Summary

  • Various gameplay styles explored in roguelikes, from slow-tactical to lightning-fast
  • Rogue Legacy 2 combines solid foundation with random traits and metaprogession.
  • Returnal flips the script with a unique narrative in the roguelike structure.

The roguelike genre has stood the test of time in gaming. From indie games to triple-A, the roguelike, or roguelite, structure has been used to create an amazing variety of gaming experiences. Developers have used this conceit to create everything from clever, intertwining narratives focused on one character, to infinitely playable, procedurally generated playgrounds.

It feels like almost every kind of gameplay has been explored in the roguelike structure, too. Roguelike FPS, roguelike platformers, roguelike card games — the list goes on. Some roguelikes like to create tension with slow and tactical gameplay. These titles, however, all opt for lightning-fast minute-to-minute gameplay to keep the thirst for one more run going.

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8 Rogue Legacy 2

Rogue Bloodlines

Systems
Top Critic Rating: 89/100 Critics Recommend: 100%
Released
April 28, 2022
Developer(s)
Cellar Door Games
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Rogue Legacy 2 combines platforming, roguelite progression, and side-scrolling combat. The gameplay foundation is solid, but the game's hook makes it even better. Each run represents a new member of a player's bloodline continuing their quest, and they each have random genetic traits. Traits range from useful to wacky, and complement the game's existing class system.

The combat of Rogue Legacy doesn't need the fastest reflexes and responses to play well, but the game handles progression at a nice, quick pace. Players can steamroll through enemies when they get a bit of momentum in a run. Being a roguelite, death can still happen in the blink of an eye, but the meta-progression elements of Rogue Legacy 2 mean that death never feels like a huge progression blocker.

7 Enter The Gungeon

Gun Runners

Systems
Top Critic Rating: 84/100 Critics Recommend: 88%
Platform(s)
PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Released
April 5, 2016
Developer(s)
Dodge Roll
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

When it comes to fast-paced gameplay, the top-down bullet hell of Enter The Gungeon rubs shoulders with the best. Offensive options are plentiful, but the random rooms and enemy compositions can quickly overwhelm unprepared players. Having the ability to dodge roll and create ad-hoc obstacles in a room with kicks adds a strategic layer to the combat that never takes away from the pacing.

The one area where new players may feel that the game slows down is the meta progression, as permanent progress can be difficult to achieve. Once players are further into the game, this becomes less relevant as different NPCs are collected at the hub, and shortcuts can be opened up. The minute-to-minute gameplay remains fast and frantic, especially in the game's numerous boss fights.

6 Risk Of Rain 2

Risk And Reward

Systems
Top Critic Rating: 86/100 Critics Recommend: 96%
Platform(s)
Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4
Released
September 11, 2020
Developer(s)
Hopoo Games
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

As difficulty scales with the player's level and progress in Risk of Rain 2, later fights can turn into a chaotic whirl of bullets and lasers. This is especially true for multiplayer gameplay. Four players defending at a teleporter can look like something akin to a bullet-hell, although the third-person shooter gameplay doesn't go quite that far.

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The risk-reward loop of Risk of Rain 2 allows players to continuously cycle levels and scale their power, and thus the difficulty, to incredible degrees. There are a number of survivors to play, and some of the gameplay styles lend themselves to a faster pace than others. But overall, the third-person shooter chaos comes thick and fast once players progress a few levels.

5 Noita

Physics Wizardry

Top Critic Rating: 79/100 Critics Recommend: 72%
Platform(s)
PC
Released
October 15, 2020
Developer(s)
Nolla Games
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Noita has its moments of downtime, when players are sat in between zones, fixated on creating the perfect wand. Once players are in the thick of the action, though, there's no resting for even a moment. Once projectiles start flying and hundreds of unpredictable physics-based reactions start occurring, death and victory can both happen in an instant.

This only intensifies as players progress down the games' floors. Enemies become more numerous, stronger, and bigger. The player's ability to create completely broken damage outputs is tempered both by enemies being able to do the same, and the likelihood that any strong creation can easily backfire in the player's face in unpredictable ways. Controlling the little levitating wizard while firing off spells requires some deft finger-work with a mouse and keyboard, too.

4 The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth

Twin Stick Despair

Systems
Top Critic Rating: 87/100 Critics Recommend: 91%
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
Released
November 4, 2014
Developer(s)
Nicalis, Edmund McMillen
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

From its uniquely unsettling setting and religious themes, to attacking enemies with Isaac's salty tears, saying that The Binding of Isaac has some dark themes would be an understatement. Still, the top-down twin-stick shooter gameplay is fast, fun, and infinitely replayable.

Even those who experienced the original Flash-based game would admit that the re-release, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, surpasses the first iteration. The graphics are improved, and features and content were added that co-creator Ed McMillen has said weren't possible because of the limitations of the original. The Binding of Isaac is one of the primary games that reignited the passion for the roguelike genre, and Rebirth is worth playing today.

3 Returnal

Unique Narrative Bullet hell