The roguelike genre has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1980 with the ASCII-based dungeon crawler Rogue. Though it was a commercial flop when its creators tried to sell it in stores, it became a cult hit on university mainframes, captivating programmers and players alike with its procedurally generated dungeons and permadeath. That addictive formula spawned an entire genre, and today, roguelikes and their more forgiving cousins, roguelites, are beloved by millions.
Defining a roguelike is simple: you explore procedurally generated levels, fight enemies, and when you die, you start over from scratch. True roguelikes offer no permanent upgrades, while roguelites let you keep some progress between runs. For this list, we're counting both, because the best of each have left an indelible mark on gaming.
10. Returnal (2021)
Most roguelikes are indie games, but Returnal proved that a AAA budget could elevate the genre to new heights. Developed by Housemarque, this PlayStation 5 exclusive blends third-person shooting with bullet-hell chaos and roguelite mechanics. The result is a buttery-smooth, hauntingly atmospheric experience where every run feels fresh and every death pushes you to try again. It's a masterclass in action and tension.
9. Tales of Maj'Eyal (2012)
For purists, Tales of Maj'Eyal (or ToME) is a modern classic. This open-source roguelike offers deep, tactical combat that feels like a puzzle, with a staggering variety of classes and a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible to newcomers. It's a sprawling, challenging game that rewards careful planning and strategic thinking, proving that traditional roguelikes can still captivate a wide audience.
8. Vampire Survivors (2022)
If Returnal is bullet hell, Vampire Survivors is bullet heaven. This indie phenomenon flips the genre on its head: instead of dodging projectiles, you unleash waves of automatic attacks against endless hordes. It's a simple, addictive pick-up-and-play game with virtually no barrier to entry, and it's incredibly satisfying to watch your character evolve from a fragile weakling into a screen-clearing god. It's one of the most universally accessible games ever made.
7. Spelunky 2 (2020)
The original Spelunky was a pioneer, blending roguelike elements with real-time platforming. Its sequel, Spelunky 2, perfects the formula. With masterful procedural generation that ensures every cave is beatable without wasting resources, and some of the tightest platforming in the genre, it's a game that rewards exploration and punishes carelessness. It's a gold standard for roguelite design.
6. Balatro (2024)
Who knew poker could be so addictive? Balatro, created by solo developer LocalThunk, takes the familiar language of poker hands and turns it into a roguelike deckbuilder. With nothing more than chips and multipliers, you combine special Joker cards to create exponential scoring combos. It's a brilliantly simple concept executed flawlessly, making it one of the most polished and rewarding games of the decade.
5. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (2014)
Born from a week-long game jam, The Binding of Isaac became a phenomenon. This Zelda-inspired roguelike, with its dark religious themes and grotesque humor, was so successful that it spawned Rebirth, a remake that expanded the game with new items, characters, and bosses. Its endless replayability and deep item synergies have kept players coming back for years.
4. Hades (2020)
Supergiant Games' Hades is a masterpiece of storytelling and gameplay. You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, trying to escape the underworld. Each run is a fast-paced hack-and-slash adventure, but the real genius is how the game weaves its narrative into the roguelite structure. Death isn't a failure; it's a chance to learn more about the characters and progress the story. It's a game that respects your time and rewards your persistence.
3. Slay the Spire (2019)
Before Balatro, there was Slay the Spire, the game that popularized the deckbuilding roguelite genre. You climb a tower, battling monsters with a deck of cards that you build as you go. Each run is a puzzle, forcing you to make tough choices about which cards to add, remove, or upgrade. Its simple yet deep mechanics have inspired countless imitators, but none have matched its brilliance.
2. Dead Cells (2018)
Dead Cells combines fast-paced Metroidvania exploration with roguelike combat. You play as a sentient blob controlling a corpse, fighting through a sprawling, interconnected castle. The combat is fluid and responsive, with a huge variety of weapons and abilities to discover. It's a game that rewards skill and experimentation, and its procedural generation ensures no two runs are alike.
1. Rogue (1980)
It all started here. Rogue may look primitive by today's standards, but its influence is immeasurable. It introduced the concepts of procedural generation, permadeath, and turn-based combat that define the genre. Without Rogue, we wouldn't have Hades, Slay the Spire, or any of the other games on this list. It's the grandfather of them all, and it remains a challenging and rewarding experience even today.
These ten games represent the best of what roguelikes and roguelites have to offer. Whether you're a veteran of the genre or a newcomer looking for a challenge, there's something here for you. And if you're looking for more great games to play, check out our list of anime masterpieces with zero weak episodes or our Prime Video picks for the weekend.
