The Roguelike genre is filled to the brim with some seriously amazing adventures. Some are bite-sized and some feel like endlessly replayable journeys. The genre has exploded in the modern age, with many companies both Indie and Triple-A tossing their talents into the ring and attempting to produce the next big thing. This explosion in popularity has seen some amazing genre-blending and some visually stunning creations that have elevated what players once thought was possible for the Roguelike space.
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So far, we’ve seen some pretty fantastic Roguelike releases, from a variety of mediums. Roguelike RPGs seem to be one of the better blends available, giving players a chance to progress both their “world” and the character they’re playing as by unlocking new abilities, items, weapons, and a variety of other tools that they can use in subsequent runs. To best celebrate this brilliant blending of genres, here’s a look at some of the best Roguelike RPGs, ranked.
7Risk Of Rain 2
The original Risk of Rain was a side-scrolling adventure through some challenging enemies, with very simplistic graphics. The sequel sees a massive visual improvement and stands as one of the most engaging and entertaining Roguelike games currently on the market. Players that have yet to jump into Risk of Rain 2 will find an aesthetically beautiful release that combines Sci-Fi and RPG elements, giving access to an array of classes that each have their own unique abilities and playstyles.
As players progress, they’ll find items, open chests, collect Lunar Coins, and unlock new characters. There is a ton to see and do in Risk of Rain 2, and it should take players many hours just to make it successfully through their first run.
6Darkest Dungeon
Considered by many to be one of the hardest Roguelike games ever made, theturned-based Darkest Dungeon is a downright punishing Indie release. But some players haven’t let its brutal difficulty keep them from regarding it as one of the best releases available. Although the same may not be said (yet) for the Early Access sequel of Darkest Dungeon 2, the original release is an absolute blast to play.
Even though everything is simultaneously working against the player and the RNG can kill a run almost instantly if players are unlucky enough, there is something truly endearing about the 2D side-scrolling release.
One of the most engaging things about Roguelikes is “getting just far enough to unlock something new.” Players will find themselves progressing just a bit further than before with each run, as they gain gold, weapons, or other items to help aid them in subsequent runs. Dead Cells takes this concept to the next level, firmly cranking up the loot dial to 11 by offering players an immense amount of weapons, spells, and other items that they can unlock by exploring the many branching paths found throughout the game.
Dead Cells is rewarding, but absolutely punishing too, with some truly brutal bosses that can quickly decimate unprepared players. Thankfully, it’s an absolute riot to play and should keep players firmly invested as they continue to unlock new and unique items with each run.
There have been quite a few Roguelike games developed by Indie Game studios, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t AAA offerings out there for players that want something with a little more polish from a visual standpoint. Those looking for something that oozes personality and has stunning visuals to boot should check out Returnal. This Sci-Fi epic is just as fun to look at, as it is to play, with a punishing difficulty and some eye-opening Sci-Fi weaponry.
Players will face some challenging bosses along the way and find themselves repeating the same paths as they attempt to escape their endless loop.
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3Cult of the Lamb
It seems like anything Devolver Digital is involved with lately ends up turning to gold. Cult of the Lamb is the latest success from the publisher. Developed by Massive Monster, the Indie darling perfectly blends cute, cuddly, and creepy together to form a one-of-a-kind journey that combines Roguelike dungeon crawling and Town Management. Players that want to get the most out of their Cult of the Lamb journey will have to create their own community of dedicated Cult members that will help them progress through the sometimes punishing boss battles.
Cult of the Lamb is oozing with charmand should appeal to players that enjoy both Roguelikes and Town Building games.
2The Binding Of Isaac
Easily one of the most entertaining and engaging Roguelikes ever made, The Binding of Isaac is a true love letter to both the Roguelike genre and Indie games in general. What started off as a passion project for the developer blossomed into a truly genre-altering title that developed a massive cult following over the years. The adventure is finally finished with the most recent DLC release but that hasn’t stopped players from continuing to boot up the game and begin new runs. There’s also a healthy modding community for those that are looking for even more Binding of Isaac content.
There are a ton of absolutely stellar Roguelike titles out there, butHades is arguably the best one on the market today. Developer Supergiant Games didn’t simply craft a Roguelike inspired by Greek Lore. They crafted their own incredible adventure that follows the Prince of Hell, Zagreus, as he attempts to escape his confines and reunite with his real mother on the surface. The adventure is filled to the brim with enigmatic gods and some absolutely amazing characters, all with full voice acting and hundreds upon hundreds of dialogue lines that players will continue to uncover many, many hours after starting.
Hades is easily one of the most impressive Roguelike games ever made and a must place for fans of the genre.
