Hades II freezing during gameplay has been frustrating many players in 2025. Unlike crashes that shut down the game, freezing causes the screen to lock up, leaving you unable to move or respond until the game resumes—or worse, until you force-quit. This issue can occur randomly during combat, while exploring, or even in the hub area.
Fortunately, freezing in Hades II on PC is usually caused by system performance issues, corrupted files, or background conflicts. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through the best fixes to stop Hades II from freezing and ensure smooth gameplay.
Why Does Hades II Freeze During Gameplay?
Freezing is different from FPS drops or lag. It usually happens when the game engine stops responding temporarily. Here are the most common reasons:
- Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers.
- Overheating CPU/GPU causing system throttling.
- Background programs interfering with Hades II.
- Insufficient RAM or memory leaks.
- Corrupted game files.
- Overlay conflicts (Discord, Steam, NVIDIA, etc.).
- Storage speed issues (running on HDD instead of SSD).
Fix 1: Update Graphics Drivers
The first step is always ensuring your GPU drivers are up-to-date. Outdated or corrupted drivers often cause freezing in new titles like Hades II (2025).
- NVIDIA Users → Update via GeForce Experience.
- AMD Users → Update via Adrenalin Software.
- Intel ARC Users → Update using Intel Driver & Support Assistant.
👉 After updating, restart your PC and launch Hades II again.
Fix 2: Adjust In-Game Settings
If your system struggles with rendering, freezing may occur when loading effects-heavy combat scenes.
Recommended Settings for Smoother Gameplay:
- Display Mode → Fullscreen.
- V-Sync → Off (unless you experience screen tearing).
- Frame Rate Limit → Set to 60 or “Unlimited.”
- Textures → Medium.
- Shadows → Low or Medium.
- Post-Processing → Off.
- Effects Quality → Medium.
💡 Tip: Start with Medium settings, then fine-tune based on your system’s performance.
Fix 3: Disable Overlays
Overlays can cause stuttering and freezing, especially in early-access games like Hades II.
Disable the following:
- Steam Overlay → Steam > Settings > In-Game > Uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay.”
- Discord Overlay → Discord Settings > Overlay > Disable.
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience Overlay → Disable in settings.
- Xbox Game Bar → Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Off.
Fix 4: Monitor Temperature & Usage
Overheating hardware often leads to freezing.
- Download HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner.
- Play Hades II and monitor CPU/GPU temps.
- CPU should be under 85°C.
- GPU should be under 85°C.
- If temps are higher, clean your PC fans, improve airflow, or lower graphics settings.
Fix 5: Verify Game Files
Corrupted or missing files can cause random freezes.
- Steam: Right-click Hades II → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity.
- Epic Games Launcher: Library → Hades II → Three dots → Verify.
This process replaces any broken or missing files.
Fix 6: Disable Background Applications
Heavy apps running in the background can eat up RAM and CPU.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Task Manager.
- End tasks for apps like Chrome, Spotify, or game launchers.
- Turn off OneDrive/Dropbox sync if active.
Fix 7: Increase Virtual Memory (Pagefile)
If you have 8GB RAM or less, freezing may happen due to memory exhaustion.
- Press Win + R, type
sysdm.cpl. - Go to Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory.
- Set custom size → Initial: 4096 MB, Maximum: 8192 MB.
- Restart your PC.
Fix 8: Switch to SSD (if possible)
Running Hades II on an HDD increases load stutters and freezes. Installing it on an SSD drastically reduces these issues.
Fix 9: Reinstall Hades II
If nothing else works, reinstalling the game can remove corrupted installation files that verification might miss.
- Uninstall Hades II.
- Delete leftover files from Documents / AppData.
- Reinstall on SSD via Steam or Epic Games.
Additional Tips
- Check EA/Steam/Epic updates → Developers release hotfixes regularly.
- Use Windows Game Mode → Settings > Gaming > Game Mode → On.
- Update Windows → Ensure latest updates are installed.
- Disable Antivirus real-time scanning while gaming (add exception for Hades II).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does Hades II freeze but not crash?
Freezing usually means the game engine is overloaded or waiting for resources, while crashing is a full shutdown.
2. Will lowering settings fix freezing in Hades II?
Yes, lowering shadows, effects, and resolution can help reduce freezes.
3. Can overheating cause freezing in Hades II?
Definitely. If your CPU or GPU overheats, it may freeze temporarily.
4. Should I reinstall Hades II if it keeps freezing?
Yes. If other fixes fail, reinstalling the game may remove corrupted files.
5. Does Hades II run better on SSD than HDD?
Yes. Running the game on an SSD reduces freezes and stutters dramatically.
Conclusion
Hades II freezing during gameplay in 2025 can ruin the fast-paced roguelike experience. However, most issues can be fixed by updating drivers, lowering in-game settings, disabling overlays, and optimizing your system. For long-term stability, installing the game on an SSD and monitoring temps is highly recommended.
If the problem persists, reinstalling Hades II or waiting for performance patches from Supergiant Games should solve it. With these fixes, you’ll enjoy smooth dungeon runs without annoying freezes.
