Best 3D Roguelikes

From frantic platformers to blood-chilling horrors, roguelikes can be found in every genre imaginable. With their distinctive procedurally generated terrain and permadeath mechanics that reward players as much as they punish them, roguelikes have captured the hearts of gamers, both new and old. Failure is the only certainty in these thrilling high-stakes games where a single misstep could spell doom. Take heart though; from the ashes of every loss will rise an increasingly more powerful character.

Once a rarity in roguelike gaming, 3D graphics have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Thrilling roguelikes like Risk Of Rain 2 are renowned for their uniquely vibrant and explosive 3D visuals that put players right into the midst of the action. Every hit taken, attack made, and bullet dodged is a rich visual experience, bouncing players from excitement to terror and back again in a split second.

1

Barony

Looks Inviting, Is Deadly

Barony

Systems

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Released

April 4, 2015

ESRB

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T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Developer(s)

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Turning Wheel

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• Co-op first-person dungeon crawler.
• Beneath pixelated graphics hides intense battles.
• Death could lurk behind any corner.

In this chaotic co-op dungeon crawler, players battle through ancient ruins in search of untold riches and endless glory. In these uncharted depths, grave dangers lie in wait, bringing death to careless adventurers.

With colorful and pixelated 3D graphics reminiscent of old-school RPGs, many players are lulled into a false sense of security, believing Barony is a calmer and more measured gameplay experience. These players will perish first. Subverting expectations, Barony is instead a frantic battle for survival, filled to the brim with high-stakes combat that is sure to leave even veteran RPG fans sweating. This may be a cartoony game, but it is oh-so deadly.

Barony’s 3D environments bring tension to every moment of gameplay. In a dungeon filled with narrow corridors, claustrophobic rooms, and blind corners, danger could strike in an instant, whether a monster or one of a roster of deadly traps. Turning a corner, players could fall into the hands of a towering ogre or the motherload of all treasure hordes.

2

Lethal Company

Equal Parts Fun & Terror

Released

October 23, 2023

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ESRB

t

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Developer(s)

Zeekerss

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• Co-op first-person survival horror.
• Terrifying and hilarious creature models.
• Environments are easy to get lost in.

Lethal Company is a co-op indie survival horror that thrusts players into the seemingly simple role of interstellar scrap collector. There’s a catch, though. Players are far from alone on these alien planets, a fact they’ll quickly discover upon stumbling into the arms of a man-eating monster.

Well-renowned for its janky and simple, albeit rather endearing, 3D creature models, Lethal Company masterfully balances humor with horror through its graphics. Being chased by a monstrosity is sure to give players a terrible fright. Still, there’s always a level of clunkiness to their design that balances this fear with humor, ensuring players are never left too scared to continue playing.

The game’s simplistic environmental designs make it easy for players to get lost in the facilities. Nothing is quite as scary as stumbling around the dark and decaying metallic remains of a building, waiting for a monster to strike. Every word uttered to locate friends will only attract enemies closer.

3

Void Bastards

Engaging Visuals With Powerful Contrasts

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Released

May 28, 2019

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Strong Language, Violence

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Developer(s)

Blue Manchu

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OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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• First-person strategy shooter.
• Dynamic visuals make players feel powerful.
• Noticeable tone shift when bright colors become dull.

In this thrilling strategy shooter, players take on the role of an interstellar prisoner. Their task: survive the dangers of the Sargasso Nebula, collecting resources, weapons, and upgrades along the way. Death is the only guarantee here.

Void Bastards’ colorful, 3D comic book visuals make combat feel powerful and dynamic as if the players were the protagonists of a comic book themselves. Players will, however, quickly discover that as much as they feel like the protagonist, this is a universe devoid of plot armor. Overconfidence is a real killer. Void Bastards’ combat never fails to get the blood pumping, especially when players’ lives and resources are on the line.

A generally vibrant game, Void Bastards knows precisely how to use color changes to set a scene. When the lights go out, colors dampen, replacing the game’s laid-back atmosphere with tension and terror, where danger could be lurking around every corner.

4

Returnal

Diverse Movement, Realistic Monsters

Systems

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Released

April 30, 2021

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence

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OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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• Intense third-person shooter.
• 3D movement mastery is vital for survival.
• Realistic monsters are truly terrifying.

Returnal is an action-packed third-person shooter. Having crash-landed on the planet of Atropos, players must battle their way through hordes of deadly alien wildlife, dying repeatedly to find a way to escape. Every failure brings them one step closer to safety.

In this 3D roguelike, players must learn to navigate the ever-changing landscapes of various biomes if they want to survive. Clever use of terrain can be the difference between life and death, allowing them to survey for dangers and dodge or flee from deadly monsters. In a game where avoiding damage is vital, lest players want to lose finite health and valuable buffs, players must learn how to traverse the land as skillfully as its terrifying natives.

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5 Roguelikes to Play After Returnal

Once gamers have finished Returnal, there are several other roguelikes that offer a similar gameplay experience that players should hop into.

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Tension is in no short supply in this game. When players aren’t in combat, they’re constantly anticipating it, primed and ready to react to any threat thrown their way. The realistic art style of Returnal only adds to this fear, with players frequently coming face to face with some truly terrifying apex predators.

5

Risk Of Rain 2

Dynamic Graphics, Movement Emphasis

Third-Person Shooter

Roguelike

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Released

September 11, 2020

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ESRB

t

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Developer(s)

Hopoo Games

OpenCritic Rating

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Mighty

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• Third-person co-op shooter.
• 3D graphics pull players into the action.
• 3D movement is key to quality gameplay.

One of the most iconic 3D roguelikes to release in recent years, Risk Of Rain 2 is a thrilling co-op shooter. Explosive action-packed battles ensue as players blast through hordes of monsters on a diverse array of alien planets.

Few games are as visually dynamic and engaging as Risk Of Rain 2. Whether speeding over the map, fighting brutal battles, or collecting powerful items, players are transported into the midst of the action by the game’s breathtaking graphics. This game is visually stunning in its scope and variety of 3D environments, from frigid winter wastelands to wasteland deserts.

Risk Of Rain 2’s 3D graphics really shine when it comes to character movement. With an array of maps to play and characters with unique movement skills to choose from, players are free to traverse its varied environments any way they want. In fact, the game encourages players to experiment with and master movement mechanics, whether to avoid deadly hits or perform devastating attacks.

Related

Darkest Roguelike Games, Ranked

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Out of all the roguelike games, these are known to be the darkest.