Summary
- Not many AAA roguelikes exist, but major studios are starting to pay attention.
- The Last of Us 2's roguelike mode, No Return, lacks enough content to justify additional purchases.
- Major studios are starting to develop AAA roguelike games.
The roguelike genre is becoming increasingly popular in the gaming world. With indie titles like Hades and Rogue Legacy making a name for the genre, more and more indie studios are turning toward developing roguelikes due to their current standing in the industry. However, despite the genre's appeal to gamers everywhere, there are surprisingly few AAA roguelike games out there.

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That trend is starting to change, as the roguelike genre's continued popularity can no longer be ignored by major studios. However, as of this writing, pickings are slim. As such, this list of the best AAA roguelikes will not only be ranking full AAA roguelike releases, but also roguelike modes that have been released for otherwise non-roguelike AAA games. Between these two options, players should have more than enough choice until the next true AAA roguelike makes its way onto their console of choice.
AAA, in this case, refers to games developed or published by major game studios with large budgets and development teams backing them.
8 No Return - The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered
The Last Of Us 2's Roguelike Mode Leaves Something To Be Desired
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- Top Critic Rating: 90/100 Critics Recommend: 90%
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Released
- January 19, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Released exclusively as part of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, No Return is a roguelike mode set in the game's universe. Players have the option to control up to 20 characters, including staples like Joel, Ellie, and Abby, but also newly playable characters like Tommy, Lev, Manny, and more. The mode has all the standard roguelike trappings, including permadeath and a weapon and item reset upon defeat.
While the mode capably holds its own, and The Last of Us 2's excellent combat keeps it entertaining, there just isn't much here to warrant returning for run after run. There are characters and skins to unlock, challenges to complete, and a total of six bosses to encounter and defeat. However, considering players will have to either pay full price for the remastered version of the game or pay $10 to upgrade their initial purchase to the remastered version, all just to get access to No Return, it really doesn't have enough on offer to make it a strong recommendation.
7 Deathloop
An Immersive Sim Trapped In A Time Loop
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- Top Critic Rating: 88/100 Critics Recommend: 92%
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 14, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Developed by Arkane Studios, the minds behind the Dishonored series, Deathloop is a roguelike that oozes style. From its music to its story to its mind-bending narrative, there is a lot to like about this game's presentation. Players control Colt Vahn, an assassin who is inexplicably trapped in a time loop. In order to escape, Colt must assassinate eight targets spread across the island of Blackreef. However, he only has one day to do it, as when the day ends (or Colt dies) the loop is reset and he must start all over again.

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Deathloop's early hours are pure roguelike bliss. The game's excellent shooting mechanics and interesting abilities make both traversal and combat a joy. However, as players progress, they will eventually find the set-up they prefer and learn how to lock in those weapons and powers ahead of each run. This significantly diminishes the game's roguelike elements. While it is still fun in the latter stages—and finding the perfect loop that eliminates all eight targets is intensely satisfying—the actual roguelike gameplay falls off quickly and never really reappears unless players dabble in the game's asynchronous multiplayer.
6 Gwent: Rogue Mage
Turns Gwent Into A Roguelike RPG
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- Top Critic Rating: 84/100 Critics Recommend: 100%
- Released
- October 23, 2018
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While Slay the Spire can't make it onto this list due to it being an indie game, there is a worthy AAA alternative in Gwent: Rogue Mage. CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3 spinoff and Hearthstone competitor may not carry the same clout as its peers, but it still offers a solid PvP deckbuilding experience. With its own two expansions in Thronebreaker and Rogue Mage, it also has single-player chops that Blizzard's card game can't match.
Rogue Mage is a fairly basic deck-building roguelike. Players start each run by choosing one of a handful of standard decks, then discover new cards at random during their run to expand and improve their deck. They'll face other Gwent players and eventually come up against dangerous bosses as well. The game can get a bit repetitive in later runs, as there are only so many enemy decks it can throw the player's way. but this is still a roguelike deckbuilder through and through, and it was made by one of the best developers in the gaming industry.
5 Freelancer Mode - Hitman World Of Assassination
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- Top Critic Rating: 85/100 Critics Recommend: 91%
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Released
- January 20, 2023
- Developer(s)
- IO Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- IO Interactive
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
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