Of the many roguelike titles available,Hadeshas established itself as one of the most well-known and beloved. Its gameplay is just part of why it’s considered one ofthe best indie gamesavailable, but that isn’t the only reason it became such a hit. Another key strength is the way the story of Zagreus and his escape to the Surface was told, as many characters and details were brilliantly woven throughout the game’s roguelike structure. Because of how good the game’s narrative was, gamers may be inspired to come up with possible “what if?” scenarios, and one possibility that stands out among the rest is the question of what would have happened if Zagreus never made it to the Surface.
The main purpose ofHades' Zagreus is to leave his life in the Underworld, instead pursing happiness and the opportunity to meet his mother. To achieve both goals, he would need to reach the Surface, a daunting task considering the many trials that can easily stop him from doing so. Although this is something Zagreus wants to do, he doesn’t necessarily have to do it, which raises the question of what would happen if he never bothered trying or gave up attempting to leave the Underworld. Given how many answers could be given to this question, it’s worth discussing the topic in detail.
What Could Have Happened if Zagreus Never Reached the Surface
Whilethe game mostly follows the tale of Hades and Persephone, it took a few liberties here and there to ensure that Zagreus reaches the Surface and gets the happy ending he deserves. But if he never made it, there are many scenarios that could have played out, such as:
How Zagreus Failing Could Have Changed the Story of Hades 2
If Zagrues never made it to the surface, there’s a chance that he could have become a brother that Melinoe despises rather than fondly remembers inHades 2. The sequel’s story could then shift to something along the lines of him siding with Chronos in imprisoning his father, forcing his sister to stop them both to try and revert things to normal. Something like this would have madethe differences between Melinoe and Zagreusclearer than ever, considering that it could lead to a proper battle between the two. While many would surely like to see such a fight, it is hard to argue against Supergiant’s existing take on the story being the best path possible, as there is plenty to appreciate about the sequel as is.
Hadesis considered one ofthe best story-driven roguelike gamesto exist, and it would likely retain that title even if the plot were altered to make it so that Zagreus had never reached the Surface. Regardless of how different it would be, the possibilities are so interesting that any one of them could have resulted in an outcome that many would likely enjoy or appreciate, which speaks to how interesting theHadesuniverse is.
