What Are Roguelike Games?

The roguelike genre has become a favorite in the gaming world, known for its unique mix of unpredictability, challenge, and reward. Each time you play, these game presents a new challenge, keeping things fresh and exciting, which is why so many players keep coming back. But what exactly is a roguelike? Why do players willingly dive into games where death means starting over from the very beginning?

Here, we'll take a closer look at the roguelike genre, exploring what makes these games so special and why they've become so popular. That said, we'll break down the key features that define roguelikes and highlight five of the best roguelike games you should try.

What Is a Roguelike Game?

A roguelike game is a genre that centers on exploration, strategy, and challenging gameplay. The term “roguelike” comes from a game called Rogue released in 1980, which set the foundation for this genre. These games are defined by a few key features: procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, and permadeath. Procedural generation means that every time you play, the game creates a new and unpredictable world, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike.

Another defining trait of roguelike games is permadeath. Contrary to most games where dying might simply mean reloading a saved game, in a roguelike, death is final. If your character dies, all progress is lost, and you must start from the beginning. This may seem harsh, but it adds a unique level of excitement and tension to each run.

Roguelike games also emphasize deep, strategic gameplay. You have to think ahead, manage resources wisely, and adapt to the challenges the game presents. Some roguelikes are turn-based, allowing you to carefully plan each move, while others are real-time, demanding quick reflexes and fast decision-making. Over the years, the genre has expanded, leading to variations like “roguelites,” which keep the core elements but offer a more forgiving experience. Despite these variations, the thrill of the unknown and the challenge of mastering the game remain at the heart of the roguelike experience.

Gameplay

Roguelike gameplay revolves around challenge, unpredictability, and player-driven progression. At the start of each game, you’re thrown into a world where you must explore, fight, and survive. The environment is always a mystery, filled with enemies, traps, and hidden treasures. Thus, every decision you make carries weight, as it can lead to either great rewards or significant risks.

Moreover, strategy plays a crucial role in most roguelikes. Combat can be turn-based, requiring you to carefully consider each action—whether to attack, defend, or use an item. You must weigh the consequences of your choices, as a single wrong move can end your run. On the other hand, some roguelikes feature real-time combat, which demands fast reflexes and quick thinking. In either case, managing resources like health, weapons, and special items becomes essential.

Furthermore, exploration and discovery are key elements that add depth to roguelike gameplay. You might also discover a powerful item that changes your strategy or stumble upon a hidden area packed with valuable loot. Consequently, the game encourages you to take risks and explore every corner, rewarding those who are thorough and curious.

In addition to this, roguelikes offer a unique sense of progression, even in the face of failure. While permadeath means losing all your progress, the knowledge and skills you gain from each run remain with you. Over time, you begin to recognize patterns, understand enemy behaviors, and develop effective strategies. Additionally, some roguelikes include elements that carry over between runs, such as unlocking new characters, abilities, or items that make future attempts easier.

Best Roguelike Games

5. Hades

Hades is a rogue-like dungeon crawler where you play as Zagreus, the immortal Prince of the Underworld. Your mission is to escape from your father, Hades, the god of the dead. To succeed, you must fight through the Underworld, battling tough enemies and powerful bosses in randomly generated dungeons. You'll wield mythic weapons and gain abilities from the Olympian gods to help you on your journey. Each time you play, the gods offer different boons that enhance your powers in unique ways.

4. Dead Cells

Dead Cells is an action-packed, roguelite game that takes inspiration from Metroidvania-style exploration. You play as a failed alchemic experiment trying to escape a huge, ever-changing castle. In this game, you’ll face tough enemies in fast-paced, 2D combat that requires quick reflexes. There are no checkpoints, so each run feels intense. If you die, you lose your progress and have to start over. But each time, you learn, adapt, and try again, which makes the game both challenging and addictive.

3. Ravenswatch

Ravenswatch is a top-down roguelike action game where fast-paced combat meets high replayability. The game lets you play as heroes from old folk tales and legends. These heroes must stop a dark force called the Nightmare from corrupting their world. You can play alone or with up to three others in online co-op, which adds a team-based strategy element.

2. Enter the Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon is a bullet hell dungeon crawler that follows a group of misfits on a mission to find a legendary treasure—a gun that can kill the past. To reach this treasure, you’ll need to fight through floors packed with enemies called the Gundead. These enemies are both dangerous and quirky, and they won’t hesitate to attack. The gameplay is all about fast-paced action, where shooting, dodging, and rolling are key to survival.

1. Risk of Rain 2

Risk of Rain 2 is an intense action game where you must survive on a dangerous alien planet. In this game, every game starts with your character crash-landing on a strange planet filled with powerful enemies and big bosses. As you move through different areas, the challenges grow tougher, so you have to quickly adapt and use your skills wisely. Additionally, the game has a unique system where both you and the enemies become more powerful as the game progresses.

So, what's your favourite roguelike game, and what keeps you coming back for more? Let us know on our socials here!