Summary
- Many roguelike games offer short gameplay sessions of around 30 minutes to respect the player's time.
- Hades, Slay the Spire, and Balatro are examples of roguelike games that provide quick and engaging experiences.
- Titles like Dead Cells, Cult of the Lamb, and Downwell combine different genres to create engaging short playthroughs.
Players who have enjoyed a variety of roguelike titles will likely be aware that many of these games can be near infinite in their playtime. However, while a player can play them multiple times or keep falling back into the various dungeons in the hopes of finally completing the game, roguelikes are great due to how short each run within them can be, therefore respecting players' time.
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Not every gamer has several hours that they can commit to a title. While some other genres of games, such as RPGs or open-world titles, may have stories that can last hundreds of hours, roguelike games instead challenge the player for usually 30 minutes to see if they can make it to the end. These are some of the best roguelikes, as well as a few roguelite options, that have been known to respect the player's time instead of trapping them in countless unneeded hours of torment.
Hades
Interesting Stories Woven Into A Great Roguelite
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
Hades is by far one of the most prominent roguelite titles in recent years. While the game itself has countless hours of gameplay with a unique cast of characters brought along by the stories of Ancient Greece and its gods, the actual runs themselves can be rather short, depending on the skills of the player.
Zagreus is always attempting to escape his father, Hades, and the Underworld, which he calls his home. By fighting his way through various floors of Hades, Zagreus will finally make it to the surface. Hades respects the player's time as these runs are usually under an hour long, though the more times a player escapes or beats a boss, the harder it will get. However, a player never truly feels like they have lost any time.
Cult Of The Lamb
Find Resources And Followers Quickly To Build The Cult
Cult of the Lamb
- Released
- August 11, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Blood, Violence.
- Developer(s)
- Massive Monster
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Genre(s)
- Roguelite, Indie Games, Simulation
Cult of the Lamb proves that this genre of gaming can easily mix with others to create appealing experiences that still respect the player's time.
When a player isn't tending to their flock in Cult of the Lamb, they will be required to take part in the roguelite mechanics of the game to both take down the various bishops that are keeping the player's god chained, but also to collect the resources the flock so desperately needs. These different areas aren't very long to allow players to quickly work through them while also being sure to not leave their cult for long, as they cannot always survive alone.
Slay The Spire
Quick, Daily Climbs Allow Players To Test Themselves
Slay the Spire
- Released
- January 23, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Tobacco Reference
- Developer(s)
- Mega Crit
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
Another great roguelike option that respects the player's time is Slay the Spire. While a player new to Slay the Spire may take a little longer, the usual duration of a run in this roguelike deck-builder title is roughly around 30 minutes to an hour. Players can take part in the story or test their strength against other players as they race one another in the daily climb.
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The game incorporates an assortment of pre-made decks to choose from and features multiple encounters to keep fans busy. A player who has only a small amount of time to enjoy games while also looking for a title that doesn't expect them to invest countless hours is sure to see plenty of appeal in playing this incredible title.
Balatro
Runs Are Determined By The Player's Luck
Balatro
- Released
- February 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
Slay the Spire isn't the only card roguelike title that players should give a chance. Since Balatro was released in 2024, it has garnered a large fan base of those addicted to testing their luck in poker with plenty of extra steps. Each game of Balatro is entirely down to the player's smart choices, with a slight hint of luck depending on the cards in their hand, and the Jokers that can be purchased.
Like many other mentioned roguelikes, Balatro is another that has runs that can vary from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the player's luck when it comes to poker hands. With no true story for players to remember, Balatro respects the player's time while also allowing them to save in the middle of a run if they need to return to it at a later date.
Vampire Survivors
Each Stage Provides A Simple But Fun Challenge
Vampire Survivors
- Released
- December 17, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Luca Galante
- Platform(s)
- Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
Players looking for roguelike titles that purely focus on allowing them to beat their previous score should look no further than Vampire Survivors. This pixel shooter title provides players with a simple goal of trying to survive the entire time against a horde of undead. With an assortment of characters and weaponry to unlock, as time goes on, the game gets much harder.
However, Vampire Survivors does have an end. Depending on the stage, many players are only expected to survive 30 minutes while also defeating the requisite boss. Players can then revisit these stages with other characters and experiment with other upgrades when they have the time.
Spelunky
Never Takes Too Long Diving Into The Ruins
Spelunky
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Although Spelunky is mainly considered a platforming title, there are large parts of it that are heavily influenced by the roguelike genre, which sees this game deserving of a spot among the other titles that respect the player's time. Whether playing alone or with friends, the player must challenge themselves to go deep within Spelunky to find some of the greatest treasures.
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As another roguelike title with runs that can last between 30 minutes and an hour, Spelunky provides the player with plenty of shortcuts, so they aren't wasting any time. Players won't be getting bored in Spelunky either, as each new run of this platforming game provides the player with a newly generated world to explore.
Dead Cells
A Visually Pleasing Roguelite Metroidvania
Dead Cells
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Motion Twin
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
Dead Cells is quite an intense roguelite title, requiring a bit more time from fans. However, as players begin to become accustomed to Dead Cells, they will find that this game is sure to respect their time when they sit down to play it.
With zero checkpoints, it is up to the player to try their hardest to defeat the final boss. Staying alive at first may only be for a few moments, but eventually players will find themselves surviving for an entire run, which could range anywhere between a quick 20 minutes to much longer, depending on the player's skill. However, Dead Cells is still great for when players only have a few moments to enjoy something while also looking for something visually pleasing.
Downwell
No Two Adventures Feel The Same In This Roguelike
Downwell
- Released
- October 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Downwell proves that a game doesn't need to be overly detailed to keep fans invested. This pixel roguelike title may arguably be one of the shortest mentioned, with successful attempts usually taking players between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.
Every time a player fails in Downwell, there is a new randomly generated well to fall down, though the gameplay can be quite difficult at times, as a player can never be truly prepared. This roguelike is perfect for those with a few extra minutes to spare while hoping to play something that will challenge them.
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