Roguelikes have seen a recent resurgence with phenomenal titles injecting life back into the genre, with the likes of Returnal, Darkest Dungeon, and Don't Starve being among the top of the list. But, unfortunately, roguelikes are often extraordinarily challenging games, which can be incredibly frustrating to newcomers to the genre.
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However, the good news is that there are plenty of excellent roguelikes out there that are a perfect entry point for beginners to dip their toes in. There's nothing quite like having a roguelike finally click, which only needs to happen once to have you hooked to the genre for life.
Updated February 11, 2025 by Jacob Whaling: We've updated this list with even more beginner-friendly roguelikes to try out.
20 Enter The Gungeon
- Released
- April 5, 2016
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Dodge Roll
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
- How Long To Beat
- 23 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Enter the Gungeon is a pixelated roguelike game that seamlessly blends bullet-hell chaos with quirky humor. In this challenging dungeon crawler, you embark on a relentless quest for the fabled Gun That Can Kill the Past. The game's allure lies in its vast array of imaginative firearms, each with unique, often humorous effects.
Its procedurally generated levels keep every playthrough fresh, ensuring a constant test of skill. As you dodge intricate bullet patterns, face diverse enemies, and conquer epic bosses, the adrenaline rush is undeniable. With its clever blend of challenge and charm, Enter the Gungeon is a must-play for any gamer seeking an exhilarating, unpredictable experience.
19 Into The Breach
Into the Breach is a turn-based roguelike strategy that nails everything it aims to accomplish. Not only is Into the Breach one of the most accessible roguelikes out there, but it is also one of the most approachable strategy games as well.
Into the Breach is an excellent jumping-on point for beginners of every genre it expertly blends together. The combat is straightforward while maintaining a complex depth hidden beneath its surface that you don't have to explore to find success. Its turn-based nature lets you take each encounter at your own pace, making you feel in control of most situations.
18 Slay The Spire
- Released
- January 23, 2019
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Tobacco Reference
- Developer(s)
- Mega Crit
- Publisher(s)
- Humble Bundle
- Engine
- libGDX
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 575 MB (December 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Another genre-mixing roguelike is Slay the Spire, a deck-building game with intense action and a thoughtful story. You will have to work your way up a tower by fighting many different monsters in the process. While the game will get unbearably hard in the late stages, you will likely have the deck-building concepts and decisions down by then.
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Additionally, Slay the Spire throws in several choices to make along the journey that give you a sense of agency over the story and outcome of the adventure. With multiple branching paths to choose from when working your way up the tower, you can stumble into a shop, campfire, or formidable foe, making each decision feel high-stakes and crucial to the run.
17 Dead Cells
- Released
- August 7, 2018
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Motion Twin
- Publisher(s)
- Motion Twin
- Engine
- Heaps.io
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 2 GB (November 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It could be a hard sell to some when it comes to Dead Cells, as you are expected to die many times throughout your time with the game. However, that's what makes this particular roguelike accessible and unique. Unlike most roguelikes, Dead Cells allows you to keep some upgrades and abilities across different runs, alleviating some of the pressure that comes with the genre.
With Dead Cells' unique approach to death, you will feel a consistent sense of progression and be more willing to explore and take more risks as you reach new areas. Besides being a roguelike, Dead Cells also mixes in the world design of a Metroidvania with the combat of a fast-paced hack-and-slash for a gripping experience.
16 Loop Hero
- Released
- March 4, 2021
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Four Quarters
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- GameMaker
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 515 MB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Loop Hero has a brilliant mix of deck-building, strategy, and RPG elements, all tucked ever so nicely under the roguelike umbrella, making it a fascinating and unique experience. Watching your character lap around the map while placing cards around the board to spawn enemies, earn resources, and ultimately summon the stage's boss is fascinating, engaging, and exhilarating.
The only downside here is that Loop Hero can get a bit overwhelming and has a pretty significant difficulty spike toward the end of the game. Still, we feel beginners will fall for Loop Hero's compulsive gameplay in the early goings.
15 Vampire Survivors
- Released
- December 17, 2021
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Luca Galante
- Publisher(s)
- Luca Galante
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op
- Franchise
- Vampire Survivors
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- N/A (Shared Screen)
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Bullet Heaven
- How Long To Beat
- 6 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1 GB (November 2023)
- Metascore
- 95
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
In a similar vein as Loop Hero is Vampire Survivors, which seems like a simple and generally okay roguelike on the surface, but it grabs hold of you and refuses to let go as you see countless hours flash before your very eyes. Vampire Survivors is a shockingly deep game, but the way it implements all of its systems and mechanics is flawless, allowing beginners of the genre to jump in and easily digest everything it meticulously feeds them. The moment Vampire Survivors clicks, all bets are off, and you will be mowing down hoards of monsters while utilizing everything at your disposal to push further than ever before.
Vampire Survivors is a one-stick shooter that mixes roguelike elements in to give it a satisfying gameplay loop that will keep you engaged for the remainder of your life. As you defend yourself against endless hordes of enemies, die, earn better gear, and return stronger than before, your "just one more try" will turn into you wide awake at three in the morning, regretting your decisions.
14 Risk Of Rain 2
- Released
- September 11, 2020
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hopoo Games
- Publisher(s)
- Gearbox Publishing
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Risk of Rain
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike
- Metascore
- 85
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Not only is Risk of Rain 2 one of the best roguelikes to release in the past few years, but it's also a solid third-person shooter that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you hop from one alien planet to another, getting progressively stronger. One of Risk of Rain 2's best beginner-friendly features is the co-op mode, which allows you to team up with a buddy or random player and take a stab at a new run.
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Additionally, Risk of Rain 2's difficulty goes off time, meaning the longer your run takes, the more complicated things get. This feature is particularly great for beginners because the more you familiarize yourself with the maps, enemies, systems, and mechanics, the faster you will move from one area to the next, making the later sections more tolerable.
13 Brotato
- Released
- June 23, 2023
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Blobfish
- Publisher(s)
- Blobfish
- Engine
- Godot
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- PC Release Date
- June 23, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- January 30, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- January 30, 2024
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- August 3, 2023
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Developer
- Blobfish
- Publisher
- Blobfish
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Bullet Heaven
- How Long To Beat
- 5 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Brotato is a Vampire Survivors-like bullet heaven roguelike where you fight against waves of enemies using a variety of weapons and characters. Similar to Vampire Survivors and other one-stick shooters, at first, Brotato's gameplay loop may seem incredibly simplistic, maybe even detrimentally so.
However, just below the surface is a shockingly deep game that is surprisingly fun to play. There are tons of different character and weapon combinations to try, and with each run, you'll have a different goal in mind for your next unlock. Brotato's simple controls and easy-to-understand mechanics make this game great for beginners, but there's definitely something here for all fans of roguelikes.
12 Balatro
- Released
- February 20, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Publisher(s)
- Playstack
- Engine
- LÖVE
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Balatro is a deck-building roguelike themed around poker. Rather than using your cards to fight monsters in a dungeon like Slay the Spire, you'll instead build your deck of playing cards, empowering your poker hands using Joker cards. These cards have unique effects that can buff the amount of coins you score with each hand. With the right combination of cards, you can hit scores in the millions.
If the poker aspect of Balatro is off-putting at first, don't let it stop you from playing this game. Actual runs feel less like you're playing poker and more like you're playing a card-combo game; the poker hands are only how your "turns" are scored. Even if you've never played poker before, you should have no problem getting into Balatro.
11 Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
- Released
- September 17, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Violence, Blood, Use of Tobacco, Drug Reference, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Funday Games
- Publisher(s)
- Ghost Ship Publishing
- Engine
- Unity
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Shoot 'em Up, Roguelike, Action
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is another game in the one-stick shooter, bullet heaven genre that we've come to know and love. Themed around the original Deep Rock Galactic, you play as one of four dwarves tasked with mining minerals from the hostile planet of Hoxxes IV, using various weaponry to fight against the bugs that stand in your way.
DRG: Survivor puts a spin on the bullet heaven genre, giving you the opportunity to mine minerals from the stage with your trusty pickaxe. While fighting off swarms of bugs, you'll also be responsible for efficiently completing side objectives to ensure your quotas are met.