Underworld Unfolded : How Hades Balances Narrative and Gameplay

This thesis investigates how the critically acclaimed roguelite game Hades (Supergiant Games, 2020) integrates strong narrative elements without disrupting gameplay through formal analysis. Traditional storytelling methods often present difficulties when being utilized in games; these difficulties are especially highlighted in roguelite games due to the procedurally random and repetition-based nature of the genre. The findings reveal that Hades utilizes modular and dynamic storytelling, which is compatible with the roguelite structure. The gameplay remains uninterrupted through dialogue that responds to player decisions, the justification and integration of death into the story, and narrative segments that are brief, concise, and non-intrusive. The results suggest that effective narrative integration in roguelites is achievable by embedding the story into the systems that drive player engagement rather than layering it on top. This research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how formal design choices can support meaningful storytelling in genres traditionally hostile to narrative cohesion.