The Game Awards’ 2020 Game of the Year winner was The Last of Us Part 2, but looking back after one year, the best game of 2020 was actually Hades. 2020 had many fantastic video game releases, including Ghost of Tsushima, DOOM Eternal, Half-Life: Alyx, and, of course, The Last of Us Part 2. Some of 2020’s releases were also not only serious contenders for Game of the Year but are still heavily played in 2021, such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Among all these fantastic releases, each warranting the Game of the Year title in their own ways, is Hades. Hades released on September 17, 2020, for PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch after a little under two years of early access. This rougelite game features hack and slash gameplay in dungeons that are randomly generated on each playthrough. Although the player, as Zagreus, loses their upgrades upon death in typical rougelike fashion, Hades includes certain materials that are retained even upon death. These can be used to permanently affect Zagreus’ skills and weapons or to customize the House of Hades, which acts as the game’s hub, giving players a clear sense of progression and expression even if they find themselves struggling at the start.
Many players found themselves captivated by an addictive gameplay loop, stunning visuals, and stellar soundtrack and voice acting during Zagreus’ quest to escape the underworld in Hades. In addition, Hades features an engaging overarching story and individual character arcs that dynamically develop the more times the player ventures into the underworld. This unique style of procedural storytelling fits right in with a rougelike or rougelite game, appealing even to players who may not always be interested in video games with significant narratives. The diverse and charming cast of Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes in a story focusing on the struggles and strengths that come with familial bonds continue to resonate with countless players an entire year later. All the while, they strive to improve their skills in a game that only gets more enjoyable the more often it’s played.
Hades’ Replay Value Makes It 2020's Real GOTY
Some games, like Hitman 3, offer tons of replay value. But even games that don’t include much “replay value” can be replayed. Just like with movies that don’t actually change from one viewing to the next, players can appreciate details throughout the experience with their new perspective having finished the title once already. Normally, inherent replayability isn’t a make or break feature for a game, but rather an element that can play to individual players’ preferences. But a game like Hades is designed specifically around replay value, to the point where each facet of the game works with it cohesively. It’s not just the game itself that changes, but the story and characters do, too.
With over 305,000 words, Hades has enough writing to fill over 600 pages of a hypothetical book if the text remains single-spaced. This is significantly longer than the average novel, which finds approximately 125,000 words to be on the longer side. This means that replaying Hades comes with not only the benefit of the player’s skills improving naturally and the character Zagreus seeing tangible improvements through upgrades but also through ever-evolving writing. No matter how much time passes between setting the game down and picking it back up again, players will always find something genuinely new to experience in Hades, from testing boon and weapon combinations to completing characters’ side quests. Hades’ impressive replay value appeals both to players who normally enjoy replaying games as well as those who generally play a game only once.
Hades’ Console Availability Prove It Was Really 2020's GOTY
Like replay value, console exclusivity isn’t a make-or-break deal for any given game, but it certainly helps when players have more ways to play a game as acclaimed as the “Game of the Year.” The technical prowess of The Last of Us Part 2 can’t be understated, but it makes it difficult to port the game onto other systems besides its launch console, the PlayStation 4. On the other hand, Hades launched on PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch, lending itself to a wider audience. Its more stylized, less realistic visuals mean it won’t show its age as quickly, if ever, and Hades has since been released on PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. With so many consoles to play it on, Hades can be enjoyed by almost everyone.
Hades’ Accolades Show Why It Was 2020's Best Game
Although Hades didn’t win the Game Awards’ 2020 Game of the Year, it wasn’t nominated for that category alone. Of its eight other nominations, Hades won Best Indie and Best Action game. But the Game Awards isn’t the only gaming award ceremony to shine the spotlight on Hades.
The International Game Developers Association’s (IGDA) first-ever Global Industry Game Awards saw Hades win nine of its ten nominations across art, audio, design, and narrative categories, including the grand award of “Best Representation.” At the 21st Game Developers Choice Awards, Hades won three awards - more than any other game - with Best Design, Best Audio, and Game of the Year. BAFTA’s 17th Video Game Awards saw similar results, with Hades winning the most awards even if it didn’t receive the most nominations. Among Hades’ five wins is the coveted Best Game Award. The game also had the third most nominations, with eight, and most wins, with five, at the 2021 DICE Awards. These include Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, and Game of the Year.
Hades has also received recognition from smaller publications or ceremonies not specific to gaming. Gayming Magazine, a British LGBTQIA+ gaming publication, had its first awards ceremony in February 2021. Here, Hades won both the Readers’ Award and Game of the Year. The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America’s (SFWA) 56th Nebula Awards saw Hades win Best Game Writing, and the upcoming 2021 Hugo Awards will include a Best Video Game category for the first time ever, with Hades as a finalist. Hades didn’t win the Game Awards’ Game of the Year, but it was Game of the Year for many different award ceremonies and players alike.
The Dog Doesn’t Die In Hades
Many players found The Last of Us Part 2’s attempt to guilt players for their required actions, including the mandatory killing of a dog, to detract from its meshing of gameplay and narrative. The Last of Us Part 2 tried to portray a conflicted protagonist, but that, unfortunately, didn’t always land as the game often requires gruesome killing to even progress. Hades’ cyclical gameplay, on the other hand, allows the violence to naturally fit into the story. As gods and half-gods who are already in the underworld, Zagreus can fight characters such as Hades himself without any problem.
No matter who is defeated, they’ll be taken away on the River Styx back to the House of Hades as good as new. And even with this clever gameplay and narrative mix, players still don’t have to fight their beloved dog Cerberus at any point in the game. While some players may certainly appreciate the narrative The Last of Us Part 2 wants to tell, Hades also weaves a meaningful story with nuanced characters without sacrificing gameplay and narrative cohesion.
Hades Was Completed Without Crunch (Unlike TLoU Part 2)
“Crunch” is an extremely harmful period of time during development that severely impacts the mental health of the people working in game development. Hades' developer Supergiant Games is strictly against crunch, giving its workers as much time off as they need and requiring employees to take at least 20 days of vacation a year. Safe and healthy employees are always the priority, but this also comes with the added benefit of ensuring they’re at their best and most motivated to tackle their game projects.
Hades is already a shining example of the ways indie games can stand toe-to-toe with AAA titles, and it’s also proof positive that crunch isn’t an inevitable part of game development, but rather something that can and should be avoided. Players can enjoy Hades knowing it’s not only a phenomenal game but that its developer cares for the well-being of its employees.