Welcome, Dear Reader, to Rogueliker’s newly minted guide to the best first-person roguelite adventures and FPS roguelikes.

If you’re after an array of shooter games of the roguelike variety, then the link will take you to my article on the matter. Here, however, we’re sticking to games that play from a first-person perspective.

Gunfire Reborn | Duoyi Games | Android, PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox | My first thought when I saw the name Gunfire Reborn was: “That’s a bold claim!” However, after playing the game myself on Xbox, I’ve come around to the fact that the developers might well be on to something.

While I started on console, I’ve since switched to playing on PC after learning that the devs don’t have control over the console version and it’s no longer being updated.

There are lots of shooters in this feature, but I’m not sure that there’s a single one that can claim to have gunplay that is more satisfying than it is here. There are so many creative weapons to choose from, and they can all be upgraded and enhanced. Throw in co-op and a ton of replayability, and you’ve got a great option for any first-person shooter fan looking for something a bit different.

Roboquest | RyseUp Studios | PC (Win), Xbox | The environmental design and cel-shaded graphics are reminiscent of Borderlands, but the structure of Roboquest is all rogue. This highly replayable first-person shooter has bags of charm and seriously solid gunplay, which results in a highly enjoyable experience.

Not only is Roboquest a brilliant solo game, but the fun also increases exponentially when you bring a friend along for some co-op. It’s fast, it’s slick, and it’s full of robots – what more could you possibly want?

Deadzone Rogue | Prophecy Games | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 | This gritty sci-fi shooter reminded me of playing Killing Floor 2 with my old mates, except to be fair, I spent most of my time in Deadzone Rogue by myself, exploring this badly-lit spaceship and fighting off hordes of crazed enemies and trying out new weapons.

The storytelling in Deadzone Rogue is also pretty good, and the structure kept me nicely engaged across multiple runs. If you’re after a sci-fi shooter with good production values and plenty to do, look no further than this!

The Best of the Rest

Battle Shapers | Metric Empire | PC (Win) | And now for something a bit fresher, and that is Metric Empire’s new first-person blaster, Battle Shapers. Playing as a robot lady with highly upgradable abilities and a wonderful arsenal of weapons, you must take back New Elysium from the giant metallic monsters that rule there. The combat arenas are small but full of interesting features, and they’ve usually got two floors, which gives them a good sense of verticality. If you’ve played the likes of Roboquest and Gunfire Reborn to death and you’re looking for something new, I think this one might tick enough boxes for you.

Superhot: Mind Control Delete | Team Superhot | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Xbox | The simple premise of Superhot is: time moves when you do. If you stand still, the chaotic gun battles that rage around you immediately slow to a virtual crawl. This moment of calm amidst the storm allows you to plan and execute your next steps in such a way that John Wick himself would be pleased. It’s a puzzle shooter at heart, but the Mind Control Delete entry in the series introduces a roguelite progression system to maximise potential replayability.

Sulfur | Perfect Random | PC (Win) | It might still be in Early Access at the time of writing, but I think that Sulfur already has enough about it to warrant inclusion here. Not only is it a great shooter, but it’s also doing something just a little bit different by infusing extraction mechanics into the roguelite mix. Sulfur is punishing, and you’re going to die a lot, especially at first. However, you can teleport back to base with good gear when you find it, and start the process of making yourself stronger for your next attempt. It does take a while to get going, but once it gets its hooks in you, Sulfur doesn’t let go easily.

Mullet MadJack | Hammer95 | PC (Win), PS5, Switch, Xbox | This spot on the list was between Hammer95’s ultra-violent blaster and Post Void, but when it comes to lightning-fast first-person shooters, the extra substance of MMJ makes a difference and ensures that this is a must-play (though both are good). The aim of this frantic FPS is to get to the top of a tower filled with countless robotic enemies. The hook is that upon starting each floor, you’ve got a mere ten seconds to get going. Each time you take down an enemy, you get more time added to the clock, and so the pace is always relentless. On top of having a killer gameplay loop, the retro vibes and pitch-perfect delivery of old school staples make Mullet MadJack a true delight.

Prey: Mooncrash | Arkane Studios | PC (Win), PS, Xbox | The dissolution of Arkane Austin was a sad day for the industry, but the studio left behind a really interesting first-person shooter set in the Prey universe, while also laying some of the groundwork for Deathloop (Arkane Lyon). Mooncrash isn’t the best shooter, nor is it the best roguelike, but it is a genuinely interesting blend of ingredients built on the rock-solid foundations of Prey, an immersive sim that has players desperately fighting for survival against aliens with powerful psychic powers and the ability to shapeshift. Mooncrash takes the mechanical depth of Prey and respins it into something new and unique, where you must guide survivors off a base in the grip of an alien infestation.

Robobeat | Simon Fredholm | PC (Win) | One of the more recently released games on this little listicle, Robobeat does exactly what the name implies. In this frenetic FPS, you play as a robot and, yes, you must pull the trigger in time with the beat to maximise your score. What that means in practice is rad rhythmic combat and toe-tapping action as you blast away at Tron-like enemies framed in the neon glow of a futuristic setting. It’s chaotic, it’s addictive, and the soundtrack slaps. To put it another way: Robobeat rocks.

Deep Rock Galactic | Ghost Ship Games | PC (Win), PS, Xbox | Despite Deep Rock Galactic being a good distance away from the original Rogue and therefore stretching the definition of “roguelite” to its limit, the procedural generation and the enduring replayability that it brings mean that I’m happy to include it here. The Survivor spin-off is a whole bunch of fun, but I wasn’t convinced by Rogue Core, which feels undercooked when compared to the OG.

Gunhead | Alientrap | PC, PS | Mothergunship | Terrible Posture Games | PC (Win), PS, Xbox | Oh man, this was a difficult one; I was torn between including Gunhead or Mothergunship. Both games are about jumping around in a giant mech suit and shooting the crap out of robots on monstrous spaceships. Mothergunship is a fun FPS with a great weapon crafting system, but Gunhead offers tactical flexibility via its expansive arenas. Both games are flawed, especially with regard to narrative, but I’d say that Mothergunship is a bit more welcoming. Either game would be a fine choice if you’re looking for a shooter that lets you hop around huge metallic space hulks in a mech with massive yet creative weapons, though.

Witchfire | The Astronauts | PC (Win) | A counterpoint to the pixelated simplicity of Vampire Survivors is Witchfire, a stunning and complex roguelite shooter from The Astronauts (a studio made up of key people behind the likes of Bulletstorm). Set in a murky, grimdark alternate history where an evil witch has humanity on the brink, you must experiment with arkane powers and become that which you hate. It’s still in Early Access at the time of writing, but this first-person shooter is already looking fantastic and offers a significant challenge. You might want to wait until it’s finished before diving in, as the developers are adding new content, working on balance, and then implementing new systems, but if you don’t mind playing a game in development that’s subject to change, Witchfire is worth a look.

Everspace | Rockfish Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox | I’ve seen a fair bit of discontent about Everspace, but I’m including it because it’s my list and I like it! This space shooter puts you in the cockpit of (or just behind) a starfighter and tasks you with blasting your way through a series of different sectors of enemy space. In between attempts, you can make upgrades to your ship, which helps you get stronger for each new run. If you prefer a more expansive RPG experience, the sequel offers that in spades, but if what you’re after is a pure dogfighting experience without too many talking heads (and VR support for those who want it), then Everspace has you covered.

Deadlink | Gruby Entertainment | PC (Win), PS, Xbox | If you’re a fan of boomer shooters and classics such as Doom and Quake, Deadlink’s fast and fluid first-person gunplay may well tickle your fancy. This cyberpunk-themed FPS has you playing as a ghost in a shell – the shell being an autonomous combat suit that lets you zip and zap your way around futuristic multi-level combat arenas. The pace is furious, and the action is well-balanced considering how everything has been procedurally arranged for each new run. There are a few first-person shooters in this list, but none of them is as fleet of foot as Deadlink.

Abyssus | DoubleMoose Games | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox | If you know your classic first-person shooters, then you’ll instantly recognise the influence of BioShock on Abyssus, the self-styled brinepunk shooter from DoubleMoose. This atmosphere is great, the gunplay exciting, and there’s just enough variety to keep each new run feeling fresh. The star of the show, however, is the underwater world that you’re exploring. This stunning setting plays host to some frantic combat, and after the 1.3 update added cross-platform play, the co-op aspect has only strengthened.

The Kinix Perspective

This sub-section of the article is reserved for the recommendations and musings of our own Kinix Reviews (not his real name, just in case you were wondering), who has a particular interest in this genre. Here are his picks, with words pulled from his reviews here on RL.

White Knuckle | Dark Machine Games | PC (Win) | If you click through to the Steam page linked above, then you’ll see a pull-quote from Kinix’s review. The quote tells you everything you need to know about how he feels about this terrifying climbing roguelite: “The core gameplay is perfect.”

Receiver 2 | Wolfire Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | This sequel honed and then perfected the formula put forward in the first game, and it remains an “all-time favourite” despite requiring plenty of patience as you handle all aspects of the gun in your hand. “There’s nothing like it out there and there probably never will be again,” Kinix wrote.

Space Beast Terror Fright | nornware AB | PC (Win) | If you’re reading between the lines, you’ll notice that all of the games in this corner of the article are quite intense, but perhaps none more so than Space Beast Terror Fright, which Kinix explains as having “hyper-focused mechanics, brutal difficulty, and fantastic atmosphere.”

Desecrators | Woodhound | PC (Win) | According to the Kinix review, there’s “a level of polish involved in Desecrators’ game design that is impressive.” In particular, if you’re after a 6DOF shooter, this “is definitely one of the best.”  This is a dream for anyone who grew up playing Descent.

First Person Roguelikes

This next section is reserved for first-person games that aren’t shooters. There are quite a few of these roguelikes, some of which are essentially hack ‘n’ slash dungeon crawlers, while others are completely non-violent. Let’s start with the pick of the bunch, before ending on the granddaddy of them all.

Blue Prince | Dogubomb | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox | To be fair to Dogubomb, while Blue Prince is a first-person experience, it is unlike any other game on this list. Blue Prince is different, and not just within the realm of roguelites – its mind-melting challenge has been embraced by the wider gaming family.

Blue Prince is a game that lives on the screen but also beyond it, and you’ll need to take notes as you explore, unravel clues, piece together mysteries, and try to find a hidden room tucked away in an ever-shifting mansion.

Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox | This spooky card game from Daniel Mullins is a truly definitive first-person roguelike deckbuilder that has inspired a wealth of similarly atmospheric roguelites. That said, you can’t go wrong with the original and its carefully crafted deckbuilding, which still shines.

Buckshot Roulette | Mike Klubnika | PC (Lin, Win), Xbox | Of all the games to follow in the twisted footsteps of Inscryption, Buckshot Roulette is probably the most interesting. This grimy first-person roguelike has you sitting across the table from a strange creature-dude, and using various items, you must engage in a deadly game of roulette.

CloverPit | Panik Arcade | Android, iOS, PC (Win), Xbox | Another first-person horror roguelike with oodles of atmosphere, CloverPit has an escape room vibe and is built around a never-ending battle with a slot machine. I absolutely loved the base game, although I can’t comment on the DLC as that hasn’t crossed my path yet.

Barony | Turning Wheel | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | One first-person rogue that has been around for what feels like forever is Barony. Not only is this Minecraft-esque first-person dungeon crawler playable in local co-op, but there’s also a tremendous amount of content to play through thanks to years of dedicated development. Don’t be fooled by the cutesy graphics either, Barony will kick your retro-3D ass.

Mortal Sin | Nikola Todorovic | PC (Win) | This eye-bleeding first-person fantasy game is hard-as-nails and full of death. However, once you start to get to grips with the pace of the game and the severity of the combat, Mortal Sin reveals itself to be a truly immersive FPS roguelike with much more nuance than you would first expect.

Rogue-FP | Jurax Games | PC (Lin, Win) | My final recommendation is Rogue-FP, a first-person interpretation of the original Rogue, the game that kicked off this whole damn shindig.

Rogue-FP brings the ASCII aesthetic and blends it with a first-person perspective, simple combat, and a clever movement system. The result of this remix is a game that feels surprisingly fresh while also extremely reverent to the turn-based classic.