Who knew dying and dying all over again would be so much fun? Roguelike games are the pinnacle of never giving up as you have to beat the game not once, but dozens of times to see the true ending.
Hades, Risk of Rain, and The Binding of Isaac are just a couple of roguelikes that have defined the genre, and so many more promising new adventures have been announced. Here are the best upcoming roguelikes and roguelites you need to play.
Best Upcoming Roguelike Games
Tons of roguelike games are set to take the stage in 2024 and the years beyond, but this list names five of them that we think you need to play. If we happen to miss any other noteworthy releases, leave a comment letting us know what they are.
5. The Lightless World
Release Date: TBC
Described as Pillars of Eternity meets Diablo 4, The Lightless World is an upcoming isometric roguelike where you play as the bad guys. As the Archdemons, your goal is to take over the universe and that means crushing everyone who stands in your way.
The Lightless World is what you’d call a cosmic horror RPG: cosmic horror because of its doom and gloom art and RPG because of its progression systems, random world events, character customization mechanics, and much, much more. It seems arcady, fast-paced, and like a game that will constantly bombard you with lore and narrative if you’re into that sort of thing.
Playing with a friend in co-op mode is an option too. The Lightless World is our most anticipated roguelike game, but right now the developers need your help on Kickstarter to complete it.
Be sure to help them out and get epic rewards as a result, including a digital copy of The Lightless World, beta test access, a special thanks in the credits section, and even a weekend together with the devs in Greece!
Related: 9 Best Roguelike Games, Ranked
4. Penny Blood: Hellbound
Release Date: Q3 2024
If you picture the Persona and Zelda video games, and then add the visuals of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure anime and Hades, Penny Blood: Hellbound is what you’ll get.
This action-adventure roguelike has a gothic tone, hundreds of slick skills, and a cast of some of the coolest characters there have ever been in a video game.
Fight your way through a hellish prison. Unlock awesome new weapons, characters, and upgrades. And most importantly, do everything all over again if you casually misstep. If that doesn’t sound like an amazing roguelike, then tell us what does.
3. Roots of Yggdrasil
Release Date: January 24, 2024
Never have I ever thought something like a “roguelike city-builder” could be made, but Roots of Yggdrasil says otherwise.
Ragnarok happened, few survived, and as Sunna, it’s your job to rebuild the Viking kingdom and break the endless loop of destruction the world is trapped in.
At first glance, you can tell how coherent the art style is, and with ManaVoid promising to deliver what will be a challenging yet innovative city-builder sim, we couldn’t help but put in our list of the best upcoming roguelike games.
Related: 7 Best City Building Games For Beginners
2. Streets of Rogue 2
Release Date: 2024
If randomness was a genre, Streets of Rogue 2 would be its highlight. Rob people, bribe cops, hack robots, butcher rival gangs, or get enslaved and then killed by a vampire. None of these make sense, yet everything is possible in this upcoming roguelike.
Streets of Rogue 2 has had a terrific time in early access, and now with the final product taking shape, you can expect this to be one of the most hard-hitting roguelike video games of 2024.
1. Hades 2
Release Date: N/A
After the successful run of the action roguelike Hades, Supergiant Games made Hades 2 official at The Game Awards 2022. It’s been over a year since we last heard about the sequel, but knowing how good the first one was, fans will wait for as long as they have to.
Hades’ procedurally generated levels, art direction, and addictive gameplay are the best in class. And judging from the teaser trailer for Hades 2, Supergiant is taking things up a notch. Hades 2 will already be on top of your best upcoming roguelike games list if you’ve played the first one. But if you haven’t, then you’re missing out on something truly special.
