The roguelike genre has exploded in popularity over the last decade, branching out into a myriad of “roguelites” that blend the core concepts of procedural generation and permadeath with other genres. It’s a broad category, but here are some of the absolute best, covering different styles and experiences:
Modern Roguelite Masterpieces (Action-Oriented & Story-Rich)
- Hades (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS)
- Why it’s great: Often considered the gold standard of modern roguelites. Features incredibly satisfying hack-and-slash combat, a compelling story with rich characters and voice acting (uncommon for the genre), excellent meta-progression, and beautiful art. Each death isn’t a failure, but an opportunity to advance the narrative and learn more about the Underworld and your family.
- Great for: Players who love fast-paced action, character-driven stories, and meaningful meta-progression.
- Dead Cells (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile)
- Why it’s great: A fantastic “roguevania” (Metroidvania + roguelite) with fluid, fast-paced 2D combat and platforming. It’s incredibly challenging but fair, with a massive arsenal of weapons and mutations that allow for diverse build strategies. The pixel art is gorgeous, and the animation is top-tier.
- Great for: Players who enjoy skill-based action, Metroidvania exploration, and relentless challenge.
Strategic & Deck-Building Excellence
- Slay the Spire (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile)
- Why it’s great: The definitive roguelike deck-builder. Choose from unique characters, each with their own card pool, and build a powerful deck as you ascend the Spire. The strategic depth is immense, balancing offense, defense, and relic synergies. It’s incredibly addictive and replayable.
- Great for: Turn-based strategy fans, deck-building enthusiasts, and those who love deep strategic decision-making.
- Monster Train (PC, Switch, Xbox)
- Why it’s great: A unique twist on the roguelike deck-builder, where you defend three vertical floors of a train against invading angels. You manage two distinct monster clans, each with their own units and spells, leading to incredible strategic depth and replayability through diverse synergies.
- Great for: Slay the Spire fans looking for a fresh take, those who enjoy tower defense elements, and players who like combining different factions.
Unique & Innovative Takes
- FTL: Faster Than Light (PC, iPad)
- Why it’s great: A brilliant space-sim roguelike where you manage a spaceship and its crew, making desperate choices to outrun a rebel fleet. Every encounter is a micro-narrative, and the combat involves real-time management of systems, power, and crew. Incredibly tense and replayable.
- Great for: Sci-fi fans, strategy lovers, and those who enjoy difficult decision-making under pressure.
- Spelunky 2 (PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox)
- Why it’s great: A masterclass in procedural generation and emergent gameplay. This 2D platformer is brutally difficult but always fair, with physics-based interactions that lead to incredible (and often hilarious) chaotic moments. Every run is a fresh puzzle, and the sheer amount of secrets and interlinked systems is mind-boggling.
- Great for: Platforming experts, players who love discovering secrets, and those who don’t mind a steep learning curve.
- Noita (PC)
- Why it’s great: A pixel-based roguelike where every pixel is physically simulated. This means you can dig through terrain, set things on fire, flood areas with acid, and cause incredible chain reactions with your spells. It’s incredibly complex, often chaotic, and offers unparalleled freedom in how you approach challenges.
- Great for: Experimental players, physics sandbox enthusiasts, and those who crave unparalleled emergent gameplay.
- Vampire Survivors (PC, Xbox, Mobile, Switch, PlayStation)
- Why it’s great: The game that launched the “bullet heaven” subgenre. You automatically attack, focusing on movement and choosing upgrades to create insane, screen-filling builds. It’s incredibly addictive, provides a fantastic power fantasy, and is deceptively simple yet strategically deep.
- Great for: Casual players looking for an addictive time-killer, power fantasy enthusiasts, and those who enjoy quick, satisfying runs.
Action-Packed Shooters
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile)
- Why it’s great: A top-down twin-stick shooter with a grotesque, dark, and often hilarious aesthetic. Its strength lies in its insane item synergy system, where combining different power-ups can lead to utterly broken and unique builds. The sheer amount of content and secrets is staggering.
- Great for: Players who love over-the-top power-ups, endless replayability, and dark humor.
- Enter the Gungeon (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox)
- Why it’s great: A vibrant, bullet-hell roguelite with charming pixel art and an incredible variety of quirky guns and items. The dodge roll is central to survival, and the boss fights are memorable. It’s challenging but fair, with a rewarding sense of progression.
- Great for: Bullet-hell aficionados, players who enjoy quirky humor, and those who appreciate tight, precise controls.
- Risk of Rain 2 (PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox)
- Why it’s great: A 3D third-person roguelite shooter that perfectly captures the “power fantasy” loop. You pick a unique survivor, collect items that stack infinitely, and grow ludicrously powerful as the difficulty scales exponentially. Fantastic in co-op.
- Great for: Co-op players, fans of third-person shooters, and those who love watching numbers go up and chaos unfold.
Hardcore & Traditional Roguelikes
- Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (PC – Free)
- Why it’s great: One of the most polished and accessible traditional roguelikes. It’s turn-based, incredibly deep, and features a vast array of races, classes, and gods to worship, each dramatically changing your playstyle. It’s notoriously difficult but fair, and very well-supported.
- Great for: Players looking for a true old-school roguelike experience, immense strategic depth, and high challenge.
- Nethack (PC – Free)
- Why it’s great: A legendary, incredibly complex, and deeply emergent traditional roguelike. It’s famous for its “everything in the dungeon is there for a reason” design philosophy, leading to countless obscure interactions and creative solutions. Steep learning curve, but incredibly rewarding for those who delve into its secrets.
- Great for: Roguelike purists, players who love discovering hidden mechanics, and those who enjoy a game that doesn’t hold your hand at all.
How to Choose
- For fast-paced action: Hades, Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, Risk of Rain 2.
- For deep strategy & deck-building: Slay the Spire, Monster Train, FTL.
- For unique experiences & emergent gameplay: Spelunky 2, Noita, Vampire Survivors.
- For a classic, hardcore challenge: Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup, Nethack.
No matter your preference, there’s an amazing roguelike or roguelite out there for you!