Welcome to another archive edition of The Best New Roguelikes and Roguelites! You’re here for the best new rogues, and June certainly delivered a healthy selection of titles for your consideration. If you want more, there are links to more archived articles at the foot of the article. Enjoy!
June 2024
Through the Fog (June 3) PC – I’m putting this one in because the theme is very interesting. Through the Fog puts you in the midst of an ever-shifting city that you must map by night so that life can continue during the day. The Steam description explains that players will be a “cartographic entrepreneur with a flair for the nocturnal and mysterious”. Not your typical video game, then.
Novivors (June 5) PC – If you like your screens busy, look no further than Novivors, the new bullet heaven survivors game from Limited Input. After watching some gameplay, it’s clear that there’s a lot going on with this one, with eye-slapping screen-filling attacks, hordes of enemies, and what looks like a huge range of customisation options via the in-game stats tree.
STEM Defense (June 6) PC (Mac, Win) – STEM Defense sounds like someone’s medical thesis snuck into a computer and infected a tower defense game with a dose of its roguishness. I’m going going to lie, this one looks like it might be a brain breaker, and the medical jargon is going to be off-putting to some, but I rather like the idea of using tower defense mechanics to express the battle for control of a human body.
Sentry System (June 7) PC – If there was a roguelite tower defense game set in the Tron universe, it would look a lot like Sentry System. Where STEM Defense was all about the germs, this one is about neon turrets, flying sparks, and plenty of crisp right angles. Two similarly turreted ideas expressed very differently – but then variety is the spice of life.
Dragon is Dead (June 7) PC – The Castlevania vibes are strong with this one, a new hack and slash platformer with a really gothic feel that I clocked during my trawl of the upcoming release schedule. I always enjoy a bit of well-crafted pixel art and Dragon is Dead certainly looks the part. My fingers are crossed that it plays as good as it looks when it lands in Early Access this month.
Whacking Hell! (June 13) PC, PS, Switch and Xbox – Another top-down survivors game, although this one looks quite nice with its hand-drawn art style. Whacking Hell! looks like a fusion of Vampire Survivors and Darkest Dungeon, two very popular games in our shared corner of the gaming world – if it’s anywhere near as good as either of those two, this could be a surprising treat.
Cryohazard (June 14) PC – This month is stacked with interesting new ideas, and one of the more unique games I’ve seen during my hunt for new games is Cryohazard. This vehicular adventure puts you in charge of a convoy of cars that are trying to escape evil angels that are out to get you via the ominous sounding Soul Storm.
Heroes of Loot: Gauntlet of Power (June 17) PC (Lin, Mac, Win, with Switch and Atari VCS versions planned for late 2024) – One game that slipped past me in the first sweep was roguish action-RPG sequel, Heroes of Loot: Gauntlet of Power. That must be because the playable heroes in it are so damn small and cute. And when I say “small and cute” I really mean it in this instance, as the game has the miniature scale similar to Tiny Rogues, but pairs that up with a Zelda-inspired visual finish.
Flame Keeper (June 17) PC – New action-RPG Flame Keeper casts you in the role of Ignis, a piece of charcoal whose life is also their currency. That sounds like it’s going to make for some agonising decisions as you advance through a range of different biomes in search of the Eternal Flame, which has been stolen by the shadows…
Be My Horde (June 18) PC – If you’re into your Vampire Survivors type games, then Be My Horde looks like an innovative RTS twist on the formula. You play as Moriana, a tall and elegantly dressed “necromancess” who must resurrect the dead to create a giant horde that follows her everywhere she goes. It’s an Early Access release, and it’s available on PC Steam.
Let Him Cook (June 18) PC – A late addition that snuck in here at the last minute before I had to go for my dinner – how apt! Let Him Cook is a survivors game with a culinary twist where players must mash and bash their opponents into oblivion with a variety of kitchen utensils. If you’re after something with a side portion of surreal this month, take a closer look!
Deathless. Tales of Old Rus (June 18) PC – If deckbuilders are your thing, then Tales of Old Rus is the latest game to try and charm its way into the hearts of fans of Slay the Spire and its ilk. As alluded to in the game’s title, 1C’s folklore-inspired card game explores slavic mythology and boasts some really stunning art and animations for players to enjoy as they explore the world of Belosvet.
Into the Emberlands (June 19) PC – Into the Emberlands brings a cosy approach to roguelite survival and exploration. You play as a lightbearer who is sent out into a strange miasma to find lost Knacks and the resources needed to rebuild and even expand your home base. By the looks of it, this could be a real change of pace for rogues who are looking for something with a bit more chill. This version of the game is Early Access, but it has publisher backing from Daedalic Entertainment so I’m not ruling out a console launch in the future
Sandwalkers (June 19) PC (Lin, Mac, Win) – Hex-based rogue Sandwalkers is a game that I’ve been keeping tabs on for some time, and it was just confirmed as a June release. This tactical RPG has a really interesting pixel-art style and a compelling setting, wherein players are tasked with leading a caravan across a desolate and dangerous world. It’s like The Banner Saga crossed with Curious Expedition, which could make for something special, I’m hoping.
Letter Lancers (June 19) PC – The four player co-op in Letter Lancers looks like pure anarchy, which is why I’ve included it in this month’s round-up. The co-op is couch-based so make sure your friends are local, as together you’ll be able to take on hordes of enemies with an ever broadening array of powers and weapons. You know the score by now, although I’m not sure where the name came from.
Dicefolk (June 20) PC and Switch – This one is a port of an existing game, but if you’re looking for something interesting to play on your Nintendo Switch, I think Dicefolk is a great shout. I recently interviewed the developers about the game and its upcoming Switch release, which I’ve played on PC, and it offers something a little bit different but that’s also well suited to Nintendo’s hybrid platform.
CosmoPirates (June 20) PC (Lin, Win) – Strange things are happening in space, it would seem, but don’t worry, the CosmoPirates have got a hand of cards to deal with anything that arises. This sci-fi deckbuilder sounds like it has a very quirky sense of humour and the bold art style looks pretty good, too. Following hot on the heels of Zet Zillions, it’s clear that the age of the irreverent sci-fi card game is upon us.
Deck of Souls (June 20) PC – There are plenty of roguelike deckbuilders out there, but there aren’t too many that let you turn your fallen enemies into cards for your deck! This novel gameplay twist is supplemented by an RPG element, and the developer is calling it “roguelite deck-building meets souls-like” – which makes it sound like a game that wants kick your ass.
Champion Shift (June 21) PC (with PlayStation to follow) – I first clamped eyes on Champion Shift when it launched into Early Access, and now it’s time for the full release of the game, on PC at least. Vampire Survivors fans looking for something different to play might want to take a closer look as the game puts a big twist on the now well-established formula; you can transform your mythological hero into a car and start bashing your way through crowds of enemies.
Million Monster Militia (June 21) PC – A collaboration between Space Capsule Games and Dejobaan Games, Million Monster Militia is an absolutely bonkers looking turn-based tactics game about making an army out of whatever you can get your hands on. That means a plethora of weird and wonderful unit options, where the aim of the game is to find the best synergies from the tools at your disposal.
Dice & Fold (June 24) PC (Lin, Mac, Win) – I have to admit, Dice & Fold was one of the games that I meant to play during NextFest but as always, my proverbial eyes were bigger than my proverbial stomach. Still, the art is simple but cute and the central premise is strong, with its solitaire inspired mechanics and high fantasy theme. If you’re looking for a new game that blends dice and deck-building, I suggest you take a closer look at this one.
Dragon Eclipse (June 24) PC – One genre crossover that I’m seeing with greater frequency is the mix of roguelite progression and pocket monster style battles. Dragon Eclipse lets you build a deck and then supplement your cards with up to three so-called Mystlings. You have to catch and train a team of these creatures and then battle through a fantasy world filled with danger. It’s also based on a popular board game, making this one for the pokémon generation to try and catch.
A Witch’s Game (June 24) PC – I’m super intrigued about this one, not least because of the quirky minimalist art style and the overall visual presentation. A Witch’s Game vaguely resembles a tabletop game I’m rather fond of called Hive. In both games you must take down your opponent’s main unit, however, here you get a one-turn heads-up that allows you to exploit your enemy’s moves. The alternative ’80s-turned-medieval setting also sounds most intriguing.
Guncho (June 25) PC (Mac & Win) – Turn-based tactics game Guncho puts you on a hex-grid and asks you to line up your shots with care. The aim of the game (pun intended) is to make sure your six shooter is aligned to your enemies, which sounds easy but almost certainly isn’t. I like the sound of this puzzle element, and not enough games let you have a donkey, so points for that, too.
Emberward (June 25) PC – It was the Tetris-inspired puzzle element in Emberward that first attracted my attention, but it was the brain tickling tower defense gameplay that kept me invested. I really enjoyed the demo that I played earlier this year and that being the case, I’m looking forward to tucking into the Early Access release of this bright and breezy puzzle roguelite.
Frogun Encore (June) PC (Lin, Win) PS4/5, Switch, and Xbox – Sequels are rare in the indie space, and a sequel with a multiplatform release is rarer still. Frogun Encore is a standalone expansion / sequel to an action-platformer with a distinctive low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of genre classics on the old N64. Not only does Encore bring a new campaign but you’ll be able to play with a friend thanks to local co-op.
Mines of Moria (An Adventurer’s Touch) (July) Android, iOS, and PC (Lin, Mac, Win) – One of the biggest challenges when writing this article is knowing what to include, and where to draw the line when it comes to ports and re-releases. The Dungeons of Moria is a classic ’80s roguelike, so I think it’s noteworthy that a remake is this month arriving on PC after an initial appearance on mobile. I should also mention Umoria while I’m here. This updated original is freely available and playable in-browser and doesn’t include any of the modernisations from this new, more accessible version of the game.
Idiots’ Fantasy (June 28) PC – While it looks a little bit crude, Idiots’ Fantasy has an interesting twist that I think makes it worth keeping an eye on. The challenge in this fantasy hack and slash comes from the gameplay changes that you initiate by equipping different rule books. It sounds a bit bonkers but after enjoying a similar idea in Vellum (which was explored very differently, I should add), I’m going to keep an eye on this one.
The Archives!
October 2024: There were several big releases in the month of October, but none as exciting as Windblown, the next game by Motion Twin (Dead Cells). I did enjoy [REDACTED], which is a comic book spin-off based on The Callisto Protocol, and I also picked up Diceomancer, a very underrated deckbuilder with a lovely graphical style and plenty of charm. Other releases included Wizard of Legend 2 and Transformers: Galactic Trials, for a truly unique blend of titles.
September 2024: What an excellent month for new roguelike games, with the highlights including deckbuilders Shogun Showdown and Pyrene, the FPS blaster otherwise known as Wild Bastards, and there was the mobile release of Balatro. Rogue Waters delivered pirate-themed turn-based tactics, and I also really enjoyed both Realm of Ink and Halls of Torment (the first which landed in Early Access and the second which just left it).
August 2024: The August archive boasts highlights including the blackjack-themed deckbuilder Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, a co-op update for Cult of the Lamb, plus excellent games including Peglin, Terminus: Zombie Survivors, Knock on the Coffin Lid, and Nova Drift all left Early Access. Plot twist: Risk of Rain 2’s latest DLC launched to very mixed reviews.
July 2024: Headline acts this July included the console release of Darkest Dungeon II, and Lost Castle 2 releasing into Early Access. The original Epyx version of Rogue has finally been ported to Nintendo Switch, with one or two improvements that no doubt explain the delay. Finally, shout outs to Arc Seed, because I do love a giant mecha battle, and Wastelander, because I’m a sucker for sci-fi strategy games.
June 2024: This month got better as it went on. June closed out with a tetromino-powered tower defense roguelite by the name of Emberward, a turn-based western rogue called Guncho (wanted dead or alive, apparently), the quirky auto-battler otherwise known as Million Monster Militia, and the early access exit of Champion Shift. All of them landed in the back nine of the month, so keep on scrolling.
May 2024: Hit this link for some of the very best launches of the year, including the Early Access release of Hades II, the wonderful turn-based roguelike Path of Achra, and a big crossover as Contra comes to Vampire Survivors. Plus stellar shooters Robobeat and Mullet MadJack both dropped in May, and there’s a certain Prince from Persia who arrived before the end of the month, too. Phew.
April 2024: One of my favourites in April was peaceful puzzler Planetiles, which certainly contrasts the grimy first-person horror of Buckshot Roulette. Traditionalists will note the release of Story Mode in Dwarf Fortress as a milestone, while console owners finally got to savour the delights of Dave the Diver. Finally, I want to highlight Against Great Darkness and Inkbound; two indie gems out this month.
March 2024: Mortal Glory 2 dropped in March and it’s an excellent tactical turn-based roguelite about fantasy gladiators. The always brilliant Crypt of the NecroDancer got a big multiplayer update by the name of Synchrony. Two very different magic games were released into Early Access this month, with third-person actioner Vellum landing alongside turn-based spell-simulator Rift Wizard 2. Finally, the wonderful dice roller Slice & Dice made an appearance on Steam.
February 2024: An earlier iteration of this format – February’s round-up is a bit of a mess. Nevertheless, it was a good month for games with the release of Balatro on PC and console, which has been my most-played game of the year by far, and Shiren 6 finally arrived on Nintendo Switch. Other highlights include the full release of Inkulinati, and the Early Access launch of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivors.
January 2024: The first month of the year is usually pretty quiet across the industry (except for at Capcom for some reason) but we did get some good rogues, too. Lonestar is my personal pick, but Go Mecha Ball landed on PC and console, and the unofficial Indiana Jones parkour simulator otherwise known as Phantom Abyss left Early Access. Finally, BlazBlue Entropy Effect also left EA.
November and December 2023: It was still early days for Rogueliker and the formatting is all over the place, but if you want even more games, I’ve got a few from late 2023 to tell you about. Picayune Dreams is one of the highlights, as is Against the Storm, two of the year’s best games, in fact. Other top-tier titles to drop before the end of the year include Cobalt Core, Roboquest, and Risk of Rain Returns.
