As game developers, we constantly explore different genres to bring you diverse and engaging experiences. Roguelike games offer a unique blend of challenge and replayability that has captivated the gaming community.
Today, I’ll share our top picks for roguelike games available on Steam, perfect for those just starting their roguelike journey or seasoned players looking for their next challenge. This will also include upcoming roguelikes, like Ocean Keeper on Steam (link)
Table of Contents
What is a Roguelike?
Roguelike games are characterized by dungeon crawling through procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, tile-based graphics, and the classic feature of permanent death. Players must strategize and adapt to progress, making each playthrough uniquely challenging.
- Key Characteristics: Permadeath, procedural generation.
- Appeal: Endless replayability, strategic depth.
Top Roguelike Games on Steam
1. Enter the Gungeon
Enter the Gungeon combines fast-paced shoot-’em-up action with roguelike mechanics, challenging players to survive a series of increasingly difficult dungeons filled with whimsical enemies and bosses.
- Why Play?
Inventive weapons, engaging gameplay.
- Tip for Beginners: Focus on dodging; shooting comes second.
2. Dead Cells
In Dead Cells, you play as the Prisoner, a slime-like substance that controls a corpse in a sprawling castle. This side-scroller roguelike blends intense action with fluid platforming.
- Highlights:
Smooth combat, dynamic environments.
- Beginner’s Tip: Upgrade your health and weapons regularly.
3. Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire offers a unique twist by combining card game mechanics with traditional roguelike elements. Strategize and build powerful decks to climb the spire.
- Unique Feature: Deck-building.
- Advice: Experiment with different card combinations.
4. Hades
Hades combines rich storytelling with robust action RPG elements in a beautiful underworld setting. Play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, and meet various gods of Greek mythology to help you escape the underworld.
- Why Play?
Deep lore and character development.
- Tip: Use godly powers strategically.
5. Cult of the Lamb
This game mixes roguelike mechanics with management elements. As you battle through demonic realms, you’re also tasked with maintaining and expanding a cult, providing a unique strategic layer beyond the usual dungeon crawl
- Dark Theme: Unique artistic expression.
- Beginner’s Guide: Collect and use items wisely.
6. Inscryption
A sinister card-based roguelike that blends deck-building gameplay with escape-room-style puzzles. It stands out due to its dark narrative and psychological twists, making each playthrough unsettling yet captivating
- Co-op Fun: Play with your friends.
- Survival Tip: Keep moving and looting.
7. Wally and the Fantastic Predators
This game introduces a frenetic, bullet-hell experience mixed with roguelike elements.
You play as Wally, a sword-wielding fox exploring randomly generated dungeons, with gameplay mechanics that change with each level, keeping the challenge fresh and engaging
8. Vampire Survivors
A minimalist roguelike that has gained popularity for its straightforward yet addictive gameplay. Players fend off hordes of monsters while progressively unlocking powerful upgrades. Its simplicity and depth make it accessible yet challenging
- Game features: Vast and varied monsters.
- New Player Tip: Patience is key; learn from each death.
9. Griftlands
This is a narrative-driven roguelike that incorporates RPG and deck-building elements.
The game is praised for its intricate storytelling and deep card battles, where player decisions significantly impact the outcome, making each run unique and immersive
10. Ocean Keeper
Ocean Keeper is a survival roguelike game developed by retrostylegames.com, a game art studio based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Set in a vast underwater world, the game offers a unique blend of adventure and survival elements that captivate players looking for a new twist in the roguelike genre.
Here’s a deeper look at what makes Ocean Keeper stand out:
- Unique Setting: Underwater adventure.
- Beginner’s Strategy: Focus on upgrades and resource management.
In Ocean Keeper, players command a gigantic robotic spider, traversing the expansive ocean floor and uncovering relics of past civilizations. The game’s environment is richly detailed, offering a mix of eerie underwater landscapes and remnants of a once-thriving world. Each journey across the map promises a new adventure, with dynamically changing environments that ensure no two dives are the same.
Resource Farming and Upgrades
Venturing into forgotten caves, players drill and extract valuable resources hidden in the sea’s dark corners. These resources are crucial for upgrading the mech’s capabilities, including its defensive mechanisms and weapons systems.
Upgrades are essential for survival, as the ocean is teeming with hostile creatures. The robust upgrade system encourages players to continuously improve their mech to face tougher challenges.
Combat and Customization
Combat in Ocean Keeper is intense, featuring battles against hordes of sea monsters with a vast array of weapons. Players can earn meta-currency, which allows for complete customization of the robotic spider.
This includes everything from weapon upgrades to new mech parts, offering extensive control over how players tackle the game’s challenges.
Replayability and Unpredictability
True to its roguelike roots, Ocean Keeper emphasizes unpredictability and replayability. Each dive introduces new layouts and scenarios, pushing players to adapt their strategies with each session. The game’s design ensures that players never encounter the same scenario twice, maintaining a fresh and engaging experience throughout.
RetroStyle Games is not just focused on launching a game but is also dedicated to building a community around it. They actively engage with players through their official Discord channel, where users can share strategies, receive updates, and connect with other fans.
This community interaction is key to the ongoing development of the game, as feedback directly influences future updates and features.
Ocean Keeper is available on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, PC, and SteamDeck, with planned releases for Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
This wide availability ensures that a broad audience can enjoy the game, regardless of their preferred gaming platform.
Roguelike games are perfect for players who enjoy thoughtful planning and those who relish overcoming tough challenges. Whether you’re fighting through dungeons or diving deep into the ocean in Ocean Keeper, these games promise thrilling adventures and endless fun. Start your journey on Steam today and see where these games can take you!
