The Best Roguelikes to Play Right Now

The peak of the genre today. Melinoe's Magick-driven combat and charged Omega moves give it a real identity of its own, spread across roughly double the content of the original. It is deeper and bolder than a sequel to something this beloved had any right to be, held a fraction short of perfect only by how much it is still unfurling.

The best possible entry point, and the game that convinced people who dislike roguelikes to love one. It is tighter and more focused than its sequel, and it turns death itself into narrative progress. If you have played neither, start here.

Still in early access, and already one of the best deckbuilders you can play. We scored it as the promising work in progress it is, but a foundation this strong tells you exactly where it is going.

A clever, polished fusion of grid tactics and deckbuilding, all aboard a train. Its combat core is superb, held back mainly by a lean pool of cards and enemies that more content should fix.

A gorgeous, great-feeling co-op horde-slasher in early access. The run variety is thin and the solo grind is rough for now, which is exactly what Early Access has left to solve, but the moment-to-moment feel is already there.

A confidently built roguelite shooter with genuinely strong combat and boss design, held back from a higher score by a repetitive mission loop. Worth a look if the core shooting is what you are here for.

Every game here is one we played and reviewed ourselves, and the scores are our own, not an aggregate. We ranked them honestly: some are in early access and we say so, because a few great runs that respect your time beat a list padded with nines.