Roguelikes are some of the hardest games you can find, and it's been that way for decades. From the original Rogue to the latest darling of the genre - Hades - you're sure to have encountered a roguelike at some point and seen just how difficult they can be. Whether it's a tricky gameplay mechanic or just RNG that makes a game difficult depends on the particular title, but don't expect to beat any roguelike on the first try.
If you're a beginner then there are plenty of roguelikes for you, but what if you're a seasoned player who is already familiar with the tricks of the genre? Well, then it's time to step up and take on the hardest roguelikes around and see if you can stay sane as you attempt run after run without ever making it to the end of the game. If that sounds like your idea of a good time, then the games on this list are the ones for you.
10 Crypt of the Necrodancer
Released in 2015, Crypt of the Necrodancer brought a fresh twist to the roguelike genre by incorporating elements from rhythm games. This unique blend creates a challenge that even experienced roguelike players struggle to adapt to thanks to the challenge of fighting to the rhythm of the game's soundtrack.
Fortunately, that soundtrack was, and still is, amazing to listen to and makes this roguelike a rhythm game worth playing. It's also perfect for a roguelike where failure is expected because you'll be hearing parts of the soundtrack again and again until you finally master the game and progress on.
9 Hades
One of the most notable additions to the roguelike genre in recent years came in 2020, with the full release of Supergiant Games' Hades. Based on Greek mythology, Hades follows the story of Zagreus as he tries to escape the underworld. It's this story that makes the game stand out in the genre as the sprawling narrative somehow ties itself together no matter how many runs you take on. In fact, the narrative was so good it won a Hugo literary award.
On top of that, everything from the rooms to the bosses you face change with almost every attempt, meaning you can never plan for what you might find, making skill the only guaranteed way to clear this hellish roguelike.
8 FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL: Faster Than Light is a blend of the roguelike genre and real-time strategy games, making for a uniquely challenging experience. Every run poses new threats and a new crew that has different strengths and weaknesses that may help or hinder the progress of your starship.
But before you can even think about completing this sci-fi roguelike, you'll first need to master operating your ship under the stress of combat, and that's something you can only learn with experience. So be prepared not to make it very far at the beginning of your FTL experience.
7 Dead Cells
Motion Twin's Dead Cells is a roguelike that draws on classic Metroidvanias for inspiration, using similar design methods to generate its sprawling maps. But don't let the amazing maps and colorful designs fool you, Dead Cells is just as unforgiving as any other roguelike you can find.
Kill, die, learn, repeat. That's the Dead Cells motto, and it's one you're going to learn the hard way as you play the game. No matter how good you think you are, there will always be something new just around the corner waiting to catch you out and send you right back to where you started.
6 Cogmind
In the beginning, Cogmind is a game that feels utterly overwhelming. It throws everything at you and tells you to figure it out as you navigate a fully destructible world in an attempt to construct a robot body for yourself. Between managing the various robot parts you collect and planning your strategies for the turn-based combat, making progress in Cogmind is a challenge.
But that is ultimately what makes the game so rewarding. It's a modern take on classic top-down roguelikes and doesn't shy away from making the whole experience part of the challenge. It's tough, but a great way of getting into more traditional roguelikes.
5 Brogue
A successor to the original Rogue, Brogue began development in 2009 with the latest version released in 2018. At first glance, the ASCII art of the game might make you wonder what part of it took nine years to craft - but once you start playing, the quality of the game beneath that simplistic art becomes obvious.
Your character is represented by an '@' symbol as you attempt to navigate all 26 floors of the Dungeons of Doom. Be prepared to face grueling procedurally generated maps on every floor which will force you to master the game quickly if you want any chance of clearing the Dungeons of Doom successfully.
4 Angband
Angband is a classic of the Roguelike genre with more than 30 years of history since its release in 1990. Based on the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien and the original Moria (another Lord of the Rings inspired roguelike), Angband sees the player face an immense 100 levels in a quest to defeat the godlike Morgoth.
So if you're a fan of roguelikes and Lord of the Rings this might just be the perfect game for you - and even better, it is available on nearly every major computer platform. But be prepared to face an unrelenting challenge if you decide this is the game for you as there's no such thing as an easy mode in Angband.
3 Infra Arcana
Infra Arcana was first released in 2011 and has since passed version 20.0 of the game, making it one of the most updated roguelikes around. Set in the early 1900s, Infra Arcana draws heavily on the work of H. P. Lovecraft and the universe he created as you go up against a cult known as The Church of Starry Wisdom.
The goal is simple, uncover the hidden artifact known as The Shining Trapezohedron that is hidden within the cult's lair. With its retro art style and incredibly challenging gameplay, Infra Arcana could easily be mistaken for a roguelike from 20 years ago were it not from all the modern polish it received during those many updates.
2 NetHack
NetHack was initially released in 1987, a fact you can tell from its distinctive ASCII art and harsh color palette. But what you might not realize is that the game is still being maintained more than 30 years later, with the latest stable release having come out in March 2020. The fact that the game is still being developed and has a thriving community should be evidence enough of its quality as a roguelike.
But don't think it's gotten any easier in its three decades of development. You will still need to master a character class and pray for some good luck from the RNG gods to be able to beat this true classic of the genre.
1 Rogue
You might wonder where the name roguelike comes from - well look no further as Rogue is the answer. Released in 1980, Rogue is the game all other roguelikes are emulating. This game and the challenge it posed was what popularized many elements of the genre, such as permadeath and procedurally generated levels.
But the reason Rogue tops this list for difficulty is two-fold. One is the high degree of skill you will need to be able to survive the game, and the second is the brutal variation seen in the game's procedural generation. Some runs you may be challenging but not overly difficult, while others may be genuinely impossible to survive. So be ready, because Rogue is the ultimate test of skill and perseverance that any fan of the roguelike genre should try at least once.