Here we are, Dear Reader, at the conclusion of 2024, and once again it is time to take stock of the year that has just passed us by. It has been a good year for rogues, too, with dozens of fantastic games across a range of sub-genres releasing over the last twelve months.
Much as I did in my Game of the Year 2023, I’m going to spread the love around a number of titles, because I don’t think one game should enjoy all the limelight. As such, there didn’t seem to be an ideal way of ordering the below, so in the end I opted for “time spent playing” as my metric of choice, starting with my most played game of 2024…
Balatro | The Best Deckbuilder | LocalThunk | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
With more than 300 hours in the bag, Balatro has been my go-to game this year, first on PC and then again on mobile, no doubt about it. Playing again on mobile felt like a very natural transition thanks to the time I spent playing the immaculate Steam Deck version. This mesmerising poker-themed deckbuilder offers a tremendous amount of depth, with a range of different starting decks and huge number of game-changing jokers that affect the cards in your deck. Balatro is largely the work of one developer, LocalThunk, and this is their debut release. What a way to announce yourself!
Hades 2 | The Best Early Access Launch | Supergiant Games | PC (Win)
After an extended wait, we finally got our hands on Hades 2 this year. Well, most of it at least, as the final part of the game is still to land in 2025. Having said that, Supergiant preserved its legacy by releasing a big chunk of the game in a very polished state. Even in the game’s nascent state of being, this colourful action-roguelite delivers slick and engaging combat and an evolving narrative that emerges as you explore further into its compelling mythological setting.
Caves of Qud | The Best Roguelike | Freehold Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
After an eternity in Early Access, Caves of Qud version 1.0 is finally upon us, complete with UI tweaks, better onboarding tools, gameplay enhancements, narrative conclusions, and much, much more. This traditional turn-based roguelike is set in a truly compelling world steeped in science fantasy and retro-futurism, and it offers a dizzying amount of potential thanks to interlocking gameplay systems that encourage experimentation and cause emergent gameplay.
Peglin | The Best Novelty Roguelike | Red Nexus Games | PC (Mac, Win), Switch
Peglin takes the basics of pachinko and then infuses that with magic balls and roguelike gameplay staples. In this adorable pixel adventure you must explore procedurally arranged challenges with an ever-expanding bag of magic balls. These balls must be hurled at boards filled with pegs, bombs, multipliers, and more, and the higher the score, the more damage you deal in that attack. It’s very silly stuff, but it’s also a ton of fun and it’s one of my favourite games of the year.
Path of Achra | The Best Broken Build Roguelike | Ulfsire | PC (Win)
One of the joys of playing a roguelike is putting together an excellent build and then using it to stomp on everything around you. It is this part of the loop that Path of Achra focuses on intently, and the game is all about discovering interesting class synergies and then using your over-powered abilities to smash any enemy you encounter. Don’t be put off by the simplistic tile set and low-fi design, Path of Achra is an excellent video game.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island | The Best Name | Spike Chunsoft | PC (Win), Switch
Shiren the Wanderer started the year on Switch, and then ended it on PC. This new Mystery Dungeon is the sixth mainline entry in the series, and the first to fully embrace 3D. Serpentcoil Island is an interesting new location to explore, and you’ll battle all manner of beasties in grid-based combat that will you have you scratching your head and carefully managing your inventory. This is a vast and challenging roguelike and despite looking all cute and fluffy, this one’s a real beast.
Vampire Survivors | The Best DLC | Android, iOS, PC (Win, Mac), PS, Switch, and Xbox
The year hadn’t long been up and running when we got our first DLC expansion for Vampire Survivors, and now they just ended the year by by releasing another. The first was Operation Guns, a Contra-themed crossover. Impressive stuff, but not as much as Ode to Castlevania. In this chunky expansion you explore a gothic castle while trying to avoid attacks from all around. Naturally, given the name, Castlevania runs through every facet, with special monsters, tons of cool whips, and a huge map that’ll take you a good while to explore properly.
Nova Drift | The Best Action-Roguelite | Pixeljam | PC (Mac, Win)
Don’t be fooled by the bold colour palette nor the crisp-yet-simple graphics, there is real complexity and nuance in this ferocious top-down shooter. Nova Drift is an excellent action-roguelite that is absolutely crammed full of potential item upgrades and combinations. Whichever ship configuration is chosen, you’ll need your wits about you during the game’s frantic space battles. This is where Nova Drift stands tall, as it encourages experimentation within your build, while also demanding precision during combat.
Halls of Torment | The Best Auto-Shooter | Chasing Carrots | PC (Win)
Halls of Torment is the twisted lovechild of Diablo and Vampire Survivors, and I love it. This brilliant little auto-shooter has a strong fantasy theme, loads of a cool unlocks, and hordes of monsters eager to feel your wrath. I think my favourite thing, however, is the vintage presentation, which really makes me feel like I’m back in the ’90s.
Mullet MadJack | The Best First-Person Roguelite | HAMMER95 | PC (Win)
I’ve always been partial to a floaty FPS, and as such I was instantly drawn to the frenetic combat of Mullet MadJack. This corridor shooter is all about rescuing an influencer from a tower filled with angry robots. The twist is that you’ve got just seconds to get your next kill or it’s “game over” – because at the end of the day, you’ve got to keep the audience happy.
And that is all he wrote for 2024. Thank you for reading my words this year – stay tuned for more roguelikes, roguelites, and I reckon a fair few rogue adjacent games in 2025.
