The 12 best roguelikes and roguelites to play right now

A great roguelike makes failure feel like fuel. You die, you shrug, and somehow you’re already picking a new build. The best ones keep each run different and make even a bad attempt teach you something.

This list runs roughly from friendly to ferocious. Roguelites, which let you carry unlocks or upgrades between runs, are generally easier to get into. Classic roguelikes tend to hand you nothing but your own knowledge.

Pick one near the top if you want a gentle on-ramp. Dive further down when you’re ready to be humbled.

1. Hades

Few games make dying feel this good. Every escape attempt from the Underworld adds a bit of story, a new conversation or a weapon you want to try, so a failed run never feels wasted.

Combat is fast, readable and generous with options, and you can adjust the difficulty if a boss is giving you grief. It’s the friendliest door into the genre and still deep enough to keep veterans busy.

Play it if: you want a roguelite where the story keeps pulling you back in after every defeat.

2. Hades II

The sequel swaps the prince for a witch and brings a whole new pantheon of boons, spells and tricks to juggle. Magic-flavoured combat feels fresh without losing that snappy, dodge-heavy rhythm.

There’s a satisfying loop of gathering materials, upgrading your hub and testing odd builds on the next run. Fans of the first game will feel at home straight away.

Play it if: you loved the original and want more of that rhythm with new toys to experiment with.

3. Slay the Spire

This card battler is the reason a whole genre exists. You climb a tower, building a deck as you go, and that moment when two odd cards suddenly combine into something nasty is pure joy.

Runs are short enough for a lunch break, and the turn-based pace means no twitch reflexes are needed. Each character plays very differently, so there’s plenty to learn.

Play it if: you like puzzling out clever combos at your own pace.

4. Dead Cells

A slick, speedy action platformer where you slice through a sprawling, ever-shifting castle. Movement feels fantastic, and the weapons are so varied that you’ll keep swapping your whole playstyle.

You choose your route through the levels, which adds a nice layer of risk and reward. Unlocks stick around, so each run builds towards something.

Play it if: you want fluid, fast combat with a bit of a Metroidvania flavour.

5. Vampire Survivors

You move, and your weapons fire themselves. That’s the whole control scheme, and somehow it becomes a glorious storm of projectiles and swarming monsters as your build snowballs.

It’s the easiest pick on this list to pick up and put down, and watching a weak start spiral into screen-filling chaos is hard to beat.

Play it if: you want a relaxed, rewarding loop that asks for only a thumb or two.

6. Balatro

Poker hands become a scoring puzzle once you start collecting joker cards that bend the rules. The thrill of spotting a combination that makes your numbers explode is the real hook.

It’s easy to learn, but the strategy goes surprisingly deep. Lose a run and you’ll likely already be thinking of a better joker plan.

Play it if: you enjoy card games and love the feeling of breaking a system wide open.

7. Enter the Gungeon

A bullet-hell shooter in which your weapons are as silly as the enemies are dangerous. Dodge rolling through patterns of bullets while firing a gun that does something ridiculous is great fun.

It’s challenging but fair, and co-op makes it a bit more forgiving. The gun collection alone gives you reasons to keep going.

Play it if: you like dodging bullet patterns and a healthy dose of silliness.

8. Spelunky 2

A cave-delving platformer that is full of traps, surprises and systems that interact in ways you won’t predict. A single mistake can turn a promising run into a hilarious disaster.

It rewards patience and curiosity, and learning its rules is where the satisfaction lies. It’s tougher than it looks, but every death feels like your own fault in the best way.

Play it if: you enjoy learning a game’s rules through gleeful trial and error.

9. Returnal

A moody, intense third-person shooter on an alien planet that rearranges itself every time you die. Bullets fill the screen, and you’ll need sharp movement to stay alive.

It’s atmospheric and tense, and the combat feels weighty and fast. It asks a lot of you, but surviving a nasty encounter is hugely satisfying.

Play it if: you want a tense, stylish shooter with a mysterious story.

10. Cult of the Lamb

Cute meets creepy as you lead a cult of woodland followers between dungeon runs. The crawling is quick and breezy, while the base-building side gives you something to tend between expeditions.

It’s a pleasing mix of combat and management, and the dark humour keeps things lively.

Play it if: you like mixing action with a little village management and a sinister sense of humour.

11. Rogue Legacy 2

Each time you fall, a new heir takes over with their own quirks, and you spend your gold on upgrades to the family castle. Some traits are helpful, some are daft, and all of them change how a run feels.

The platforming combat is tight, and assist options let you tune the challenge. It’s a charming way to turn defeat into progress.

Play it if: you want a roguelite that sets you up to succeed through steady growth.

12. Noita

Every pixel in this world is simulated, which means fire spreads, liquids flow and your spells can bring the whole cave down on your head. Building a wand out of odd spell combinations is a delight.

It’s unforgiving and sometimes bewildering, but its experiments with physics give you stories to tell.

Play it if: you want a brutal, inventive challenge where creativity beats caution.