The best roguelikes walk a fine line between punishing failure and rewarding perseverance. Too easy, and they lose the sense of tension that makes each run meaningful; too hard, and progress feels unattainable. Perfectly balanced difficulty turns every setback into a learning opportunity, encouraging players to adapt, refine strategies, and try again.
8 Best Roguelikes That Are Consistently Fun
The Roguelike genre features across an ever-expanding library of games, and we've compiled those that are the most consistently fun to play.
And with a genre as popular as roguelikes, very few games have managed to achieve a balance where they challenge without overwhelming, and reward skill growth as much as they reward lucky finds. Whether through clever enemy design, well-paced unlocks, or adaptive difficulty curves, the best examples deliver the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles through both planning and improvisation, without making the player feel like they are hitting a brick wall.
Hades
Difficulty That Aligns With The Player's Skills
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Hades blends fast-paced combat with a gradual learning curve, making each run feel achievable while still demanding skill. Early on, generous resources and forgiving enemy patterns help players acclimate, but as proficiency grows, the game ramps up with new challenges, weapon aspects, and higher heat levels for those seeking mastery.
What makes its difficulty balance exceptional is the way rewards are tied to both skill and persistence. Even failed runs yield story progress and upgrades, ensuring no session feels wasted, and the result is a roguelike that invites newcomers without sacrificing the thrill veteran players expect.
Dead Cells
Ramping Up The Challenge Over Time
Dead Cells
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Motion Twin
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dead Cells thrives on precision. Every weapon, dodge, attack, and jump matters, but the game never feels unfair. Early biomes allow experimentation with minimal pressure, while later areas introduce more complex enemy patterns and traps, pushing players to master movement and timing.
Its clear cause-and-effect design means deaths rarely feel cheap, as mistakes are easy to identify and learn from. The balance between fast, exhilarating combat and gradual difficulty escalation keeps runs tense yet enjoyable, making it one of the genre’s most consistently rewarding experiences in the genre.
Into The Breach
Strategic Decisions Under Constant Pressure
Into the Breach
- Released
- February 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Into the Breach trades twitch reflexes for cerebral tension, challenging players to solve small-scale tactical puzzles each turn. Limited actions, telegraphed enemy attacks, and high stakes create a perfect balance between control and pressure, where mistakes are punishing, but solutions are always within reach.
Best Roguelikes With Unique Progression Systems, Ranked
From Inscryption to Retural, these roguelikes brought something new and fresh to the table with their unique progression systems.
The difficulty curve adapts as players unlock new mech squads, each altering the approach to familiar challenges. The game is a constant battle of wits that feels both fair and demanding, and it rewards foresight without punishing experimentation, lending it a unique feel in a genre that is otherwise full of intensity and action-packed gameplay.
Slay The Spire
Synergies And Power That Grow In Increments
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
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Slay the Spire’s difficulty lies in its escalating enemy threats and the player’s ability to build a coherent deck under uncertain conditions. Early floors allow players to learn the ropes and try out new things, and over time, they learn the demands for efficient synergy and precise resource management, in order to take on the tougher fits later on.
Its balance comes from the interplay between preparation and adaptation. Even when luck turns sour, skilled play can salvage a run, and the gradual ramp in complexity keeps each fight engaging without overwhelming players with too many variables at once.
Spelunky 2
Chaos With Clear Rules And Systems
Spelunky 2
- Released
- September 15, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Mossmouth, BlitWorks
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Spelunky 2 is famously unforgiving, yet its rules are consistent and learnable. Every hazard, enemy, and trap can be overcome with some quick thinking and a careful approach to the challenges. The build-up in difficulty is more than manageable, as early mistakes quickly fizzle away and players can focus more on the more complex challenges that are thrown at them past the starting stages.
Because success hinges on applying knowledge from past failures, the challenge feels earned rather than arbitrary. It’s a game that punishes recklessness but rewards creativity and mastery, making each victory all the more satisfying.
The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
Run Distance Directly Relates To The Challenge
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
- Released
- November 4, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Mature 17+ Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Violen
- Developer(s)
- Nicalis, Edmund McMillen
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, PC, Linux, macOS, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth thrives on randomness, but its balanced pool of enemies, items, and room designs ensures that skill consistently improves over time. Players are encouraged to try out new items they may have never seen before, and enemy patterns can be mastered in no time, even if they seem overwhelming at first.
Best Roguelikes Games To Try If Your Are Not A Fan Of Roguelikes, Ranked
New players intimidated by the roguelike genre can ease themselves into it with the following games.
Its challenge stems from adapting to wildly different builds, encouraging risk-taking without punishing it outright. Over time, players learn to identify high-value items and counter dangerous enemy types, and after learning the basics and progressing through the floors, players feel more in control of their run, whilst still having the looming threat of unluckiness at all times.
Returnal
Repetition That Rewards Careful Attention
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Housemarque
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Returnal is a peculiar third-person roguelike that sees players shooting through endless rooms of alien creatures, ranging from flying tentacle monsters to aggressive beasts that have nothing else on their mind but blood. The unique aspect comes from how death is handled, as players gain more knowledge about how to approach each boss and the story moves forward regardless of whether they lived or died.
While they don't receive direct upgrades to their weapons, they do unlock more powerful kinds over time, which perfectly counters the heightened difficulty of the mobs and elite enemies that they have to face in each biome. It's a cerebral and deeply satisfying shooter that rewards persistence and constantly pushes the player to keep trying no matter how many times they fail.
Risk Of Rain 2
Time Is Everything
Risk of Rain 2
- Released
- September 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hopoo Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Risk of Rain 2’s real-time scaling difficulty ensures tension rises organically. Players control the pace, deciding whether to search for more loot or rush to the next stage to avoid facing harder challenges later on, which gives room to prepare but punishes lingering for too long.
The game rewards aggressive, efficient play while leaving room for cautious strategies. Its enemy scaling and boss variety keep runs fresh, and it keeps the difficulty relevant and engaging but never oppressive. It is easily one of the more exciting and thrilling roguelikes out there and is the perfect title for players who want a satisfying shooter that rewards skill and knowledge greatly.
Roguelike Vs Roguelite: What's the Difference?
Roguelikes and Roguelites are hugely popular genres, but what makes something a Roguelike instead of a Roguelite?