With titles like Hades, there's so much choice for fans of the genre.
Luckily, one thing they have in common is the addictive gameplay rhythm that makes them incredibly easy to keep coming back to. These are the titles that Redditors consider their go-to's.
Rogue Legacy (2013)
As the name implies, Rogue Legacy is a roguelite rather than a traditional roguelike, as the player gets to on upgrades to their heir each time they die, who is then the central character of the next run. A combat platformer with a ton of randomization and unique elements, the game has no shortage of fans.
One of them is Redditor Rogue Legacy 2.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute (2020)
There arguably aren't enough roguelikes with gunplay, and BPM: Bullets Per Minute, an FPS roguelike that blends in rhythm elements, too, proves exactly why there should be more. Redditor panlakes is one fan who says the game "is constantly bringing me back despite my inability to beat any character on the hardest difficulty yet."
BPM might not have the customizability or the sheer amount of content to match other games, but blasting enemies to the beat is such a simple joy that it hardly needs much more. In addition, its relatively short nature means that few have beaten the game without wanting more afterward.
Enter The Gungeon (2016)
Whilst Vampire Survivors was the retro-styled bullet hell roguelike everyone was talking about earlier this year, Enter the Gungeon had long ago proved how fun of a combination it could be. A shooter with different classes, tons of weapons, and procedurally generated levels, each run in Enter the Gungeon can feel completely different.
That helped to get Redditors like 0nion42 hooked, as they said they consistently found the game "insanely fun" even though they are "not usually a fan of roguelikes." With so much customizability and a perma-death system, Enter the Gungeon might not seem like the most accessible roguelike but its cute aesthetic and satisfying gunplay ensure anyone can get into it.
Noita (2019)
Noita might look like an unassuming roguelite from the outside, but what makes it stand out is that the retro-styled 2D dungeon crawler is entirely physics-based. That means there's a ridiculous amount of freedom when it comes to interacting with the game's procedurally generated environments and the highly customizable magic spells the player uses only add to this.
Redditor Nebvbn finds it a winning formula, commenting that "the number of weird combinations you can pull of is amazing, whether it be a physics reaction, magic or potion." They add that it's extremely difficult, and many runs end very suddenly but once the game has the player hooked, that's only motivation to play more.
Tales of Maj'Eyal (2012)
The RPG genre can be divisive, so it's understandable if some players are skeptical of a turn-based tactics roguelike that is heavily centered on RPG elements like classes and character development. However, Tales of Maj'Eyal surprised critics and fans alike with just how good it was, and it's still a go-to for many Redditors to this day.
One Redditor called it an "amazing game" and added that they'd "never seen an indie game with such deep skill system for certain classes." It's exactly this kind of nuance and attention to detail that has allowed many players to put hundreds or even thousands of hours into exploring its randomly generated dungeons and overcoming its challenging enemies.
Dead Cells (2018)
With its Metroidvania action-platforming, sprawling procedurally-generated castle environment, and complete lack of checkpoints for if the player dies, Dead Cells is a roguelite in its purest form. Because of this, though, it had to be perfectly executed in order to stand out and become anyone's go-to game in the genre.
Luckily, Redditor remainoreos thinks it delivered perfectly, commenting that "Dead Cells is one of those fast-action roguelites that really feels fair" and complimenting its "approachable and less player-hostile" atmosphere. With a concept that puts balance at the forefront rather than insane difficulty, it's easy to get into Dead Cells and easy to keep going back to it too.
Risk of Rain 2 (2019)
Rather than exploring dungeons, Risk of Rain 2 has the player attempt to escape an alien planet, blasting hordes of enemies in beautifully stylized FPS action, and it's all the better for it. Along with a huge expansion that was added earlier this year, it's a game that's proved irresistible to Redditors like dualbuddy555.
They call it "possibly the most addicting a Roguelike can get" and comment that it's the only one that only makes them want to go again when they "lose a great run." However, it's not just failing that helps the game hook its players in, it's also the fact that combining loot and mastering different characters can lead to memorable moments where the player is made to feel incredibly powerful.
Hades (2018)
Few games caused as much of an internet buzz as Hades, a game based loosely on Greek mythology but made great by elements like its sharp dungeon-crawling gameplay and an incredibly distinctive aesthetic style. Different weapons, random dungeons, and a whole host of different upgrades bestowed on the player by the Olympian gods mean each run is genuinely completely unique.
Redditor mistermask2421 gives a more mundane but still very understandable reason for why it's their go-to roguelike, explaining that, after beating the game, "each run starts taking about 20 mins, which is nice between work sessions." Succinctness is an underrated quality and, along with everything else that makes Hades great, it means it's also immensely convenient to pick up.
Slay The Spire (2017)
Considered one of Slay the Spire mixes roguelike elements with deck-building and card-based combat for an incredibly well-executed experience. Redditor paulsoleo knows that not everyone will be able to get into a game like that but calls it "such a well-balanced deck-builder, if you’re into card games."
They're one of many players who say the game still keeps them coming back even half a decade since its release. What makes it endlessly replayable is the sheer amount of possibilities, with more cards and relics available than it's possible to keep track of. There are few roguelikes where the player can discover new ways of playing long after their first few runs, and that's a big part of why Slay the Spire is so many people's go-to.
FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
Despite being an older title, there are still very few roguelikes or roguelites quite like FTL: Faster Than Light, a real-time strategy game that tasks the player with running an entire spaceship as it explores a randomly-generated galaxy. For some, the idea of managing so many elements with everything on the line can be intimidating, but that's exactly what makes it addictive to its fans.
Redditor Okama_G_Sphere is one player who keeps going back to it, itting they're "not very good at Faster than Light (FTL), but I really enjoy playing it!" That's a sentiment echoed by many players, as the game is notorious for punishing mistakes. It's clearly a formula that's worked for the title, though, with so many loyal players after a decade.