Best Roguelike Games That Can Keep You Busy For Months

The roguelike genre has exploded with the rise of indie gaming, allowing developers to craft unique assets that can generate levels that feel different in every run. The fact that players will relish the idea of diving into a game even after suffering a loss is a huge part of what makes this genre so special.

Some roguelike games nail the elements of this genre so well that players can clock in numerous hours of gameplay across several months without getting bored. This a huge achievement for games that can wow the masses with the sheer variety that they can enjoy for a long time.

8 Hades

Hearing All The Dialogue And Exploring The Pact Of Punishment Can Take A Long Time

Supergiant Games is a master of combining narratives with gameplay to make for a magical experience that fans can’t get enough of. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Hades, where every loss allows players to further the plot and interact with several NPCs before trying to escape the Underworld once again.

Not only must players defeat Hades himself a total of ten times to reach the game’s ending, but messing around with Pacts of Punishment and uncovering story content for the game’s many NPCs can take so long that players can spend several months trying to achieve 100% completion in this title.

7 Slay The Spire

Ascending The Tower And Exploring The Game’s Mods Bumps Up The Playtime Considerably

Roguelike deck-building games have become all the rage in modern times, and most people credit Slay the Spire as the game that started this trend. Players will love selecting a character and enhancing their deck as they ascend the Spire.

Death is an inevitability in this game early on as players slowly come to grips with the title’s mechanics. A victory may taste sweet but is far from the only goal in this game, with players taking on challenge runs or using a vast array of impressive mods to increase the runtime of this title even more.

6 Risk Of Rain 2

Multiplayer Modes And Extensive Looting Ensures That The Gameplay Loop Remains Fresh For A Long Time

Any game with multiplayer content has the potential to keep fans enraptured for ages, and executing these systems well in a third-person shooter with roguelike elements is a huge reason why Risk of Rain 2 became such a major hit.

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The game is a massive departure from its predecessor, but most people would agree that these changes were for the better. A focus on looting and co-op gameplay ensures that players can make their chosen character as strong as possible as they explore an alien world and tackle enemies in varied biomes.

5 Darkest Dungeon

A Ton Of Content, Hardcore Difficulty, And Mods Ensure That Players Can Play This Game For Ages

One of the most hardcore RPGs players can get their hands on, Darkest Dungeon is not a game for the faint of heart. The gothic and Lovecraftian vibes of this title are unmatched, with players quickly learning how punishing this title can be if they get too greedy while exploring a dungeon.

Players must change the way they approach games in this genre, forming a squad with powerful warriors who must remain alive for every trek through a dungeon if players want to make meaningful progress. Along with the base game’s content, several DLCs and mods ensure that players in love with Darkest Dungeon can spend months playing this game without being bored.

4 The Binding Of Isaac

A Lengthy Roguelike Title Inspired By The Legend Of Zelda With Numerous DLCs And Mods

One of the early adopters of the roguelike genre that wore its Zelda inspirations on its sleeve, The Binding of Isaac is a twisted yet charming game that can be very challenging to get through. Players must clear room after room of hostiles to get stronger, acquiring upgrades, items, and abilities that power Isaac up to help him make meaningful progress in this title.

The main game itself is full to the brim with a ton of content, and the DLCs add even more stuff and challenges for players to explore. If this wasn’t enough, then the active modding community will provide enough user-made content to ensure that players can spend months on this title with ease.

3 Caves Of Qud

An Open-World Roguelike That’s Hard Yet Engrossing At The Same Time

Systems

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Released

July 15, 2015

Developer(s)

Freehold Games

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An underrated open-world roguelike title that more people need to check out, the complex systems in Caves of Qud are a joy to interact with time and time again. The game wastes no time in establishing just how brutal this world is, with players dying in record time early on before approaching a playthrough patiently and learning the ropes.

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In due time, they can make substantial progress as a character, but death can always await players who are unlucky, careless, or both. The rudimentary graphics may be hard to get into, but players who look past these superficial aspects will enjoy a roguelike game that is brimming with quality and replayability.

2 Dwarf Fortress

One Of The Most Popular Colony Management Games Where Each Playthrough Can Take Ages

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Platform(s)

Linux , macOS , Microsoft Windows

Released

August 8, 2006

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Developer

Bay 12 Games, Tarn Adams, Zach Adams

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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Dwarf Fortress is one of the most legendary roguelike colony simulators of all time that fans can’t get enough of. Titles like RimWorld were inspired by this masterful title, where players must help a colony of dwarves overcome numerous hurdles on their path to becoming a thriving community.

This game is brutal on beginners, and it takes a while to get over the slow learning curve and understand what makes this game’s systems click. Players who spend days going through the motions in Dwarf Fortress will find it effortless to spend month after month trying to optimize their colony and prepare for any dangers.

1 Crypt Of The NecroDancer

Players Who Want To Get Perfect Scores In Every Level Will Spend A Ridiculously Long Time With This Title

Players who just want to check out the rhythm gameplay of Crypt of the NecroDancer and play through its levels once will love what this title brings to the table. The soundtrack is a joy to experience and players will love nailing their moves and taking out enemies in a smooth and satisfying manner.

However, players who want perfect scores in each level and also to complete the All Zones Mode flawlessly will spend months perfecting their reflexes and attuning their brains to the distinct rhythm-based gameplay of this title. The fact that both casual and hardcore players will love the gameplay offerings of Crypt of the NecroDancer is a huge reason why this title was a surprise hit.

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8 Most Relaxing Roguelikes

While not a traditionally ‘chill’ genre, these excellent roguelikes offer a relaxing gameplay loop when players just want to unwind.