Best 2D Roguelikes, Ranked

Roguelike gaming has become all the rage in the indie scene, with developers making the most of recycled assets to let players enjoy a great time with different level layouts in each run. This makes it important for roguelike games to keep players engaged instead of losing their attention or frustrating them with boring and repetitive content.

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Some of the best roguelike games players can get their hands on are a joy to play and make the most of 2D visuals and art styles to keep fans engaged. These entertaining titles will keep fans coming back for more as they enjoy some compelling gameplay that urges them to improve their skills and their playable character's abilities for each run.

9 Crypt Of The NecroDancer

Rhythm Combat And Roguelike Design Makes For A Great Combination

A fun rhythm action game where players explore dungeons to the beat of catchy tunes and take out numerous foes in style, Crypt of the NecroDancer is a great roguelike game for fans to check out. It's a game with such a compelling gameplay loop that it caught Nintendo's attention (which is no mean feat), leading to the release of Cadence of Hyrule.

The simple 2D visuals add to the game's charm, emphasizing the engaging gameplay and fun soundtrack as the game's biggest draws. Players who decide to give this game a shot will love to nail a perfect run and ensure that their rhythm game skills are polished to a T.

8 Darkest Dungeon

The Tough Turn-Based Gameplay Makes Every Victory A Huge Achievement

One of the greatest role-playing games that fans can't stop raving about to this day, Darkest Dungeon's gothic art style and tactical combat are something that will both frustrate and intrigue players. Losing a party member who has become very strong is far from optimal, but it serves as a learning experience as players get accustomed to Darkest Dungeon's hardcore gameplay.

Players will love going back to a hub and restocking before tackling tougher dungeons. With a well-optimized party, even the toughest dungeons in Darkest Dungeon can be made doable as players figure out the best way to make meaningful progress and eventually reach the end.

7 Slay The Spire

This Deck-building Roguelike Is Quite Satisfying As Players Explore A Tower

Slay the Spire became one of the most popular deck-building roguelikes back when it first came out. Controlling a special character and ascending to the top of a tower without making any mistakes is something that players gain a ton of satisfaction from after succumbing to multiple runs beforehand.

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This slow yet satisfying progression is a huge part of what makes Slay the Spire such a compelling roguelike. The 2D visuals get the job done and add to the sense of adventure as players strive to conquer the Spire by any means necessary.

6 The Binding Of Isaac

One Of The Earliest Indie Gems That Players Loved

The Binding of Isaac is one of the best roguelikes players can get their hands on. This title was a smash indie hit when it released, combining the exploration of classic Zelda games with a disturbing premise and fun roguelike mechanics.

Players needed to get used to the game's challenging difficulty and help Isaac become stronger in each run as they made their way through a series of challenging runs. Beating a boss and making substantial progress is a blast every single time as players struggle to save Isaac from the clutches of his brainwashed mother.

5 Spelunky 2

Improves Upon The Classic Roguelike Gameplay Of The First Game To Great Effect

Spelunky was a game that took the world by storm as one of the best roguelikes back when indie gaming was in its relative infancy. Despite the sequel releasing during a time when the bar for indie games was higher than ever before, Spelunky 2 wowed many with its across-the-board improvements and placed itself as one of the greatest indie games of all time.

The sheer number of ways every run in Spelunky 2 feels fresh and adds to the novelty of the game is an utter joy as players make substantial progress in each run and unlock more characters to control. It's one of the most engaging roguelike titles that seems simple at first glance — only to rope players in with its addictive gameplay.

4 Caves Of Qud

The Sheer Possibilities Are Endless In This Open-World Roguelike Masterpiece

An open-world roguelike game where the possibilities are endless, Caves of Qud finally received a 1.0 launch in late December 2024 and wowed players with its wildly open-ended gameplay. Every run generates a brand-new world with new locations, factions, and other things to keep track of.

It's easy to fail over and over again early on as players struggle to understand the game's complexities. However, once things click, the rudimentary 2D graphics end up being communicative enough to let players understand what is going on as they make a name for themselves in this procedurally generated world.

3 FTL: Faster Than Light

One Of The Most Satisfying And Immersive Sci-fi Roguelikes That Is Oddly Cozy Despite Its Urgency

One of the earliest roguelike games to take over the world by storm, the amazing 2D visuals and soothing soundtrack helped FTL: Faster than Light stand out as one of the best sci-fi roguelike games in the genre. Every run was challenging as players tried to outrun a rebel fleet and bring sensitive information to their allies.

With each loss, players realize how to optimize their routes and get closer to their allies by any means necessary. Eventually, players unlock bigger and better ships as they become more comfortable with the game and power their way to the allied fleet in each run with relative ease.

2 Balatro

A Poker Roguelike That Became One Of 2024's Biggest Hits

2024's Balatro is hailed by many as one of the most ingenious indie video games ever made, and for good reason. The fact that something as simple as poker turns into one of the most compelling games with Balatro's genius proves why this game became such a smash hit.

It's easy to lose hours upon hours trying to progress as players make their hands as valuable as possible. Players on the fence about Balatro need only give this game a chance to be drawn in by the game's catchy 2D art and compelling gameplay.

1 Hades

An Amazing Action Roguelike With A Great Emergent Narrative

Hades launched Supergiant Games to new heights and established them as one of the most notable indie developers around. Their work had previously been going under the radar for many players, but Hades' roguelike trappings, excellent combat, and captivating narrative helped it stand out as a superb action game players could really sink their time into.

The magic of Hades lies in how it makes failure itself exciting, rewarding players with story progression as players interact with the denizens of the underworld before trying to head to the surface once again. Combat mastery relies on both player skill and Zagreus' abilities, with both naturally growing over the course of a player's run as they sink numerous hours in this title with ease.

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