Hades is a rogue-like dungeon crawler in which you defy the god of death as you hack and slash your way out of the Underworld of Greek myth. The player takes the role of Zagreus , the prince of the Underworld, who is trying to escape the realm to get away from his dispassionate father, Hades , and reach Mount Olympus.
The game's story revolves around Zagreus' quest to escape the Underworld. The player is supported by the other Olympians, who grant him gifts to help fight through the beings that protect the exit from the Underworld. These gifts are themed based on the Olympian, providing the player with unique boosts for each run.
The gameplay involves navigating through randomly generated rooms, fighting enemies, and collecting in-game currency and keys. The player can use the currency to unlock permanent upgrades for Zagreus or access different weapons. With three persistent boosts available per run, the player must carefully choose which gifts to select, as they will determine Zagreus' chances of survival.