Hades (2020) — Story, World Setting & Character Breakdown
Developer: Supergiant Games • Publisher: Supergiant Games • Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS
World Setting & Story Premise
The Greek Underworld, divided into the fiery chambers of Tartarus, the magma seas of Asphodel, the warrior paradise of Elysium, and the frozen gates of the Temple of Styx.
Zagreus, son of the Lord of the Dead Hades, discovers that his biological mother is not Nyx, but Persephone, who fled the Underworld long ago. Aided by Olympian gods who offer boons, Zagreus fights through legions of shades to reach the surface.
Key Characters & Narrative Roles
Zagreus — Protagonist
Affiliation: House of Hades • Relationship: Son of Hades and Persephone; god of blood and rebirth
Defies his father’s administrative cynicism to seek out the truth about his mother.
Lord Hades — Antagonist / Stern Father
Affiliation: Ruler of the Underworld • Relationship: Father to Zagreus; brother to Zeus and Poseidon
A relentless bureaucrat convinced that family reconciliation is impossible and that the surface world brings only destruction.
Persephone — Crucial Narrative Figure
Affiliation: Former Queen of the Underworld • Relationship: Mother to Zagreus; wife of Hades
Lives in a secluded cottage in Greece; reuniting with her brings emotional resolution to the family.