Welcome, Dear Reader, to another list of incredible roguelike and roguelite games, as I continue my quest to leave no stone unturned in the search for greatness.
This time around, we’re looking at strategy games, a niche that is increasingly finding its voice in the roguelike scene. We’re not just talking about games that sit on the line between traditional roguelikes and turn-based RPGs, but real-time strategies, pausable RTS, and even the new breed of auto-battlers.
Strategy games have historically been very replayable, and roguelite structures only enhance this, making this key aspect even more pronounced. As such, the games below represent a strong selection of some of the deepest, most replayable rogues ever made. Starting with an all-time favourite of mine….
FTL Faster Than Light | Subset Games | iOS, PC (Mac, Win)
Not only is FTL a reference point for all strategy roguelikes, but it also stands as one of the most influential indie games ever made, I reckon. In fact, once I’ve got this more generalist strategy list out of the way, I’ve got a collection of FTL-likes that I can’t wait to dive into – there’s enough for its own sub-genre!
Just on the off chance that you’re not in the loop, FTL is a sci-fi adventure set in the stars about trying to escape a rebel fleet that is out to kill you and stop your all-important quest.
Along the way, you can recruit new crew members, equip your ship with fancy systems, and meet a bunch of aliens, some of whom are happy to trade, while the rest might be slavers, cannibals, or giant space spiders.
What has really helped FTL’s longevity is the game’s thriving mod scene. There are several mods that truly enhance the game, including total conversion mods – perfect for sci-fi fans in search of adventure.
Into The Breach | Subset Games | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), Switch,
If you’re getting a mild sense of de ja vu, that’s because both the first and second entries in this list are the work of the same studio: Subset Games.
Where FTL is a romp through the stars, Into The Breach is a much tighter, more controlled tactics game where the action takes place on a small grid-based arena. See below…
There’s a fun time-looping element that keeps the action moving along, but the highlight of the show is undoubtedly the perfectly balanced unit design. There is not an ounce of fat on this game, and I’m struggling to think of a more perfectly formed puzzle-roguelike.
I haven’t even touched on the story, which is also really cool, as you get to control powerful mechs from the future and use them to mash up the alien Vek that are invading the planet.
Against the Storm | Eremite Games | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox
With Against the Storm, Eremite and Hooded Horse have delivered one of the most engaging and replayable roguelite strategy games ever made, and it keeps growing as the studio adds new DLC expansions over time.
AtS borrows a couple of ideas from the RTS classics, with Warcraft being the obvious comparison, and it injects that core with more modern roguelite ideas. The resulting campaign is one of the most rewarding ever, and as you develop your game, you’ll want to push further and further into the raging storm.
dotAGE | Michele Pirovano
Another strategy game about preparing for the end times, this turn-based village builder is all about getting ready for a good ol’ bout of impending doom. The pixels are lovely, sure, but it’s evolving meta and the quirky gameplay decisions that you’re called upon to make that ensure every run at dotAGE gives you a new challenge to think about, and something new to remember.
Emberward | Refic Games
I’ve always had a mixed relationship with tower defense games, because I would often get bored before the campaign finished. Emberward keeps things fresh thanks to a really gentle but clever implementation of roguelike mechanics.
The other thing that I really enjoy about Emberward is its use of Tetris-style blocks, which lets you create new pathways to defend. This added element elevates the experience, in my opinion, and makes it one of the most engaging tower defense games that I’ve come across, pretty much ever. In fact, it makes me want to play more games like it, so stay tuned for more coverage in due course!
Dwarf Fortress | Bay 12 Games
An all-time classic, Dwarf Fortress is a fine roguelike, but it also offers an immeasurably deep simulation mode. Whichever way you want to play it, Dwarf Fortress is the result of literal decades of development, with brothers Zach and Tarn Adams building the game out slowly but surely over the years, from a free project driven by donations to a Steam release with a fancy new tileset, music, and more.
9 Kings | Sad Socket
I’ve always enjoyed smashing armies together in games like Total War, and that’s the offer in 9 Kings, albeit in a much more streamlined way. In its roguish campaign, you must grow your kingdom and therefore your fighting force. Then, as the years roll by, new enemies will arrive at your gates looking for a fight.
The battles are mostly auto-resolved, although you do have some limited control if you want to feel connected to the action. It’s a bunch of fun watching the two sides beating each other up, and thanks to the diversity of your various royal opponents, the armies are always throwing new surprises at you.
Darkest Dungeon II | Red Hook Studios
I’m a huge fan of the original Dark Dungeon, and I’ve included it in other lists in the place of its sequel, but when it comes to the more expansive strategy elements, the second has a lot to offer.
Not only does the game have a deep and involving multi-strand campaign, but it also comes with a more recently added Kingdoms mode, which reworks the format to give the Darkest Dungeon formula a new flavour.
I really liked the base-building element in the first game, and overall, I personally prefer it; however, the subtle shift in focus to the characters and giving them new mechanics to shine has evolved Darkest Dungeon II into a finely tuned horror roguelike.
Path of Achra | Ulfsire
The Path of Achra somewhat mirrors the rise of the auto-battler, and it makes total sense that the next game by Ulfsire, Lands of Achra, leans more heavily into the automated combat system that makes Path such an awesome game to get lost in.
While Lands will focus on bigger fighting forces, Path of Achra is a stripped-down experience where you control one character, maybe a summons or two, and then battle everything you encounter. There are so many different viable builds, with varied abilities and attack types, loads of loot, and surprisingly rich lore to dig into.
Shogun Showdown | Roboatino
Although it rides the line between strategy and deckbuilder, I’m happy to include Shogun Showdown in this list because of how the cards you play translate into your tactical actions during battle. In this challenging little strategy RPG, you must work through a series of dangerous combat encounters, upgrading and refining your build as you dance around your opponents in life and death battles.
Drop Duchy | Sleepy Mill Studio
Tetris and roguelike design go together like… well… two things that go together really well. I’ve even seen attempts by some to call Tetris a roguelike, but I personally think that’s a leap. However, the seemingly random nature of the blocks dropping and the constant sorting does gel with strategy design, and Drop Duchy is a good case in point.
I’ve been playing this one with the expansions, and I like both of the new factions that have been added since launch. Across new and old factions alike, you must drop tetrimino-shaped blocks as smartly as possible, building your resources and fighting forces ahead of a rock-paper-scissors-style showdown at the end of each round. It’s not perfect, but I’ve still really enjoyed my time with Drop Duchy.
Invisible, Inc | Klei Entertainment
Klei’s classic turn-based strategy game was one of the first to use roguelike mechanics and fully integrate them into the overall campaign structure. The resulting cyberpunk tactics campaign remains engaging to this day, thanks to the intense moment-to-moment gameplay and some smart design choices that hold everything together.
Super Fantasy Kingdom | Super Fantasy Games
I think my favourite thing about Super Fantasy Kingdom is how effortlessly it blends roguishness and strategy gameplay, yet somehow it still manages to feel as fresh as a daisy.
The aim of the game is to build your kingdom, but as you grow your economy, you must also defend your peeps from increasingly dangerous waves of enemies. The combat auto-resolves, which allows you to focus on growth instead of war, but your decisions across the world-building eventually feed into the auto-battler gameplay, so you’ve got to keep your wits about you!
As We Descend | Box Dragon
Although still in Early Access, As We Descend already has a lot to offer, with elegant visuals, succinct combat encounters, an interesting approach to deckbuilding, and a compelling setting.
This post-apocalyptic strategy game features an interesting base-building element, except here your city is built deep underground. Unfortunately for you, Dear Reader, you’re not the only one down there, which leads to some intense turn-based battles as you fight to keep your people alive.
Luck Be A Landlord | Traveller’s Tales
I think there are enough good games out there for an entire article about RNG and gambling-focused roguelikes, and I’ll get to that soon, I promise, but I want to mention at least a couple of games in this article, specifically, a couple of slot machine roguelikes.
The first of these games is Luck Be a Landlord, a compelling little game about trying to pay the rent in a horribly capitalistic world. As you work through each run, you can add new tiles to your slot machine, and then each pull delivers a fresh set of results. What you’re trying to find are synergies, which in turn kick off chain reactions where your tiles interact in interesting ways.
Clover Pit | Panik Arcade
The second game in this sub-genre that I want to mention is Clover Pit. This intense little rogue takes the core idea of Luck Be a Landlord but injects some Inscryption-like atmosphere. You’re stuck in a cell, and if you don’t raise enough money from the slot machine the sits before you, death awaits. However, there are numerous cool trinkets to equip, and if you’re lucky, you may stay alive a few minutes longer.
There are several games in my article about great deckbuilders that could have easily taken a spot on this page, so I suggest you hit this link and keep reading for more brain-melting challenges. Otherwise, stay tuned here for more games, which I’ll add as I play them!
