Supergiant Games’ Hades II wins Best Action Game at The Game Awards with 94-95 Metacritic score, becoming 2025’s highest-rated original release

Supergiant Games continues its legendary track record with an outstanding victory. Hades II triumphed as Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2025 on December 11, 2025. This prestigious win caps off an extraordinary year for the developer’s acclaimed roguelike sequel, which has shattered critical expectations and set new standards for action game excellence.

Supergiant Games Dominates Action Category with Critical Consensus

Hades II emerged victorious from a competitive field that included some of 2025’s most anticipated action-focused releases. The game’s win reflects widespread recognition from the gaming industry and critics worldwide. Supergiant Games created a sequel that not only matched the original’s achievements but exceeded them across nearly every meaningful metric.

The victory underscores what critics consistently praised about the game: impeccable combat mechanics, flawless character design, and production values that rival AAA-budget titles. IGN awarded the game a perfect 10/10, while GamesRadar called it “impeccable combat and flawless characterization across a huge roster.” The developer received multiple perfect scores from major outlets during the game’s September launch window.

Highest-Rated Original Release Shattered Expectations

Hades II holds the distinction of being the highest-rated original game released in 2025 with a 94-95 Metacritic score across all platforms. On PC specifically, the game achieved a 95 Metacritic score based on 55 professional reviews. This standing placed it ahead of several other acclaimed releases that dominated conversations throughout the year.

The critical acclaim reflects extraordinary consistency across review outlets. Critics consistently highlighted the game’s art direction, soundtrack composition, and voice acting performances as standout elements. The game’s gameplay loop earned particular praise for combining tight combat mechanics with deep character progression systems that kept players engaged across dozens of hours of content.

Game Awards Recognition Expanded Recognition of Excellence

Award Category	Status
Best Action Game	WINNER
Best Independent Game	Nominated
Best Score & Music	Nominated
Best Art Direction	Nominated
Game of the Year	Nominated
Total Nominations at TGA 2025	Six Awards

Supergiant Games secured six nominations across various categories at The Game Awards 2025, reflecting the depth of achievement across all creative disciplines. The win in Best Action Game represents the evening’s first major victory for the developer.

Hades II Expanded Legacy of Supergiant Excellence

The sequel builds upon the original Hades‘ historic success at The Game Awards 2019, when it won Best Independent Game and Best Action Game simultaneously. Hades II matches this achievement while operating at a significantly larger scale. The game shipped with substantially more content, expanded character rosters, and deepened narrative connections to its predecessor.

Supergiant Games demonstrated mastery of the roguelike genre by iterating on proven mechanics while introducing meaningful innovations. The developer’s signature art style, renowned composer Darren Korb’s original score, and deeply engaging dialogue writing from the narrative team created a cohesive experience that justified the critical accolades.

What Makes This Victory Significant for Gaming in 2025?

This award recognizes the resurgence of high-quality inspired action games made by dedicated teams willing to innovate within established genres. Hades II‘s victory sends a message that technical excellence, artistic vision, and gameplay depth resonate across modern gaming audiences. The win also highlights the continued strength of independent developers competing against major studio productions on equal footing.

“We’re deeply honored that Hades II is in the running for Game of the Year and more at The Game Awards.”

— Supergiant Games Team, Official Statement

Sources

• The Game Awards – Official announcement of Best Action Game winner December 11, 2025
• Metacritic – Comprehensive review aggregation and scoring data
• Supergiant Games – Official developer statements and nominations confirmation