Hades II is good on Switch, but fantastic on Steam Deck and Switch 2

Supergiant Games’ highly anticipated sequel, Hades II, is now available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC after exiting early access. I’ve been thoroughly testing the complete 1.0 version on both Nintendo Switch models, as well as on Steam Deck and ROG Ally, to assess performance on handheld devices and compare the experience across different platforms. Having previously played a significant amount of the early access version, I’ve been taking advantage of the cross-platform save feature to seamlessly continue my progress on all my devices.

I’ve tested Hades II on the Switch, Switch 2, and Steam Deck. I looked at how long it takes to load on each device, compared how the game looks, and created some recommended settings for playing Hades II on the Steam Deck, both when connected to a TV and in handheld mode.

Hades II Nintendo Switch 2 Edition impressions

I first loved the original Hades on Switch and Steam, and later enjoyed it on PlayStation and Xbox. Because I saw how well it ran on different systems, I was eager to see how the sequel would perform on consoles. When Hades II was announced for Switch and the new Switch 2, the initial announcement mentioned a 60fps target, which was a little underwhelming considering the Switch 2 is capable of 120fps. Fortunately, Supergiant Games clarified that the game would run at 120fps when docked, but capped at 60fps in handheld mode, with both modes at 1080p resolution. After playing Hades II on the Switch 2 for over 20 hours, I think it’s a great game. However, I’m still a little let down that it doesn’t support 120fps in handheld mode, especially since it can reach a consistent 90fps on the Steam Deck OLED.

Hades II Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gameplay

I was eager to try Hades II, especially since I had some problems with the first game on Switch. Currently, the game aims for 60 frames per second in handheld mode and 120fps when docked. So far, I haven’t encountered any significant issues while playing on the Switch 2. The game even received a patch a few days before launch for both Switch models, and I didn’t have any problems with it even before the update. Hades II feels very smooth and refined on the Switch 2, but I was a little let down that there’s no 120fps option for handheld play and no support for higher resolutions (1440p or 4K) when docked. It’s possible this is a limitation of the Switch and Switch 2’s hardware when switching between docked and handheld modes, but that’s my main concern with the Switch 2 version.

I also want to mention a few more details about the Nintendo Switch 2: cross-saving with Steam seems to work very well, loading times are noticeably faster, and you can now adjust the intensity of the rumble feature within game settings.

Hades II Nintendo Switch port impressions

So, I’ve been playing Hades II on my Switch, and it feels pretty similar to the first game, which is awesome! Honestly, I’m seeing fewer performance hiccups than I did with the original. It runs beautifully in handheld mode, especially on the OLED screen. But playing it docked? That’s where things get a little rough. I upgraded my monitor since I first played Hades, and now I’m using a 1440p display. Seeing a 720p game stretched across that big of a screen just doesn’t look great. I really wish the menus and UI would at least render at 1080p when docked, even if the gameplay stays at 720p. Not sure if that’s a limitation of the game engine or not. But if you’re hoping to play Hades II on the original Switch and mostly want a good handheld experience, I think it definitely delivers!

Hades II Switch 1 gameplay

Aside from the screen resolution when played on a TV, the biggest problem with Hades II on the original Switch is how long it takes to load. It’s frustrating when you want to quickly start a new run. I’ve detailed the load times further down, but there’s a significant difference between loading the game on the original Switch and the new Switch model.

Hades II full release PC features

Hades II on PC offers a surprising number of visual settings. While it’s not packed with every possible graphics option, it does include support for ultrawide monitors, which was a nice surprise. I was able to test it on my 1440p monitor at 2560×1080 resolution. Though some screens seem designed for a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, the game itself plays perfectly in ultrawide. You can also customize how the game displays, choosing between fullscreen and borderless windowed modes, enabling or disabling v-sync, and adjusting brightness and resolution. The game offers low, medium, and high graphics quality settings, and even supports up to 4K resolution, including proper 16:10 support on the Steam Deck. Beyond visuals, you can also adjust the interface’s transparency and choose which controller prompts appear – options include keyboard & mouse, automatic detection, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Hades II full release Steam Deck impressions and recommended settings

Hades II is fully playable on the Steam Deck and has been since it first launched in early access. I’ve tested it with nearly every update, and it runs and looks fantastic on both the original LCD and the newer OLED Steam Deck models. The LCD version consistently delivers a smooth 60 frames per second, while the OLED model boosts that to a very fluid 90 frames per second. I also experimented with pushing the graphics settings for a good experience when docked and tried downsampling to see how it performed in handheld mode.

Hades II Steam Deck gameplay

When playing Hades II on the Steam Deck, I consistently achieved over 100 frames per second at 1440p while docked to my monitor, even during challenging boss fights. Surprisingly, the most demanding parts of the game aren’t the action-packed combat, but rather the Crossroads hub area and the boon selection screen. At a 21:9 resolution of 2560×1080, I could comfortably target 144fps, with performance dips again limited to the hub. If you’re happy with 60fps when docked, sticking to 1440p is a great option, or you can aim for 1080p and 144fps. If you’re considering downsampling while playing handheld, you won’t consistently hit 90fps at 1920×1200, but you can still get a smooth 80fps experience. However, this level of visual enhancement isn’t really necessary for the best portable experience.

Hades II full release ROG Ally impressions

I tested Hades II on my ROG Ally, aiming for smooth gameplay at 1080p resolution and 120 frames per second. The Ally’s 25W turbo mode easily achieved this with the default high graphics settings. While the 15W mode could also run the game, the frame rate frequently dropped below 120fps, although variable refresh rate (VRR) helped smooth things out. For a consistently stable 120fps experience, I recommend sticking with the 25W mode. The 10W ‘Silent’ mode could manage a mostly stable 1080p at 60fps, but only after lowering the graphics settings. Ultimately, I preferred the 25W mode for a high-quality, portable 1080p 120fps Hades II experience on the ROG Ally.

Hades II ROG Ally gameplay

During my five hours of playing Hades II on the ROG Ally, the game crashed twice. However, both crashes occurred while I was capturing screenshots, and the game ran smoothly during normal gameplay.

Hades II Switch 2 vs PC vs Switch load time differences

I tested how quickly Hades II loads, measuring the time it takes to get to the main menu and then to load a saved game. If you’re playing on a Switch or Switch 2 with cross-save turned on, add 2-5 seconds to the load times shown below. Steam cross-saves much faster, with no noticeable delay. For testing, I had the game installed on an SD card for the Switch, the internal storage of the Switch 2, and the internal storage of both my ROG Ally and Steam Decks.

Platform / Test	Dashboard to title screen	Loading a save/run
Switch	25	9
Switch 2 Edition	10	4-5
Steam Deck	15-20	3-4
ROG Ally	18-25	3-4

Hades II starts up fastest on the Switch 2, but takes a bit longer to load a game than it does on PC handhelds. Even so, it’s a significant upgrade over the original Switch version. Of all the versions I tested, the first Switch was the only one with a noticeably slow startup time.

Which version of Hades II should you buy?

Here’s a breakdown of the best way to play Hades II depending on your setup:

Nintendo Switch: If you only have a Switch, or prefer handheld gaming, the Switch version is a solid choice and looks great on the OLED screen. Plus, you’ll automatically get the Switch 2 version for free if you upgrade to a Switch 2 later.

Nintendo Switch 2: The Switch 2 version offers an excellent experience, especially when played docked. Visuals are slightly softer on larger 1440p or 4K screens.

Steam: If you already own the game through early access, or primarily game on PC, the Steam version is the best option. It looks fantastic on the Steam Deck OLED and delivers smooth 1080p gameplay at 120fps on the ROG Ally in handheld mode.

Switch 2 & Steam: For the ultimate experience, especially if you play on both platforms, we recommend owning both versions. Hades II features seamless cross-save, allowing you to switch between devices effortlessly. This lets you enjoy the best portable experience with the Steam Deck OLED and a smooth 120fps docked experience on the Switch 2. If you don’t want to dock your Steam Deck, this is the way to go. Thanks to Supergiant Games’ cross-save feature, you can enjoy Hades II across both Nintendo and PC like you could with the first game.

Which is the best portable version of Hades II?

You’ll have a great time playing Hades II no matter what platform you choose. The Steam Deck OLED offers the best portable experience, while the Switch 2 still delivers a fantastic experience with smooth performance – 120fps when docked and 60fps in handheld mode. If you own a Steam Deck OLED, that’s the ideal place to play. However, if you have the original Steam Deck LCD, the Switch 2 will likely look and feel better thanks to its sharper display and bigger screen. For the most flexibility, consider buying Hades II on both Steam and Switch (2) to sync your progress and enjoy the game on all your devices.

Hades II is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic).

2025-09-24 18:11