The Best Roguelike Games of 2022
They’re frustrating, with controller sales surging due to anger-induced breakage, and they’ll leave your clothes soaked in tension-induced sweat, but we can’t help but love a good roguelike game. The best roguelikes are the learning experiences, and when you revisit Square One, you feel like you can take a lesson back, apply it to your next journey, and delve deeper into one that wants to knock you out Ruthless world.
That feeling of victory is hard to beat, and as the genre is packed with dozens of great games — and more seem to be released every week — we’re taking a look at 30 of the best roguelikes, they will put you in a position when you win a victory you have to fight for. Our list is not organized in any particular order, and featured games span the numerous subgenres within roguelikes.
spelunking
Easily one of the most influential roguelikes of all time, Spelunky’s fine-tuned descent into procedurally generated darkness has had a huge impact on the genre. Expressing pure passion through great game design, this is easily one of the best “run it again” games you’ll find on this list. Spelunky originally debuted in 2008, then was remastered for the Xbox 360 in 2012, and then ported to just about every console you can think of. It’s a roguelike genre where you can easily put in hundreds of hours and still find new surprises and fun on your next run.
Read our Spelunky review.
Spelunking 2
Spelunky’s highly anticipated sequel hits a high bar when it launches in 2020, and it exceeds expectations in many ways. Spelunky 2 uses everything that made the first game so successful, while managing to squeeze more magic out of those elements and add new biomes to explore on top of it. But be warned: Spelunky 2 is more challenging than the original due to increasingly detailed level design, smarter AI, and additional systems. That said, it’s also more layered, the perfect skill test after mastering the original.
Read our Spelunky 2 review.
FTL: Faster than light
Every interstellar odd number is working against you as you drive a battered ship to your final destination, and FTL is all about making sure you take advantage of your one chance at survival. In this captivating sci-fi strategy game from Subset Games, tough choices will be made, failure always kills your space heels, and enough tension to cut with a lightsaber.
Read our FTL: Faster than Light review.
Rogue Legacy 2
A roguelike mixed with Metroidvania influences doesn’t sound too new these days, but back in 2013, Rogue Legacy showed how well the genres work together. Its sequel is even better, adding a transformative twist to the original game, making it one of the best of its kind. The original is also worth playing, but Rogue Legacy 2 is an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way.
Read our Rogue Legacy 2 review.
kill the spire
Life is used to giving you a tough hand every now and then, but that’s nothing compared to the dangers you face in Slay the Spire. Part roguelike, part deck building strategy, and all fringe strategy action, Slay the Spire’s unique flavor has proven to be hugely popular and inspired several other games to follow in its licensing footsteps.
Read our Slay the Spire review.
dead cells
The Roguelike scene has had a huge impact since it first landed on Steam Early Access years ago, and Dead Cells’ combination of lightning-quick action and a quid pro quo leveling system has inspired so many other games. It’s still as active as ever, and with many new updates, this sprawling adventure with incredible boss fights is still well worth exploring today.
Read our Dead Cells review.
Hades
Supergiant’s Hades is a masterpiece of storytelling, design and rewarding gameplay. Toss through procedurally generated levels and make sure the challenges are always fair in an isometric view of a roguelike battlefield, this saga of Greek tragedy is packed with violent variety and emphasis on making every run feel like a valuable lesson .
Read our Hades review.
vampire survivor
Seemingly simple at first glance, Vampire Survivors is currently in the Early Access program on Steam, essentially a one– Stick shooter where you fire at hordes of ruthless monsters. Right now, Vampire Survivors is a one-of-a-kind game, but its tricks are out of the blue.
darkest dungeon
How does exploring a dangerous and poorly lit lair affect a group of adventurers? Darkest Dungeons answers that question as your Warriors quickly succumb to severe fear and deteriorating mental health in this cult classic with gorgeous art design and captivating gameplay mechanics.
Read our darkest dungeon review.
Necrodancer’s Crypt + Hyrule’s Rhythm
While every roguelike game has a rhythm waiting to be discovered, NecroDancer’s Crypt and Hyrule’s Cadence took the idea and put it in the spotlight. With a collection of fast-paced action delivered through music timing as the beat progresses, you can even put your favorite MP3s into the mix for a playlist of pain and percussive execution. Crypt of the Necrodancers is available on multiple platforms, while Cadence of Hyrule is a Switch exclusive set in the world of Hyrule. In addition to great remixes of classic Zelda tunes, Hyrule’s rhythm has multiple moves. It’s also more forgiving than Necrodancer’s Crypt.
Read our Crypt of the NecroDancer and Cadence of Hyrule reviews.
Binding of Isaac
It might look and feel like a twin-stick shooter set in a more nightmarish version of Hyrule, but 2011’s Binding of Isaac is an essential roguelike that traps you in an endless respawn loop. It’s the experimentation and constant rewards that make this game so satisfying, and the horrific visuals will ensure it stays in your mind long after you put down the controller. The Binding of Isaac has received many expansions and re-releases over the years, with last year’s Repentance serving as the final piece of The Binding of Isaac content.
Read our review of The Binding of Isaac.
monster train
While Slay the Spire helped spark a new wave of deck-building roguelike games, Monster Train feels like a game that truly builds on its ideas and offers a fresh perspective. Goofy, loaded with free DLC since its release, and tons of cards to collect, this roguelike will eat up hours of your time with its rich content.
enter the dungeon
Enter the Gungeon is both a roguelike and a journey through bullet hell, with its heavy gun design going all out. The armory feels great, the weapons are so easy to use, and as the action gets bigger and bigger, every run will leave you sweating.
Read our Into the Dungeon review.
into the breach
Pacific Rim meets chess and time travel, and the turn-based nature of Into the Breach will give you a false sense of security and then make you understand how important each nerve-racking decision is. It’s entirely up to you to make some tough decisions in this tense mini-game when the destructive forces of nature are upon you and the choice to cancel the apocalypse requires sacrifices.
Read our entry violation review.
Moonlighter
Part adventure RPG, part store operation, Moonlighter cleverly blends ideas to create some captivating gameplay. The pixel art looks gorgeous, the gameplay demands all your attention, and a nod to RPGS of the past makes for a consistently captivating experience. The demanding procedurally generated dungeon feels inspired by The Binding of Isaac, while the town simulation provides a pleasant respite from tense battles.
Read our Moonlighter review.
return the goods
Housemarque’s love of arcade games of yesteryear is combined into a unique space horror and roguelike design pack in 2021. Insidious atmospheric detail, dark storyline, and infinite danger from the alien threat all around, Returnal’s brutal challenges still make some feel like the most fun you can have on PS5 right now.
Read our return review.
Adventure Dungeon
Purely character and meta commentary, roguelike deck builder Dicey Dungeons exudes charm and personality with each round of the dice. More forgiving than some of the other games on this list, but still requiring strategy, Dicey Dungeons is a show you’ll want to tune in to see how the crazy crap unfolds.
Read our Dice Dungeons review.
Downwell
The retro vibes of yesteryear, don’t let Downwell’s quaint visuals fool you, as they’re layered on absurd depths. As the community grows adding hundreds of new gameplay elements to the pack, each tier you reach unlocks more content, options, and intense action that combine to keep you entertained in the abyss below.
Read our Downwell review.
cycle hero
The Swiss Army Knife of the genre, the heart of Loop Hero… ring The roguelike design feels as though it was influenced by a dozen other genres and then somehow found a way to bring them all together. Loop Hero is a delicate balance of deck building, simulating and killing monsters, a different but familiar experience.
Read our Circular Hero review.
griftland
Strategic deck building battles in a Roguelike framework? It’s a popular choice in the genre right now, and Griftlands is a prime example of the current trend. Unlike some other games, Griftlands has done a great job of blending these ideas with other genres, creating short and fun activities that work well together thanks to smart and nuanced design.
Risk of rain 2
Adding an extra dimension to the sequel, Risk of Rain 2’s toy chest is a deep collection of worlds, monsters, and characters that need to be upgraded so they’re strong enough to survive the dangers that lie ahead of them. Every run is a dive into chaos and otherworldly action, with up to three friends by your side, discovering new loot and gear combinations to keep you entertained on the battlefield.
Read our Risk in the Rain 2 review.
cognition
It might look like 1980s hacking code, but Cogmind’s beautiful aesthetic is to unleash cannibalistic ASCII code on enemies using a surprisingly user-friendly interface.
encryption
Although it’s another roguelike with deck elements, Inscrytion is unlike anything else on this list. When Inscryption hits the chat room, few roguelikes can compare in the atmosphere department. The creepy demon card game is a surprisingly gripping formula for a good time. Innovative gameplay, an unforgettable atmosphere, and a story that keeps you guessing make Inscryption a thrilling adventure. If you can survive, that is.
Read our Inscryption review.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
Offered at an attractive price completely free, Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead is a zombie apocalypse survival simulator where you need to keep an eye out for the undead and your supplies if you want to see tomorrow. A game for fans of complex systems and a steep learning curve, Cataclysm’s lovely visuals offer plenty of options to keep the walking dead away from you.
internet hacker
With hundreds of ways to die and graphics that look like they’ve been pulled from an old Commodore 64 game, Nethack’s simple nature allows for deep exploration in a time capsule pack. A spiritual successor to the classic Rogue game, Nethack has added sophistication to create an astonishing number of systems at your disposal.
don’t starve
Don’t Starve is essentially a game of waiting for doom to come. You won’t be fiddling with your thumbs while you wait for the sun to set because there’s still a lot of work to do in this uncompromising view of surviving the murderous shadows, but at least you’ll feel yourself when you finally reach the finish line Some things are done.
Read our Don’t Starve review.
nuclear throne
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