Roguelike games have become extremely popular following the boom of the indie scene. These titles are characterized by their procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, and permadeath mechanics. The repetition and challenge present in these games require players to learn from their mistakes and develop new strategies to progress through the game. With each run, players gain a deeper understanding of the game mechanics, enemy patterns, and level layouts, making them better equipped to handle the challenges that lie ahead. This iterative process is an essential part of the roguelike experience and is what makes these games so addictive to play.
Some roguelike games feature a sinister and oppressive atmosphere that can be incredibly unnerving, causing players to make mistakes and take risks they might not otherwise have taken. This, in turn, can lead to a vicious cycle of failure and frustration, as players struggle to make progress in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. While these games are designed to be particularly challenging and unforgiving, players who finally power through all this adversity and uncover the mystery that pervades this experience will find the games to be an unforgettable experience.
7 Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a roguelike RPG that combines Lovecraftian horror with turn-based combat. The game is set in a gothic world full of nightmarish abominations, and features an array of disposable and fragile adventures who are tasked with exploring the many dungeons beneath it.
The oppressive atmosphere of the game is reinforced by the game's narration, which constantly reminds players of the fragility of their party members and the terrors that await them. The game's unique stress system, which causes characters to suffer from various afflictions as they explore the dungeon, adds an extra layer of tension to the gameplay.
6 The Binding Of Isaac
It's a given that any game which explores themes of religion, abuse, and child trauma is bound to be pretty dark indeed. Such is the case with The Binding of Isaac, a revolutionary roguelike game that arguably popularized the genre and paved the way for future games.
The game's story follows a young boy named Isaac, who is forced to escape his mother's fanatical religious beliefs and save his life by jumping into his basement, which is filled with grotesque monsters and twisted abominations. The game's oppressive atmosphere is reinforced by its creepy visuals and its dark soundtrack, and it's easy to see why the complex themes and characterization of events in The Binding of Isaac made it such a smash hit.
5 Inscryption
Inscryption is a roguelike card game, which may turn off many people from checking this experience out at all. However, there's a reason why Inscryption was such a breakout hit — the title deceives people with this description and pulls them into a nightmarish adventure with many genuine scares and a palpable sense of tension along the way.
The game uses found footage, a mysterious card game, and a creepy figure in an abandoned cabin to tell a riveting story that will keep players hooked till the very end. The game blends several genres together, breaking up the deck-building gameplay with unique puzzles that further enhanced the mystery of this title.
4 World Of Horror
World of Horror pays homage to the horror of Junji Ito, which in itself is a statement that will convince most players to check this game out for themselves. The retro-inspired visuals and a creepy soundtrack perfectly captures the oppressive atmosphere that this title is trying to convey.
Players take on the role of investigators who are tasked with solving various mysteries that involve supernatural creatures and unexplainable phenomena. It's a shame that this title has been stuck in early access for so long... and yet, World of Horror features more fleshed-out content than actual full-blown releases, which is saying something.
3 Sunless Sea
Sunless Sea's setting is one of its biggest draws, taking place in a gothic, Victorian-inspired world that is submerged in a vast underground ocean. Players take on the role of a captain of a steamship, exploring the treacherous waters while facing various challenges along the way.
If the setting is what convinces players to check the game out, then the writing is what will compel them to stay till the very end. Sunless Sea captivates players with its rich world-building & lore, with even the player's death not stopping them from exploring eveything this game has to offer.
2 Returnal
It's great to see how big roguelikes has become, with huge studios like Sony taking a stab at this genre as well. This led to the development and release of Returnal, a tough-as-nails roguelike that explores themes of isolation and psychological horror.
The protagonist of this tale is Selene, a space explorer who crash-lands on an alien planet with different and varied biomes. The game's blend of sci-fi and horror is extremely effective and augmented which, when combinde with its oppressive atmosphere and challenging gameplay, makes it one of the best roguelike games ever made, as is to be expected from an AAA developer with Sony's backing.
1 Darkwood
Players looking for a unique survival horror title should look no further than Darkwood, a game that relies on its eerie atmosphere and unique mechanics to instill a sense of dread in the player. The top-down perspective surprisingly works for the game, mainly because of a vision cone that prevents players from seeing any threats until it is too late.
This, combined with its creepy visuals and sound design, creates an oppressive and unnerving atmosphere that keeps players on edge. Players should know that the roguelike elements in this title are fairly muted, mainly coming from the randomly generated maps and optional permadeath.