Here there, friends, for a double bill of monthly archives, this time containing the final two months of 2024. You don’t need more of an intro than that, so let’s get to it…
The Best New Roguelikes – December 2024
Battle Shapers | Metric Empire | Dec 4 | PC (Win) | One of this month’s standout releases is Battle Shapers, which is finally ready to leave Early Access just over a year after its initial release. This one looks like Mega Man meets Overwatch, but there’s a roguish spin that keeps things fresh. Not only does this sci-fi shooter look slick as hell, but it plays like a dream and I’ll be dropping a full review at some point in December, of that you can be sure.
Entropy Survivors | Moving Pieces Interactive | Dec 4 | PC (Win), PS, Xbox | I just love games that embrace their silly side, and what could be sillier than simultaneously controlling a giant mecha and a frog with a gun!? Entropy Survivors is actually a remix of Shoulders of Giants, a more traditional third-person action-roguelike from the same dev team. Entropy Survivors mixes things up with a fresh camera angle and some new mechanics, and I quite enjoyed it when I played a demo earlier this year.
Black Dragon Mage | datablob | Dec 4 | PC (Win) | I’ve had my eye on this since earlier this year, and now it’s finally ready for action. BDM is another auto-shooter but the twist here is that you’ve got a black dragon to rain fire on your enemies from above. It’s not all dragon-riding, however, you also get to run around looking like Bad Gandalf, throwing explosives around like some sort of naughty Bomberman (while still somehow looking cute).
Caves of Qud | Freehold Games | Dec 5 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | After almost ten years in Early Access on Steam, and longer still since development began, Caves of Qud is finally approaching completion. I’ve been dipping a toe in and out of this particular traditional roguelike for several years, but I think now is the time to dive in fully and see where it’s at. I can’t wait, either, because Caves of Qud offers one of the deepest, most immersive worlds that I’ve encountered before.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop | Beard Envy | Dec 5 | PC (Win), Switch | Irreverant humour and deadly puzzles come together in Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, a puzzle roguelite that channels the spirit of all-time classic Papers, Please. However, this colourful sci-fi adventure injects a roguelike twist to keep things fresh. I love the concept that underpins this frantic puzzle game and I’m eager to play more.
Archons | BulletHell Studios | Dec 6 | PC (Win) | This is the second game this month that tasks you with controlling two different characters at once. Where Entropy Survivors is more tongue-in-cheek, Archons feels like a fantasy roguelite exploration of the ideas first seen in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Alternatively, you can play local co-op and control one character each as you battle through swarms of parasitic aliens.
Wild Woods | Octofox Games | Dec 9 | PC (Win) | Daedalic Games is publishing this one, and in this instance that’s relevant because the publisher is really good at picking up co-op games and then nurturing them, with Barotrauma a highlight among their range. Wild Woods is a co-op game about controlling cute critters and escorting a caravan through dangerous woodland osbstacle courses and boss battles. In fact, it looks a little bit like Overcooked crossed with the Escort mode in Overwatch.
Undead West | Deathless Games | Dec 9 | PC (Win) | There’s something very low-fi about Undead West, but I do like the black, white, and red colour scheme that Deathless Games has opted for – it reminds me a little of Downwell, one of my faves. I’ve played the demo of this retro-styled bullet hell, and it’s a straightforward affair with gun battles, zombies, and whiskey-infused upgrades to help keep you on your toes.
Voin | Nikita Sozidar | Dec 10 | PC (Win) | The retro style of Voin is certainly evocative of a bygone era of gaming, but I think it perfectly suits the gritty atmoshpere that the developer is going for. In this first-person slash ’em up, players are summoned by a powerful mage to act as a vessel of destruction and fight back against a terrible plague. The environments appear somewhat destructible, the action fast-paced and frantic, and I think this is one to keep an eye on.
Ballionaire | newobject | Dec 10 | PC (Lin, Win) | This self-proclaimed auto-bonker is my kind of silly, and I can’t wait to sit down with the full version of the game after thoroughly enjoying the recent demo. Ballionaire takes the basic idea behind pachinko and turns it up to 11 with new pegs that have all sorts of game-affecting powers. If you’re the sort who likes to make synergistic builds and experimenting, put this one on your wishlist.
Deck of Souls | Bigboot Studios | Dec 10 | PC (Win) | After several months in Early Access, Deck of Souls is bringing its hybrid card-focused gameplay to the masses this month. As implied by the name, Bigboot is aiming to fuse souls-like inspired themes with deckbuilder mechanics. The graphics are cute and the ideas are interesting, which makes this one to watch.
Wildfrost | Deadpan Games, Gaziter | Dec 10 | Xbox | Wildfrost is already out on PC, Switch, and mobile platforms, but I still think it’s worth highlighting the upcoming release of the game on Xbox. This lovely little deckbuilder has an icy theme that translates into clever gameplay, and the overall aesthetic is lovely. It’s hitting Game Pass on PC and Xbox, too.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island | Spike Chunsoft | Dec 11 | PC (Win) | After impressing earlier this year on Nintendo Switch (here’s my review if you want to read more), the sixth mainline Shiren game is preparing to arrive on Windows PC. This is tremendous news for roguelike fans on PC because Spike Chunsoft has put together its finest fantasy adventure yet, with tons of depths, plenty of charm, and even a few content updates thrown in for good measure.
Bloodshed | com8com1 | Dec 12 | PC (Win) | I rather enjoyed the demo which is why I’ve commited to reviewing the Early Access version of Bloodshed when it drops in mid-December. This frenetic first-person shooter channels the spirit of classic Doom and then reworks that formula into something more akin to Vampire Survivors. Stay tuned for more soon!
Deathless. Tales of Old Rus | 1C Game Studio | Dec 12 | PC (Win) | If polished deckbuilders are your thing, then please may I direct your attention towards Deathless. Tales of Old Rus. This card game has stunning art and it delves deep into Slavic mythology, which makes it feel somewhat distinct in a very crowded marketplace.
Bronana | busy bear | Dec 13 | PC (Win) | This self-described survival roguelike wears its inspirations on its sleeve and, like Brotato before it, Bronana is a slapstick auto-shooter where you play as sentient food with a penchant for destruction. It doesn’t sound particularly complicated and I think by now most of us know roughly what to expect, yet for reasons I can’t quite fathom, I’m really up for this one.
Memories of Bust | Mastermind | Dec 19 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | 2024 has been an excellent year for roguelike deckbuilders, and here’s me hoping for one more. Unlike indie darling Balatro, which is all about Poker, Memories of Bust is based around Blackjack. Both games task you with building a powerful deck to take on new challenges, although this one has AI art in it, so bear that in mind.
Ascendant | Imagisphere | Dec 28 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | If experimenting with different loadouts is your idea of a good time, then put Ascendant on your watchlist. This fantasy ARPG has you push through a series of biomes each punctuated by powerful bosses. While that doesn’t sound especially new or unique, the sheer number of items and abilities should make for some interesting builds. I also noted that the game has Tangia integration, which is new to me but apparently allows for interactive streaming.
The Best New Roguelikes – November 2024
Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania | poncle | October 31 | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox | I’m sneaking this in now because Ode to Castlevania wasn’t even announced when I wrote last month’s round-up. This latest major expansion for Vampire Survivors is rolling out across all platforms and includes the game’s biggest map to date. Throw in tons of new characters and weapons, and you’ve got the biggest VS expansion ever. I can’t wait.
Elin | Lafrontier | November 1 | PC (Win) | We’re kicking the month off properly now with a most interesting turn-based RPG by the name of Elin. Genre aficionados may already be familiar with the game’s predecessor, Elona. This Early Access launch mentions several ways in which Elin is going to build on the foundations laid down by the original with new crafting and survival mechanics.
Magicraft | Wave Game | November 1 | PC (Win) | This is a very late addition and I’m not sure quite how I missed it the first time around because I’ve been playing it on and off since it left Early Access. Magicraft is all about mixing and matching potent spells to create over-powered builds, with super-charged wands, powerful trinkets, mysterious potions, and much more. It’s really quite good, if you ask me.
Emberdrift | Vividesca Games | November 1 | PC (Win) | For those who feel the need for speed, Emberdrift looks like it could be a pixelated treat. This high speed platformer reminds me of an old multiplayer game called SpeedRunners, but this time with a solo-roguelite focus. Emberdrift is all about getting in the flow and finding your rhythm as you hop from surface to surface at speed.
Metal Slug Tactics | Leikir Studio | November 5 | PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox | The ol’ running ‘n’ gunning of Metal Slug has been reimagined in turn-based form this month. Metal Slug Tactics looks rather cute for a game about blowing up your enemies. To do so, you must perform synced up attacks with your units. The pixel-art and hand-crafted levels look great, and the 36 weapons and 176 weapon mods suggest run variety.
Warlords Battle Simulator | RedKar Devs | November 5 | PC (Win) | I’ve always had a big soft spot for the epic real-time battles from Total War, and one game that I noticed this month that looks somewhat similar is Warlords Battle Simulator. According to the Steam listing, this auto-battler is all about unit positioning and army composition. I’m not sure how the proposed roguelike mode will work exactly, but I’m certainly intrigued enough to wishlist this one.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate | Super Evil Megacorp | November 6 | PC (Win) | It’s fairly unusual that a roguelite ends up on PC last, but I won’t hold that against Splintered Fate, the Hades-inspired co-op roguelite that stars everyone’s favourite heroes in a half-shell. This highly replayable TMNT adventure is all about fast and fluid action gameplay as the brothers work together to rescue Splinter from the Foot Clan, both above and below the surface of NYC.
ShapeHero Factory | Asobism | November 6 | PC (Win) | There are several different ingredients going into ShapeHero Factory, which sounds like an interesting fusion of automation, roguishness, and tower defence. Simply put, you’re building a production line of heroes to fight for you, and the aim of the game is to do so efficiently enough to win you battles.
Ammo and Oxygen | Juvty Worlds | November 7 | PC (Win) | This top-down sci-fi adventure brings horror elements to the table as you must navigate the scene of a failed planetary colonisation mission. Something went horribly wrong, it involves aliens, and you wake up right in the middle of things. Cue a survival-horror experience with strange aliens and a potentially interesting take on the roguelite gameplay loop.
Atomic Picnic | BitCake Studio | November 7 | PC (Win) | Bold, brash and full of sass, Atomic Picnic is a third-person shooter that takes place at the end of the world. This is an action-roguelite built for the Fortnite generation, and it has been designed with co-op play in mind. Not only that, but AP incorporates bullet heaven elements to create a frantic and lively experience, which should only improve as it moves through Early Access.
Menace from the Deep | Flatcoon | November 11 | PC (Win) | If vintage Lovecraftian horror is your vibe then Menace from the Deep should be your cup of tea. I’ve always been drawn to the 1920s aesthetic and in this instance I like the contrast between otherworldly terror and the designs of the buttoned-up protagonists. This deckbuilder looks very polished and I love the occultist theme. A game that warrants closer inspection, mayhaps?
Rogue Rollout | Peepod | November 11 | PC (Win) | I think it might be the striking neon-edged visuals that caught my attention in Rogue Rollout, the latest game that looks to fuse deckbuilding with dice rolling. In theory, these are ingredients that can work together very well, as we’ve seen previously in the likes of Slice & Dice, but balancing the RNG is a challenge not to be sniffed at.
Cursed Halls | Souls Alive Development | November 11 | PC (Win) | The horror genre is perfect for roguish adventuring and I hope we’re going to see more games that utilise procedural generation to keep the thrills nice and unpredictable. The next game to try and scare the crap out of you again and again is Cursed Halls, which is set in a school and features permadeath and randomised item placement.
MasterQuest Fantasy | Rubilaxe | November 11 | PC (Win) | Taking its inspiration from pen and paper role-playing of the ’70s and ’80s, MasterQuest Fantasy sounds like it is going to kick up diverse and interesting adventures for players to experience. There’s a strong tabletop vibe here, with players required to do some of the heavy lifting in terms of bringing the stories to life, but if you’ve got a strong imagination then this might be the adventure you’ve been waiting for.
Heretic’s Fork | Ravenage Games | November 14 | PS, Switch, Xbox | Following in the footsteps of the PC original, Heretic’s Fork brings its unique blend of tower defence and deckbuilding to consoles this month. The backdrop for this devilish entertainment is a management desk job in Hell, where your demonic assistants help you to maintain order by thinning the number of lost souls and heretics with hellfire that rains down from your tower of righteousness.
RAM: Random Access Mayhem | Xylem Studios | November 18 | PC (Mac, Win) | This pixelated top-down shooter has a great central idea: there is no player character. You instead hack robots and then use them to attack the other robots around you. It sounds like you can’t just jump from bot to bot because that will weaken you too much. Instead you’ll be taking down enemies to power future hacks, and unlocking stuff for future attempts.
Dimensionals | Mino Games | November 18 | PC (Win) | Dimensionals looks like a Saturday morning cartoon, but it’s actually a fusion of roguelite deckbuilding and superhero comic book adventure. The game is all about building a strong party stocked with super heroes, and then combining their skills to overcome your enemies. The production values are through the roof here, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that the game underneath all that polish is just as good.
Munch | Mac n Cheese Games | November 18 | PC (Mac, Win) | In Munch you have a dozen different monsters to evolve into new forms, and as the name of the game implies, you do this by eating your enemies. The monster munching happens to the beat of a crunching metal soundtrack, and overall I this looks like a fun action-roguelite with an interesting hook. The fact that the devs claim inspiration from Hades and Curse of the Dead Gods only makes me more intrigued.
Toads of the Bayou | La Grange | November 19 | PC (Win) | This new turn-based tactics game from La Grange looks a bit like XCOM meets Wind in the Willows with a deckbuilding twist, and that’s an intriguing prospect if you ask me. This lovely looking grid-based strategy rogue has you controlling a small cadre of amphibious fighters defending their homes in the bayou from the evil Baron Samedi.
Memories of Bust | Mastermind | November 19 | PC (Win) | I’m always intrigued when a developer tries to fuse roguelike deckbuilding with an already well-established card game. Balatro is the obvious point of comparison, but in this instance I think Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is probably closer to the mark thanks to the Black Jack theme. Memories of Bust shares the same heritage and tasks players with hitting 21 and beating their opponent’s score.
IT Startup: Tech Fodder | Kupilas Media | November 20 | PC (Win) | I think it says something about current working conditions in the industry that we’re starting to see games that satirise worker exploitation. That’s the hook in ITSTF, where you must steal devs from your rivals, extract every possible scrap of value from your employees, and then project manage your way to glory. I’ve no idea whether this game will be any good, but it certainly has something to say.
Dungeon Clawler | Stray Fawn Studio | November 21 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | Every now and then a concept will come out of nowhere and grab ahold of you. Such was the case with Dungeon Clawler, the new roguish dungeon crawler from Stray Fawn that puts you in control a cat who likes to play with claw machines in strange dungeons. If that sounds silly to you then that’s the point, thank you very much, as this game is a delightfully oddball novelty roguelike in a similar vein to Peglin, which I also thought was a whole lot of fun.
The Last Humble Bee | Jacob Weersing | November 21 | PC (Win) | Our friend Kinix had a good time with The Last Humble Bee when he played it earlier this year, which is good enough for a recommendation here. This honey-infused survivors-like has a very bee-spoke theme, where you play as the last bee and must battle insectoid demons and help your beeple. It sounds cute, and to be fair, it looks cute, too.
Ravenswatch | Passtech Games | November 28 | PS, Switch, Xbox | After working its way through Early Access on PC earlier this year, Ravenswatch is finally ready for console gamers. This magic-infused action-roguelite is built for co-op, has great accessibility features, and is centred around powerful hero characters drawn from various world mythologies. It looks good, it plays better, and there’s plenty of game to keep a party of adventures busy.
One Boss One Fight | Atlantis Studio | November 28 | PC (Mac, Win) | One Boss One Fight wants you to battle against Death himself. In this action-roguelite the emphasis is on battling your deadly foe in all his many guises, but there also looks like there’s a platforming element with environmental challenges appearing alongside more traditional action-RPG gameplay staples.
Magic the Wandering | Sernate Games | November 29 | PC (Win) | MtW is promoting itself as “the Lemmings roguelike” and that alone creates a level of expectation that I’m not sure is healthy for an older fella like me. Instead of Lemmings, this game gives you a band of little wizards, and it is these little cute little mini-mages that you must protect as you escort them from one side of the screen to the other.
Streets of Rogue 2 | Matt Dabrowski | Delayed | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | One of the most anticipated roguelites of the month – nay, the year – is joining us this month. Streets of Rogue 2 is a top-down action roguelite viewed through the lens of open world adventure. If it’s anything like the original it will create more than its fair share of systemically driven emergent gameplay moments. Patience may be required, however, as this one is still only an Early Access launch.
The Archives!
October 2024: This was a really solid month thanks to the release of [REDACTED], the Early Access launch of Windblown, and a surprising little gem by the name of DICEOMANCER. Lots of caps lock in October, and there’s even some roguish robots in the disguise.
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.
