Where is Zagreus in Hades 2 and what happened to him

✓ At A Glance

• Melinoe, the protagonist of Hades 2, is Zagreus’ younger sister.
• Zagreus is trapped in a time trap by Chronos. You can find out what happened to Zagreus through dialogues and flashbacks.
• Though not impossible, it’s highly unlikely that Zagreus will become a playable character as Hades 2 development continues.

We don’t blame you if you have fallen in love with Zagreus, the protagonist of the original hit game. You’ve been in his fiery shoes, heard his plight, and fought your way to freedom time and time again. With Hades 2 focusing once again on the Underworld family, you may ask yourself – where is Zagreus while this is happening? We’re right there with you, piecing together the puzzle of what happened to Zagreus while Chronos threatens Mount Olympus.

Can you find Zagreus in Hades 2?

In a manner of speaking, yes, you can find Zagreus during the events of Hades 2. The game has shifted protagonists, with Melinoe, Zagreus’ sister, taking centre stage. The background story of Hades 2 follows years (or more) after the events of the original, where the titan of time, Chronos, rose up to do away with Olympian gods. 

One of Chronos’ first acts was to invade the Underworld and imprison its inhabitants, including Hades, Persephone, and even Zagreus. Young Melinoe was spared, spirited away by the witch of the Crossroads, Hecate.

Now, Melinoe only has a recollection of her family and brother through several dialogue options. For example, in one interaction, Chaos remarks that they liked Zagreus and missed him. Additionally, there’s an interactable portrait in Melinoe’s nook, depicting Hades, Persephone, and Zagreus, along with baby Melione.

What happened to Zagreus?

During the events of Hades 2, you’ll have a chance to meet Melinoe’s father, Hades. After this event, one of the post-death scenes will let you play as Hades himself in a flashback. It depicts the God of the Dead during Chronos’ invasion. While exploring the House of Hades, you’ll find many of its recognizable inhabitants trapped in a time stasis. In the house’s central area, you’ll come upon Zagreus, also caught in a time trap – though apparently still alive at least.

Can you play as Zagreus in Hades 2?

There is currently no way to play as Zagreus in Hades 2. The game is firmly Melinoe’s story, with a few cutscenes allowing you to control other characters in a flashback, like the above Hades example. The best that Zagreus fans can hope for is for their favourite character to receive similar treatment in the future.

Other than that, we hope to see some interaction between brother and sister further down the line, with Zag taking on an NPC role within the game. Hades 2 is still being expanded upon, with even a new zone planned down the road, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that this is the last we see of Zagreus.