Summary

• Roguelikes are defined by procedurally generated runs with permadeath, offering near-endless replayability.
• Roguelikes innovate within the genre, with games like Slay the Spire, Hades, and Inkbound challenging definitions.
• The best roguelikes of late include titles that are both reverent in their adherence to the genre and those that attempt to redefine it.

The history of the roguelike genre isn't just that it is popular - it's ever-changing, from second to second, depending on who gets asked what defines it. While there are extremely strict definitions available for absolute purists, the general sense of a roguelike is that it features a decent number of qualities attributed to the original Rogue. Beyond those attributes, they're often defined by their innovations rather than their adherence to their genre, with plenty of roguelikes making a push for Game of the Year candidacy in their release years.

The basic definition of a roguelike - at least, a loose one that is more often agreed upon by its players - is that it features procedurally generated "runs" that can result in death and a restart. That's honestly about the only thing people can agree on, though over the years its become more common to associate carry-over metaprogression with roguelike rather than the term "roguelite," which now often carries additional deviations from the formula to slot into that category. In short, a roguelike has near-endless replayability thanks to procedural generation and an emphasis on repeated deaths until the player masters its systems.

While it might seem like an exercise in madness, we've put together a list of the ten best roguelikes right now, compiling titles that span multiple release years and have challenged the definition of their genre more than once.

10 Noita (2020)

Metascore: 76

Noita is a platforming roguelike developed by Finnish studio Nolla Games. It left early access in 2020 and was immediately praised for its 2D pixel aesthetic, which helped set it apart in the roguelike genre thanks to some stylish choices inspired by winter landscapes and cavernous claustrophobia. Its retro aesthetic is complemented by its Finnish mythological leanings, sporting an intro that references that country's epic Kalevala.

Gameplay for Noita follows the player character's sorceror, who is able to cast and craft spells throughout a run in a procedurally generated series of dungeon settings. It's a chaotic experience that features plenty of explosions, frenetic movement, and frustrating deaths - and its permadeath mechanic means starting over will be a frequent occurrence for anyone looking to conquer this roguelike in 2024.

9 Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island (2024)

Metascore: 84

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a 2024 release from developer Spike Chunsoft that is the sixth installment in the Shiren the Wanderer series. As a roguelike role-playing game, it operates within familiar territory for the genre, though before analyzing what it does so well it's also worth noting it is important simply because it was made: the last mainline Shiren title had released 13 years prior to this one, so the resurrection of the series at all was an impressive feat.

The player moves through procedurally generated dungeons and fights monsters in typical RPG roguelike fashion. Players can rescue others who have been defeated within dungeons, and the introduction of the Monster Dojo allows them to hone their craft against specific monsters they'll face throughout the story. An overhauled UI also complements what is one of the better Shiren the Wanderer offerings of all-time, and one that reveres and builds upon its earlier iterations rather than attempts to reinvent the wheel.

8 Inkbound (2024)

Metascore: 80

Inkbound is a 2024 release from developer Shiny Shoe, best known for its Monster Train roguelike deckbuilder. Inkbound builds upon the pedigree of that game and refines its approach, using a turn-based, top-down tactical combat system that still features the hallmarks of Shiny Shoe's intricate design - endless customization options and build divergences that keep runs fresh across multiple outings.

Inkbound is also notable because it features a fully-fledged story, something that Monster Train shied away from. Metaprogression sees the protagonist character, the Needless, slowly unravel the mysteries of the Sea of Ink. It's a hook reminiscent of the slow burn of Hades' narrative progression, and while it doesn't quite hit those heights, it's still a welcome characteristic in a game that makes a strong case for itself as one of the best recent roguelike releases.

7 Darkest Dungeon II (2023)

Metascore: 81

Darkest Dungeon II is a roguelike RPG developed by Red Hook Studios as a sequel to successful niche hit Darkest Dungeon. The latter title slowly established itself as an incredibly punishing roguelike with a narrative to match, and hopes were high when Darkest Dungeon II released in 2023 that it would inherit that same identity while refining the approach that so many players had come to love over their many, many runs.

Combat in Darkest Dungeon II is turn-based, and a party features multiple characters who can be chosen and rearranged to play to specific strengths. Multiple systems are at play during a run, with health just one concern; stress levels increase the deeper the party ventures into maddening territory, and too much stress will cause a mid-combat meltdown that chunks a character for a lot of HP and assigns them negative characteristics. Metaprogression sees the end of runs rewarded with new characters and item options to help facilitate deeper, more successful journeys the next time, and the gameplay loop is incredibly rewarding.

6 Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania (2023)

Metascore: 88

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is the latest DLC for the long-running Dead Cells post-launch , which began after its release in 2018 and featured four paid DLCs as of time of writing. Return to Castlevania is widely considered to be the best of these, a daring mashup of two beloved titles that successfully capitalizes on both their best qualities while innovating in the space created by their blending in exciting ways.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania features a great micro-narrative around Dracula's castle, and there's a lot of subtle nods to the Castlevania franchise across hours of content. Reaching Dracula as the final boss will usually require many runs to get it down, where players will be introduced to monster-slaying that pays homage to Metroidvanias and secrets that wouldn't be out of place in one of the best SNES releases of that genre. It's a wonderful bit of nostalgia that's also a beautifully made game in its own right, and is the best version of Dead Cells yet - which is saying a lot, given its pedigree.

5 Risk of Rain 2 (2020)

Metascore: 85

Risk of Rain 2 is a third-person shooter roguelike developed by Hopoo Games and published by Gearbox (the Borderlands series). It's a sequel to the 2013 hit Risk of Rain, and was originally released in Early Access in 2019 before fully launching in 2020. In its release year, the game accrued a few different best indie nominations, and its critical reception was also favorable, settling into an 85 Metascore as of this writing.

One of the best elements of Risk of Rain 2 is its co-op play, with each player able to choose among different survivor archetypes that have complementary skill sets. Another interesting element is the fact that players can end a Risk of Rain 2 run in plenty of other ways than death; there are a number of final bosses, and defeating any of them will end the game, while other secret areas become accessible after fulfilling requirements and can by a final boss altogether and result in a run ending positively, too. Deep gameplay and a rewarding multiplayer experience make this one relevant in 2024 also.

4 Spelunky 2 (2020)

Metascore: 87

Spelunky 2 isn't what most people think of first when they're discussing roguelikes, but it very much belongs in the category, with procedurally generated dungeons that reshuffle themselves after protagonist Ana's deaths (of which there will be many). Developed by Mossmouth and Blitworks, Spelunky 2 released in 2020 for PC and PlayStation 4, 2021 for Nintendo Switch, and finally 2022 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Spelunky 2 is a 2D platformer roguelike that draws heavy inspiration from ancient mythology, with references made to figures like Osiris and Tiamat. It takes the qualities that people loved from Spelunky, like its snappy platforming and gorgeous aesthetic, and adds some innovation on top - turkey mounting being the most memorable. It's a recent roguelike that absolutely earns its keep among some of the genre's greats, with an 87 Metascore to back up that claim (alongside its many ports proving demand for the title).

3 Slay the Spire (2019)

Metascore: 89

Slay the Spire is a massive property that took the roguelike and deck-building genres by storm when it first released in Early Access, followed by a launch in 2019 that cemented it as one of the greatest of all time. Slay the Spire, developed by Mega Crit Games and published by Humble, is a deckbuilding game that allows players to choose among different character archetypes to differentiate between runs. Modifications are made to the decks these players get by adding, removing, and upgrading cards, with items available to further vary combat.

Slay the Spire's metaprogression isn't story-heavy, but its an addictive gameplay loop that many games have drawn inspiration from since, slowly unlocking vague secrets about its setting while also providing players with more powerful options to help make deeper runs. Its simple aesthetic belies a charming amount of detail for each enemy and boss, and after years at the top of the deckbuilding roguelike genre, a Slay the Spire 2 has finally been announced.

2 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (2014)

Metascore: 86

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a remake of the original Binding, which was developed in 2011 as a Flash game and thus suffered severe limitations to what was possible. In spite of this, that version became a sleeper hit and helped reinvigorate interest in roguelikes, making space for developer Nicalis to remake it for PC, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita in 2014. Rebirth features a slew of new content thanks to its better engine, and is considered to be the definitive version of the game.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth features procedurally generated levels through a random seed, which can then be shared to other players so multiple people can attempt a run through the same layout. The gameplay is most closely reminiscent of a multi-directional, top-down shooter, though dungeon exploration is crucial in discovering power-ups, health, and keys to unlock doors. The game's aesthetic is grotesque in a memorable fashion, and completions of runs lead to more routes, new endings, and new final bosses, keeping a gameplay loop extended for quite some time before the game is wrapped up narratively.

1 Hades (2018)

Metascore: 93

Hades is one of the most influential roguelikes of its generation. Developed by Supergiant Games, it's a monumental achievement in aesthetic, storytelling, sound design, and gameplay mechanics. It follows the story of Zagreus, son of Hades, as he attempts to escape hell and reunite with his mother, who fled long ago. The Greek gods are all given interesting personalities and motivations, with each run and death unlocking new dialogue or options for Zagreus to better acquaint himself with his peers - and better himself, to escape.

Hades features procedurally generated runs and a power-up system that rewards smart builds, providing bonuses based on the number of powers within a given category. The game functions like a top-down action RPG, with different weapons unlocking entirely different methods of play, whether it be melee- or shooter-inspired. Memorable voice acting and some of the genre's very best soundtracks help color a vibrant underworld, and Hades features metaprogression that slowly builds Zagreus into a powerful entity capable of freeing himself from his shackles - though he'll return, just like players, very frequently thanks to the game's incredible mechanics.