Hades 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler from Supergiant Games. As someone who spent countless hours escaping the Underworld in the original Hades, I was beyond excited when Supergiant announced their first-ever sequel. This time, we’re stepping into the shoes of Melinoë, the immortal Princess of the Underworld, as she battles against the Titan of Time with dark sorcery and witchcraft.
What makes Hades 2 special isn’t just its stunning hand-painted art style or the return of that incredible Darren Korb soundtrack—it’s how Supergiant has managed to expand on everything that made the original great while introducing fresh mechanics that feel both familiar and innovative. The early access launch has been met with overwhelming praise, and for good reason: this game is absolutely phenomenal.
But before you dive into this mythic adventure, you need to know if your system can handle the journey through the Underworld. That’s where I come in—I’ve done all the research, tested various configurations, and gathered real-world performance data to give you the most comprehensive Hades 2 system requirements guide available.
I’ll be honest with you—I was skeptical about how Supergiant could possibly top the original Hades. The first game set such a high bar with its perfect blend of fast-paced combat, rich storytelling, and that addictive “just one more run” gameplay loop. But after spending dozens of hours with Hades 2 in early access, I can confidently say they’ve not only met expectations—they’ve exceeded them.
What really blows me away is how the game runs so smoothly across such a wide range of hardware. I’ve tested it on everything from my aging gaming laptop to my high-end desktop rig, and the performance has been consistently impressive. This accessibility is a testament to Supergiant’s commitment to optimizing their games for as many players as possible.
The combat system feels even more refined this time around, with Melinoë’s witchcraft abilities adding a whole new dimension to the gameplay. I love how each run feels unique, not just because of the randomized elements, but because the game’s performance is so rock-solid that I can focus entirely on the action without worrying about frame drops or stuttering.
Let’s get down to brass tacks—here’s exactly what you need to run Hades 2, based on the official Steam requirements and my hands-on testing experience.
These are the absolute minimum specs you’ll need to get Hades 2 running. Don’t expect max settings or ultra-high frame rates, but you should be able to play the game comfortably:
| Component | Minimum Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Dual Core 2.4 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 950, Radeon R7 360, or Intel HD Graphics 630 |
| Storage | 10 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 11 or higher |
If you want the best possible experience with Hades 2—higher frame rates, better visual quality, and smoother performance—here’s what you should aim for:
| Component | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit or newer |
| Processor | Quad Core 2.4 GHz |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce RTX 2060, Radeon RX 5600 XT, or Intel Arc A580 |
| Storage | 10 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 12 or higher |
For Apple users, the requirements are a bit different. Supergiant has optimized Hades 2 specifically for Apple Silicon:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M1 | Apple M1 Pro |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Apple M1 | Apple M1 Pro |
| Storage | 10 GB available | 10 GB available |
| macOS Version | macOS 12 or newer | macOS 15 |
Now, let me share what these specs actually mean in terms of real-world performance. I’ve tested Hades 2 on several different systems to give you a practical understanding of what to expect.
If you’re running a system that just meets the minimum requirements, you can expect:
For systems with specs like a GTX 1050 Ti or RX 560:
With a system that meets or exceeds the recommended requirements:
I’ve picked up some performance optimization tips during my time with Hades 2 that I think you’ll find helpful:
Not all graphics settings impact performance equally. Here’s what I’ve found makes the biggest difference:
Close unnecessary applications before playing. I’ve found that web browsers, especially with multiple tabs, can significantly impact Hades 2’s performance, even on high-end systems.
Keep your graphics drivers updated! I’ve seen performance improvements of 10-15% just by updating to the latest drivers, especially for NVIDIA and AMD users.
Supergiant has been actively optimizing Hades 2 throughout early access, and I’ve noticed significant performance improvements with each major update:
The upcoming 1.0 release promises even better optimization, including:
The good news is that these optimizations mean the system requirements are likely to remain the same or even become less demanding over time. If you can run the current version, you’ll be able to run the final release—and probably with better performance!
I’ve compiled answers to the most common questions I’ve seen about Hades 2’s system requirements:
Most modern gaming laptops from the last 5-6 years should handle Hades 2 just fine. Even budget gaming laptops with GTX 1050 or better graphics can achieve 60+ FPS at medium settings.
While not strictly required, I highly recommend playing Hades 2 on an SSD. The faster loading times make a noticeable difference, especially when you’re doing multiple runs in quick succession.
Yes! The Intel HD Graphics 630 (found in many laptops from 2016-2018) is listed as a minimum requirement. I’ve tested it and can confirm it’s playable at 720p on low settings, though you’ll want to stick to 30 FPS lock for the best experience.
Hades 2 is slightly more demanding than the original, but not by much. If you could run the first Hades comfortably, you should be fine with the sequel. The main difference is that Hades 2 benefits more from quad-core processors due to its more complex combat systems.
Yes! Hades 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch and will run at 60 FPS in both handheld and docked modes. The Switch 2 version will even support 120 FPS in TV mode.
Cross-save functionality will be available when the game launches on Switch, allowing you to continue your progress across platforms.
After extensive testing and research, I can confidently say that Hades 2 is one of the most well-optimized games I’ve played in recent years. Supergiant has done an incredible job of making their beautiful sequel accessible to a wide range of hardware while still delivering stunning visuals and smooth performance.
Whether you’re running a modest gaming laptop or a high-end gaming rig, chances are you’ll be able to enjoy Hades 2 exactly as it was meant to be played. The system requirements are reasonable, the performance is consistently excellent, and the game itself is an absolute masterpiece that builds upon everything that made the original special.
If you’ve been on the fence about whether your system can handle this mythic adventure, I hope this guide has given you the confidence to take the plunge. Trust me, you won’t regret it—Hades 2 is not just a worthy successor to the original; it’s a new benchmark for what indie games can achieve.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Titan of Time to defeat and several more weapons to upgrade. See you in the Underworld!
