From Hades to Dead Cells: The 7 Best Roguelites of All Time

It’s often hard for gamers to find time for long gaming sessions, especially with work or family commitments. That’s where roguelites come in – they’re designed for quick bursts of gameplay without a lot of complicated setup. So, what are the greatest roguelite games ever made?

There have been many roguelite games released over the years, but a few truly shine. Here are seven of the best you can play today.

What’s The Difference Between Roguelikes and Roguelites?

You might have noticed the terms “roguelike” and “roguelite” used interchangeably, but even though these games are similar, there are key differences that create unique experiences.

Roguelikes are games known for their challenging gameplay where, if you die, you start completely over. Each time you play, the levels are randomly created, meaning no two playthroughs are ever the same. Success depends on your skill, how quickly you learn, and a little bit of luck!

Roguelites build on the core idea of roguelikes, where each attempt is a fresh start. However, they also include ways to make permanent progress. As you play, you’ll unlock things like new skills, levels, characters, and improvements, encouraging you to keep playing again and again.

Roguelikes force you to start completely over with each playthrough, but roguelites allow you to make some permanent progress, making them more accessible and easier to keep playing.

The Best Rogulites Of All Time

Dead Cells

Dead Cells is a challenging game that blends the exploration of metroidvanias with the replayability of roguelites. You’ll navigate a castle that changes with each playthrough, and while it’s tough, practice should make it more manageable. You’ll gain access to new areas, powerful upgrades, weapons, and skills as you progress. With tools like the War Spear and Panchuku, you’ll be able to quickly defeat your enemies.

The game doesn’t have save points, so when you fail, you start over from the beginning. It can be challenging, but that frustration often comes with the feeling that you’re learning and getting closer to success.

Risk of Rain 2

Risk of Rain 2 is an exciting roguelite where you play as a survivor stranded on a dangerous alien world. You’ll battle your way through ever-changing levels, finding powerful upgrades and abilities along the way. It’s great for both solo play and online co-op with up to three friends, and each playthrough takes around an hour, making it ideal for shorter gaming sessions.

Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is a one-of-a-kind game that mixes the strategy of card games with the adventure of dungeon crawling. You’ll build a custom deck of cards and use it to battle through randomly generated levels filled with monsters and powerful bosses. There are four playable characters, each offering unique cards and skills. Plus, a daily challenge keeps things fresh with new goals and rewards. Best of all, a typical playthrough takes an hour or less.

Hades

Hades is a highly praised action game where you play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, attempting to break free from the underworld. It’s known for its beautiful visuals, excellent voice acting, and exciting combat, allowing you to use a variety of weapons and godly powers. The game’s story is revealed through interactions with interesting characters and learning about their backgrounds. A typical playthrough usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on how skilled you are.

If you wrap up your time in Hades, you can then jump into the equally impressive sequel, Hades 2.

Enter the Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon is a funny, fast-paced roguelite game packed with references to popular culture. You play as one of four characters exploring a bullet-filled dungeon, all searching for a special gun that will help them overcome their pasts. There’s a ton to unlock, including over 300 different guns and items, plus hidden secrets and rooms. You can even team up with a friend in local co-op mode. A typical playthrough takes an hour or less.

Absolum

Absolum is a fantastic new game that excels in its genre without trying to be overly innovative. You play as one of four heroes on a quest to defeat Sun King Azra, who has seized power by exploiting people’s fear of magic and enslaving wizards. Each hero has distinct abilities, encouraging you to try them all. Every playthrough offers varied paths, upgrades, and enemy placements, keeping the experience engaging even after many hours. Plus, with its multiplayer option, Absolum is definitely worth playing.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a hugely popular roguelite game where you play as Isaac, a boy fleeing his mother and venturing into a terrifying basement. It’s a darkly humorous and imaginative game, filled with hundreds of unique items and enemies drawing inspiration from the Bible and other places. With multiple different endings and characters to unlock, the game offers a lot of replayability. A single playthrough usually takes around 30 minutes or less.

If you’re looking for more to play in The Binding of Isaac, the recent Repentance expansion is like getting a whole new game with all the extra content it adds.

2025-10-15 18:49