Fans of roguelike games got a brand new one to try and conquer this year in Returnal. While most games of this genre are generally considered pretty tough, the newest edition is considered among the hardest of the group. Part of the reason for that is that there are fewer carryover items, and also the fact that Returnal doesn't have a game save feature. At least, not one that is up to par with what players were expecting. Nevertheless, it's not an impossible game to beat, and for those that did beat the game and realized they were interested in finding even more roguelikes to play, the good news is that there's plenty out there.
Because Returnal scratches a very specific itch, anyone looking for another roguelike to play once they're done with the space odyssey might want something that reminds them of the adventure they just completed with Selene. The good news is that there are several of the same genre that can remind players of Returnal, while perhaps not offering the same level of difficulty. Perhaps those who are looking for these games can consider them a bit of a palate cleanser that still allow them to play one of their favorite type of game.
FTL Is Like Returnal If Selene Never Landed
Before Selene ever crash-landed on that strange, ever-changing planet, there was another roguelike that was all about space exploration. Of course, this game didn't involve landing on planets at all. FTL has been popular enough since it was first released, that it has since received mobile port. It's not a stretch to say this is one of the best space exploration roguelikes of all time.
The concept is simple enough. Players captain a spaceship through several hostile sectors of space while running from a sort of intergalactic government. Along the way, users will have the option of souping up their ships with new weapons, defensive utilities, and crew members. Plotting out how to make the ship more powerful is important, as the enemies will get harder the further the player progresses. Despite FTL having permadeath, it's an entertaining enough game that it's not all that annoying when the mission has to start all the way over.
Hades Has Returnal's Unforgiving Combat
It should come as no surprise that Hades is on this list. The roguelike that allows players to try and fight their way out of the underworld was a massive hit. Hades made most critics list of the best games in 2020, if it didn't win the Game of the Year award outright. The story is interesting, the art style is beautiful, and the combat is fun. There are a few similarities between this game and Returnal, in that the combat is also quite unforgiving. There's also the fact that the main character's story most often unfolds by talking to himself. It's not exactly the same storytelling devices as Returnal, but it's not altogether different either.
Void Bastards Gives A Whole New Take On Space Exploration
Space exploration roguelikes have seen an explosion in popularity as of late. Void Bastards stands out because it puts an entirely different take on what is still a pretty difficult roguelike. When comparing it to Returnal, there are two very obvious differences. The first is that this game has an animated look to it. Returnal on the other hand has that photorealistic look that makes it so impressive on the PS5. Void Bastards also has a much more comedic feel to it.
Having said all that, it's still a roguelike that is similar to Returnal in that it's actually plenty difficult, the further a player gets into the story. There is also the detail that when players die in this game, they don't come back to life as the same person. Instead, a new character is created that must then run through the same kind of maps as what the first character did. There's still enough "looping" that it will indeed make people think of Returnalwhen they are playing Void Bastards.
Rogue Legacy Set A Certain Stage For Returnal
It's wouldn't be totally unfair to cast Rogue Legacy as one of the games that jumpstarted interest in roguelikes over the last five years. There's certainly a line from this game to Void Bastards, as this is also a game where players die and then start over as another character. This time, it's a family member. There are also similarities to Returnal in the way that certain items will carry over, and other items that are lost once a life is lost. In both games, that can get rather annoying. However, it also takes a certain amount of skill that players can relish when they find that level in both titles.
In some regards, Rogue Legacy proves that difficult roguelikes can be plenty beloved, though it can certainly be a fine line between frustrating and fun. Returnal has that in common with this titles as well.
Dead Cells Has A Surprising Similarity To Returnal
Dead Cells is on this list for two very distinct reasons. The first is that it is one of the best roguelikes on the market today. There's very little wrong with the game, when taking the combat, the weapons, the art style, or the music into account. The notion that it's a very good game is backed up by the fact that Dead Cells just passed a rather massive sale milestone. There is also a very notable similarity with Returnal.
The main character in Dead Cells doesn't understand why he is, where he is. That's certainly a major story beat for Selene as well. It's not explicitly stated at the beginning of every new playthrough, but it also seems as though he awakes confused every time as well. Granted, the Dead Cells character isn't another version of him every time he runs through the dungeons. Still, it feels like this game might be a distant cousin to the newest big entry for the genre.
