No great game would be complete without an iconic protagonist and in the witty yet determined Zagreus, Hades has just that. Because of the rebellious personality that makes him stand out in the world of Hades, every interaction involving him is interesting to watch and that only gave fans more content for memes.
Whether inspired by that dry sense of humor, those iconic interactions, or just his personality itself, the internet has tirelessly produced memes that encapsulate everyone's favorite prince of the underworld.
Zagreus Always Has Time To Flirt
Hades is an action-packed game that often draws on the player's skill and reflexes in combat as they make the demanding journey out of the underworld and its main character reflects that most of the time, However, what's hilarious is how Zagreus instead becomes a romance-obsessed playboy if the player chooses to focus on relationships instead.
Despite only three characters in the game being full romance options, Zagreus can have flirty interactions with almost anyone so it's no wonder he's just as well-known for his less serious side.
Drowning In Boons
While it's obvious that Zagreus is indebted to the Olympian gods for their help on his mission, every player has gotten to a point where they keep being offered boons they don't want over and over. That's why it's hilarious that the gods keep sending more even when he refuses every single one.
It's clear that Zagreus is being spoiled by the Olympian gods, who seem completely oblivious to the fact he can only take on so much, and this meme hilariously draws attention to that dynamic by showing him literally drowning in them.
A One-Sided Conversation
One of the best things about the awesome Hades experience is when the good-humored Zagreus interacts with some of the more serious inhabitants of the underworld. That's especially true with Charon, the boatman of the river Styx and Zagreus' shopkeeper in the game, who responds to his jokes with grunts and groans.
What makes this typical of Zagreus is the fact he shows the same determination in trying to converse with Charon as he does in his attempts to escape the underworld, treating his nonsensical responses as nothing more than an unusual quirk. Zagreus seems to treat everyone equally, regardless of conversational ability.
Zagreus Has No Time For Theseus
While there are more hated characters in video games, it's fair to say that very few Hades fans consider the smug and self-aggrandizing Theseus to be one of their favorites. That's when Zagreus proves why he's such a great protagonist. Just when the player is likely starting to get tired of Theseus' speeches, Zagreus usually bluntly shuts him down.
Whereas Theseus seems to love the sound of his own voice and happily rambles on, the protagonist is generally a lot more concise when it comes to telling him to be quiet and that only makes fans love him more.
Entertainment For The OIympian Gods
Hades might take a somewhat liberal approach to the Greek mythology it draws from but one thing it gets absolutely right is how the gods aren't exactly all noble and wise. Instead, when he faces another hero who can also call on an Olympian god, it becomes clear that loyalty isn't their watchword either.
Though it's nice to think that they chose to help Zagreus out of sympathy for his predicament and Zagreus tends to treat them politely, it's clear he's something of an entertaining experiment to them even if they do ultimately believe in him.
A Gun-Wielding Prince Of The Underworld
Greek mythology is sometimes misrepresented in the media so it's refreshing that Hades got a lot of things right, showing Hades as stern and dedicated rather than the outright villain he's sometimes portrayed as, for example. However, they also have a ton of fun with it, especially when it comes to Zagreus.
Not only do Zagreus' wit and sensibilities feel a lot more contemporary compared to some of his fellow inhabitants of the underworld but he's also the only person in the game who gets to use a gun and a powerful, brightly-colored one at that.
A Different Side Of Zagreus
Zagreus might have an air of refinement about him that shows in his ability to expertly wield different weapons but one that's a little different is the Adamant Rail. Give him a giant rail gun and Hades becomes a very different game indeed.
Along with that, Zagreus suddenly seems a lot more like a dumb action hero, tearing through the chambers, blasting enemies, and destroying the place with bombs too. It might be a different side of the prince of the underworld but it's just as fun a way to play the fantastic roguelite.
The Time Zagreus Pushed Hades Too Far
Hades may have been a strict father but cutscenes that show the past between the father and son demonstrate why he has some serious doubts about Zagreus. One of the most hilarious examples of this was when Zagreus slacked off from his work, after finding it unfulfilling, to the point where Hades fires him.
While it's easy to sympathize with Zagreus, it is yet another example of how his rebellious personality and tendency to speak his mind has caused him trouble in the underworld.
Zagreus And Tisiphone
Charon isn't the only inhabitant of the underworld that Zagreus loves to talk to despite them not being much of a conversationalist. One of the most hilarious examples of this is his repeated interactions with the Fury sister Tisiphone who seems incapable of saying anything other than the label she has branded Zageus with.
Tisiphone is unlikely to appear on anyone's favorite video game characters list but, whereas her limited conversational ability should be annoying, it's made entertaining by Zagreus persisting anyway. This ability to be funny even with almost nothing to work with is exactly why he's such a likable protagonist.
Zagreus Just Wants To Leave The Underworld
Whether a player enjoys seeing the gods fight in duo boon dialogue and when Zagreus is forced to choose one over the other in Trial of the Gods or they aren't a fan of those rather tense interactions, it's obvious that the prince himself doesn't usually prefer one god over any other.
Rather than picking a side, Zagreus is clearly more concerned with his own mission than worrying about the egos of the Olympian gods. Instead, he's just as much of an outsider as the player is when it comes to their fights and that only makes him more relatable.