Supergiant Games has this weird, almost frustrating ability to make everything else look a bit dull by comparison. When the first Hades dropped, the art direction from Jen Zee basically rewrote the rules for how we expect mythological figures to look. They weren't just statuesque or "godly" in that boring, marble-white sense. They were fashion icons. They were messy. They were hot.
So, when the Hades 2 character art started appearing in Early Access, the community went into a bit of a tailspin.
It’s not just "Hades 1 but more." It’s fundamentally shifting the vibe from the fiery, sharp-edged depths of Tartarus to something much more ethereal, lunar, and honestly, a bit more haunting. Melinoë isn't Zagreus. She doesn't have his casual, "I'm just trying to leave home" swagger. She’s a witch. She’s disciplined. Her character art reflects a specific kind of silver-hued occultism that separates this sequel from its predecessor in ways most people are still trying to wrap their heads around.
The Shift From Solar Fire to Lunar Witchcraft
The first thing you notice about the Hades 2 character art is the palette. Zagreus was all about reds, oranges, and high-contrast blacks. It felt like a comic book brought to life with a heavy metal soul. Melinoë, our new protagonist, is defined by greens, silvers, and deep purples.
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Jen Zee, the Art Director at Supergiant, seems to have leaned heavily into the "Chthonic Myth" meets "Wiccan Aesthetic" for this go-around. Look at Melinoë’s arm. It’s glowing. It’s ghostly. It’s not just a cool design choice; it tells you everything about her connection to Hecate and the unseen world.
While Zagreus felt like he was burning his way out of hell, Melinoë feels like she’s haunting it.
The lines are different, too. There’s a softness in some of the new portraits that wasn't as prevalent in the first game. In the original, everything had these thick, aggressive ink lines. In Hades 2, the art feels a bit more illustrative and layered. Take Hecate, for example. Her design is an absolute masterclass in character silhouette. The triple-faced goddess motif is handled with such subtlety that you almost miss it at first glance, but then you see the shadows shifting, and it hits you. It’s brilliant.
Why Hecate is the New Gold Standard
Everyone is talking about Hecate. For good reason.
She isn't just a mentor figure. Her character art establishes the entire visual language of the sequel. The way her veils interact with the green fire of her torches is a technical nightmare for an artist, yet Zee makes it look effortless. Most games would just give a witch a pointy hat and call it a day. Supergiant gave her a towering, regal presence that feels older than the gods themselves.
That’s the nuance people miss. The Hades 2 character art isn't just about making "cool" characters. It’s about visual storytelling through costume design. Every strap, every piece of jewelry, and every sigil on Hecate’s robes serves a purpose. It represents the "Old Ways" of magic that the game focuses on.
The Controversy of the "Unfinished" Look
Let’s be real for a second.
Early Access is a weird time. When Hades 2 first launched in its early state, some of the character portraits were literally just sketches. Placeholder art. People who didn't understand the development process saw these and thought the quality had dropped.
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Obviously, that wasn't the case.
Actually, seeing the "work in progress" art alongside the finished Hades 2 character art gave us a rare look at the process. You can see how Jen Zee builds these characters from the silhouette up. Some characters, like Nemesis, arrived almost fully formed with their aggressive, heavy-armor look. Others, like the various Olympian cameos, took a bit longer to get their final polish.
The finished portraits we see now are even more detailed than the first game. There’s a specific texture to the skin and the fabrics that feels more "painterly."
Nemesis and the Power of Silhouette
Nemesis is a fan favorite for a reason. Her design is a total departure from the "slender" aesthetic of many female characters in the first game. She is built like a tank. Her armor looks functional, heavy, and lived-in.
If you look at her character art, the focal point is that massive sword, but her expression is what does the heavy lifting. There’s a weariness there. A resentment. It matches the dialogue perfectly. This is where Supergiant excels: the art doesn't just sit there; it acts.
Comparing the Olympians: Old vs. New
It’s fascinating to see how returning characters have changed. Aphrodite, for instance.
In the first game, she was the classic "Goddess of Love." In Hades 2, her character art has been tweaked to feel a bit more... war-ready? She still has the flowers and the flowing hair, but there’s a sharpness to her eyes now. The world is at war with Chronos, and even the "soft" gods are showing their teeth.
Zeus and Poseidon have also seen updates. They look a bit more haggard. A bit more stressed.
- Zeus: His lightning feels more erratic in the portraiture.
- Poseidon: He’s got that "fun uncle at the beach" vibe but with a layer of "I haven't slept in three weeks because of this Titan war."
- Artemis: She remains the best-designed character in the franchise (don't @ me), but her new look in the Hades 2 character art gallery emphasizes her role as a hunter in the shadows rather than just a girl in the woods.
The consistency is what’s impressive. You can put a portrait from 2018 next to one from 2024, and they feel like they belong in the same universe, but the 2024 version clearly has more "miles" on it. The evolution of the style is subtle but undeniable.
The Technical Wizardry of Jen Zee
We need to talk about the technical side of this Hades 2 character art.
Most 2D art in games feels static. Supergiant uses a proprietary way of layering these portraits so that they can breathe, blink, and react. But the actual drawing? That’s all hand-painted.
The use of "rim lighting" in Hades 2 is significantly more advanced than in the first game. Look at how the light from Melinoë’s spells hits her chin or the underside of her hair. It’s not just a flat color; it’s a calculated use of color theory to make the character pop against the dark, murky backgrounds of the Erebus levels.
Also, the sheer variety of body types in Hades 2 is a massive step up. From the spindly, ghostly figures to the hulking titans, the anatomical diversity makes the world feel much larger than just a small family of gods.
Apollo’s Glow-Up
Apollo was the "missing link" for a long time. Fans wanted him in the first game, and he finally arrived in the sequel. His art is... a lot. He’s radiant. Literally.
His character art uses a technique where the colors seem to bleed out of the lines, giving him this shimmering, sun-drenched quality that stands in stark contrast to the rest of the cast. It’s a deliberate choice. He’s the light in a very dark game. If his art didn't feel "too bright," it wouldn't be working.
Honestly, the way his golden bow is integrated into his posture is just 10/10 design.
Why the "Art Style" Matters for Gameplay
You might think art is just window dressing. You'd be wrong.
In a fast-paced roguelike, you need to recognize a character instantly. The Hades 2 character art serves as a visual shorthand. When you see a Boon icon or a character portrait in the distance, you know exactly who you're dealing with before you even read the text.
The color coding is vital.
- Yellow/Gold: Apollo (Light, Daze).
- Dark Blue/Silver: Selene (Moon, Hexes).
- Pale Green: Hecate (Magic, Mystery).
- Blood Red: Well, you know who that is.
This isn't accidental. The character art dictates the UI, the FX, and the overall "feel" of the run. If the art was muddy or inconsistent, the gameplay would feel less responsive.
The Influence of Ancient Pottery and Modern Fashion
If you look closely at the patterns on the clothing in the Hades 2 character art, you’ll see nods to actual Hellenistic pottery. The "Greek Key" (meander) pattern shows up, but it’s often subverted or broken.
Supergiant doesn't just copy history. They "remix" it.
They take high-fashion silhouettes—think Alexander McQueen or Iris van Herpen—and smash them together with ancient Greek robes. This is why the characters look so "modern" despite being thousands of years old. It’s a "Mythic-Punk" aesthetic that nobody else has quite managed to replicate.
Look at someone like Odysseus. He doesn't look like a generic soldier. He looks like a weary traveler who has seen things that would break a normal man’s mind. His tattered cloak and the way he leans into his frame tell a story of 20 years at sea without saying a single word.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Artists
If you're obsessed with the Hades 2 character art like I am, there are a few things you can do to appreciate it more or even learn from it.
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- Study the Silhouettes: Take a screenshot of the characters and turn them into pure black shapes. You’ll notice you can still tell exactly who is who. That is the hallmark of great character design.
- Check the "Compendium" in-game: Supergiant usually includes high-resolution versions of these portraits in the game menus. Spend some time looking at the brushwork. It’s not as "clean" as you think; there’s a lot of texture and "noise" that makes it feel organic.
- Watch the Development Vlogs: Supergiant has been pretty transparent about their process. Seeing the early sketches of Melinoë compared to her final version is an education in itself.
- Follow the Artists: Jen Zee and the rest of the team often post snippets or inspirations on social media. It’s a great way to see the "why" behind the "what."
The Hades 2 character art is more than just a sequel's paint job. It’s a deliberate evolution of a style that has become iconic in the indie gaming space. It’s darker, weirder, and more complex than the first game, reflecting a story that is less about "breaking out" and more about "breaking in" to the secrets of the gods.
Whether you’re there for the hot gods or the technical brilliance, there’s no denying that Supergiant has raised the bar again. The shift from the warm, fiery tones of Zagreus to the cool, moonlight vibes of Melinoë is a masterclass in how to evolve a brand without losing its soul.
Keep an eye on the updates as the game moves toward its full 1.0 release. We’ve already seen how much the art can change in a few months, and there are likely more gods—and more stunning portraits—waiting in the wings. For now, just enjoy the view. It’s one of the best looking games ever made, and it’s only getting better.
To get the most out of the visual experience, try playing the game on an OLED screen if you have the option. The deep blacks and high-contrast neon effects of the Hades 2 character art really pop when the hardware can handle the saturation levels Supergiant is pushing. Also, don't skip the dialogue portraits; sometimes the subtle changes in expression are only visible for a few frames, but they add mountains of depth to the characters' personalities.