Games

Hades II Physical Edition Arrives November 20: What’s Inside The Box

13 November 2025
Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo Switch
8 min.
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Hades II Physical Edition Arrives November 20: What’s Inside The Box

Summary:

Hades II finally gets a proper retail box, landing on November 20 with the game on a cartridge, a full-color character compendium, and a soundtrack download tucked inside. That’s great news if you prefer shelves over subscriptions, or you simply like owning what you play. The package isn’t fluff either: the cart includes the game itself, the booklet spotlights the cast with punchy art, and the music download adds hours of atmosphere outside the game. Reviews back it up—Hades II sits among 2025’s top-rated releases—so you’re not buying a box to fix a mediocre experience. You’re getting a polished roguelike with momentum, smart writing, and a loop that’s easy to restart and hard to put down. Below, we spell out the date, the contents, the compatibility between Switch and Switch 2, and the little details that matter—like where to pre-order, how the soundtrack code works, and why this edition is a win for collectors and everyday players alike.

Why Hades II’s Physical Edition Matters

There’s a reason people still chase boxes in a world that wants everything streaming and silent. A cartridge gives you permanence. It’s immune to disappearing storefront pages, shifting licenses, and the “we’ll patch it later” shrug that sometimes follows digital launches. With Hades II, the physical edition is more than a trophy case piece. It’s a smart bundle that pairs a playable cartridge with keepsakes you’ll actually use. The result is a purchase you can hand to a friend, resell in a few years, or proudly line up next to your favorite indies. It helps that the game underneath is excellent. The first Hades rewired how many of us think about roguelikes; Hades II takes that same pulse and pushes it into a bigger, richer rhythm. If you’ve held out for a box, you’re not settling—you’re choosing the version that sticks around.

Release Date And Platforms: What You Can Expect On Day One

Circle the date: November 20. That’s when the retail edition lands for Nintendo’s current lineup, with compatibility across Switch 2 and the original Switch family. The timing is intentional. After the digital launch window, a boxed copy gives players a second on-ramp—perfect for gift buyers and anyone who prefers a day-one cart. Importantly, the cartridge works in both systems, so households with mixed hardware aren’t left juggling versions. If you upgraded to Switch 2, you still get the benefits of that hardware; if you’re playing on an original Switch, you’re covered too. This crossover approach is part of why this release feels so approachable—the publisher isn’t gating the experience behind the newest plastic. You can bring the same cart to a friend’s place and drop it into whichever Nintendo console is there.

Cartridge Or Code: Exactly What You’re Getting In The Box

Nothing deflates a retail purchase faster than finding a download slip instead of a game. That’s not the case here. The Hades II physical edition ships with a proper game cartridge, which means you can pop it in and start playing without a multi-gigabyte wait just to unlock basic access. Alongside the cart, you’ll find a reversible cover that gives the case a second look if you like to mix up your shelf art, plus a printed character compendium and a code for the full soundtrack. It’s a practical mix: instant play via cart, something to read between runs, and music to carry the vibe when you’re away from the screen. For collectors, the reversible art and booklet turn a standard case into a display piece; for everyone else, it’s simply good value that respects your time.

The Character Compendium: Why This Little Booklet Packs A Punch

Booklets are making a comeback because they’re more than nostalgia—they help ground the world you’re stepping into. The Hades II character compendium is a full-color mini-book that spotlights major faces, relationships, and visual flourishes you might miss while dodging spells. It’s a handy refresher when you return after a break and can’t quite place a god’s boon or a rival’s backstory. It also serves as a crash course for players new to Supergiant’s mythic remix, laying out who’s who without sending you to a wiki. For younger players or folks buying this as a gift, the compendium turns the cast from a swirl of names into a set of memorable personalities you can root for—or laugh at—between attempts.

Soundtrack Download: How To Redeem And What You’ll Get

The code inside unlocks the full Hades II soundtrack, and that’s not a throwaway extra. The studio’s music has always been a core part of the mood—string grit and drum weight that make every dash feel like a downbeat. Expect hours of tracks that shift from brooding to triumphant, equally solid for workouts, writing sprints, or late-night runs where you promise yourself “just one more” and break that promise repeatedly. Redemption is straightforward: follow the printed instructions, enter the code on the provided site, and add the album to your library. If you’re gifting the game, the soundtrack doubles the present—one piece for their shelf, another for their headphones.

Performance And Compatibility On Switch And Switch 2

One cart, two ecosystems. The Hades II retail card runs on both Switch 2 and the original Switch family, which keeps things simple for mixed households and friend groups. On Switch 2, you’ll benefit from the beefier hardware—faster loads, smoother action, and higher performance targets—while the original Switch still delivers the core experience without fuss. That means you can grind away at home on Switch 2, then bring your adventures along to a friend’s older system without starting over. It’s the kind of compatibility that makes ownership feel flexible rather than fragile. If you ever pass the cart to a sibling or sell it years from now, it’ll still slot into multiple consoles with zero drama.

Critical Reception: What Reviewers Are Saying

Hades II didn’t just arrive—it arrived with momentum. Review aggregators and outlets place it among 2025’s highest-rated releases, highlighting sharper combat, richer writing, and a loop that rewards experimentation without punishing failure. That matters if you’re buying the retail edition a little after the digital crowd. You’re not taking a risk; you’re picking up a version that benefits from the studio’s polish and the community’s feedback through development. Critics point to how every run tees up a new mix of boons and weapon aspects while still letting you stash long-term upgrades, so your time never feels wasted. In short: this box doesn’t need to hide behind extras. The game carries its own weight.

Who Should Buy The Physical Version (And Who Should Go Digital)

If you prefer plug-and-play with minimal downloads, the cartridge is a slam dunk. It’s also a smart pick for anyone who shares games with family, resells titles later, or just likes their favorites visible on a shelf. The extras tilt the value further: a compendium for the couch table and a soundtrack you’ll keep long after the credits. Digital still makes sense if you swap games constantly and live on the go, or if you’ve committed to an all-digital library with a giant microSD card already in place. But for many, this package offers a better long-term relationship with the game—one that doesn’t depend on a store staying online forever.

Pre-Order And Availability: Where To Find It And Typical Pricing

Retailers across regions are listing the November 20 date, and pricing slots into the standard premium-indie bracket. If you’re in the EU or the Netherlands, local shops are taking pre-orders with delivery timed for launch week. For North America, the MSRP lands at the familiar $49.99 range, with occasional promos depending on the store. Because this edition includes a cartridge and printed materials, stock can ebb around the holidays. If you want it for gift-giving—or you simply don’t want to hunt later—placing a pre-order is the low-stress route.

Preservation, Collectability, And Long-Term Value

Physical releases like this one age well because they’re complete packages. Years from now, you’ll still have a playable cart, a booklet that instantly brings back the cast, and a code redeemed into your music library. Even the reversible cover matters more than it seems; swap the artwork and suddenly the case looks custom. As digital storefronts evolve, a cartridge remains a guarantee you can count on. And if you ever decide to pass it on, you’re not handing someone a receipt—you’re handing them the game.

Tips For Your First Runs In Hades II

Start wide, not deep. Experiment with different weapons early to learn how each shapes your rhythm—some beg you to play aggressively, others reward patience and positioning. Mix boons that reinforce a single idea: if you’re leaning into damage-over-time, don’t dilute it with random crits; if you’re chasing crits, stack effects that multiply those spikes. Prioritize survivability upgrades that persist across attempts so each run nudges your floor higher. And remember: losses are data. Each defeat tells you which rooms stall you, which boons don’t pull their weight, and which enemies punish bad habits. Treat those notes like a training montage—every stumble sets up a cleaner escape.

Region, Returns, And Warranty

Before you hit buy, glance at three basics. First, region and language support: the cart is region-free, but packaging and printed text can vary by market, so make sure you’re comfortable with the version you’re ordering. Second, retailer policies: confirm return windows in case your case arrives scuffed or the seal’s broken. Finally, shipping and delivery timing: launch-week congestion can add a day or two, so plan around birthdays or holiday gifting. Do that, and everything else—the game, the art, the music—falls into place.

Conclusion

Hades II’s physical edition is the rare retail package that nails both sides of the equation: a no-nonsense cartridge for instant play and extras that add genuine value. The character compendium enriches the world, the soundtrack amplifies it, and the reversible cover gives your shelf a little swagger. With the cart working across Switch and Switch 2 and reviews ranking it among the year’s best, this isn’t just a collector’s impulse—it’s a practical way to own a modern classic outright. If you’ve been waiting for the box, the wait ends on November 20. Snap it up, slot it in, and let the Underworld test your reflexes all over again.

FAQs
  • Does the physical edition include the full game on a cartridge?
    • Yes. The retail box includes a proper game cart, so you can play immediately without needing a separate unlock code for the base game.
  • What extras are inside the box?
    • You get a full-color character compendium booklet, a reversible cover, and a download code for the Hades II soundtrack.
  • Is the cartridge compatible with both Switch and Switch 2?
    • Yes. The retail card works on both systems, so you can move between consoles without buying multiple copies.
  • When is the physical edition available?
    • November 20, with pre-orders live at multiple retailers in various regions.
  • How well is Hades II reviewed?
    • It ranks among 2025’s highest-rated releases, with critics praising its combat, writing, and replayability.
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