Best Roguelike Games: 10 Picks Where Dying Is Progress

The best roguelikes to start with are Hades for action and story, Slay the Spire for card strategy, and Balatro for pure addiction. The idea is always the same: you die, you start over, and every run is different. Here are 10 games that make failing fun, from the most welcoming to the toughest, each with how long it takes to reach the end.

Why roguelikes are so addictive

A roguelike is a game where every attempt, called a run, starts from scratch with randomized levels, items and enemies. When you die, you lose almost everything. Roguelites add permanent progression between runs, which takes the sting out of failing.

What makes the genre so addictive is the promise of one more run. A run often lasts under an hour, you learn something every time you die, and now and then you stumble into an absurd item combo that makes you unstoppable. The times below, according to players on IGDB, are for reaching the main ending, but most of these games keep going well past that.

1. 

   1. Hades

   2020

   The best place to start. You play Zagreus, son of Hades, trying to escape the Underworld through fast, punchy combat. Every death sends you home, where the story moves forward with a fantastic cast. Plan on a few dozen hours to see the whole story, and Supergiant Games made every failure feel almost pleasant. More in games like Hades.

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2. 

   2. Slay the Spire

   2019 · Main story 12 h

   The game that made roguelike deckbuilding a genre. You pick one of four characters, climb a spire and build your deck card by card as you fight, with relics that change everything. About 12 hours for a first full win, and hundreds more if it clicks for you. See also games like Slay the Spire.

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3. 

   3. Balatro

   2024 · Main story 4.5 h

   A poker roguelite where you build hands to score chips and beat ever bigger blinds. Jokers bend the rules and create ridiculous combos. A first win takes about 4 and a half hours, but unlocking everything takes far longer. The perfect quick break that somehow lasts three hours. See games like Balatro.

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4. 

   4. Dead Cells

   2018 · Main story 5 h

   A 2D action game blending roguelike and Metroidvania. You're the Prisoner, an immortal creature that takes over corpses, fighting through levels stitched together at random. Combat is fast, precise and deeply satisfying. About 5 hours to see the ending once, but the difficulty ramps up hard after that.

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5. 

   5. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

   2014 · Main story 5.5 h

   A genre classic from Edmund McMillen. You explore randomly generated basements and fight monsters with your tears, picking up items that stack in often hilarious ways. The first ending comes at about 5 and a half hours, but the game hides a huge amount of content and endings to unlock.

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6. 

   6. Risk of Rain 2

   2020 · Main story 7.5 h

   The 3D roguelike to play with friends, up to four of you. You have to escape a hostile planet, and the longer you take, the stronger enemies get. Items stack until you become a walking war machine. About 7 and a half hours for a first ending, and an absolute blast in co-op.

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7. 

   7. Vampire Survivors

   2022 · Main story 15 h

   Your character attacks on their own, you just move and pick upgrades. It sounds simple, but watching the screen fill with hundreds of monsters and then with your own attacks is weirdly satisfying. About 15 hours to see most of it. Great for short sessions, even on an old PC or a phone.

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8. 

   8. Returnal

   2021 · Main story 11 h

   A third-person shooter roguelike from Housemarque. You play Selene, an astronaut who crash-lands on the planet Atropos and gets stuck in a time loop. It's spectacular, demanding and full of projectiles to dodge. About 11 hours for the main story, with an unsettling sci-fi mood that sets it apart.

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9. 

   9. Into the Breach

   2018 · Main story 11.5 h

   A turn-based strategy roguelike from the makers of FTL. You command mechs from the future to hold off giant monsters, and the game shows you all their attacks in advance: your job is to find the perfect move. About 11 and a half hours for a first win. Short, clever and great in small doses.

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10. 

    10. Enter the Gungeon

    2016 · Main story 13 h

    A top-down bullet hell roguelike where even the enemies are bullets. You explore the Gungeon's floors with an arsenal of ridiculous weapons, dodge rolling and flipping tables for cover. About 13 hours to reach the main ending, but it's tough and asks for sharp reflexes.

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Tips to pick the right one and get better

Start with the play style you already enjoy. If you love action, go for Hades or Dead Cells. If you'd rather use your brain, try Slay the Spire, Balatro or Into the Breach. If you mostly play with friends, Risk of Rain 2 is the obvious choice.

Then, make peace with losing. Your first runs are for learning enemies and items, not for winning. Try a new item or card now and then instead of always playing it safe: that's how you find the wildest combos. And take a break after a bad streak, because frustration makes you play worse.

Finally, don't lean too hard on the hours: a roguelike is never really finished. Add the ones you want to try to your backlog, and pick one up whenever you want short sessions. One run a night is plenty.

FAQ

What's the difference between a roguelike and a roguelite?

In a pure roguelike, you start from zero every time you die. A roguelite keeps some permanent progression between runs, like upgrades or unlocked characters. Hades and Dead Cells are roguelites, but people often use roguelike for the whole genre.

What's the best roguelike for beginners?

Hades is the most welcoming: it tells a real story, the controls are simple and it has a mode that lowers the difficulty. If you'd rather think than react fast, Slay the Spire or Balatro are perfect first picks.

What roguelikes can you play with friends?

Risk of Rain 2 is the best co-op pick, with up to four players online. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth also has a co-op mode through its expansions. Most of the other games on this list are single-player experiences.