Ask three different players what defines a roguelike, and you’ll likely get three very different answers. Some think of Hades, others Spelunky, while a few go back to the 1980s dungeon crawler Rogue itself. The genre’s definition is messy, but one thing is certain—its influence has been massive. For simplicity, roguelikes can be summed up as games built around procedural generation and permanent death as core mechanics. From modern deck-builders to bullet hell shooters, here are the best roguelike games that shaped the genre.
Cult of the Lamb and Enter the Gungeon
Cult of the Lamb blends cute and creepy in a way few others dare. Its charming visuals hide a brutal roguelike loop of short, intense runs paired with base-building that keeps things fresh between dungeon dives. Managing a growing cult feels just as rewarding as any fight, creating a unique rhythm of devotion and destruction.
Then there’s Enter the Gungeon, the bullet hell masterpiece that turns every run into controlled chaos. Dodge Roll’s top-down shooter shines through its absurd arsenal of creative guns and relentless pacing. Each weapon completely changes how fights unfold, ensuring every descent feels new. Its personality, references, and pixel-perfect design cement its place among the best roguelikes.
Into the Breach and Rogue Legacy 2
Subset Games’ Into the Breach trades chaos for chess-like precision. Each turn becomes a puzzle where strategy outweighs luck. Controlling mechs against city-crushing kaiju brings tension and satisfaction in equal measure, especially when every decision carries lasting consequences.
Meanwhile, Rogue Legacy 2 redefined what persistence means in a roguelike. Every descendant in the family line offers quirky traits—colorblind heroes, vegan knights, or clumsy warriors—and these random traits turn frustration into laughter. Its blend of humor, progression, and creative upgrades keeps each generation memorable, proving that variety is the lifeblood of the genre.
Returnal, The Last of Us: No Return, and Valhalla
Few AAA studios have taken the roguelike plunge, but Housemarque’s Returnal did it with flair. It’s a sci-fi loop of tension and mastery, where every death is part of the story. The fast-paced third-person combat borrows from arcade roots, translating bullet hell chaos into cinematic intensity.
Even narrative-heavy studios like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio joined in. The Last of Us Part II: No Return introduced a wave-based survival mode, turning stealth mechanics into endless replayability. God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla followed suit, blending combat challenge with story reflection, giving Kratos’ journey a fitting roguelike twist.
Hades, Spelunky, and The Binding of Isaac
No roguelike list is complete without Hades. Supergiant’s mythological hit reimagined the genre through emotional storytelling and slick action. Every failed run still matters, progressing relationships and upgrades that carry meaning beyond combat. Characters like Achilles, Megara, and Dusa give life to every attempt, while Zagreus’ story ties each escape together in a satisfying loop.
Spelunky 2 continues to define procedural perfection, offering endless stories born from risk and discovery. Each cave hides triumph and heartbreak in equal measure. And The Binding of Isaac remains a genre cornerstone—grotesque, inventive, and brutally rewarding. Its mix of randomized items and twin-stick shooting gave birth to a generation of roguelike fans.
Vampire Survivors, Slay the Spire, and Beyond
Vampire Survivors proves simplicity can be addictive. Its auto-attacking chaos hides surprising depth, rewarding experimentation through endless upgrades. Slay the Spire, on the other hand, turned card-based strategy into roguelike gold. Every relic, card, and synergy feels like a gamble with massive payoff.
Meanwhile, Dead Cells and Balatro show how much flexibility exists within the genre—from fluid side-scrolling action to poker-themed deck building. Each takes the roguelike loop of risk, growth, and loss and shapes it into something distinct, proving that the genre thrives on reinvention.
Monster Train also deserves a mention. Its layered, deck-building mechanics reward synergy and forward thinking, creating one of the most satisfying strategy roguelikes around. Like the best of the genre, it’s not about winning every run—it’s about learning through failure until the next breakthrough moment.
Finally, Hades II is shaping up to carry the torch forward. With Melinoë as the new protagonist, Supergiant Games has expanded every system, weaving combat, story, and progression into a richer loop that stands tall even among its predecessors.
