Summary
Roguelike games have become all the ragewith the rise of the indie scene, letting developers toy around with repetitive gameplay loops without outright boring players. The idea of experimenting with the gameplay and figuring out optimal strategies to tackle tough enemy encounters is something fans will love time and time again.
While death can be quite cruel in these games after players have made substantial progress, it encourages them to learn from their mistakes and strategize better for future encounters. This is especially important in tactical titles where a single misstep can have dire consequences for the player.
There’s no denying thatCataclysm: Dark Days Aheadis one of the hardest roguelike titles to get into. Players are dropped into a world where they have little to no chance of surviving, especially when they have no idea how the game’s mechanics work.
Only after a few deaths and a lot of hair-pulling frustration will fans figure out what works and what doesn’t. The satisfaction players enjoy after preparing themselves to take out waves of zombies and other hostiles is quite rewarding and shows why a sound strategy is key to making meaningful progress in this title.
Caves of Qudfinally enjoyed a 1.0 release last year, with fans loving the old-school gameplay of this title. Players are dumped into a randomly generated world with numerous factions, NPCs, enemies, and everything else along the same lines.
Without any prior knowledge of the mechanics, a game over will arrive in record time. This makes it important to figure out the strategies involved in combat so that players can use everything from their equipment to the environment in their favor and take out any hostiles giving them a tough time.
The Adventure Mode inDwarf Fortresslets players interact with the gameplay mechanics in ways they could’ve never imagined. Players explore a procedurally-generated world full of numerous dangers that must be surpassed using a surprisingly in-depth combat system.
Players have so many options in battle that it can boggle the mind, to the point where following a guide is recommended for beginners who don’t want to be overwhelmed. Strategically approaching battles and using a mix of regular attacks and underhanded tactics is a must to overcome most combat encounters.
Slay the Spireis hailed by many as one of the best and most popular roguelike deck-building games ever made, and for good reason. Players choose a character and ascend a tower full of hostile encounters and loot to find.
Early runs are bound to end sooner rather than later, but players who get comfortable with certain characters and bolster their decks will be able to make meaningful progress in no time. The compelling gameplay of this title coupled with some impressive mod support makes it clearwhySlay the Spireis such a beloved titlethat fans can’t get enough of.
4FTL: Faster Than Light
Players Will Love Managing Their Spaceship While Dealing With Enemy Encounters
One of the earliest roguelike successes that left fans wanting for more,FTL: Faster than Lightis surprisingly relaxingdespite how tense the gameplay can get. Players must outrun a rebel fleet and hand over valuable information to their allies.
This is easier said than done, especially since players have to maintain their spaceship and handle the consequences of several random events that can either work for or against them. Along with this, combat scenarios can arrive at regular intervals where players are forced into strategic battles with other spaceships. Without a reliable crew or reinforced defenses, players will be toast in a matter of seconds.
Synthetikis one of the best roguelike top-down shootersfans can get their hands on. The game is hard-as-nails, with the adrenaline flowing as players are forced into a wealth of tense shootouts time and time again.
Eventually, players will learn that simple running-and-gunning strategies are a death sentence. Based on the upgrades players have, they must utilize certain playstyles and approach each combat scenario tactically to emerge victorious. Strategic approaches become more important in co-op, where two players must sync up their approach in every combat scenario to come out victorious.
One of the hardest and most engaging roguelike RPGs players can get their hands on,Darkest Dungeonis not for the faint of heart. Players have limited resources to hire adventurers and kit them out before sending them on their first expedition, which is bound to end horribly for most players.
These early failures hammer in just how important it is to preserve powerful fighters and strategize for any possible encounter. Sometimes, going from point A to B in a dungeon is more viable than trying to explore every nook and cranny, which exposes players to even harder encounters that can be a nightmare to deal with.
Into the Breachis a game made by the developers ofFTL, and this shows in its amazing pixel art and unique progression curve. Players control three pilots with mechs that are meant to deal with the hostile Vek, an alien force hell-bent on eradicating humanity.
Losing a fight is a given, but players have the opportunity to send a pilot back in time with all the experience they gained and start anew. It’s a compelling mechanic that adds to the strategy of combat, with battles feeling like chess at times as players acquire advantageous positions and sacrifice weaker pilots for the greater good.
