players control Red, a swordswoman on a quest to defeat a Fox Demon, navigating arenas filled with enemies and utilizing randomized power-ups to enhance gameplay. The game includes a unique 'pet' system with a companion named Momo that can change forms based on the player's Ink Gem loadout. It is available for purchase on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, as well as on console, with a full 1.0 release scheduled for May 26.

AppWizard

May 20, 2026

What’s new on Xbox Game Pass? Check out the latest.

Xbox Game Pass is evolving with a variety of gaming experiences. Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan, features 550 cars, and allows players to race at speeds up to 100 mph. Hades 2 allows players to control Melinoë, expanding on the original's themes and gameplay while maintaining engaging combat and narrative. Vampire Crawlers combines gameplay from Vampire Survivors with roguelike deckbuilding, offering strategic gameplay and unique mechanics. Subnautica 2 is the most wish-listed game on Steam, enhancing exploration and survival mechanics from the original game. Mixtape is an indie game that offers a three-hour experience filled with nostalgic storytelling and a vibrant soundtrack reminiscent of the '90s.