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After ‘The Odyssey,’ 1 Award-Winning Video Game Franchise Deserves a TV Adaptation
Collider argues that Supergiant Games’ Hades franchise would be a strong candidate for a television adaptation, following the success of other game-based series such as Fallout, The Last of Us and The Witcher. The article says its Greek-mythology setting, character-driven story and distinctive visual style could suit the expanding fantasy-TV market, particularly amid renewed interest in Greek myths.
Released in 2020, Hades is a roguelike action role-playing game centred on Zagreus, son of Hades, as he tries to escape the Underworld and learn about his mother, Persephone. He receives help from Nyx and Olympian gods while repeatedly fighting Underworld monsters; each defeat returns him to the start, forming the game’s central cycle. The franchise received a sequel, Hades II, in 2025, which also includes Odysseus as an interactable character.
In short
- Collider says Hades is well suited to a fantasy television adaptation.
- The games rework Greek mythology around Zagreus’s escape from the Underworld.
- Hades II expanded the franchise in 2025.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The recent successes of Fallout, The Last of Us, and The Witcher demonstrate that audiences embrace well-crafted game adaptations, and Hades possesses the character-driven narrative, distinctive visual identity, and mythological depth that television requires. Its story of Zagreus seeking freedom and familial connection would translate powerfully to linear episodic storytelling, and the Greek mythology setting aligns perfectly with proven television audience appetite for this genre.
The case against
Despite recent successes, game-to-screen adaptations carry inherent risks given their mixed historical track record, and Hades' particular appeal derives substantially from its roguelike structure and player agency—elements that become passive observation in television format. The game's contained narrative and reliance on visual artistry specific to its medium raise questions about whether the story possesses sufficient scope for sustained television seasons and whether its distinctive aesthetic could translate convincingly without losing what makes it remarkable.
Explained simply
Hades is a video game released in 2020 by developer Supergiant Games. The game follows Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the Underworld whilst learning about his mother, Persephone, receiving help from the goddess Nyx and various Olympian gods.
The game is structured so that when Zagreus is defeated by Underworld monsters, he returns to the start and must attempt his escape again. This cycle of repeated attempts forms the basis of the gameplay, with each restart revealing more of the story.
Several video game franchises have recently been adapted for television with considerable success, including Fallout, The Last of Us and The Witcher. Meanwhile, the Hades franchise released a sequel, Hades II, in 2025, showing the property remains active and developed.