Welcome to the November Update, you lovely lot! Heads up: it’s a big one this month, with rogues of all shapes and sizes up for grabs!
In fact, it’s so bloody chonky that I’ll not waste much time on the introduction because the page below is absolutely crammed full of exciting titles. As such, I’ve had to be quite particular, and loads of interesting edge cases didn’t quite make it in.
Anyway, before get stuck in, you can also check out the December Update right here. For November’s games, however, we’re starting with…
Devil Jam | Rogueside | Nov 3 | PC (Mac, Win) | This survivors-like has a rock and roll theme and a focus on rhythm. The interesting bit on paper is how you assign your abilities to a three by four grid and then your attacks come in rhythmic waves, creating an interesting flow to your attacks. There’s not much content there at launch, though.
Cursemark | Clyde Games | Nov 3 | PC (Lin, Win) | Early Access | I quite enjoyed Clyde Games’ previous effort, Into the NecroVale, and Cursemark looks like more of the same grimdark fantasy, albeit with a few new twists. The twist here is there is more of a focus on fantasy exploration and spell-crafting.
Beyond the Grove | Not a Duck | Nov 4 | PC (Win) | Early Access | A fusion of RTS and auto-battler, this colourful roguelite strategy game gives you a troop of mushroom warriors to take into battle. This one looks really fun, guys and gals.
Vivid World | Asobism | Nov 5 | PC (Mac, Win) | Another auto-battler, although Vivid World is more focused on your party rather than a whole fungal army. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because this is a sequel to Vivid Knight, which I’ve not played but a lot of people seem to have enjoyed back in 2021.
The Fable: Manga Build Roguelike | Mono Entertainment | Nov 5 | PC (Win) | It might sound like a game named for SEO, but I really like the premise of The Fable, which is all about building a manga comic out of panels, but with a roguish twist, of course. It’s a different sort of visual feast, but I’m getting Fights in Tight Spaces vibes.
Dog Witch | Heckmouse | Nov 5 | PC (Win) | I’ve played a bit of Dog Witch recently, and honestly, this cute little deckbuilder is one of the games I’m looking forward to the most this month! Not only is does it look charming, but the mechanics seem really elegantly designed.
Bloodgrounds | Exordium Games | Nov 5 | PC (Win) | Early Access | Daedalic Entertainment is a very experienced PC-focused publisher, so when I saw that they had got behind Bloodgrounds, I immediately stuck it on the ol’ Steam Wishlist. I have bloody high hopes, as gladiator-themed rogues and turn-based tactics are my jam.
Q-UP | Everybody House Games | Nov 5 | PC (Win) | Although this doesn’t scream roguelike, it is a deckbuilder and it also offers an interesting focus on the simple coin-flip, which makes it interesting, I think. Either with and against real folks, or playing with bots, Q-UP sounds quite distinctive, and while it’s too multiplayer-focused for my personal tastes, I’m including it here because I figured some of you might look the look of it.
Rise Again | StoryAge | Nov 6 | PC (Win) | Early Access | Although it’s only Early Access and therefore a work in progress, I like the sound of the premise, with the devs trying to fuse general roguishness with more traditional ARPG gameplay.
Brew | Snow Leaf Studios | Nov 6 | PC (Win) | This alchemy-fuelled third-person action-roguelite looks absolutely adorable, but I know enough about this genre to know that probably means very little once the monsters start coming after your cute little mouse friend.
I Am Machine | Nordcurrent | Nov 6 | PC (Win) | I’m always drawn to an interesting post-apocalyptic setting and the one in I Am Machine looks and sounds fascinating. The game on top is an action-roguelite with crafting and tower defence elements – also intriguing.
Rogue Descent | Kudos Games | Nov 6 | PC (Win) | It looks old school, it’s got Rogue in the name, there are roguelite and auto-battler elements, and it’s out this November. Now you know!
Dragon Front: Adventures | High Voltage Software | Nov 6 | PC (Win) | By rejecting the mana system that defines most deckbuilders, Dragon Front Adventures wants you to focus instead on unit placement and positioning in order to outsmart your opponents.
Eclipse Breaker | Lunar Workshop, Jorge Rodriguez | Nov 7 | PC (Win) | The retro-aesthetic is cool AF, but I’m mostly into the fusion of ingredients starring in Eclipse Breaker, which offers a mixture of action-roguelite arena combat and big fat boss battles in a really unique mixture of real-time and turn-based combat.
Skopje ’83 | Dark-1 | Nov 7 | PC (Win) | This cel-shaded first-person shooter looks like a comic book, and the post-apocalyptic setting is suitably tongue-in-cheek to match that style. Most roguelite shooters keep things super tight, but Skopje ’83 lets you explore a whole town in the grip of a mutant uprising.
Indies’ Lies 2: Fire Seed | Fun Square Games | Nov 7 | PC (Win) | Isometric roguelite Indies’ Lies 2: Fire Seed is a top-down tactics game where you must control three characters during tight combat encounters on grid-based battlefields. It looks cute, too.
Motördoom | Christoph Mueller | Nov 7 | Switch | The Doom-inspired stunt racer is swerving onto Nintendo Switch this month. This one is all about combining killing sprees with high-scoring tricks for the highest points possible.
Into Evil | Mind’s Eye Games | Nov 7 | PC (Win) | Mind’s Eye calls this one “Dark Souls meets Hotline Miami”, or words to that effect, and I can see why based on the top-down perspective and its focus on challenge. That means I might not like this one very much. Or it could mean I adore the bones of it. Hard to tell, frankly, but as Hotline Miami is an all-time favourite of mine, the name-drop has my attention.
Conquer Lands | Virtual Fable | Nov 8 | PC (Win) | I’ve written about Conquer Lands several times, and it has been delayed again and again. It still looks good, though, in a medieval parchment sort of way.
Into The Grid | Flatline Studios | Nov 10 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | Early Access | Another game that I’ve been keeping tabs on for some time now is Into The Grid, a cyberpunk deckbuilder with an interesting setting and plenty of style. It’s still only an Early Access release, but it is nearly ready for public consumption, and it’s one of the game’s I plan on trying this month.
Below the Crown | Misfits Attic | Nov 10 | PC (Win) | Early Access | Described as a love letter to chess, dungeon crawling, and roguelikes, Below the Crown also stands out thanks to its bold Tron-like visual style. It’s also worth noting that this is the work of the studio that gave us Duskers, and I’ve got this one in my sights, too.
Yes, My Queen | Wall Spaghetti | Nov 10 | PC (Mac, Win) | The decision is made for you on Mac, but everyone on Windows has the option of choosing their chess-themed roguelike from one of two games. In defence of Yes, My Queen, this card art is really sweet and this is a full release and not EA.
Shard Squad | The Root Studios | Nov 10 | PC (Win) | I really like the colourful and vibrant pixel art, which is why I’m including Shard Squad, but Pokémon fans and creature collectors will be drawn to the gameplay, too. Where I think it might have a hook is how it adds in bullet heaven mechanics and horde-based combat.
Siegeturtle | YYZ Studio | Nov 10 | PC (Win) | Nobody sees the Siegeturtle coming – at least, I didn’t. But isn’t it/he/she cute?! And the idle auto-battler gameplay loop sounds interesting, too. Siegeturtle has you recruiting cute little unicorns and the like, and taking them as far as possible during each new attempt to get home.
Let Them Come: Onslaught | Tuatara Games | Nov 11 | PC (Win), PS4, PS5, Xbox Series | Regulars here will know that I love a good auto-shooter, and I’m looking forward to this one because I also love me some cinematic sci-fi action. I played the original, too, and I’ve enjoyed the series’ evolution from side-on shooter to bullet heaven.
Wartorn | Stray Kite Games | Nov 11 | PC (Win) | Stray Kite will have given Wartorn a respectable five months in Early Access when this strategy roguelite exits EA and hits 1.0 this month. Wartorn is a fantasy roguelite hybrid with a real-time strategy twist. I always prefer tighter, more focused RTS campaigns and I’m pleased to see that Wartorn’s is squad-based, with a focus on elemental magic.
Wall World 2 | Alawar | Nov 11 | PC (Mac, Win) | We’ve got wall-to-wall sequels here, with Wall World 2 bringing back Alawar’s signature mountainside digging and dungeoneering combo for another bite at the proverbial apple.
Million Depth | Cyber Space Biotope | Nov 12 | PC (Win) | Pixel art, weapon crafting, and an interesting-sounding time-freezing mechanic, all accounted for and present in Million Depth. Can’t claim to know much more about it as it only just crossed my path, but I’m intrigued by the eye-catching visual design.
Abyss Chaser | Bitrunner | Nov 14 | PC (Win) | It has been a while since I played Abyss Chaser back when it was still in Early Access, but now it’s time for the demonic top-down shooter to leave behind the shackles of EA and enter the promised land of version 1.0.
Arc Seed | Massive Galaxy Studios | Nov 13 | PS5 | Not long after leaving EA on PC, the PS5 version of Massive Galaxy’s Evangelion-inspired mecha-tactics game is ready for its bow on PlayStation 5. This is a perfect game for turn-based tactics fans who like a bit of end of the world drama.
Schrott | Ivy Juice Games | Nov 14 | PC (Win) | Early Access | I’m not alone in thinking that the world is ready for a roguelite racing revolution, and the next game to muscle for top spot is Schrott, a stunt racer with proc-gen and loot around every hairpin.
Interstellar Espionage Inc. | Fancy Raven Games | Nov 17 | PC (Win) | While not strictly a roguelite, there’s proc-gen and I absolutely adore the setting, which has you scheming against your rivals and using economic power to conquer the stars! I’m also really into the idea of a strategy game that offers “lunchbreak length runs.”
Forestrike | Skeleton Crew Studio, Thomas Olsson | Nov 17 | PC (Win), Switch | Devolver Digital has been smashing it when it comes to roguelites (they published Ball X Pit recently) and the team’s next game is a martial arts roguelite called Forestrike – and it looks great. The central mechanic revolves around planning out your moves as carefully as you want, as many times as you want, before having one chance to get it right.
Morsels | Furcula | Nov 18 | PC (Win), Switch, PS5, Xbox | Landing the next day is another roguelite from a major indie publishing label (in this instance, it’s Annapurna Interactive). In Morsels you play as a cute little mouse on the hunt for scraps down in the sewers. The theme sounds delightful and pixel art looks lovely, too.
Sektori | Kimmo Lahtinen | Nov 18 | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox Series | Arcade fans take note: Sektori looks like it might be awesome for techno fans in urgent need of some dopamine, on PC and console.
Desert Race Adventures | Firedrake Games | Nov 18 | PC (Win) | A rally-themed roguelite road trip adventure with lovely pixel art? You know, I think I might just have to take a look at this one, if time allows, just because I’m interested in finding out more about how it plays.
Risk of Rain 2: Alloyed Collective | Gearbox Software | Nov 18 | PC (Win), Switch, PS, Xbox | It looks like Gearbox Software has finally got to grips with Risk of Rain 2 after taking over the running of the game from its original creators. The new expansion looks like a big improvement over the last DLC, based on first impressions at least, and I’m eager to dig into the new characters and maps in the weeks ahead.
Replicat | Brainoid Games | Nov 19 | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | Another new game that I’d quite like to get to if I can is Replicat. This mixture of Memory and deckbuilding sounds like it could be an absolute delight!
Moonlighter 2 : The Endless Vault | Digital Sun | Nov 19 | PC (Win) | Early Access | One of the standout releases of the month is Moonlighter 2, the action-roguelite about emptying dungeons of loot to sell in your shop. Though it is still only an Early Access release so bear that in mind if you’re after the finished article.
Xenopurge | Traptics | Nov 20 | PC (Win) | I’ve been complaining about a lack of time because I know for a fact I’m going to spend some of my month with Xenopurge, a game about controlling a squad of marines from the safety of your console back at base. I love the auto-battler mechanics, the sci-fi theme, and the Aliens-inspired setting. Bring it, Xeno scum!
Monsters are Coming: Rock & Road | Ludogram | Nov 20 | PC (Win) | PC (Win) | As the genre lines continue to blur, increasingly interesting hybrids will continue to emerge. The latest is Monsters are Coming: Rock & Road, a self-described “tower-survivor rogue-lite”. One half of the game is spent building and fortifying, and then you’ve got to defend yourself from the eponymous monsters.
Hunter’s Moon: A Sovereign Syndicate Adventure | Crimson Herring Studios | Nov 24 | PC (Win) | The production values of this steampunk deckbuilder look top and I’m rather intrigued to see how it all comes together. The Victorian-esque setting and anthropomorphic characters make for strange bedfellows, but I can’t deny: I’m intrigued.
Umigame | Nimblegames | Nov 24 | PC (Win) | Early Access | It would seem that November is a great month for cute roguelites. This one is a colourful isometric RPG and it has you wading through a magical swamp, and with the help of your friends and some turrets, no less.
Afterblast | Lumino Games | Nov 24 | PC (Win) | Early Access | Another co-op game, but instead of top-down magic in a swamp, Afterblast is a chaotic co-op first-person shooter with a bold futuristic setting, what looks like big chunky Unreal-inspired guns, and a striking colour palette.
Indentifile: Desktop Dungeon | Gearbyte Games | Nov 24 | PC (Win)| Early Access | This early access desktop-themed roguelite wants you to stomp out those pesky viruses on an old-school desktop. It’s like Windows Vista is coming back to haunt me…
Relic Abyss | Reverse Loop | Nov 26 | PC (Lin, Win) | Early Access | I almost skipped right by this bullet heaven shooter, but I’m glad I went back and checked again, because actually, Relic Abyss looks quite lovely thanks to some nice art, and the sci-fi meets fantasy setting sounds cool, too.
Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons | Taito | Nov 27 | PC (Win), PS5, Switch | The final big release in November (for now, there are usually late additions) is a roguelite remix of Bubble Bobble, the classic, sugary-sweet puzzle series from Taito. I’m tempted, for sure.
El Coco | Recotechnology | Nov 28 | PC (Lin, Win), PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series, Xbone | This colourful action-roguelite has a dreamy focus and what look like Zelda-inspired isometric visuals. The game’s cartoony style also reminds me of the new Lost in Random, which also felt aimed at a slightly younger crowd (no shade intended). Finally, the number of simultaneous releases indicates an ambitious project, with El Coco hitting PC and console platforms this month.
Cross Blitz | Tako Boy Studios | Nov 29 | PC (Win) | I’m hoping to find out more about Cross Blitz in an interview I’ve been sorting out behind-the-scenes, as it came across my path late in the month. I’m already a big fan of the pixel-art style and I look forward to finding out more about this CCG-inspired deckbuilder in due course.
Toy Smash Kaboom! | Free Particle | Dec 4 | PC (Mac, Win) | I know, I know, it’s a December game, but the release date just got announced and I enjoyed the recent demo, and thus Toy Smash Kaboom! has earned its place at the foot of this month’s round-up! TSK offers a mixture of backpack management and auto-battler gameplay, and it looks great, too.
Mewgenics | Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel | February 10, 2026 | PC (Win) | Finally, while it might be a bit far off, we’ve still got a release date and we all want to play it, and so it gets a mention here. Mewgenics is the next game from the creators of The Binding of Isaac, one of the most enduring action-roguelites ever made. While the games are about as different as you can imagine, the personality of their creators shines through, and I can’t wait to see more!
The Archives!
October 2025: When we look back it’ll probably be Ball X Pit that we remember as the standout game of October, but the new beat ’em up, Absolum, was also really good. In fact, there were loads of fun games out this month, so hit the link and find something awesome to play.
September 2025: Thanks to the release of two massive indie games, September was one of the busiest imaginable. Silksong dominated the headlines in the first half of the month, but it was Hades II that had my attention for most of September. On top of that there’s Towa, Moros Protocol, Ratatan, CloverPit, MegaBonk and Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor – truly one of the best months ever for roguelike enthusiasts!
August 2025: I’m mentioning it here because Jupiter Hell Classic isn’t actually in the August round-up – it dropped late in the month. However, it’s bloody great and I wanted it to get a mention here one way or t’other.
July 2025: An eclectic month by any measure, with the standout games including co-op platformer Neon Abyss 2, the well-received action-roguelite Hell Clock, strategy games like He is Coming and Lost in Prayer, and even a Pac-Man inspired survivors-like (Maze Mice).
June 2025: There were several big announcements this month due to Summer Game Fest and all that, but one or two great rogues slipped out at the same time, including Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Battle Train, and Soulstone Survivors. The port of Against the Storm for consoles also proved quite popular, at least based on the activity I saw here on the site.
May 2025: May was an absolute belter of a month, with more games than we could reasonably keep up with. Hit the link for all the latest on a month that ended with Elden Ring: Nightreign and started with Maze Mice, with a stop off at Monster Train 2 and Into the Restless Ruins along the way.
April 2025: I didn’t expect Blue Prince to deliver such an astonishing single-player experience; I finally got to check out the roguelite mode in The Last of Us: Part II after the remaster hit PC; I was surprised when Lonestar left Early Access, but very pleasantly so; Soulslinger and Kiborg both delivered decent mid-budget roguelite actioners; Approaching Infinity made an appearance before the month’s end!
March 2025: This March there was a dizzying array of promising roguelike releases. Highlights included Knights in Tight Spaces, Rogue: Genesia, Schism, Metal Bringer, Voids Vigil, 33 Immortals, Reignbreaker and Nordhold. Phew (and there’s more that I could have included, so hit the link for a healthy selection of new games).
February 2025: With highlights including Die in the Dungeon and Sworn, this February is very respectable with a diverse selection of rogues to choose from. I think my favourite game this month, however, is Rift Wizard 2, a hard-as-nails turn-based roguelike about growing a spell book capable of taking on all sorts of gnarly monsters.
January 2025: The year has kicked off with a decent selection of games, so hit the link for highlights that include a gritty shooter called Cruel, bullet heavens such as Jotunnslayer and Pinball Storm: Lokanta (both very different games), and OMG Words, a fun little word rogue that have quite enjoyed. There is also the not-so-small matter of the new campaign mode for Darkest Dungeon II, Kingdoms, which also released in January along with new DLC.
November and December 2024: This double bill of archived articles is crammed full of excellent games. The standout game is undoubtedly Caves of Qud, which is finally ready after years in Early Access. However, there’s more going on than just that, with Battle Shapers, Ballionaire, Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, and Magicraft all launched, too.
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 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 of which landed in Early Access and the second of 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 Return.
