Roguelike games have carved out a unique niche in the gaming world, captivating players with their unpredictable challenges, infinite replayability, and rewarding sense of accomplishment. In 2025, the genre continues to thrive, offering fresh experiences while staying true to its roots of procedural generation, permadeath mechanics, and strategic depth.
While RPGs with streamlined progression like WoW offer you clear development paths and ways to speed up your progress, like taking a mythic boost, in roguelikes, your success is not forever and highly depends on chance. Whether you’re diving into a dungeon, surviving in a hostile world, or perfecting your combat skills, roguelikes deliver unparalleled excitement for gamers seeking something both challenging and endlessly engaging.
Here, we’ll explore the 10 best roguelike games that seem to be something like a gold standard for this niche in 2025. But first, let’s delve into what makes roguelikes so special and why players keep coming back for more.
What Makes Roguelikes So Special & Different from Everything Else
Popular roguelikes stand out because they offer a unique blend of unpredictability, strategy, and high stakes that few other genres can match. At their core, roguelikes are defined by procedurally generated levels, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same. This endless variety keeps gameplay fresh and exciting, challenging players to adapt to new layouts, enemies, and resources every time they start a new run.
Permadeath is another hallmark of the genre, adding a layer of tension and urgency to every decision. Knowing that a single mistake could end your progress pushes players to hone their skills, think strategically, and plan ahead. While failure is an ever-present risk, it also serves as a learning experience, making victories feel even more rewarding.
What makes roguelikes truly addictive is their progression system. Even when starting over, many games offer incremental upgrades or unlockable content, giving players a sense of growth and accomplishment. Coupled with deep, engaging mechanics and immersive themes, roguelikes deliver a sense of mastery that keeps players hooked for hours on end.
Whether you’re drawn to their challenging gameplay, infinite replayability, or the thrill of overcoming insurmountable odds, roguelikes offer an experience that’s as unique as it is unforgettable. And in 2025, the genre continues to push boundaries, captivating veterans and newcomers alike.
Roguelikes to Keep Playing in 2025
Loop Hero — Build the World Around Character
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Loop Hero offers a fascinating twist on the roguelike genre by placing players in control of the world rather than the protagonist. In this strategy-driven adventure, you guide a hero trapped in an endless loop, surrounded by a mysterious void. Instead of directly controlling the hero’s actions, you shape their journey by placing tiles that form landscapes, enemies, and structures, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving world.
The game’s pixel-art aesthetic and atmospheric soundtrack evoke a retro charm while immersing players in its dark, post-apocalyptic setting. Loop Hero’s blend of deck-building, resource management, and roguelike mechanics ensures every run feels fresh and strategic. The interplay between tiles adds depth, encouraging experimentation and rewarding thoughtful planning as you unravel the secrets of the loop.
Hades — Ancient Greek Adventures
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox
Hades combines fast-paced action with a compelling narrative set in the vibrant world of Greek mythology. Players assume the role of Zagreus, the rebellious son of Hades, on a daring quest to escape the Underworld and reach Mount Olympus. Each attempt brings encounters with gods, heroes, and legendary creatures, enriching the story with witty dialogue and character development.
The game’s hand-drawn visuals and stunning animations bring the Underworld to life, blending dark, brooding environments with colorful, dynamic effects. Hades shines with its tight combat mechanics, offering diverse weapons, upgrades, and godly boons to customize your playstyle. Its unique approach to storytelling—where relationships with NPCs evolve over multiple runs—makes Hades a standout, seamlessly weaving roguelike replayability with rich narrative depth.
Dead Cells — Escape Prison in a New Way
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Dead Cells offers a thrilling blend of roguelike and Metroidvania elements, tasking players with escaping a sprawling, procedurally generated prison. You control a reanimated prisoner—a blob of cells inhabiting various host bodies—battling through interconnected levels filled with deadly foes, secrets, and powerful upgrades. Each death resets your progress, but the knowledge and items you gain in previous runs carry over, creating a satisfying loop of improvement.
With its fluid, responsive combat and gorgeous pixel art design, Dead Cells delivers a fast-paced, visually striking experience. The game’s wide array of weapons, skills, and mutations allows players to experiment with countless strategies. Its challenging yet fair difficulty ensures that every success feels earned, making Dead Cells a must-play for fans of action-packed roguelikes with a side of exploration.
Hand of Fate — Deck of Cards-based Action
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Hand of Fate merges card-based strategy with action-packed roguelike gameplay. Players navigate a mysterious board game hosted by a cryptic dealer, where cards dictate the events, challenges, and enemies encountered. As you build your deck, you shape the journey ahead, balancing risk and reward with each choice. The stakes are high as death sends you back to the start, reshuffling the deck for an unpredictable experience.
The game seamlessly blends tabletop mechanics with third-person combat sequences, where cards come to life in vibrant 3D battles. Its medieval fantasy setting, richly narrated encounters, and ever-changing scenarios keep every run fresh and immersive. Hand of Fate’s mix of strategy, luck, and skill offers a unique roguelike experience that stands out for its innovation and depth.
Spelunky — A Perfect Example of a Roguelite
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation Vita, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Spelunky is a genre-defining, one of the best rogue lites that challenges players to explore treacherous caves filled with traps, treasures, and dangerous creatures. As a daring adventurer, your goal is to delve deeper into procedurally generated levels, collecting loot, rescuing companions, and avoiding peril at every turn. Death is permanent, but each run presents new layouts and opportunities, ensuring infinite replayability.
The game’s charming pixel-art style and tight controls make navigating its hazardous environments both fun and satisfying. Spelunky’s depth lies in its dynamic interactions—every object, enemy, and trap follows consistent physics, enabling creative problem-solving. With its balance of challenge and discovery, Spelunky offers a quintessential roguelike experience that rewards curiosity and perseverance.
Cult of the Lamb — A Roguelike & Settlement Simulator
Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Cult of the Lamb combines roguelike character development with an engaging settlement-building mechanic. You play as a lamb saved from death by a mysterious deity tasked with building a loyal cult to repay your savior. Between exploring procedurally generated dungeons to gather resources and defeat rival cults, you must manage and grow your community, balancing their faith, needs, and devotion.
The game’s whimsical yet dark art style creates a uniquely charming atmosphere, blending adorable character designs with occult themes. Cult of the Lamb’s fusion of fast-paced combat, resource management, and storytelling provides a refreshing twist on the roguelike genre. The ability to shape your cult and influence their actions adds a layer of personalization, making every playthrough as unique as it is entertaining.
Enter the Gungeon — Action with Quests
Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Linux, macOS
Enter the Gungeon is a bullet-hell roguelike with a quirky, weapon-obsessed twist. Players descend into the Gungeon, a labyrinth filled with foes, traps, and, most importantly, guns. The goal is to locate the legendary “gun that can kill the past” while evading relentless waves of enemies and navigating procedurally generated rooms. Along the way, you’ll encounter eccentric NPCs who offer quests, rewards, and secrets to uncover.
The game’s vibrant pixel art and smooth animations bring its chaotic combat to life, with each enemy and weapon adding a unique flair. Enter the Gungeon excels in its vast arsenal of creative firearms, from standard pistols to bizarre, pop-culture-inspired guns. Its combination of fast-paced action, humorous design, and challenging gameplay ensures hours of replayable fun for both casual players and hardcore roguelike enthusiasts.
Noita — Break the Rules & Make It Fun
Platforms: Windows
Noita is a physics-driven roguelike where players control a sorcerer exploring a magical, procedurally generated world. Each pixel in the environment is fully simulated, allowing players to interact with their surroundings in unique and destructive ways. Whether setting entire forests on fire or flooding caves with water, the game encourages experimentation with spells and the environment to overcome challenges.
The hand-drawn, pixelated visuals pair beautifully with the chaotic magic system, offering a mix of beauty and destruction. Spell crafting is at the core of Noita, with players customizing their wands to create devastating or unpredictable effects. With its emphasis on player creativity and emergent gameplay, Noita transforms every run into a captivating sandbox of discovery and chaos.
Into the Breach — Tactics, Strategies, and Giant Insects
Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Into the Breach is a tactical roguelike where players command powerful mechs to defend humanity from giant insect-like creatures called the Vek. Each battle takes place on a small, grid-based map, where careful planning is crucial to victory. The game stands out by giving players foresight into enemy moves, allowing them to strategize and counter threats with precision.
The minimalist yet detailed art style complements the tightly designed gameplay, creating a visually clean and strategic experience. With various mech squads to unlock, pilot abilities to upgrade, and randomly generated missions, Into the Breach offers endless tactical depth. Its blend of roguelike unpredictability and turn-based strategy makes it a standout for players who love thoughtful, challenging gameplay.
Returnal — Stay Alive on the Unknown Planet
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Returnal is a third-person roguelike set on the mysterious and hostile planet of Atropos. Players assume the role of Selene, a space explorer trapped in a time loop, forced to relive her crash landing and encounters with alien horrors. Each death resets the world, revealing new paths, enemies, and secrets, while Selene uncovers fragments of a larger narrative about her past and the planet’s mysteries.
The game’s hauntingly beautiful visuals and atmospheric sound design immerse players in its eerie sci-fi world. Returnal’s fast-paced combat is both challenging and rewarding, blending tight shooting mechanics with the roguelike unpredictability of randomized upgrades and gear. Its rich storytelling, combined with its dynamic, ever-changing environment, offers a deeply immersive experience that pushes the boundaries of modern roguelikes.
Roguelike games invite you to think creatively, adapt to the unexpected, and embrace the thrill of the unknown. With their vibrant designs, innovative mechanics, and endless surprises, roguelikes offer an addictive and rewarding experience for gamers of all kinds. Dive into the genre and discover why roguelikes have become a cornerstone of modern gaming — one run at a time.
