iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Hades II has the better soundtrack overall if you want the broader, more varied score: it runs for just under four hours and uses more character- and location-specific musical ideas, including the glam-rock spectacle built around Scylla and the Sirens. The original Hades is the better choice if you prefer a shorter, exceptionally cohesive album centered on Darren Korb’s writing and the instantly recognizable vocal presence of Ashley Barrett.
That is a judgment about listening priorities, not an objective rating published by Supergiant Games. Both games share Korb as composer and Barrett as a vocalist, so the real difference is breadth versus concentration.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Hades - Nintendo Switch | $59.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Hades Limited Edition (Nintendo Switch) | $62.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![- Hades - [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fwy58kArL._SL160_.jpg)
|
- Hades - [PlayStation 5] | $26.28 | Buy on Amazon |
Hades vs. Hades II soundtrack: the short answer
Choose the Hades II soundtrack for variety across a long playlist, more distinct musical settings and a larger collection of character-driven set pieces. Choose the Hades soundtrack for a tighter album whose songs feel unusually unified and whose vocal tracks make an immediate impression.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe runtime difference is substantial. Supergiant’s 2019 storefront description lists the official Hades soundtrack at two and a half hours. The studio’s Hades II release announcement calls its score the company’s biggest-ever soundtrack, at just under four hours. That additional length is not merely padding: the sequel was designed around more characters, places and musical concepts. It also means the sequel asks you to spend more time with a wider range of sounds before the album’s overall shape becomes clear.
#1 Best Overall
- Battle out of hell in Hades, recipient of more than 50 Game of the Year awards
- Includes a download code for the Hades Original Soundtrack, by composer Darren Korb, best known for his work on developer Supergiant's past titles like Transistor and Bastion.
- Also includes a full-color 32-page character compendium booklet, featuring beautiful artwork of the game's colorful cast of gods, ghosts, and monsters, all by Supergiant's art director Jen Zee.
- Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion and Transistor.
- As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself.
| Category | Hades | Hades II |
|---|---|---|
| Officially stated runtime | Two and a half hours, according to Supergiant’s 2019 storefront description | Just under four hours, according to Supergiant’s official release announcement |
| Composer | Darren Korb | Darren Korb |
| Established vocalist | Ashley Barrett contributes vocals | Ashley Barrett contributes vocals |
| Additional named vocal feature | Not stated in the supplied official credits | Judy Alice Lee is featured on “Moonlight Guide Us” |
| Core musical advantage | Cohesion, concentration and a strong Korb/Barrett identity | Breadth, novelty and distinct character- and location-based concepts |
| Best fit | Listeners who want the most immediately unified album | Listeners who want the widest range across repeated runs |
What “better soundtrack” means in this comparison
A game soundtrack can succeed in several different ways. A short album may feel more memorable because every transition reinforces a single identity. A larger score may be more useful during a long game because it gives different regions, bosses and characters their own sonic signatures. Those qualities can point to different winners without either soundtrack failing.
Cohesion and concentrated identity
Cohesion describes how naturally an album holds together when you listen from beginning to end. The original Hades has a compact two-and-a-half-hour frame and a highly concentrated vocal identity. Korb’s compositions and Barrett’s performances give the soundtrack a recognizable center, so its songs tend to read as parts of one deliberate musical world rather than as isolated experiments.
Breadth and novelty
Breadth is the range of moods, arrangements, voices and dramatic situations represented across the score. Hades II has nearly four hours to explore those possibilities. Supergiant’s creative director Greg Kasavin has explained that musical variety helps make locations distinctive, and the sequel applies that idea to both environments and characters. The result is a score built to keep changing as you move through a larger set of encounters.
Memorability versus endurance
Memorability favors a track that announces itself quickly and returns to a clear musical identity. Endurance favors a score that can accompany many hours of play without making every area feel interchangeable. The first game’s concentrated approach is especially effective when you want a playlist you can replay often. The sequel’s broader approach is more attractive when you want fresh colors and new set pieces over a longer listening session.
The Hades soundtrack: why the original remains so effective
A compact album with little excess
Supergiant describes the official Hades soundtrack as two and a half hours of music created for the game. That is long enough to cover the game’s major spaces and dramatic beats, but short enough to preserve a clear album-scale identity. You can listen through the full release without committing to an enormous multi-hour score, and the sequencing feels easier to grasp as a single work.
The runtime also changes how repetition works. During a run, familiar motifs can return often enough to become part of your muscle memory. Outside the game, the same concentration means the standout ideas arrive more frequently than they would in a much larger soundtrack. If you judge a score by how quickly it establishes a signature and how little listening time it takes to revisit that signature, Hades has the advantage.
The Korb and Barrett vocal combination
Darren Korb composed the original score, while Ashley Barrett contributes vocals. Their collaboration is the defining point for listeners who want a soundtrack with a strong song-oriented identity rather than only atmospheric underscore. Barrett’s voice gives the vocal material a human focal point, and Korb’s writing places those performances inside the game’s larger rhythmic and dramatic language.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #2
- Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.
Because the vocal identity is so concentrated, the soundtrack is easy to recognize even when you are not looking at the track title. That makes it a particularly strong choice for listeners who want the songs themselves to carry the memory of the game. The available evidence supports describing the Korb/Barrett pairing as a central identity; it does not support assigning an objective score to every individual track or claiming that every listener will prefer the same performance.
Where Hades can feel narrower
The same focus that makes the first soundtrack cohesive can make it feel less expansive beside Hades II. There are fewer total minutes and therefore fewer opportunities for radically different character or location concepts. If your favorite game albums are sprawling collections that keep introducing new textures, the original may seem more disciplined than adventurous.
That is a trade-off, not a defect. A concentrated score can be easier to replay, easier to sequence into a personal playlist and easier to associate with a single game’s atmosphere. The original wins whenever unity matters more to you than the number of musical directions explored.
The Hades II soundtrack: what the larger score adds
Nearly four hours of music
Supergiant’s official Hades II release announcement calls the soundtrack the studio’s biggest ever and places its length at just under four hours. Compared with the original’s two and a half hours, that is roughly an hour and a half of additional material. The announcement describes the total as music created for this game, rather than as a compilation of unrelated bonus material.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A score of that size can support more situations without forcing every region or major encounter to share the same musical vocabulary. It also creates a longer listening arc: you can build a substantial playlist from the soundtrack before repeating a track. For players who spend many runs in the game, that variety can make the music feel less predictable over time.
Character and location concepts
Greg Kasavin has said that music is vital to each of Supergiant’s games and that musical variety helps make locations distinctive. In Hades II, that principle is expressed through concepts tied to particular characters and places. The score’s range is therefore not variety for its own sake; it is part of the game’s method for telling you where you are and what kind of encounter you are entering.
This approach benefits listeners who enjoy soundtracks as world-building documents. You can hear the album as a sequence of environments and personalities, with each shift carrying information about the setting. The trade-off is that a more concept-driven score may feel less uniform when played as a standalone album, especially if you prefer one dominant vocal or instrumental signature.
Rank #3
- As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unravelling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.
- The Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.
- A fully-voiced cast of colourful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what's really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.
- New surprises await each time you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld, whose guardian bosses will remember you. Use the powerful Mirror of Night to grow permanently stronger and give yourself a leg up the next time you run away from home.
- Permanent upgrades mean you don't have to be a god yourself to experience the exciting combat and gripping story. Though, if you happen to be one, crank up the challenge and get ready for some white-knuckle action that will put your well-practiced skills to the test.
The Scylla and Sirens encounter
Kasavin specifically discusses Scylla and the Sirens as a collaborative musical concept. The encounter is presented as a glam-rock performance, linking the boss fight’s identity to the idea of a band and a stage rather than treating the battle as generic action music. That kind of character-led set piece illustrates what the sequel gains from its wider palette: a memorable musical premise that belongs to a specific group and situation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The example matters because it shows how Hades II uses music to distinguish personalities, not only biomes. A track associated with Scylla and the Sirens can function as a piece of characterization, spectacle and combat momentum at the same time. If you value those one-off concepts, the sequel has a clear edge.
Additional vocal color
Ashley Barrett contributes vocals to Hades II as well, preserving a vocal link with the original. The sequel also features Judy Alice Lee on “Moonlight Guide Us.” That additional named vocal presence expands the palette without abandoning the established Korb-led foundation.
The evidence does not establish a simple rule that more vocalists automatically produce better songs. It does show that the sequel has more than one vocal color available, which supports its broader approach. Listeners who want continuity will still find Barrett’s involvement; listeners who want a wider range of voices have a specific additional feature to look for.
Head-to-head comparison by listening priority
| If you care most about… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A unified album identity | Hades | The shorter runtime and concentrated Korb/Barrett center make the full release feel tightly focused. |
| More total music | Hades II | It runs just under four hours, compared with two and a half hours for Hades. |
| Distinct settings | Hades II | Supergiant connects musical variety with making locations distinctive. |
| Character-specific spectacle | Hades II | The Scylla and Sirens encounter is built around a glam-rock concept. |
| A familiar vocal identity | Hades for concentration; either game for continuity | Barrett contributes vocals to both, but the original places that pairing at the center of a shorter score. |
| More vocal variety | Hades II | In addition to Barrett, Judy Alice Lee is featured on “Moonlight Guide Us.” |
| A soundtrack that is quick to revisit | Hades | Two and a half hours is easier to replay as a complete album than a score approaching four hours. |
| A long, changing background playlist | Hades II | The larger track pool gives repeated runs more room for variation. |
How the music works during gameplay
Repeated runs reward recognizable motifs
Both games are built around repeated attempts, so music has to work under repetition rather than only during a first dramatic reveal. The original’s tighter identity helps recurring musical ideas become anchors. You may hear a familiar sound and immediately associate it with the pace, danger or emotional tone of a run. That reliability is one reason the first soundtrack remains compelling even when you already know its structure.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Longer games benefit from more contrast
Hades II approaches repetition by increasing contrast between settings and encounters. More concepts mean that a change in location or character can also produce a change in musical language. For players who spend many hours in the same game, those changes can reduce the sense that every run is accompanied by one continuous loop.
The choice depends on how you experience repetition. If you like returning to a familiar musical home base, the original is the safer fit. If you want each new area or major character to alter the soundtrack’s personality, the sequel is more rewarding.
Rank #4
- Die Macher von Bastion und Transistor präsentieren einen actiongeladenen Dungeon Crawler im Rogue-likeGewand.
- Nutze die Kräfte und mythischen Waffen des Olymp, um aus der Unterwelt und seinem Herrscher höchstpersönlich zu entkommen.
- Mit jedem einzigartigen Fluchtversuch wirst du stärker und entdeckst mehr der Geschichte.
- Diese Edition enthält die folgenden Bonusinhalte: Einen Download-Code für den epischen Hades Original Soundtrack von Darren Korb – ein zweieinhalbstündiges Fest für die Ohren. Ein 32-seitiges Charakter-Booklet mit Artworks von Jen Zee, die die kunterbunte Riege an Göttern, Geistern und Monstern zeigen.
Standalone listening changes the test
In-game effectiveness and album listening are related but not identical. A track can work perfectly during a boss encounter because its rhythm and arrangement reinforce the action, even if it feels unusual in a quiet listening session. Conversely, a beautifully cohesive album may not provide as much contrast when the game keeps returning to similar situations.
Hades benefits from this distinction because its compactness makes the standalone album easy to understand. Hades II benefits in the game because its additional concepts can be encountered in context, where their connection to a place or character is clearest. Decide whether you are buying primarily for background listening, for replaying the game or for both.
Which soundtrack should you buy?
Buy Hades if you want the most cohesive listen
- You prefer a shorter album with a clear beginning-to-end identity.
- You want Darren Korb’s writing and Ashley Barrett’s vocals to remain the dominant center of attention.
- You replay albums often and would rather revisit a concentrated set of ideas than work through a nearly four-hour score.
- You value songs that feel immediately connected to one another as parts of one world.
Buy Hades II if you want range and discovery
- You want the larger score, at just under four hours.
- You enjoy hearing different musical concepts attached to characters and locations.
- You want a soundtrack that can supply more variation across repeated runs.
- You are interested in set pieces such as the glam-rock Scylla and Sirens encounter.
- You want Barrett’s returning vocal presence alongside the additional color of Judy Alice Lee on “Moonlight Guide Us.”
Buy both if you treat soundtracks as world-building archives
The two albums are complementary rather than redundant. The first documents a concentrated musical identity; the second expands that identity into a larger set of environments, characters and performance ideas. Owning both lets you hear how the same composer and one returning vocalist can support two different approaches: one built around focus, the other around scale.
Where the official albums are available
Supergiant’s official Hades and Hades II soundtrack albums are available through the studio’s Bandcamp storefront. Steam also lists the Hades soundtrack as downloadable content. Availability, regional presentation and pricing can change, so check the current official listing before purchasing.
No verified current listing for a physical Hades or Hades II soundtrack edition, vinyl, CD or soundtrack-specific collectible is established here. If you specifically want a physical release, confirm that an item is an official, currently available product rather than assuming the digital album has a matching edition.
Final verdict
Hades II is the overall winner for soundtrack breadth and variety. Its just-under-four-hour runtime, location and character concepts, broader vocal palette and distinctive ideas such as the Scylla and Sirens glam-rock encounter give it more range across a long listening session and across repeated runs.
Hades is the better soundtrack for cohesion and concentrated vocal impact. At two and a half hours, it is easier to absorb as a single album, and the Korb/Barrett combination gives the score a particularly unified identity. If your definition of “better” is the soundtrack you can replay most often without losing its shape, choose the original.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
