It looks like El Gato developer doinksoft could have another banger on their hands. The studio and publisher Devolver Digital just announced Dark Scrolls, a pixelated action-platformer that fuses shmup-style chaos with roguelite progression.
This charming indie can be played solo or in co-op, both online and locally, as players hack and slash their way through hordes of enemies in procedurally generated runs. Each run is said to contain hand-crafted screens, unique bosses, and evolving routes shaped by player choices.
There are also nine unique heroes that you can unlock that come with their own unique quests, skills, and customisable trinkets.
The pixel art in this game is strongly reminiscent of another Devolver title, The Messenger, while the action evokes classic ’90s run-and-gun shooters like Contra, just with an adorably polished coat of paint.
Sadly, at the time of writing, no exact release date has been confirmed for Dark Scrolls beyond a 2026 window. The game is planned to launch on PC and Switch, with PlayStation and Xbox versions yet to be announced.
You can check out the announcement trailer for Dark Scrolls below:
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Still with us? Of course you are! If you want to keep reading about great hand-picked rogues, the following articles represent a huge collection of the best roguelike games ever made.
Next, there are genre-specific lists that delve into the best roguelike games of all types. I’ve pulled out the best examples from each category, alongside the links to more in-depth articles!
The best turn-based roguelikes: Caves of Qud | There are some seriously incredible turn-based roguelikes out there. Of all the modern games, these are the closest to the original Rogue.
Awesome first-person rogues: Gunfire Reborn | We almost went with Blue Prince for this spot, but most people checking out first-person rogues probably want to wield a gun, you know?!
Cool roguelike deckbuilders: Balatro | Sorry, Slay the Spire fans, but this poker-solitaire deckbuilder has stolen Mike’s heart and won’t give it back.
Exciting roguelike platformers: Spelunky | Now, don’t get us wrong, Dead Cells is an incredible game, especially with all the DLC switched on. But when it comes to impact, you just can’t beat Spelunky.
Amazing action-roguelites: Hades 2 | And finally, let’s wrap things up with our favourite of them all. There’s no beating the original Hades, although Hades 2 comes pretty close!
