Summary

Indieroguelikeshave taken the gaming world by storm.

They offer endless replayability, interesting mechanics, and unique art styles.

If you love roguelikes and shooters, these are the best games that combine these genres.

A split image comprising of the cover art for Dead Cells, Hades, and Risk of Rain 2.

This genre continues to evolve with fresh ideas and new mechanics.

You play as the rebellious son of Hades who is trying to escape the Underworld.

Each new run introduces new boons from Olympian gods, leading to different playstyles.

Knights In Tight Spaces, Dungeon Drafters and Trials Of Fire.

Death is not an end, either.

Instead, it’s an opportunity to unlock upgrades and loop back and try.

This game leans heavily onprocedurally-generatedrooms and a nearly endless supply of power-ups.

Mortal Shell Complete Edition, Thymesia and Blasphemous.

You control Isaac, who is trying to escape his fanatical mother.

The game’s item combinations lead to unpredictable, often chaotic runs.

Just as you think you know how to play, something else is thrown at you.

The Cult of the Lamb goat raising his hands and flanked by two other roguelike indie games.

You take control of a reanimated prisoner attempting to navigate a continuously changing castle.

You’ll fight brutal enemies and unique bosses.

Weapons, skills, and mutations allow for varied builds, from ranged tactics to melee.

Nimrods GunCraft Survivor and Witchfire.

The game has veryfast-pacedcombat, and the controls are very easy to pick up.

6Slay The Spire

Slay the Spire is a deck-building roguelike that combines strategy with procedurally generated encounters.

Each run requires you to think carefully aboutdeck constructionand the strategic use of your abilities.

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Because each run is randomized, you must evolve constantly.

5Enter The Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon is a bullet-hell roguelike where every run is an over-the-top shootout.

It feels a bit like an old arcade game, full of unique weapons and plenty of enemies.

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The Nintendo Switch seems tailor-made for roguelikes, and these are the best titles on the console.

The games arsenal is ridiculous, featuring guns that shoot sharks, rainbows, and even literal bees.

It’s quirky sense of humor makes it stand out from all the other countless roguelikes out there.

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4Noita

Unlike traditional roguelikes, Noita features fully simulated pixel-based physics.

Every element of the game is interactable and destructible.

All that said, this game is incredibly unforgiving.

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A single mistake can lead to instant death, so ensure you’re ready for a tough challenge.

3Spelunky

Spelunky includes procedurally-generated caves filled with traps, enemies, and secrets.

Your aim is to reach the deepest level of these caves without dying.

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Every run introduces new challenges, so you’ll have to adapt constantly.

This game has tons of mechanics, like branching paths, rideable mounts, and dynamic lava mechanics.

There is a lot to grasp and use to your advantage.

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However, all of these rules also make Spelunky notoriously difficult.

It takes a while to get it right.

2Rogue Legacy 2

Unlike most roguelikes, Rogue Legacy 2 incorporates persistent progression through its lineage system.

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You don’t play the same character over and over again.

Instead, you play the descendant of your last character, inheriting unique traits that you must adapt to.

Some traits are beneficial, while others introduce new challenges.

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Here are some of the best games in the ever-expanding roguelike, deckbuilding, card-battling genre.

The combat is similar to many roguelines - fast and satisfying.

You’ll do a mix of platforming and slashing.

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As you progress, you’ll upgrade your home and unlock permanent upgrades that will help you go further.

1Cult Of The Lamb

Cult of the Lamb blends roguelike dungeon crawling withinterestingcult management.

The game is a unique balancing act.

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You’ll need to progress in the dungeons while also managing your cult.

The game’s aesthetic is cute but eerie, leading to some very interesting scenery.

Indie Games