The roguelike is a genre that is as diverse as any other, and it is becoming more accessible. Over the past decade, its popularity has exploded to the point that a new, promising, and sometimes difficult-as-nails roguelike game appears every other week. We've compiled a list of the top roguelike games for PC to assist you in determining which are the cream of the crop.
The best roguelikes maintain their appeal for years after publication, so our list will include a fair mix of old favorites and newbies. While roguelike games are known for their difficulty, we continue to see creators try to broaden the genre's appeal by creating new hybrids such as strategy roguelikes, shooter roguelikes, and card battler roguelikes.
Also, we're not going to argue over what constitutes a roguelike vs a roguelite — we simply want to share some of our all-time favorites with you, our wonderful readers. So, without further ado, here are the greatest roguelike games for PC, spanning a variety of genres ranging from dungeon crawlers to strategy games.
Hades
You play as Zagreus, son of Hades and ruler of the underworld, as he does all he can to get out of hell itself in Supergiant's newest game. It's an isometric hack 'n' slash with fierce combat and a plethora of opponents.
Hades showcases the narrative possibilities of the genre's cyclical structure by linking together its procedural runs with a captivating storyline and appealing cast of characters. After each unsuccessful effort, you're revived at your house, the House of Hades, where your former friends and family members await their newest conversation with you.
After each run, you'll learn a little more about them, and you'll have the opportunity to meet and get experimental improvements from your Olympian ancestors while you're out in the field. These squabbling gods are arguably the show's true stars, and their stunning artwork and fully spoken conversation help to bring them to life. It's unquestionably one of the greatest narrative games on PC, as well as a fantastic roguelike.
The Binding of Isaac
When The Binding of Isaac, developed by Edmund McMillen, came out nearly a decade ago, it re-energized the roguelike genre. There have been plenty of flashier, more contemporary roguelike games since then, but nothing truly compares to it.
It is honest in its portrayal of Isaac's perilous position. In fact, when you weep your way through the game's repulsive environment and face Isaac's numerous demons, including his own mother, the game easily fits in the realm of horror. Finally, its continuing appeal may be attributed to both its beautiful design and distinct personality.
While The Binding of Isaac Repentance may be the last update, it includes a slew of new foes, chambers, and hidden bosses, as well as local co-op support for up to four players. It's no surprise that it drew 60,000 concurrent players in its first weekend on Steam alone (though it's also accessible on the Epic Game Store, so the figure is likely greater).
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is the epitome of suffering. Never has a moreish game made you feel as awful as this one. It's visually imposing, brutally tough, and gloomy to the extreme. As you explore its dungeons in quest of trinkets and money, it succeeds in keeping you in a continuous state of worry.
It's one thing to defeat the dungeon's dreadful denizens in turn-based combat, but you also have to keep in mind that your party members aren't mindless meat shields. Your excursions' physical and mental toil will eventually take their toll, and this is what gives Darkest Dungeon its sting. The very real fear of getting a terrible illness or seeing a buddy injured – or worse – may send any explorer into a downward spiral. As a result, it's critical that you consider each step thoroughly.
see also: Team OG
Dead Cells
It's difficult to see anybody being turned off by Dead Cells' violent hack 'n' slash gameplay and frenetic pace. You break out from your prison cell as a lifeless (not to mention headless) scientific experiment and begin ripping and tearing your way across an enormous castle, from the dungeons below to the towers above.
Certain improvements may be carried over from run to run, giving you a continuous feeling of progress. As a consequence, being thrown back to square one after a particularly nasty boss battle doesn't have the same sting as it would in other roguelike games, making the temptation to start afresh run even stronger. That's not to suggest Dead Cells is easy; it still kicks your arse on a regular basis – but the threat of losing everything makes for a less intimidating experience. It also helps that the game's post-release support has been nothing short of outstanding.
Don’t Starve
Don't Starve is a tense, unsettling piece of gothic horror that delights in stressing you out and inflicting agony. On the surface, it's an isometric roguelike survival game in which you're charged with surviving in a world that desperately wants you dead.
Developer Klei never seems to run out of fresh – and frequently unpleasant – surprises, and exploring your environment is both frightening and enticing. You'll be drawn back time and time again to have another try, to unravel its intricate systems, and to discover what lies just beyond, as harsh as its world may be.
Downwell
Downwell is a frantic shotgun blast of a roguelike with a strong sense of style and a fine-tuned design to match. It is a 2D platform game that has you driving down a seemingly endless, monster-filled hole. Thankfully, you have a pair of gumboots – yeah, you read it right – that serve as your main method of attack and traversal.
While the game is simple to learn and play, mastering combat is a tremendous task. Despite its challenging nature, Downwell's addictive combination system, quick-fire stages, and inventive final boss make it one of the finest roguelike games available.
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Into the Breach
FTL, Subset Games' other roguelike, might have easily taken top position, but we think Into the Breach takes the lead due to its laser-focused design and buried depth layers.
It's a turn-based strategy game in which you're up against the Vek, a monster army. The only way to stop their onslaught is to recruit the assistance of several massive mechs. Unfortunately for you, the Vek are very than capable of destroying your team, so you'll have to think carefully about each choice if you want to keep them alive.
As you advance across the game's islands, you'll find better weaponry and pilots to aid you in turning the tide of battle and saving humanity from imminent extinction. Its simple combat won't put beginners off — it's one of the most accessible strategy games out there – but don't expect anything less than a stressful, but always gratifying, experience from Into the Breach.