author: Mateusz Zdanowicz
Top 13 Roguelike PC Video Games
Fight, die, tryr again... And again. It's a well-known and still popular formula of gameplay in various, usually smaller, independent productions. This time we want to present the best and most engaging roguelike video games for PC.
Table of Contents
- Top 13 Roguelike PC Video Games
- Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
- Darkest Dungeon
- Risk of Rain
- Slay the Spire
Darkest Dungeon
This is the game for you if:
- you're a Lovecraft fan;
- you like turn-based combat;
- you are looking for a break from arcade roguelikes.
The dark masterpiece from the Red Hook studio had taken Steam by storm, even before it left the Early Access section in 2016. It's a real test of patience and strong will, inspired by the roguelike genre, which offers a high level of difficulty and often forces you to start the adventure from scratch, although on slightly different terms than in the classic games in the genre. A fresh start means that the game forces us to hire fresh mercenaries because all our veterans have fallen in one of the dungeons.
Combat is turn-based. What matters here is not only the order of attacks and the abilities used in a fight but also the positions of our four units. Choosing the right targets and using the abilities of each class is essential to win the battle - especially since stress, which rises in each fight, is deadly for our companions. Darkest Dungeon is also has an exceptional atmosphere and minimalist story, which you learn "in pieces" as you progress. You can experience the influence of Lovecraft's works at every step.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
This is the game for you if:
- you're looking for the classic "roguelike".
- you don't mind the out-of-date graphics;
- you want to learn the rules.
Cataclysm is another "heir" to the Rogue game, and in terms of graphics, it is even more archaic than the ToME mentioned at the beginning of the list. The visuals resemblance the older version of Dwarf Fortress. The world map mainly consists of numbers and letters on a black background. Only specific locations turn out to be more detailed - but they're also not impressive in terms of graphics. However, that's not what seems to matter in Dark Days Ahead. The most important thing is the gameplay, which is extremely complex and based on freedom of choice. It's not a matter of moral or dialogue choices, but you can approach many in different ways.
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world, which is rather rare in this genre. Hardcore survival fans will be delighted - there are even different temperatures for different parts of the character's body. The game also impresses with countless items to create through crafting and hundreds of options or mods available. Well, and it's completely for free. Just don't try to start the game without watching some decent tutorials.
Enter the Gungeon
This is the game for you if:
- the bullet-hell genre is your thing;
- you like games in which you rely on reflexes;
- you expect original world design and enemies.
Dodging is a useful skill in any game, but especially in roguelites - after all, you start the adventure all over again after you die. Enter the Gungeon, however, makes this simple and universal activity an art. Once you've learned how to perfectly avoid your enemies' bullets and use dodge to your advantage, you'll feel great satisfaction - and that's just one of the many great aspects of this production. The very idea of the world can be appealing as well. We fight, among other things, various types of animated weapons or projectiles. The ideas for opponents are extremely original and can make you laugh.
Of course, combat is also very engaging, even if you only use the basic arsenal - and each of many characters has different weapons. However, it's the weapons obtained while exploring the dungeon are truly fascinating. You will find everything here. A pillow launcher, a gun that shoots peas, a giant bullet that spits out little shotguns, all sorts of lasers, and other twisted inventions - even witchcraft. It is the desire to discover more unusual weapons that motivate most players to spend hours on this game. The gameplay, however, doesn't bore even after a hundred hours. Recently, the developers introduced a lot of fresh content to the game, so it's the perfect time to finally catch up if you haven't tired Gungeon Dungeon yet.
