Hello and welcome to Rogueliker’s guide to the best roguelike games for Xbox, the catch-all name for Microsoft’s increasingly complicated eco-system of home consoles.
Luckily, the platform policy regarding backward compatibility has meant that nearly everything works across the most recent generations – at least when it comes to indie roguelikes. That means we can talk about games on Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X.
This list doesn’t include many traditional turn-based roguelikes; it’s more focused on action-packed roguelites, and other genre mash-ups. Ironically, the platform has the least exclusives compared to its competition, however, roguelike fans are very well served via Game Pass, which includes a number of proper good rogues, and plenty of more besides. Read The Best Game Pass Roguelikes for more.
The criteria to be included is thus: every game is either a roguelike or a roguelite, it received a good critical reception, and there isn’t something else on the platform that does the same thing better – this last point is why one or two big titles have been omitted.
The above criteria will evolve in time, yet in the absence of any deeper system, and forgiving any omissions, whether intentional or not, this is still a strong list and it will be updated in line with the other toplists as more games are assessed for inclusion!
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance (best for action)
One of the genre greats, The Binding of Isaac still slaps, especially when you’ve got the game all up-to-date with Afterbirth and Repentance locked in. It’s a twin-stick shooter with satisfying gameplay and a huge amount of depth.
This poop-filled dungeon crawler offers up an insane range of item combinations, ensuring that every run feels fresh – an essential part of the game’s roguelike DNA. In fact, I think the game’s strong visual identity is what keeps it relevant and engaging for Isaac’s legion of adoring fans.
Platforms: iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, Switch, Xbox Series S|X
Darkest Dungeon (best for horror)
Horror fans hunting for a roguelike need look no further than Darkest Dungeon. This haunting game is brought to life with some truly harrowing art, and the audio-visual design helps create an immersive experience that’s always edged with danger.
Darkest Dungeon puts you in charge of small parties of mercenaries who are tasked with clearing out an old estate filled with monsters. However, fear is a constant companion and you’ll have to build your estate to support your people and their mental and physical health. Failure to keep the troops happy will result in them dying in the most horrible ways imaginable, so it’s a constant balancing act.
Platforms: iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Spelunky 2 (best for platforming)
I’m going to take this opportunity to first recall the origins of the series. The old Xbox 360 version in 2012 was a seminal moment in the history of the genre. It was actually a remake of the 2008 original by Derek Yu, and it was the first mainstream game in the digital age to integrate roguelike mechanics.
The sequel is more of the same, but bigger and better in pretty much every way possible. I’ve sunk a bunch of hours into this one, and it remains one of my favourite games, and for me it’s an essential inclusion in any list of the best rogues.
Platforms: PC (Win), PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Vampire Survivors (best bullet heaven)
Another game that got its big start on Xbox was Vampire Survivors. At first everyone was wondering why Phil Spencer was sinking a ridiculous amount of time into the game. However, after everyone else caught up with the Xbox chief and had a go themselves, it became obvious why he was so addicted.
Vampire Survivors’ minimalist gameplay is brought to life by mesmerising hordes of pixel enemies charging straight for you. Players must duck and weave, grab crystals to level up, and then pick the correct attacks that then automatically fire at the oncoming waves of weird creatures. Somehow it just works, and in its wake we’ve got a whole army of auto-shooters and bullet-heaven RPGs.
Platforms: Mob, PC (Mac, Win), Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Hades (the best meta-progression)
We all have times in our lives where we drift from games. For me, it was Hades that pulled me back in from the wilderness with its wonderful depiction of the old Greek gods. I was addicted by the game’s infectious gameplay loop, the clever storytelling, and the wonderful audio-visual design.
Upon reflection, and having returned to games in earnest, Hades is probably my favourite implementation of the roguelite gameplay loop. Supergiant did such a good job with it, in fact, that the studio has persuaded itself to go back and make a sequel. I can’t wait.
Platforms: PC (Win), PS4/5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Crypt of the NecroDancer (best rhythm game)
I’ve got two saves running on Crypt of the NecroDancer, one on my mobile and the other on my Xbox. This rhythmic turn-based roguelite has a lot of very traditional features, but it supplements its reverence to the old gods with a fully stocked meta-layer filled with unlocks.
It’s the beat-by-beat gameplay that truly sets NecroDancer apart from the rank and file. Each enemy unit is wonderfully animated and dances around you, and you’ve got to time your own attacks to hit along with the beat, which is easier said than done. It’s a simple yet effective gameplay loop, and a game I can’t stop returning to.
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Risk of Rain 2 (best third-person shooter)
It took a while for the Xbox version of Risk of Rain 2 to get parity with the PC version, but it was worth the wait. Once updated with Survivors of the Void, you’ve got an excellent third-person roguelite shooter with a huge amount of potential gameplay variance.
While the terrain remains, the objectives are moved around, so you’re constantly on the lookout for the end of each level. Along the way you’ve got to follow the classic Risk of Rain gameplay loop of kicking ass, avoiding damage, and doing everything as quickly as possible as this sci-fi adventure is essentially a race against the clock.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Enter the Gungeon (best bullet hell)
This classic bullet hell shooter remains utterly essential. Enter the Gungeon brings a wonderfully reverent gun theme to life with pixel-perfect boss battles and reactive arenas that really add to the cinematic nature of the combat.
It’s the silky-smooth controls that make it such a pleasure to play, though. This one’s harsh but fair in the best possible way, and you’ll be coming back for just one more run until the Gungeon is cleared.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Slay the Spire (best deck builder)
If you’re going to play a deck builder on Xbox, the starting point is always Slay the Spire. There are many great card-based roguelikes and roguelites out there that can proudly stand alongside it, but this is the reference and if you’ve not played one before, start here.
The reason that we’ve got a growing army of essential deck builders is the ease with which this form of game can convey complex gameplay mechanics to the player. This extra flavour, and the synergies and combinations that games like Slay the Spire offer the player, makes them extremely satisfying to play.
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
Balatro (the best deckbuilder that isn’t Slay the Spire)
I couldn’t bear to remove Slay the Spire but I also wanted to ensure that Balatro got a mention here, too. Why? Because this brilliant poker-themed roguelike is one of the most addictive game that I’ve ever played, and considering some of the names on this list, that’s saying something.
Balatro isn’t just poker-themed, it’s also inspired by solitaire, and that spirit of endless replayability is infused in the experience here. Using an impressive range of additional cards you can add multipliers and other effects to your deck. Essentially, you can diversify your cards in a multitude of interesting directions, and the relatively quick run-time of each attempt means failure is never far away from success.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox. Read the full review or there’s an interview with LocalThunk!
Dead Cells (best roguevania)
The final game in this list of Xbox rogues is Dead Cells, the side-scrolling platform game by Motion Twin. The studio manages to fuse a bunch of really exciting mechanics together to create one of the most immersive and exciting platform games of all time.
There’s a lot of DLC for Dead Cells by now, so make sure you’re playing the complete version of the game. That includes the newest addition, Return to Castlevania – it’s a fitting conclusion to the game and a reverent nod to a game that was a clear inspiration to Motion Twin.
Platforms: iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
