UPDATE: Cult of the Lamb will be leaving the service on 17th Feb. Endless Dungeon has also been unexpectedly removed from PS Plus and has been taken off this list.
With Mike recently rounding up the best roguelikes and roguelites on Xbox Game Pass, I figured it was time to follow suit with my own companion feature for PS Plus.
For those who aren’t familiar with the new PS Plus subscription model, there are now three separate tiers: Core, Extra, and Premium. Core simply includes online play and a selection of free games; Extra expands upon this with a Netflix-like library of games; and Premium goes one step further with a catalogue of retro titles and added features like cloud streaming and cloud saves.
The good news is that you don’t need to splash for the most expensive Premium tier to get access to all the games on this list. All roguelikes and roguelites mentioned can be found within the Extra tier, but games are subject to come and go on a monthly basis.
With all of that covered, here is our first pick, and the only game that is not available on PS4…
Roguelikes and roguelites on PS Plus
Returnal | Housemarque – The undisputed heavyweight of the PS Plus roguelike line-up is, of course, Housemarque’s Returnal – an absolute must-download for any PS5 owner. This exclusive throws players into a relentless fight for survival, packed with intense bullet-hell combat and plenty of items to offer strategic depth.
Visually, it also dazzles with the same neon-infused aesthetic that made Resogun a standout, delivering a stunning, atmospheric experience.
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla | Santa Monica Studio, Jetpack Interactive – The second and final first-party Sony game on this list is God of War Ragnarök. Its Valhalla DLC serves as a roguelite epilogue, following Kratos on a deeply personal and reflective journey through Valhalla.
After death, each run resets your stats, runic attacks, and perks, and you are presented with persistent upgrades to choose between. The DLC is free, but you’ll need to complete the game’s excellent campaign before you can give it a spin, or you’ll spoil parts of the story for yourself – you have been warned.
Darkest Dungeons II | Red Hook Studios – Marketed as a roguelike road trip from hell, this is one journey that’s far more enjoyable than it sounds. The sequel does away with the base-building of the original, but the series’ terror-filled combat still remains intact, with punishing encounters and tense, high-stakes decision-making keeping players on edge at every turn. Meanwhile, the bonds you build with your crew add weight to each triumph and make every failure sting a little more.
The Rogue Prince of Persia | Evil Empire – Stealth dropping on the service last August, this roguelike platformer is another solid offshoot of the PoP franchise following The Lost Crown. Created by Dead Cells dev Evil Empire, the game’s combat and platforming flow together beautifully, and the game’s procedurally-generated areas are a breeze to explore in-depth, thanks to the many Wells of Dreams scattered throughout.
Risk of Rain 2 | Hopoo Games – One of the greatest co-op roguelike shooters has just landed on the platform! Following on from the excellent Risk of Rain, the sequel flawlessly transferred the panic-inducing, race against the clock action to a new 3D perspective. The action is fast-paced, the visuals are very easy on the eyes, and there are tons of item upgrades you can find and equip to shape your character’s playstyle. This one deserves an immediate download if you haven’t played already.
Endless Dungeon | AMPLITUDE Studios – Published by SEGA, Endless Dungeon stands out as a unique blend of roguelite, tower defense, and tactical action. Set aboard an abandoned space station, it has players recruit a team of shipwrecked heroes to face off against never-ending waves of monsters. It also features co-op for up to four players, so if you’re looking for a game to play with a couple of friends, it could be worth checking out.
Blue Prince | Dogubomb – Not a traditional roguelike by any means, Blue Prince takes some of the cleverest parts of the genre and repurposes them in a superbly intriguing puzzler. This unique and engaging adventure includes time loops and deckbuilding and it takes you into a brain melting mansion wherein you must track down the mysterious 46th room, wherever that is.
Dead Cells | Motion Twin, Evil Empire – Motion Twin’s Dead Cells is really a game that needs no introduction. Taking home Best Action Game at the 2018 Game Awards, this action-platformer masterfully blends metroidvania and roguelite elements and takes place within the walls of a sprawling ever-changing castle. A must-play for roguelite enthusiasts, be sure to add this one to your download queue if you haven’t had the pleasure already.
Bad North | Plausible Concept, Oskar Stålberg – The charming minimalist visuals of Bad North certainly piqued my interest when I first discovered it. It’s a brutal real-time tactics roguelite that sees you defend your island home from attacking hordes of Viking invaders. This one isn’t for the faint of heart though, as the stakes are high and it’s game over if your soldiers are slain in battle.
Cursed to Golf | Chuhai Labs – Originality is something Cursed to Golf has in spades, with it being a side-scrolling golf roguelite. After suffering from a freak accident, you find yourself in Golf Purgatory and are forced to conquer several devious courses to return to the land of the living. Here, every shot counts, and you’ll need to traverse deadly obstacles such as high-powered fans, spikes, and teleporters. Is this one above par? You’ll have to take a swing to find out.
Children of Morta | Dead Mage – Next up is Children of Morta, a story-driven RPG where you control an entire family of heroes rather than a single protagonist. Here, players hack and slash through procedurally generated dungeons, levelling up to strengthen the whole family’s skills. With seven playable characters, including the father, John, a protective warrior, and eldest daughter, Linda, a sharp-eyed archer, each run offers a fresh approach to battle.
Moonlighter | Digital Sun – With its sequel recently being announced at February’s ID@Xbox showcase, there is no better time to check out this indie darling. Moonlighter sets itself apart from other roguelites as it has a unique day-and-night cycle. At night you explore dungeons in search of valuable treasures; by day you run your own store, selling the goods that you have tirelessly plundered. The game also weaves in some light life-simulation aspects, allowing you to meet and forge relationships with the townspeople your idyllic village.
Dave the Diver | MINTROCKET – Dave the Diver also features a unique day/night cycle, as players unravel the mysteries of the ocean by day and manage a sushi restaurant by night. Deep beneath the waves, they can encounter more than 200 sea creatures which they can hunt using their trusty harpoon and a selection of other weapons. Mike put this one is his game of the year wrap for 2023, so it’s worth diving in if you fancy a wholesome indie with a roguelite twist.
Crime Boss: Rockay City | INGAME STUDIOS – Crime Boss: Rockway City might seem like an unusual addition to this list, but the game does actually feature a roguelite single-player campaign. Set in the 1990s, this action-packed first-person shooter sees players rise to become a criminal legend by completing randomised heists, taking over enemy territory, and raising a team of elite gang members. Every strategic decision carries its own weight and permanent buff cards can be unlocked to make future runs and heists that much easier.
Roguebook Abrakam | Entertainment SA – One game that might have slipped under your radar is Roguebook. This stylish card game mixes deckbuilding and real-time combat, with its action unfolding on a procedurally-generated hexagonal grid. An interesting tidbit about this one is that it was developed in partnership with Magic: The Gathering creator and trading card game legend, Richard Garfield.
Source of Madness | Carry Castle – Fans of all things creepy should also check out Source of Madness. This side-scroller sees you embark on a nightmarish odyssey within a dark Lovecraftian inspired world which is powered by procedural generation and AI machine learning. Looking at screenshots, the game reminds me a lot of Bloodborne and Salt and Sacrifice – a compliment indeed!
Fury Unleashed | Awesome Games Studio – Set within the pages of an ever-evolving comic book, Fury Unleashed blends the best of modern roguelites with the run-and-gun action of classics like Contra and Metal Slug. Gunning your way from one panel to the next, your goal is to try and save its author from a creativity crisis. I’ve not played this one but Mike had nice things to say about it in his write-up of the best PlayStation roguelikes and roguelites.
West of Dead | Upstream Arcade – With a striking cel-shaded art style and intense cover-based combat, this roguelite shooter is made even more memorable by the unmistakable voice of Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy). West of Dead sees you descend into the grim world of Purgatory playing as a gunslinging undead cowboy known as William Mason. The action is fast-paced, with plenty of weapons to wield across its procedurally-generated hunting grounds.
Roguelords | Leikir Studio, Cyanide Studio – I’ll confess, Roguelords isn’t a game I’d come across before putting this list together, but the reviews are solid. Playing as the Devil, you must manage a team of famous evil geniuses as they encounter turn-based battles and unexpected events. You can even use your dark lord status to bend some of the game’s rules to your own advantage. Intriguing.
For the King II | IronOak Games – Our newest addition to this list (it was added to the service last December) is For the King II. This turn-based RPG draws inspiration from classic tabletop games, blending strategic combat with roguelite elements (such as a procedurally generated map and persistent items across runs). For those looking for an added dose of pain, there’s also an Infinite Dungeon mode, where players are tasked with conquering as many floors as possible before meeting their demise.
For more great games that we think you’ll enjoy, including plenty that aren’t included above, you can read about the best PlayStation roguelikes and roguelites right here!
