Roguelike Games With The Highest Review Scores

Run, die, repeat – that is basically the core of the roguelike genre, which pushes us to always be a better version of ourselves, even with little (or even no) progression at each try.

And I find it funny how that exact nature can be quite divisive among the community. While many players can find the idea of losing progress a bit frustrating (and yes, we have all rage-quit a run or two), others manage to find a strange little pocket of comfort in that brutal loop.

I belong to the second team, where I see that progression is more than a simple percentage in the corner of the screen; it is actually about the knowledge you acquire and that feeling when you finally understand what you need to do in the next run to get past the obstacle or the boss who previously owned you. Plus, it is an excellent genre for short gaming runs when you have limited time to play.

That is why I decided to stir my passionate side for roguelikes today and remember some of the most highly-rated games in the genre’s history, based on their average scores on OpenCritic. So here it is, the 10 highest-rated roguelike titles ever! Get ready to have your free time stolen.

10 Spiritfall

OpenCritic Score: 89

Spiritfall is the type of game that typically flies under the radar and may have been overlooked by most players, but certainly not by the eyes of the critics, as the game opens our list of highest-rated roguelike titles ever.

And I completely agree with its high score because it is truly a gorgeous, fun-to-play title that doesn’t overstay its welcome and is very, very addictive thanks to its highly varied gameplay.

Also, the incredible artwork and smooth, atmospheric soundtrack only help keep you obsessed with diving back in for just one more run.

I've already put over 50 hours into it, and what I find most intriguing about Spiritfall is that its combat features a fighting style that reminds me a lot of Super Smash Bros. combined with a great difficulty curve. Yet, the overall structure and feel strongly recall the beloved progression loops of Hades. Go ahead, tell me that isn't an incredible mix?

9 StarVaders

OpenCritic Score: 88

Talking about true gems that flew under the radar, we have the fantastic StarVaders next, which is a deckbuilder roguelike that curiously plays like more of a puzzle game overall.

Your goal here is to prevent an alien invasion by using a mech (get in the robot, Shinji!) to clear all enemies from a grid-based battlefield before they reach the bottom row – and that puts you right in the middle of tons of build variety and fun boss battles.

Oh, and the game itself encourages you to try some game-breaking combos, in addition to being meticulously strategic with every move, elevating the genre beyond pure card synergy – and trust me, that results in an awesome balance between fun and challenging.

Last but not least, StarVaders is also very easy to start, making it instantly accessible, but it becomes increasingly difficult as you progress to the end of the game. This means whether you are a veteran player of the genre or a newbie, I promise you will enjoy yourself the entire time.

8 Into The Breach

OpenCritic Score: 88

I like to think that Into The Breach is less of a roguelike and more a twisted sci-fi version of chess, since both games have the same “clear win and lose conditions” logic and rely on different pieces moving around a board to tactically deal with the opponent's movements.

And it is interesting how this approach avoids most of the common "problems" people generally can have with the genre due to its well-crafted system: runs are relatively short and have a highly achievable final level, meaning failing isn't that big of a deal – it is ammunition for the next round.

And there is not really a story because there doesn't need to be; the mechanics speak for themselves. This makes it probably the simplest, but also the most intelligent game on this list. It is a pure strategy engine that emphasizes player skill and decision-making over grinding, which is why it earned such glowing praise from critics.

7 Slay The Spire

OpenCritic Score: 89

Let’s continue the article with a fan favorite, which quickly managed to become a cult classic among indie fans: the charismatic and dangerously addictive Slay The Spire.

In case you don’t already know, this is a deck-building roguelike game, where your main objective is to overcome sequential battles and events until you reach (and beat, of course) the final boss, while building your deck on the way there.

It is indeed as straightforward as it sounds, and that is exactly what I love the most about it, since you don’t need to master every card or character strategy before playing it and having fun – just let it naturally flow.

And that all is possible due to its extremely smooth controls, varied mechanics, and easy-to-read interface, making Slay The Spire one of the best card games (and roguelikes) out there! It is the perfect game to pick up for five minutes and realize hours later that you forgot to do daily basic duties, like eating or watering your plants.

6 Cobalt Core

OpenCritic Score: 89

I know what you are thinking, and yes, Cobalt Core is probably the most surprising game in this article – that is, if you haven’t played this baby yet!

This is another roguelike deckbuilder, but what makes it so special is the sci-fi theme, a humorous and thoughtful story-driven narrative, and probably one of the best soundtracks you will ever hear from a card game.

It has familiar gameplay for veteran players, but with quite a dynamic horizontal management mechanic that slightly innovates the genre and helps the game stand up on its own. Plus, you get the manage three different character decks at once (across 8 different characters and 5 ships), resulting in combinations of runs that can feel endless.

And sure, it may be quite simple and has a few downsides, but the game has its undeniable charm, and you simply can't deny that the critics fell head-over-heels for its unique strategic spin. It is a hidden gem in the card game universe.

5 UFO 50

OpenCritic Score: 90

Talking about games that have an undeniable charm, and the next on the list is another one just like that – and probably the most different one too.

This is because UFO 50 is a collection of 50 games that simulates the library of a fictional 8-bit video game console from the 1980s, created by the developers of Spelunky and Downwell (if you know these titles, you know that they do not mess around).

So it is a massive, curated dose of nostalgia and challenge that basically has titles from every genre you could imagine – and, of course, roguelike is among them, presenting some pretty arcadey roguelike games, such as Campanella 2, Velgress, and Bug Hunter (my personal favorite).

And it is not just minigames, since each title offers some pretty substantial gameplay, lasting hours (if you are not careful). UFO 50 ends up being a different, yet incredibly fun roguelike entry in the article that proves critics love quantity when the quality is this high.

4 Balatro

OpenCritic Score: 92

Just think poker, but if the cards were laced with pure, unadulterated dopamine, and you get Balatro – a hypnotic deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands in order to reach combos and beat sequential opponents that get increasingly harder.

Jokes aside, this is truly a roguelike gem that really proves that it is possible to make you feel like you have progressed, even when you haven’t.

And that is because the basic gameplay loop is very, very satisfying, and you learn a thing or two at each try, slowly walking towards a powerful combination of cards that will lead you to the top! Oh, and we must not forget that everything in the game is very well-made in general, such as its lovely interface, unique aesthetics, and catchy soundtrack.

Add all of that to the fact that there are so many cards available that literally all of your runs end up being wildly different as you play. Hey, if you suddenly start seeing flushes and straights everywhere you look, don’t worry – it is just the Balatro effect.

3 Vampire Survivors

OpenCritic Score: 93

Vampire Survivors is literally the definition of “pick up and play” nowadays, mainly because it is one of the best roguelikes out there with a really high replay value – and that naturally got reflected in its gaming reviews.

Its core gameplay is extremely addictive and fun, despite being quite simple. Basically, you need to pick a character and create a build to annihilate an insanely high number of creatures that fill the screen to the point that you can’t see anything after a while.

I also love the fact that veteran players and even people who don’t play video games can often have a really great time with it.

So Vampire Survivors manages to deliver a long-lasting experience with all of that at a pretty affordable price since its original launch (and let’s face it, cheap games are becoming rarer and rarer), which is one of the reasons why so many people love it.

2 Dead Cells

OpenCritic Score: 93

Players’ objective in Dead Cells is like most other roguelikes: progress through procedurally generated levels (they are called biomes and are pretty varied here) while finding new items and power scrolls to buff your character to beat the final boss.

However, its main difference from other titles is that it flawlessly blends the Metroidvania style with its roguelike features, which brought a fresher touch to the genre. It is a twitchy, fast-paced, and gorgeous game that forces you to master its combat or face a swift, brutal restart.

It was originally released in 2018, and up to this point, it already has multiple DLCs that drastically increase the content offered (including new weapons, biomes, and bosses), while still maintaining the quality of Dead Cells at the ceiling. The developers treat this game like their baby, and we love them for it.

1 Hades 2

OpenCritic Score: 94

Finally, we arrive at the top of the list, where Hades 2 acts as a true Zeus on Olympus, being literally the most highly-rated roguelike in history to date. And yes, it even managed to beat its perfect predecessor.

The game was in Early Access for some months until it was officially launched in its full version this year and managed to (re)conquer players and accomplish the difficult task of being better than the predecessor, which was already considered a masterpiece for many.

Because yeah, the first Hades is an amazing game, but Hades 2 feels, overall, like it has so much more polish and even doubles the content (and that is a scary amount of quality content for a roguelike).

Oh, and I also think the developers did an incredible job adapting Greek mythology (which is already a well-worn theme), delivering a unique and engaging story within that universe, as well as incredible character designs that have become a reference.