Highlights
- Roguelikes come in all shapes and sizes, from turn-based classics to modern hybrids like deck-building games.
- Difficulty is a key feature, but tutorials and strong communities make the experience enjoyable for all players.
- From grid-based mech battles to card games, there's a roguelike out there for every type of gamer.
Roguelikes, roguelites, traditional roguelikes… there are plenty of ways to refer to run-based games with procedurally generated floors or dungeons. Whether they are hack-and-slash like Hades, turn-based like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, or a black screen with numbers and letters like the original Rogue, as long as there are random level designs, you can probably call them roguelikes.
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Even though they can come in all different shapes and sizes, by traditional standards, roguelikes should be turn-based. But even modern games have strayed enough from the formula to set them apart from the rest.
Roguelikes are usually known for their difficulty, but most of them offer excellent tutorials and amazing communities behind them to make your experience much more enjoyable!
10 Into The Breach
This grid-based mech battler is one of the best roguelikes to play if you’re trying to scratch that Final Fantasy Tactics itch, but you are looking for something slightly more futuristic and challenging. Into The Breach is an incredible game with tough-as-nails combat and even better sprite work.
Each island in the game is procedurally generated, giving all fans of roguelikes everywhere a new and fresh challenge. Even though every scenario will be different, you can still upgrade your mechs and pilots to ensure a quick victory next time around.
9 Slay The Spire
Roguelike purists would argue that Slay the Spire would be more akin to “roguelites.” Still, the developer's creativity has continuously pushed the boundaries of what can be placed in the genre’s category. So why not combine them with card games?
Slay The Spire is a roguelike deck-building game, where every encounter will earn you cards to upgrade your deck as you traverse through the spire. If there is a card game that deserves to be known as a roguelike, it’s Slay The Spire.
8 Darkest Dungeon 2
Darkest Dungeon’s developers found a way to reinvent the “rogue” formula while staying true to the name. This game offers a turn-based party combat that will reward you for keeping each party member on good terms with each other, but will punish you hard if you cannot get the characters to cooperate.
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The game throws a ton of debuffs at players on their journey to find the source of the world’s evil, but if you are adept at team-building and strategy, you should have no problem conquering this incredible RPG.
7 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
The Mystery Dungeon games are mostly known for their fun crossovers with popular titles like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, but their entries in the Pokemon series are some of the most beloved by fans.
The game’s premise places you in the shoes of a Pokemon, rather than a trainer, that is selected for you by a quiz at the beginning of the story. The chosen Pokemon will match your personality perfectly and if you’re looking for a more lighthearted, yet at times difficult roguelike, the dungeon crawler is perfect for you.
6 Caves Of Qud
Even though Caves Of Qud most closely resembles a traditional roguelike, its mechanics and plot make it stand out above the rest. While you can start your character in it’s “canon” starting point, with plenty of both prewritten and procedurally generated quests, you can also start your adventure in a random town, fully equipped with its own citizens and political groups with their agendas that can push the narrative differently every time you load in.
Caves Of Qud is not the most difficult roguelike out there, but if you are not familiar with traditional roguelike interfaces and aesthetics, this game might come as a challenge.
Don't be intimidated by the overwhelming map! Caves Of Qud is an excellent game with great character building!
5 Balatro
Have you seen that Uno deck that comes with blank cards where you can write anything you want on them? That’s what Balatro feels like. The poker roguelike is almost nothing like poker. You will be able to collect special joker cards and make up hands on the go while listening to a pretty nifty synthwave soundtrack.
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As one of the most creative deck-builder roguelikes, Balatro is a must-play if you’ve ever wanted to win big in the casino while basically cheating. Just make sure you don’t copy these strategies in the real game.
4 Slice & Dice
Slice And Dice is the closest you’ll be able to get to a roguelike Dungeons & Dragons game. Similar to the original Final Fantasy, the game offers you myriad playable characters and classes with their own unique dice for their attack rolls.
But be careful, one small mistake could cost you your entire run and be forced to start back up from the beginning. Slice & Dice is not for the faint of heart, but once you get the hang of it, reaching the boss will feel so rewarding.
3 Inscryption
Inscryption is one of the most difficult games to pin down. It’s a blend of deck-builder, puzzle, adventure, horror, and hints of fourth-wall-breaking dialog, all while keeping the roguelike spirit alive. Similar to other lane-based card games, like Marvel Snap, Inscryption is played on a large grid where you’ll be placing your cards to battle your opponent.
This game is much more than simple card battles though. The highly-meta narration and plot will have you extremely confused and discombobulated, but as you progress and the story unfolds, you’ll find Inscryption is unlike anything else.
2 Dicey Dungeons
Not all roguelikes have to pander to the most hardcore of gamers. Dicey Dungeon can offer a challenge for those who seek it, but its light-hearted tone and art style make it a breeze to play through. The game presents itself like a Mario Party-style board game, but underneath the hood you’ll find a carefully crafted roguelike with some of the most interesting power-ups and enemies.
Half card-battler, half tabletop game, Dicey Dungeons is a traditional roguelike through and through, albeit with a colorful coat of paint.
1 Shiren The Wanderer
Even though Mystery Dungeon games spend most of their time in the worlds of different series, the developers, Spike Chunsoft, have characters and worlds of their own that are just as amazing and can tell compelling stories. Shiren The Wanderer is one of the most popular of their creations. The gameplay is vastly similar, but its unique story is one to pay attention to.
Although slightly underrated, Shiren The Wanderer gives players the ultimate Mystery Dungeon experience without the fluff of more popular entries like Pokemon.
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Most roguelikes are in third-person, but these titles prove that the genre can work well in first-person too.
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