Video games come in all shapes and sizes, with many focusing oncompelling narrative experiences, while others opt for a more gameplay-first approach that puts fun before feeling. The roguelike genre is full of such titles that create endless enjoyment run after run, without the need for long cutscenes or dialogue options that break up the flow of the game.
While many games like to have some small narrative threads throughout to place the game in a world, sometimes it’s nice not to worry about following character quests or backstories and instead get straight into the fast-paced action that is often found in the genre.
The title says it all.Brotatothrusts the player into the action right from the start, playing, as the name suggests, as a potato whose task is to fight off hordes of alien creatures with arange of wacky and powerful weapons, and attempting to last as long as possible.
The gameplay loop is incredibly simplistic, and players can hop in without worrying about staying locked into a specific story or plot point and are free to experiment with 100s of weapon combinations and items that make every run feel different. The simplicity may be a turn-off for some, but the gameplay is fast and fun the whole way through and provides more than enough replaybility without having a distracting story throughout.
The sequel to the acclaimedRisk of Rain,the second iteration switches the gameplay to a third-person shooter and has players running across stages searching for loot and a way off the planet. The gunplay feels amazing, with each character bringing their own flair and unique style, some melee, some long-ranged, and some just absurd.
While there are a few starter cutscenes to outline the world and the player’s mission, they never intrude on the actual gameplay and players can run around becoming stronger and stronger, augmenting their character with a truck-load of items and modifiers, without ever paying attention to the reason they are there.
A smash indie hit in the top-down roguelike space,Vampire Survivorshas led the way forcountless similar gamesto find success due it’s simple design and addictive gameplay loop. Players choose from one of many characters, all with different starting abilities and a few augments to the run, and jump into one of the maps of various difficulties to slay enemy after enemy, growing in power with every step.
With a charming art style reminiscent of games of old and an item set that keeps things fun and fresh run after run, it is a game that’s hard to put down and is never interrupted by cutscenes or dialogue. Just pure sword-swinging, spell-casting madness, that keeps players hooked to the screen for hours on end. It is a very specific kind of game and the gameplay itself doesn’t have much skill expression or variety, but if players enjoy building up in power and slaying countless foes in the process, it is a great game to pick up to kill some time with.
It’s hard to mention roguelike without bringingDead Cellsup. Combining theMetroidvania genre with the roguelike, the game feels absolutely amazing to play, as the combat and controls are so crispy and responsive that it really feels as though the player is the character themselves rather than just controlling it.
There are for sure some story elements and pieces of lore that can be collected along the way, but for players looking for fast and rewarding gameplay, this is one of the best titles in the genre, having a long list of weapons and combinations to keep the runs distinct and a range of enemies of various difficulties to test even seasoned gamers.
Orcs Must Diehas been entertaining and making gamers laugh for over a decade now, and with the fourth installment, the fun continues to pour in. Moving to a roguelike format completely changes how the game feels, and even though the story is in the background, it exists purely in an opening cutscene, giving players little to no wait before they can get to slaying the orcs.
The gameplay remains fairly similar to the previous titles, setting up an elaborate path of unique and hilarious traps and shooting down any green-skinned foes that get too close. And by allowing players to pick up and buy new threads to change how certain traps work or buff up specific abilities, the runs feel so different every time, and with co-op being an option, players can hop in with a group to take on the hordes together for some intense tower defense action.
Moonlighterstands out in the roguelike genre as it combines elements from several games to create a completely new experience. The main combat element of the game involves entering various dungeons filled with foes and loot that needs to be collected and returned to the surface in order to be sold.
The store management side of things isn’t too overwhelming and is actually very intuitive and fun, letting players dictate the prices of items to meet the needs and desires of the pining customers. And with a story in the background that can be mostly pushed aside, the gameplay is never interrupted and players can keep diving into the depths for more loot and better gear, to take on progressively more challenging foes and menacing boss fights.
The newking of the card games,Balatrocame out of nowhere and redefined the entire deck-building genre with its simplicity and charming design. Though there are plenty of references and unique elements in the game, there is no story to speak of whatsoever, and instead, an endless amount of replayability all with just a deck of cards.
Taking basic poker hands and stretching their power to the limit, players can add Jokers and other modifiers to their run, to increase their scores and take down ante after ante with a range of approaches and techniques that vary from run to run. And with so many combinations and possibilities, thanks to the random nature of each game, players can come back time after time and find new combos and unlock new decks to play and experiment with, to scratch the calculation itch that many people have hidden away.
The best of its kind and one of the best games ever released,The Binding of Isaac: Rebirthtakes everything that makes a good roguelike and crams it all into a larger-than-expected basement that keeps on giving with every single run. With over 1000 items to unlock, 100s of enemies and bosses to fight and many characters to choose from, the variety is almost too much and the satisfaction that comes with beating a final boss never gets old.
A simple opening cutscene is all there is, as well as a few ending ones to round out a run, both of which can be skipped and ignored, and the focus can be shifted to the amazing gameplay and build variety. One run, the player might be shooting ghostly tears, and the next, a giant laser beam that decimates rooms in seconds. The possibilities are endless and the fun never stops.
