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+--- Thread: Roguelikes/Roguelites (/Thread-Roguelikes-Roguelites)
Roguelikes/Roguelites - Refluxe - 01-05-2025
Seem some love for Hades and Slay the Spire, so figured we needed a thread for the genre. Big fan of these types of games as they're addictive but digestible -- being able to effectively 'complete a run' of something, often within an hour, is perfect on the time-poor days where I can't squeeze much gaming in.
My main two at the moment are Slay the Spire and Monster Train which are both getting sequels, but I was pretty hardcore on Hades for a while too.
I'm still yet to play The Binding of Isaac, even though it's so highly regarded. Also heard Balatro is awesome.
What's everybody else into?
Blueblob. If all else fails, this can just be where we share screenshots of StS decks from insane runs.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Wayno - 01-05-2025
Balatro is addictive as fuck, highly recommend.
Also Vampire Survivors is worth everyone's time. For a game where all you do is move the Left stick it's amazing. Not touched the Ode to Castlevania DLC yet, though.
Cult of the Lamb is considered a Rogue Like, I personally find it more of a cult builder manager but it's really good. I adore the aesthetic.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Shyne-Bryght - 01-05-2025
Balatro I recently picked up on mobile, very addictive!
I smashed StS for a bit and enjoyed it, could deffo come back to it.
Heard great things on Hades but not played it.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Dirty Duck - 02-05-2025
I really like Crypt of the Necrodancer. That’s probably the roguelike I’ve spent the most time with-though I’ve never actually done a complete run. Been meaning to go back to it and have another go as they’ve added Hatsune Miku as a DLC character.
They did do a crossover game with Zelda called Cadence of Hyrule which is cool but I prefer CotND.
Nearly bought Hades on the Switch before going away but decided I have enough games that I already own to play so decided against it. One day.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Departed - 02-05-2025
(01-05-2025, 07:02 PM)Wayno Wrote: Also Vampire Survivors is worth everyone's time. For a game where all you do is move the Left stick it's amazing. Not touched the Ode to Castlevania DLC yet, though.
I picked it up on a whim because everyone I know who played it loved it. I've never gone from "...that's it?" to "how is it 2am already? Oh well, one more run" so quickly. It is so insanely addictive in the best possible way. Garlic Man is my hero.
Last year, I was really into a game called Astral Ascent too. It's heavily anime coated but has one of the most enjoyable core gameplay loops I've ever played with a roguelike. It's just lightning fast combat and traversal with insanely hard bosses and it's got tons of new content coming out too. At first, I didn't touch it for months because Kamran voices the bad guy and that would get way too distracting but they added Japanese voices so I embraced my inner weab and play it in Japanese only and am so glad I did.
This year, I started playing Dead Cells and while it took a while to click, and its bosses aren't nearly as good or as varied as Astral Ascent, its levels are way better where any direction you go feels like you're always headed in the right direction. And the music is incredible too.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Shyne-Bryght - 02-05-2025
+1 for Vamp Survivors, need to dip back in to that and lose a year.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - tako - 02-05-2025
(01-05-2025, 06:53 PM)Refluxe Wrote: Big fan of these types of games as they're addictive but digestible -- being able to effectively 'complete a run' of something, often within an hour, is perfect on the time-poor days where I can't squeeze much gaming in.This exactly. Kids are growing up but I still don't have a lot of time to play. I usually have to get up very early on the weekend to be able to play 2 hours non stop.
Hades is an absolute gem though, amazing game. Before it I had never played a rougelike or roguelite. I wanted to check it out because of the Greek mythology and the music, and the positive mouth to mouth. Got hooked and it's now one of my favourite games ever.
Another one is Cult of the Lamb, which Wayno already mentioned. Although you go on crusades, a lot of the game is indeed cult managing. I love it. Got the platinum Yesterday actually and am going to finish the DLC when I can.
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Blueblob - 02-05-2025
(02-05-2025, 02:08 AM)Peking Duck Wrote: I really like Crypt of the Necrodancer. That’s probably the roguelike I’ve spent the most time with-though I’ve never actually done a complete run. Been meaning to go back to it and have another go as they’ve added Hatsune Miku as a DLC character.
I loved the concept of CotN but I was dogshit at keeping up with the rhythm whilst also looking around. Then again maybe if I spent more than 30mins on it I might've done better, definitely need to give it another go.
May very well be my favorite genre of game, a lot of bangers mentioned already but I'll drop a few other ones I highly recommend:
FTL: You run a top down spaceship and move your crew around for bonuses, i.e. having someone man the weapons room providing quicker cooldown on your weapons. Had some real last stand type shit in this game, like sealing the door to the navigation room and unlocking the airlocks and every other room on the ship when space pirates boarded it to suffocate them.
Cobalt Core: FTL but a deckbuilder, you pull cards from your deck each turn which let you move, fire missiles, fire a shield drone etc.
Darkest Dungeon: Fantastic art design heavily gothic lovecraftian tones where you manage your parties sanity as well as health. Also tied with Bastion for best narrator in a game.
Curse of the Dead Gods: Darkest Dungeon had a baby with Hades, to the point it always surprises me that the dev is not the same dev as Darkest Dungeon.
Nubby's Number Factory: Deceptively the hardest game here, peggle type gameplay with a very late 90s aesthetic. I feel like you could design this game in Kid Pix Studios.
Balatro: Already mentioned but seriously play Balatro
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - Refluxe - 02-05-2025
Definitely will grab Vampire Survivors and Balatro then -- and they're both pretty affordable on the Switch too, which is a bonus.
@"Peking Duck" . Highly recommend Hades. It's so easy to pick up and satisfying to complete a run. Understandably one of the best in the genre. I think I sunk 300-400 hours into it and only dropped it because I'd hit most achievements and moved onto Spire.
Departed I couldn't get into Dead Cells, even though people really rave about it. Will have to check it out again properly at some point.
tako You definitely need to try Slay the Spire if you haven't, mate. Like Hades, it's the perfect length for bitesize gaming and a constant dopamine hit.
Blueblob Absolute mega list there. Also heard good things about Darkest Dungeon and was close to getting it at one point. Out of interest what's your top 3 in the genre if you were forced to pick?
RE: Roguelikes/Roguelites - tako - 02-05-2025
Refluxe Yes, I'm going to check it out.
Also a bit baffled no one has mentioned Hollow Knight? Haven't played it yet, but supposedly it's legendary. I have it here sitting in my backlog but saving it for a time when I can play without distractions of work around the house and stuff. Just completely lock in.