Best Roguelike Games of All Time, Ranked

Roguelikes are best described as “live, die, repeat” titles, but each time you die, you get more knowledge to tackle the challenge and apply different strategies on each run. Whether it’s platforming or facing a literal bullet hell, the roguelike genre is filled with incredible titles that showcase the meaning of coming back stronger every run. So here’s a ranking of the best roguelike games of all time.

NOTE: This article was last updated on April 5, 2026. We’ll update this list quarterly.

Honorable Mentions

I. Returnal

Housemarque tackled the rougelike genre flawlessly with Returnal, which follows astronaut Selene Vassos stuck in a time loop on an alien planet called Atropos. It’s a frustrating yet immensely satisfying bullet hell experience with top-notch third-person gameplay, goosebumps-inducing music, and stunning visuals.

II. Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors is one of the most critically acclaimed roguelikes, one that lets you become the bullet hell. It’s a timed survival experience where you must lead the charge with an auto-attacking character on an auto-generated stage against continuous hordes of monsters. Exhilarating, unique, and refreshing, Vampire Survivors is a must-play for fans of the genre.

III. Megabonk

Megabonk is similar to Vampire Survivors in the sense that it features auto-combat against waves of enemies. However, it’s a fully 3D roguelike survival experience with completely randomized upgrades tied to character progression and procedurally generated maps. Consider it a refreshing 3D spin on Vampire Survivors, but with more verticality and options to randomize the gameplay loop.

15 Absolum

Metascore: 87

Absolum is a beat ’em up at its finest with a roguelike twist. Dotemu have technically created a subgenre of roguelike, best termed as “rogue ’em up”. You have all the staples of a great beat ’em up experience, from flashy and in-depth combat to a gorgeous art style and killer soundtrack, along with modern roguelike elements to make the 2025 title endlessly replayable.

The gorgeous realm of Talahm has innumerable forbidden paths to explore, countless secrets to discover, and intricate stories to experience. Every new run is different, regardless of whether you’re playing solo or with a friend on your couch or online. The seamless blend of fast-paced action and roguelike elements enhances Absolum’s replayability.

14 Spelunky 2

Metascore: 87

Mossmouth’s retro 2D platforming roguelike is not for the weak, thanks to its unforgiving difficulty, but if you can tolerate it, it becomes an absolute must-play. Spelunky 2 does an unbelievable job in improving upon the original’s mechanics, reinventing it without compromising the retro-simplicity of its 2D platforming gameplay loop, creating a uniquely superior sequel that exceeds expectations.

The goal remains the same: commit to multiple runs in hopes of rescuing the Spelunkies and getting treasures on the Moon, which is vastly bigger than the original’s underground setting. This 2020 roguelike might be ruthless, but it’s a highly rewarding experience that will frustrate you in the most positive ways.

13 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Metascore: 88

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth might contain an excruciating amount of poop, but the faeces-filled experience is beyond impressive, replayable, and addictive. It’s undeniably the definitive way to play The Binding of Isaac, since 2014’s Rebirth offers a staggering amount of content (and poop), and a better version of an already spectacular game.

Nicalis, Inc., and series creator Edward McMillen, who has another game on this list, put their hearts into the unhinged humor, the disgusting thrills and terrible addiction The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth offers. The story of Isaac’s escape from his mom’s basement is engaging, featuring mysterious creatures, secrets, superhuman abilities, and much more.

12 Rogue Legacy 2

Metascore: 88

Rogue Legacy 2 is a roguelike built for families, literally. Cellar Door Games’ 2022 sequel is not a traditional entry in the genre; it’s a genealogical rogulite, which means it’s a typical roguelike with permanent upgrades but also permanent downgrades, making it more challenging. The entire gameplay loop relies on your children, each having their own unique abilities, continuing the fight until the next of kin is prepared to face the gruesome challenges in the Kingdom.

It’s hard yet accessible, regardless of your roguelike skills. It’s also an incredibly addictive game that will have you spew out a plethora of “one more runs” until you feel the sun’s warmth on your face. It’s a stellar sequel by Cellar Door Games, enhancing the foundation of its predecessor and creating a 2.5D roguelike that you’ll play for hours.

11 Mewgenics

Metacritic: 88

Mewgenics may look like an adorable cat-filled experience on the surface, but underneath its fur coating lies an incredible turn-based breeding roguelike with a gameplay loop that wholeheartedly rewards experimentation. Your whiskered adventure in the Boon County will be as joyous as it will be unforgiving.

Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel might have kept us waiting for 13 years, but Mewgenics was every bit worth the wait. It’s already one of the best roguelikes of this year, thanks to its deeply compelling and inventive turn-based gameplay system, the adorable art style and the presence of an absurd dark humor in the narrative.

10 Nuclear Throne

Metacritic: 89

Vlambeer’s top-down post-apocalyptic roguelike title is a bullet hell with a razor-sharp gameplay loop and relentless pacing. Nuclear Throne walks the fine line between challenging and accessible, making you work for the victory and the eventual journey to reach the Nuclear Throne. Countless mutants and monsters in procedurally generated levels with random weapon drops push you to become better.

You’ll die again, again, and again, but it’s so ridiculously replayable that you’ll be facing the hordes with a smile on your face, a weapon in your hand and a finger on the trigger. Even with its technical limitations, it’s incredibly creative, expertly crafted and highly challenging for a 2015 title. You’ll become a natural if you reach Nuclear Throne. That’s a big “if”, but you’ll enjoy every second of it.

9 Slay the Spire

Metacritic: 89

Slay the Spire might be the greatest case of an “easy to learn but hard to master” title. Mega Crit’s 2019 masterpiece blends the best of roguelikes, deckbuilders and dungeon crawlers to create an experience so frustrating and satisfying that it spawned a new roguelike subgenre. And the fact that this was MegaCrit’s debut in gaming speaks volumes about their flawless execution with Slay the Spire.

Each journey up the ever-changing Spire will differ from each other, whether it’s the Relics you obtain, the enemies you face, or the cards you add to your deck. Few thrills are as exhilarating and satisfying as discovering a new deck combo in Slay the Spire. It’s both challenging, absorbing, and highly addictive.

8 Dead Cells

Metascore: 89

Dead Cells from developer Motion Twin combines roguelike and metroidvania elements to create a persistently engaging action-platformer that never lets up. Traverse and jump through an ever-changing castle and defeat anyone who stands in your way with new abilities, weapons, and mutations in 2D souls-lite combat.

The hardest part? There are no checkpoints. Once you die, you’ll have to start from the beginning with the knowledge of your previous runs. Permadeath makes this 2018 roguelike a challenging ordeal, but the thrill of death will make you hungry for more.

7 Balatro

Metascore: 90

LocalThunk’s Balatro took the gaming space by storm in 2024, and not without reason. The award-winning roguelike deckbuilder’s main gameplay loop revolves around dynamic abilities, synergies, and builds, offering endless possibilities and ways to win. While it’s inspired by poker, it’s far less financially damaging and more addictive than you’d expect.

A truly satisfying experience, you’ll spend hours building your strongest deck and playing the right hands in Balatro’s hand-crafted, psychedelic world. Not once does it lose steam during its runs, offering tremendous opportunities to create the perfect builds and trigger the best combos for winning.

6 Caves of Qud

Metascore: 91

2024 was an incredible year for roguelikes, and the full release of Freehold Games’ Caves of Qud further solidifies that statement. A science fantasy experience featuring layers of thousand-year-old-civilizations, players can virtually do anything, from creating characters, completing scripted/procedurally generated quests, to exploring diverse environments.

It’s deep, complex, and the result of nearly two decades of hard work, building a detailed science-fantasy world for players to lose themselves in. Not only is Caves of Qud a true roguelike, but it also features RPG elements with turn-based combat. If you’re looking for a layered world simulation, your sights should be locked onto Caves of Qud.

5 Blue Prince

Metascore: 92

Mystery-focused roguelikes found their undisputed champion in 2020 with Dogubomb’s Blue Prince, a puzzle-solving adventure with an addictive, ever-changing gameplay loop centred on discovering the secret behind the rumored Room 46 in Mt. Holly. It’s an unpredictable mystery that’ll keep you hooked for hours and end.

The roguelike elements rise from the mansion’s constantly changing rooms, opening up new, mysterious paths to explore and secrets to discover, while resetting everything but permanent upgrades to your house blueprints. As you progress through Blue Prince, you’ll realise that the mystery runs far deeper than it looks.

4 Hades

Metascore: 93

Supergiant Games began its roguelike journey in 2020 with Hades, a unique dungeon crawler with eye-popping visuals, stylish combat, hand-painted environments, and an exhilarating score. Designed for replayability, your objective as the Prince of the Underworld is to experiment with skills and permanent upgrades to defy and escape the god of the dead.

The ever-changing Underworld is teeming with challenges and ferocious encounters in each corner. As you progress, you’ll meet a colorful cast of characters that contribute to the worldbuilding with their own stories. No two escape attempts will ever be the same, making Hades a replayable masterpiece.

3 Dwarf Fortress

Metascore: 93

Simultaneously a construction/management simulation and a roguelike experience, Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress is a masterclass in fantasy simulation, unlike anything you’ve ever played. Long story short, the 2003 game centres on generating your own world, managing dwarves within a fortress, or exploring unique civilizations at your own pace.

Sure, the learning curve might be steep, but losing is winning in Dwarf Fortress, as your current civilization’s decline will strengthen your ability to manage the next one better. It’s ridiculously deep, complex, and a living, breathing roguelike experience that’ll take hours of your time.

2 Cobalt Core

Metascore: 94

Sci-fi roguelike deck-building games don’t get much better than Cobalt Core, a charming single-axis take on the tactics genre. Play your cards right to protect your ship against roaming threats with shields, dodge incoming attacks, or strike hard with hundreds of cards, unique character+ship combinations, and modifiers to finish your run.

Rocket Rat Games’ 2023 deckbuilder is innovative and tight, featuring witty characters, each with their own playstyles and stories, a tangled time-loop narrative, and electrifying music to accompany your turn-based dogfights. Reaching the Cobalt Core is your primary objective. However, the cards you play are entirely in your hands.

1 Hades II

Metascore: 95

Supergiant Games’ 2025 dungeon-crawler Hades II set the bar very high not only for sequels that live up to the anticipation, but also for roguelikes in general. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that’s designed for experimentation, exploration and limitless replayability, thanks to rich combat, a multitude of weapons and abilities, and a challenging adventure through the Greek Underworld.

Take on the role of the Immortal Princess of the Underworld and annihilate the Titan of Time’s forces in a gorgeous journey, packed with compelling characters, hand-painted locations, fluid action, and mesmerising soundtrack. It’s the best roguelike of all time, and there’s no restriction on building your abilities, which will keep you coming back to Hades II stronger than ever.

Most Anticipated Upcoming Roguelikes of 2026

Must-play roguelikes are lined up this year, and here’s what everyone is looking forward to getting their hands on:

• Morbid Metal – April 8, 2026
• Saros – April 30, 2026
• Warhammer Survivors – 2026
• Enter the Gungeon – 2026

RANKING	GAME
1	Hades II
2	Cobalt Core
3	Dwarf Fortress
4	Hades
5	Blue Prince
6	Caves of Qud
7	Balatro
8	Dead Cells
9	Slay the Spire
10	Nuclear Throne
11	Mewgenics
12	Rogue Legacy 2
13	The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
14	Spelunky 2
15	Absolum

What are your favorite roguelikes? Let us know what you think of the ranking in the comments section below.