17. (tie) Hades (2020*)

Zagreus overlooks Hades from a distance
  • * released on the Nintendo Switch in 2020; original PC early access release in 2018
  • Final score: 25 points
  • Total placements: 2 lists
  • Highest placement: #8, Kevin

Casey writes:

Despite tying with Cuphead, the Medusa character in Hades (in comparison to the main image on the Cuphead entry in this list) is one of the few who isn’t sexualized to a cartoonish degree, but that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of lust to go around in this equal-opportunity thirst trap. Part visual novel about how beautiful the entire Greek pantheon is and part controller-friendly modernization of the Diablo franchise’s most hardcore gameplay modes, the game blunts the edge of its roguelike format by providing a decent number of opportunities for long-term permanent progression, slowly balancing the difficulty curve through earned abilities and weapons as well as encouraging technical mastery through repetition. Along the way, the story mode provides an impetus to keep playing, making an enticing package through and through. Hades was a smash hit on PC in its early access phase via the Epic Games Store (and eventually Steam), culminating in an official 1.0 release on those platforms at the same time it arrived on the Switch. It’s a cross-platform game that runs very nicely on the Switch and the portable nature of the console made it a popular choice for its “one more try” format.