Roguelikes and roguelites are the best, as well you know, but they can also be cruel beasts. These uncompromising games are designed to put you through the wringer, to make you earn each step through hard-learned lessons. However, while we all love a punishing experience deep in a dungeon, sometimes it’s better to just let rip and have a bit of fun.
These action roguelikes and roguelites have been highlighted because not only are they great games in their own right, but they also offer players a gentler experience with less overall chafe. If you haven’t already, check them out.
Alternatively, these are all great gateway games and ideal for someone who maybe hasn’t played a roguelike before. Sacrilege, I know – do your friend a favour and send then the link…
Risk of Rain 2 | Hopoo Games | PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
We’re kicking things off with Risk of Rain 2, a masterful third-person shooter and an excellent entry point into the wonderful world of roguelikes and roguelites.
While the environments can look a little barren, the swarms of strange creatures rushing you the whole time means that there’s rarely time to stop and smell the procedurally generated roses.
It’s fast and chaotic, and with just enough item and weapon variety to keep each run feeling fresh. If you’re a shooter fan wondering what to play next, Risk of Rain 2 is a great option.
Ship of Fools | Fika Productions | PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
If you’ve got little ones around the house, cluttering up the place, why not put them to work as your Player Two in Ship of Fools, a nautical roguelite about searching the seas for loot and glory.
Built for two, this action-packed game is like a cross between FTL and Overcooked, in the sense that encounters play out in real-time and you’ll have to work together if you’re to proceed. There are cannons to fire, enemies to slap, and harpoons to aim at loot, as well as totem traps that’ll stun you and leave you open to damage. There’s a lot to do, the action is frantic, but it’s not overly punishing either!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate | Super Evil Megacorp | iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
I have to admit that I’ve been sleeping on this Turtles-themed Hades-like, but had I known just how much fun it is, I’d have jumped on it sooner. Instead, I waited for the game to fully come out of its shell and appear on the last of the major consoles, and then I took a look.
What I eventually discovered was a fantastic action-roguelite that is great for couch co-op play (for up to four players, if you have enough controllers). There’s just enough mechanical complexity to keep a more experienced player happy, but then everything was accessible enough for my 11-year-old to fully engage with every decision.
The Turtles wrapper is also really well applied, and the CGI TV series has been well-utilised as Super Evil Megacorp built in enough content to ensure a bunch of replayability. All in all, this is a tip top entry level roguelite and also a great way of playing co-op with younger gamers.
Hades | Supergiant Games | PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Hades makes the list because of one key accessibility feature offered by Supergiant Games: God Mode. Hades can be a tough nut to crack at first, and just getting past Meg that first time feels like a win all on its own.
The God Mode means that with every death, our boy Zagreus grows stronger, and after a few hours, you’ll be whizzing through the campaign in no time at all and trying to beat your previous bests while smashing the crap out of all and sundry. If you want a more casual dungeon crawl through Greek mythology, it’s one click away!
Cult of the Lamb | Massive Monster | PC, PS, Switch, Xbox
Massive Monster’s cute-but-deadly actioner brings together colony management, sweet animals, and deadly monsters. It’s a visual delight with charming graphics that still manage to feel sinister at the same time.
Cult of the Lamb has got a very approachable campaign. It builds at a nice pace as you grow your following and battle those who have wronged you, all in the name of an ominous stranger. The recent addition of co-op only makes things easier to get into!
If you’ve ever wanted to play as a possessed lamb with a penchant for violence, your very specific wish can now come true so long as you worship at the altar of Cult of the Lamb.
Enter the Gungeon | Dodge Roll | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch and Xbox
While it’s not the easiest game on this little list, it is definitely more accessible than a lot of other roguelites, not least because the pixel-art visuals are charming as hell and quite appealing, I think.
At its best, you’ll be kicking over tables and dodge-rolling your way around streams of bullets, and having an amazing time while you’re at it. It’s the kind of game where you’ll have to work together if you’re going to make the most of things, but once you find your groove you’ll never look back.
FTL Faster Than Light | Subset Games | iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
A personal entry this one, because it was the first roguelite/roguelike game I encountered that truly charmed me. I’ve lost untold of hours to this one over the years, on PC but mostly on the iOS version, which I play with the kids sometimes at bedtime (although I do gloss over any talk of cannibalism when we’re playing). More on that later…
FTL is a game that I come back to repeatedly, and the simple setup and accessible design ensures that it remains a great entry-level game for newcomers to the genre.
Jupiter Hell | ChaosForge | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
Of all the games on this list, Jupiter Hell comes with the best shotguns. It’s the spiritual successor to DRL, which itself a homage to a little known first-person shooter called Doom. No, mean neither.
This crunchy, visceral roguelike, while traditional in many respects, still manages to put an emphasis on pacing and combat. It’s a tough game at heart, but turn the difficulty right down and you’ll blow those early-game demons into smithereens. Don’t get too cocky, though, it’s still a roguelike after all.
ADOM | Thomas Biskup | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
Ancient Domains of Mystery – or ADOM for short – is the most traditional roguelike on this list. I’d be lying if I said it was easy, however, it is more accessible than many of its peers thanks to the graphical overlay that was applied in the 2015 version.
The visual overhaul makes sense of the dense and involving RPG gameplay on offer, and there are loads of factors to consider as you advance across ADOM’s expansive world. You can even flick on the old ASCII mode if you’re feeling nostalgic.
Balatro | LocalThunk | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Balatro is an exceptional card game that takes elements of solitaire and a poker theme, and then injects it with roguelike replayability. It’s one of the most addictive games I’ve ever played, and if you already know a bit about poker, it’s super accessible.
I’d even go as far as saying that Balatro is a great introductory game for anyone who has never played a deckbuilder before, or even for someone who is new to video games. There’s so much depth built into LocalThunk’s quirky little card game, and I heartily recommend it to be season gamers and total newcomers.
Vampire Survivors | poncle | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
And we’re wrapping up our little list with one of my personal favourites: Vampire Survivors. This indie darling has taken the world by storm, so even if you’ve not played the game there’s a chance that you’ll know what it’s all about: hordes of monsters and screen-filling special powers.
It’s chaos at times, with massive swarms of creatures flooding the screen while you try and stay out of harm’s way as best you can. However, while it looks outrageously busy and there are loads of fun decisions to be made on every run, the minimalist gameplay and gentle introduction to each run mean that pretty much anyone can pick this one up and start having fun!
If you want to read about more great roguelike games, hit the link!
