10 Best Roguelikes of All Time, Ranked: The Games That Defined the Genre

From Rogue to Modern Variations

The genre traces its roots to Rogue, a 1980 ASCII-based computer game. Its creators’ attempt to sell it in stores failed, but the free game became popular on the University of California campus mainframe where it was developed. Its replayability inspired other programmers to borrow its mechanics.

Roguelikes generally send players through procedurally generated rooms, with a character’s death ending the run. Traditional roguelikes do not preserve progress between runs, while roguelites carry over selected upgrades. This ranking treats both types as roguelikes, reflecting the genre’s broad reach.

Big Budgets and Tactical Depth

Most standout roguelikes and roguelites are indie games, in part because their run-based structure tends to attract a niche audience. Returnal stands out as a major-budget exception. Developed by Housemarque, it combines third-person shooting and bullet-hell combat with fluid movement and an eerie atmosphere.

Tales of Maj’ehal offers a different kind of challenge. The Netcore Games title is a sprawling, tactical roguelike whose combat can feel like solving a puzzle. Its interface, wide range of classes and streamlined combat help make its traditional approach more accessible.

Accessible Runs and Platforming

Poncle’s Vampire Survivors represents the bullet-heaven side of roguelites: instead of mainly dodging enemy projectiles, players unleash automatic attacks against large groups of foes. It begins with a fragile character and a single weapon, then lets players build toward overwhelming power as a run progresses.

Spelunky 2 builds on the foundations of the 2008 platformer Spelunky. Made by Mossmouth and BlitWorks, the sequel is praised for caves that can be cleared with basic movement, along with a strong sense of discovery and precise platforming.

A New Take on Poker

Balatro brought poker-based deckbuilding to a roguelite subgenre that already had established itself. It was developed by the solo creator LocalThunk.