King Arthur inspired Hades 2 rival shifts release date to dodge nightmare clash

Hades 2 finally has a date for its 1.0 launch, and that's exciting news for just about everyone. But for Sworn developer Windwalk Games, it's a bit of a nightmare situation. Of all the newcomers that draw inspiration from one of the best roguelike games around, this King Arthur-themed offering is one of the closest to Hades in form and structure. Unfortunately, its planned 1.0 release happened to be Thursday September 25 - the same day now claimed by Supergiant's titan. In an attempt to sidestep this clash, the team at Windwalk has brought its launch slightly forward, and I'd certainly recommend giving it a chance.

I've been holding off on Hades 2 to go in fresh at 1.0, and Sworn has been filling that gap in my life. It will likely fall onto the back burner once Melinoë's adventure begins in earnest, simply because I don't have enough free time to hold all these games at once. But the greatest compliment I can pay is that I will absolutely be returning to it in the future.

Along with some fantastic theming and enemy design, Windwalk has expanded on that familiar roguelite structure with a huge amount of depth. Not only can you play Sworn as a co-op game, but it features four playable characters, each with four weapon types and four distinct spells, meaning you'll be discovering new combinations for dozens of hours before you even start to factor in the various blessings offered by the Fae Lords.

"We know you're all excited about the recent news that Supergiant Games is releasing Hades 2 on September 25," Windwalk Games writes. "Hades is a genre-defining game that served as a huge inspiration for us when crafting our co-op action roguelike Sworn. As fans ourselves, we recognise that launching on the same day could present challenges. To that end, we have decided to advance our 1.0 release date." The studio is also offering a Steam sale discount right now, so it's a good time to pick it up if you're curious.

Sworn 1.0 will now arrive on Tuesday September 23. It's also 33% off until Monday September 29, meaning you'll pay just $16.74 / £16.74. Grab it here if you're tempted, or read through another of my effusive recommendations for the game if you need me to sell you a bit more before you commit. With an 87% positive Steam review average, I'm certainly not alone in my opinion.

Alternatively, take a look through our pick of the best indie games you need to play in 2025, along with the best gaming handheld to take them on the go with you.

Are you a roguelike fiend like me? Then drop by our community Discord server and let us know which games currently have you in their thrall. I'm still deep in the throes of both Blue Prince and Coal LLC.