Hades II is set to be an addicting isometric roguelike wherein the protagonist Melinoë goes on a journey to defeat the Titan of Time, Chronos. With the first trailer having released this month, fans were excited to see Hecate, a Greek goddess often associated with witchcraft, seemingly mentoring Melinoë, with sorcery playing a role in the story. This suggests that Hades II, while bound to have similar weapon-focused combat to the first game, will likely involve magic to a higher level and have some occult-based themes.
Fans are excited to jump into this sequel and go on a roguelike journey wherein they meet memorable friends and foes alike, but getting there might take some time. As of right now, there are no details about a solid release date for the game, though it will go into an early access period sometime in 2023. With no exact date as to when fans can play around with blades and sorcery as Melinoë, here are a few games wherein fans can live their best witchy lives as they wait for the release of Hades II.
Bayonetta Shares Many Elements With the Hades Series
In Bayonetta, the titular character is a shape-shifting witch who uses dual-wielded pistols and magical attacks to fight enemies. After a five-hundred-year slumber, Bayonetta awakens without any of her memories. Like Hades, this is a combat-heavy game that will see players taking down a series of heavenly foes as she uncovers her past.
While the third game has just released and an origin story game is on the way, the very first Bayonetta game is an iconic title that everyone should play first. The character is one of the most well-known witches in video games, and getting to know her and her story is the perfect way to kill some time before Hades II arrives. Though it originally released in 2009 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it has been ported to several more modern platforms including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Blacktail Explores the Life of a Popular Mythical Witch
Blacktail is a new game wherein players discover the origins of another famous witch, though this one is a well-known figure from folklore: Baba Yaga. In the game, the protagonist Yaga goes on a quest to search for her missing sister in a fairytale-like world with more than a few dark areas and monsters. The game is a first-person shooter with Yaga wielding a bow, but she also uses magic when she faces off against the foes hidden in the forest.
Not only can Yaga wield magic, but the forest itself is full of magical creatures, and the game features some classically witchy elements like black cats, missing children, and broomsticks. Blacktail is also fascinating in that it reflects a more natural side of witchcraft and sorcery, as the story is embedded deeply in the physical environment of the forest and Yaga's interactions with its animal inhabitants.
Skyrim Can Be More Than Just Swords and Shields
While Skyrim might not be the first game that people think of when contemplating witchcraft and sorcery, it's a game that offers the freedom for players to be whatever or whoever they want to be. While it might be easier to grab a sword and start fighting off draugrs and dragons with some cold, hard steel, building a character who relies on magic can be a very rewarding and fun experience.
For players who have exhausted their share of archers, knights, and assassins, trying out a playthrough as a witch or a sorcerer can be a fun way to shake up the game by changing the approach to combat entirely. If gamers are truly dedicated to a witch's lifestyle, they can make a home out of Anise's Cabin, a small hut near Riverwood, or add some witchy mods to a PC version of the game.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout Explores the World of Alchemy
There's no shortage of Atelier games that players can try out, but Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is a great place to start. The games have a lot of typical JRPG mechanics including combat, resource management, and a good balance of characters who use magic and weapons to fight off enemies.
However, this series is set apart from other JRPGs by its focus on alchemy, which is used in a more classically magical way than an Edward Elric style. In the game, a central component consists of players using alchemy to create new objects like cooking ingredients, weapons, armor, and tools. While the games are quite popular in Japan, they're underrated in other countries but are definitely worth checking out for those who always imagined leaning over a cauldron and stirring in some mystical ingredients.
Little Witch Nobeta Puts a Soulslike Spin on Witchcraft
Boasting a cute aesthetic and anime art style, Little Witch Nobeta is a deceptively fun game with surprising surprisingly Soulslike elements. In the game, players take on the role of Nobeta, another amnesiac witch who is set on uncovering her lost memories as she travels through a castle, taking on throngs of monsters as she goes. While the game has some puzzle-solving elements, it's mainly a shooter game. However, instead of Bayonetta's pistols or Yaga's bow, players wield a magical staff and use it to shoot four types of magic at enemies.
With Soulslike elements like interconnected maps, familiar leveling systems, and hidden lore, Little Witch Nobeta is the perfect game for anyone that thinks Soulslike games would be better if the main character was a cute girl with a magic staff. The game is currently available on PC but will be released sometime next year for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.