What was the first roguelike you ever experienced? Was the thrill of getting back up after death in order to start anew exhilarating? Was it rewarding, or just a big hassle? Well, this list is filled with both hardcore roguelikes and easier roguelites. What’s the difference?
Roguelikes are called thus because of an early PC game called Rogue way back in 1980. It had players go through randomized dungeons with death being permanent. Roguelikes then are games like Rogue, get it? A roguelite is just a term with games with these mechanics, but with a lot more ease of use like having players gain permanent upgrades between each new run. It’s a bit more complex than that brief explanation, but hopefully, it’ll come together with these next picks.
Updated September 26, 2021 by Adam Carr: After the overwhelmingly successful launch of the PS5 and a successful first year of existence on the market, it's time to look at what it has to offer when it comes to the plucky roguelike/roguelite. Sony's behemoth may look like a high collared jacket only Kaiba would dare wear, but it has some cracking titles hiding just under the surface. Whether you are looking for the latest indie endeavour or the next Triple-A extravaganza, the PS5 has you covered and then some. Thanks to the PS5's backwards compatibility too, every game on this list will work on the new kit, but, of course, there may be some PS5 exclusive games on this list that won't be available for people rocking the PS4.
15 Spelunky 2
If Indiana Jones, 2D platforming, the moon and giant robot Olmec heads sound cool to you, then Spelunky 2 has you covered. Developed by the legendary Derek Yu, Spelunky 2 takes all the addiction-fuelled gameplay of the original and injects it with hodds of new mechanics, challenges and all manner of gubbins to find. Many roguelikes and roguelites kill you slowly - death by a thousand cuts kind of thing. Not Spelunky 2. Death will come at you from the most unexpected angles, at speeds so imperceivable, that you might miss what started the murder hurricane. It's all about slow progression, learning from your mistakes and, well, dying. A lot.
14 Deathloop
Brought to you by the wonderful people at Arkane Studios, Deathloop is one of the few examples of a Triple-A studio giving the indie-centric genre a go. It just so happens that they also managed to make one of the most interesting — and refreshing — FPS games in recent memory. Part sixties spy/detective thriller, part temporal murder-box with a sprinkling of techno-arcane wonder — Deathloop has it all. It's time to break the loop.
13 Returnal
Returnal made a big splash when it launched in early 2021, and rightfully so. Taking visual cues from 1979's, ALIEN, and throwing in some wonderful musical remixes from Blue Oyster Cult, the game certainly has a style. It may seem like a fairly standard third-person shooter on the surface, but the addition of bullet-hell mechanics, procedural generation, interesting weapons and trinkets, as well as a captivating story, elevate the game beyond that.
12 Hades
Hades is the shining jewel that adorns Super Giant Games hefty, hefty crown. Ten years of excellence culminating in their magnum opus. Jam-packed with weapons, characters, stories, intrigue, mystery and charm, Hades is the complete package. It's accessible enough for newcomers to play, enjoy and become immersed, and challenging enough for genre veterans to sink their teeth into. Ultra tight isometric gameplay is just the tip of the iceberg here — and it's one hell of a tip.
11 20XX
If the name doesn’t give it away, 20XX is a Mega Man X inspired roguelike. Huh? That’s right! Roguelikes aren’t just for RPGs and this is the perfect example of what this list will try and build on. The one thing that isn’t great about 20XX though is the art. It looks and plays a little like a DeviantArt flash game and doesn’t have the robust refinery of the actual Mega Man X franchise. As a concept though, it’s still pretty inventive.
10 The Swords Of Ditto
If 20XX is a tribute to Mega Man X then The Swords of Ditto is a tribute to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which is another great SNES era classic. It also sort of shares the childlike aesthetic of Costume Quest, or Bravely Default.
Basically, an evil witch has resurrected and every one hundred years a hero will be reborn to take her down. If one fails the progress will then carry over to the next hero and the map will rearrange itself. Huzzah to the hero of time?
9 Enter The Gungeon
Enter the Gungeon is a fun twin-stick bullet hell-style shooter roguelike in its own right, but arguably the best thing about it is the theme song in its trailer. Anyway, from the insane guns to the equally unpredictable enemy designs, there’s a lot to love here. However, in the roguelike’s truest fashion, barely anything carries over between each new run. The only way to get better is by literal real-world experience. Good luck.
8 Crypt Of The NecroDancer
Crypt of the Necrodancer takes the core Rogue formula, and flips it on its bonce. This may be a dungeon crawler, but it is one that you need to move to the beat in order to, well, beat. You move, attack, dig and open doors in time with the music, or you do nothing at all. It's a wonderfully whimsical premise that is executed brilliantly. It's also composed by the Danny Baranowsky of Super Meat Boy and Binding of Isaac fame. That man has a musical knack for indie games.
7 Slay The Spire
There are a million and one card games out there from the hardcore fans of Magic the Gathering to the kid-friendly, but still intense, Pokemon Trading Card Game. There aren’t that many card roguelikes akin to Slay the Spire though. Simply choose one of three classes and one’s adventure will begin. Battles are waged out in turn-based battles with cards acquired from each run standing in for typical commands. It’s much more than a card game despite the intro. It’s better.
6 One Step From Eden
Since the release of Slay the Spire, it has become very difficult for card-based roguelikes to break through and make a name for themselves. When they do, however, it is worth taking note. One Step From Eden is one of those games. One Step From Eden takes the addictive deckbuilding formula first established in Dominion, pastes it over a roguelike shell, then throws Mega Man Battle Network into the pot for good measure. One Step From Eden is full of fast, frenetic and fantastic real-time spell-slinging, card-comboing action that is both accessible and deep.
5 Wizard Of Legend
Wizard of Legend was an unsung hero of 2018. In this roguelike, players will take on the mantle of a wizard in training. Spells are aligned with typical worldly resources like fire and ice and every aspect of these natural elements have dozens of spells ranging from offensive to defensive types. It’s kind of like the best Avatar game ever made. No, not the James Cameron version. We’re talking about the faux-anime sensation. Load times suck, but it’s too good of a game to pass up on that sour note alone.
4 Dead Cells
Dead Cells could kind of be categorized as a Metroidvania. As this cell possessing human cadavers, players will gain loads of new weapons, gadgets, and shields on each run along with upgrading the body in one way, or another.
There are also skills that will unlock new paths, like growing vines or being able to smash through floors. Every area will eventually lead to the final boss and progress is never halted due to not finding said upgrades. That’s why it’s not really a Metroidvania, but still a very good roguelike.
3 Flinthook
Flinthook is a drop-dead gorgeous pixel masterpiece from the talented developers over at Tribute Games. They know how to recreate those amazing designs of the SNES period while improving them for an HD era. Anyway in this roguelike players are chasing down a band of evil pirates. Each ship holds loads of treasure and flipping around the maps with the titular hook is just as fun as swinging around Manhattan as Spider-Man.
2 Moonlighter
Speaking of amazing art, Moonlighter also has striking imagery. It’s also another unsung hero from 2018 that was, without any sort of hyperbole, a Game of the Year contender. Players will take on the role of the shopkeep over at the Moonlighter; a store filled with treasure for would-be adventurers. Here is the twist though. He has to get the loot himself in order to sell it. The game is sort of like a sim shop manager merged with a top-down hack and slash dungeon crawler roguelike. Whatever one categorizes it as, it’s fantastic.
1 Rogue Legacy
Rogue Legacy is the perfect blend of the roguelike and roguelite sub-genres. Players take on the role of various descendants in this bloodline tasked with taking down the evils within an enchanted castle. If one falls, their children will take on the mantle of the hero. The best part is that there is always a sense of progression. Gold found on each run can be used to buy equipment, or upgrades such as health, or defense bonuses. The best part is that everything is permanent. It’s the most accessible game on this list and also easily the best.