Hades 2 isn’t getting a sequel, but its best alternative arrives in one week

12 Jun at 12:34 Comment Views: 13
Polygon
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<p>Six years following its debut, Supergiant Games’ <em>Hades</em> remains a benchmark for narrative-driven roguelikes. While the genre previously prioritized pure mechanics over scripted storytelling, <em>Hades</em> masterfully demonstrated that persistent, layered narrative progression could thrive within repetitive gameplay loops.</p>

<p>Since that milestone, the genre has seen many imitators, yet few have managed to push the medium forward—until now. <em>Erosion</em>, the latest title from Plot Twist (the team behind <em>The Last Case of Benedict Fox</em>), aims to redefine roguelike storytelling by emphasizing how player-driven decisions shape an evolving world.</p>

<p>I went hands-on with <em>Erosion</em> during Summer Game Fest, and even a brief 30-minute session was enough to reveal its unique mechanical structure. Beyond its polished twin-stick combat, the game introduces a persistent, reactive world that shifts in response to your failures.</p>

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<p>The premise is gripping: your protagonist’s daughter has been abducted into the depths of a treacherous dungeon. Your goal is to rescue her, but there’s a catch—every three deaths advances the world by a decade. This temporal shift drastically alters the overworld, transforming landscapes and changing the world’s inhabitants as your daughter ages in real-time.</p>

<p>Combat feels exceptionally tight. Unlike <em>Hades</em>, which relies on frequent banter between protagonist and antagonist to carry the plot, <em>Erosion</em> lets the adrenaline-fueled action do the talking. Fans of high-intensity shooters like <em>Enter the Gungeon</em> will find the movement and weapon feedback incredibly satisfying.</p>

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            <img src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/11.jpg" alt="The player engages in intense combat within the dungeon in Erosion">
            <small class="body-img-caption">Image: Plot Twist/Lyrical Games</small>
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<p>The game’s destructible voxel environments make every encounter feel tactile and chaotic. RNG factors—like the rare appearance of a shopkeeper—ensure no two runs feel identical, encouraging experimental builds that emphasize different tactical approaches.</p>

<p>The time-progression mechanic is the real standout. Witnessing a farm I previously "cleared" turn into a desolate ruin—or, conversely, a massive bandit stronghold—highlights the consequences of my performance. It creates a dynamic narrative that unfolds naturally through gameplay, independent of traditional cutscenes.</p>

<p>While skilled players might bypass these temporal shifts, the system ensures that every player leaves a footprint on the world. By shifting the focus from scripted dialogue to environmental storytelling and systemic consequences, <em>Erosion</em> offers a fresh take on roguelike structure that feels both retro and revolutionary.</p>

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            <small class="body-img-caption">Image: Plot Twist/Lyrical Games</small>
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<p>I only scratched the surface of what <em>Erosion</em> has to offer, but it’s already clear this is a title to watch. <em>Erosion</em> is slated for an early 2027 release on Windows PC and Xbox Series X, with a <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3211720/Erosion/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">public Steam playtest</a> running from June 23 through June 30.</p>

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Source: Polygon
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