The Best Roguelike Games in 2026: From Must-Plays to Hidden Gems
Let’s face it: life with kids (and spouses who occasionally remember to empty the dishwasher) leaves little room for 40-hour marathons. Which is why roguelikes are our genre of choice - short, shar...
PlayPile Bot
February 19, 2026 · 6 min read
Let’s face it: life with kids (and spouses who occasionally remember to empty the dishwasher) leaves little room for 40-hour marathons. Which is why roguelikes are our genre of choice - short, sharp sessions that reward curiosity without demanding your soul. In 2026, the genre’s never been better. Here’s our guide to the best runs of your life.
What Makes a Great Roguelike?
It’s the gaming version of “failing forward.” You die? Cool. You learned something? Cooler. The magic happens when each run feels like a fresh story, not just a rehash of your last tragic mistake. Permadeath stops hurting when your character sheet looks like a grocery list of “Oh no” and “Genius.”
Tier 1: The Essential Roguelikes
Hades II (2025)
Supergiant’s follow-up to the indie darling is proof that sequels can be better than the original. As Melinoë, you’ll punch Hades in the face (literally) while the Greek pantheon’s drama simmers. The combat’s tighter, the boons are wilder, and the story? Still the emotional equivalent of a Greek tragedy narrated by your barista.
Balatro (2024)
If poker had a baby with a rogue and a caffeine addict, this would be it. You’re not just collecting cards - you’re stacking synergies that make your brain hurt in the best way. Pro tip: Your partner will start asking if “Balatro” is your new addiction. It might be.
Slay the Spire (2019)
The godfather of deck-building roguelikes. Four characters, hundreds of cards, and a meta that evolves faster than your ex’s dating profile. The upcoming sequel means 2026 is the perfect time to revisit the original - before your nostalgia goggles fog up.
Dead Cells (2018)
Metroidvania meets roguelike in a ballet of death and upgrades. Motion Twin keeps throwing new biomes and weapons at you like a developer who’s never met the concept of “enough.” Pro tip: Pair it with a podcast. You’ll die more, but it’ll feel less like a failure.
Tier 2: Genre-Bending Brilliance
Supergiant Games
Sep 25, 2025
Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon craw…
Monster Train 2 (2026)
The sequel to a deck-builder darling. Defend a train from celestial forces while optimizing champion combos. Early builds suggest this one’s going to make your brain feel like a spreadsheet that’s also on fire. Perfect for players who think “strategic unit placement” is a lifestyle.
Cult of the Lamb (2022)
Run a cult. Literally. Build a compound, brainwash followers, and fight other cults in procedurally generated dungeons. The art’s kawaii enough to make the Satanic themes feel like a guilty pleasure. Bonus: Your kids will ask if it’s “that animal thing.”
Caves of Qud (2024 1.0)
If roguelikes were a coffee-stained notebook, this would be it. ASCII-style graphics, a universe where gods and cyborgs fight over a desert, and systems so deep you’ll need a PhD to unlock the final boss. Genre purists will weep. Everyone else? Might accidentally quit because it’s 2 a.m.
Vampire Survivors (2022)
Dopamine in a can. Move, survive, collect upgrades, and pray to RNGesus. It’s the anti-video game: no story, no goals, just pure chaos. Ideal for when your toddler’s asleep and you want to feel like a 1% player for 15 minutes.
Tier 3: Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
Inscryption (2021)
A deck-builder that’s also an escape room, a horror game, and a “what the hell am I playing” moment. The less you know, the better. Spoiler: It’s not about the cards. It’s about the rabbit hole.
Risk of Rain 2 (2020)
Third-person shooter roguelike that escalates until you’re sprinting through hordes of enemies like a madman. Co-op is your friend, unless your brother insists on farming for 20 minutes while you’re on fire. The Survivors of the Void expansion added enough content to make your Steam deck sweat.
Enter the Gungeon (2016)
Bullet hell meets roguelike in a roguelike where the guns are named things like “Doomfather” and “Laserfist.” It’s challenging, but fair. Just don’t play after caffeine. You’ll die. You’ll laugh. You’ll do it again.
Noita (2020)
Physics simulator meets spellcasting. Water conducts electricity, fire spreads, and your wand can melt the floor out from under you. It’s like Minecraft if Minecraft had a PhD and a death wish. Perfect for when you want to feel like a mad scientist who’s 90% lava.
Into the Breach (2018)
Chess with robots. Every move is calculated, every loss is your fault. The FTL team’s masterpiece is short enough to fit between laundry loads and deep enough to make you question life choices. If you like your roguelikes with a side of “I should be sleeping,” this is your jam.
Upcoming Roguelikes to Watch
Daniel Mullins Games · Devolver Digital
Oct 19, 2021
Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a …
Blue Prince (2025): Explore a mansion where rooms shift like a drunk architect. Early builds suggest it’s the Outer Wilds of roguelikes - just with more existential dread and fewer aliens.
Slay the Spire 2: The deck-building king returns. Expect more cards, more builds, and more reasons to ignore your family for three days straight.
How to Pick Your First Roguelike
- Like action? Hades II or Dead Cells
- Prefer strategy? Slay the Spire or Into the Breach
- Want something casual? Vampire Survivors or Balatro
- Love deep systems? Caves of Qud or Noita
- Want a wild card? Inscryption
Tracking Your Roguelike Progress
Here’s the thing: You’ll play dozens of these in your lifetime. And you’ll forget which builds worked. And which ones made you want to throw your Switch out the window. Use a tracker. It’s your brain on paper. (Or your phone. We don’t judge.)
Final Thoughts
Roguelikes in 2026 are a buffet of absurdity and strategy. Whether you’re a 15-minute casual or a 100-hour masochist, there’s something here. Start with the essentials, dig into the hidden gems, and remember: Every death is just data. Now go die better.