Hades: 10 Best Characters, Ranked

The soul of a game is found in its NPCs. Whether it’s the way they move and interact with the environment or how good their dialogue is, NPCs are an undeniably important part of the gaming experience. In a game like Hades, you wouldn’t expect NPC interactions to be a selling point, but somehow, it is.

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The relationship system in Hades brings its NPCs to the forefront. The game slowly nudges the player to pay attention to the dialogue and encourages them to find their favorites. And we’re here to help you with that!

10 Hypnos

The younger brother of Thanatos and the son of Nyx, Hypnos, is presented to the player as soon as they die in a run. The embodiment of sleep is anything but lethargic. With enough energy to wake up the dead, Hypnos greets the player without fail, if you talk to him at least.

Unfortunately, Hypnos isn’t available as a romantic partner, but his dialogue changes depending on the way you die. Even if you keep dying to the same hurdle, he will have something witty to say about it for sure.

9 Dusa

Cute and cuddly, the enlightened Gorgon Dusa is definitely a fan-favorite character in Hades. Her extremely nervous personality, her one-sided crush on Zagreus, and her cute art design highlight her in a positive way.

Dusa is one of the three romantic partners that Zagrues can court in the game. She slowly starts to open up to the player the more you talk to her. Going from fleeing on first contact to loitering about for a nice chat, Dusa’s character development is adorable to watch.

8 Hermes

If you’ve finished the story and know the plot, there isn’t much to like about the Olympian gods. But Hermes is, arguably, different. Even the game treats him differently. While most gods only appear sometimes. Usually, only four gods will help you during a run. Hermes is under no such compunction and will always help you out.

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Furthermore, his boon doesn’t increase the chance of getting a rare boon from him. Rather, it gives your character a speed buff. The implication is that Hermes isn’t self-centered and egotistical. He just wants the player to get out of Tartarus as soon as possible.

7 Patroclus

The enigmatic shade of Elysium is the cool guy in Hades. He cultivates an aura of mystique around himself and acts cold toward the player, making them want to find out more about him. Even without taking into account his personality, he offers incredibly useful gifts that can completely shift the tone of your run, taking it from completely hopeless to an outright win.

In the game, Patroclus’ story is one of loss and heartbreak. Without spoiling too much, he and Achilles share a deep bond that the player can help mend if they max out their affinity with both of them. You can’t give gifts to Patroclus until you discover his name from the codex entry.

6 Thanatos

The second member of Zagreus’ prospective harem, Thanatos, makes everyone’s heart flutter. If Patroclus is the cool guy, Thanatos is the hot guy. Wind-swept hair, an elegant robe, and an ethereal presence, what more could a god of death want? A scythe. They’d probably want a scythe (which he does have, for the record).

First showing up as a reluctant helper/rival to Zagreus, Thanatos is an ally to the player from the start, in his own way. He doesn’t outright help Zagreus since he doesn’t want to put his position in jeopardy, but he helps out every now and again.

5 Good Shade

Of course, no best character list for Hades is complete without mentioning the good shade. Appearing in the final room of Elysium after you defeat Theseus and Minos in combat, the good shade is seemingly the only one in a crowd of presumed hundreds to cheer you on.

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Seeing the light during a dark, gloomy night rekindles even the biggest pessimist’s hope and brings a smile to their face. The good shade is something of a bright light in that sense. Their infectious smile and happy demeanor always elicit a response out of the son of Hades.

4 Chaos

The progenitor of all, father of Nyx, and being of the voice, Chaos, is a joy to be around. Most people wouldn’t expect him to be a good conversationalist considering his eldritch appearance and ever-shifting voice. However, they’d be pleasantly surprised.

Although he does require a blood sacrifice to meet (only if you don’t have Daddy Chaos’ keepsake equipped!), it’s a blood sacrifice well sacrificed. He offers insights into the world you’re in and offers you great boons on top of that.

3 Bouldy

Perhaps it says something about Sisyphus’ character that he managed to make the device of his eternal torment into his friend. Or perhaps it says something about Bouldy. Regardless of who’s to blame for this unexpected turn of events, Bouldy is here, and Bouldy is here to stay.

Unlocked after you’ve conversed with Sisyphus a certain number of times, Bouldy doesn’t have much to say to the player. However, if you gift Bouldy nectar, you will receive a boon with a random buff effect for the rest of your run!

2 Cerberus

The ferocious three-headed dog guarding the gates of hell is surprisingly willing to receive pets and head scratches, even though he knows you’re trying to leave hell. As a good boy, Cerberus is always deserving of some love from the player.

The keepsake he awards is basic but top-notch, and every interaction with him leaves the player feeling fuzzy and giddy. What more could a son of Hades want in life?

1 Charon

While not the most talkative fellow, Charon nevertheless has a presence that’s undeniable. He is probably the NPC you’ll interact with the most, at least indirectly, and definitely see the most; he’s an unshakable pillar of any Hades run.

Provides you with knickknacks to help you run away? Check. Lets the gods help you out through boons and blessings? Check. Keeps a stock of first aid on hand (most of the time) in case you’re in need of emergency rations and/or a checkup? Check. Cool hidden boss that you can fight for a bonus that’ll help you in the long run? Check!

Next: Hades: Every Weapon, Ranked