Where is Zagreus in Hades 2?

There are many new characters introduced in Hades 2, but quite a few made the leap over from Hades. Artemis, Zeus, and others are back to offer boons and look ridiculously pretty. But what about the original protagonist? Has Zagreus returned for Hades 2?

Note: There will be some spoilers in this article, so if you haven’t cleared a run or two of Hades 2 yet, I suggest holding off reading further until you do. In the meantime, check out our resource and boss guides to help you on your way.

At this point, the best answer I can offer on whether Zagreus has returned to Hades 2 is: Yes? But also no. Let me explain.

In Hades 2, Melinoë, daughter to Hades and Persephone, and sister to Zagreus, seeks revenge on the Titan Chronos for shattering her family when she was just an infant. Her grandfather took over the House of Hades, dispatching its denizens, and declared war on Olympus. It’s Melinoë’s job to sort that out and rescue her godly kin.

Zagreus and many others are certainly in Hades 2, which we don’t doubt. Our former friends and allies are prisoners whom we speculate will get rescued by the Underworld Princess as part of the overall plot. But right now, it’s all a bit of a crapshoot.

Is Zagreus in Hades 2?

Let’s round back to my frustratingly unhelpful answer of “yes and no.” Zagreus and his former comrades from Hades do appear in Hades 2. As you make progress against the Titan of Time, Melinoë is granted a couple of brief glimpses into the past during her slumber after a failed attempt.

In one dream, she saw the past on the night of her escape as a baby. She takes over control of her father, Hades, who returns to his chamber and discovers to his horror that his father Chronos has taken over. We see many characters from the original game seemingly frozen in time. And there, near Hades’ desk, is Zagreus. It’s appropriate he’s in the front of the group, clearly raring to kick his grandfather off Hades’ office chair/throne. Unfortunately, it seems the Titan was too great a foe, even for Zagreus.

Is Zagreus dead in Hades 2?

Zagreus is not dead in Hades 2. As mentioned, rescuing him, Hades, Persephone, and the others is what gives Melinoë agency in the game. Well, that and kicking grandpa’s ass up and down the timeline. Zagreus and the others are certainly alive, as even explained by Chronos in that very same dream. According to the Titan, they “stand imprisoned in a moment of time that shall never pass.” We know the dream is accurate, as Hades himself confirms it during a chat between him and Melinoë in the game.

Okay, so where in Tartarus are they? We don’t know yet. In Hades 2, you eventually face off against Chronos in the House of Hades. After your victory, the game funnels you over to the door that leads to Zagreus’ room and the training area beyond. But as you enter, the game… stops. And you return to the Crossroads.

Hades 2 is still in Early Access, and not every Region or story sequence is available yet. Supergiant Games has a roadmap planned out, and the game will receive additional story content, areas to explore, characters, and more as it approaches release. Will we know the fate of Zagreus and friends before the game reaches its 1.0 launch in a year? It’s hard to say, but these characters will certainly appear again someday. It’s only a matter of Time.