It’s definitely on the more action-packed side of the roguelite spectrum, but Superhot: Mind Control Delete is cracking little game and I welcome any chance to say nice things about it.
I mention it because the whole series is currently on sale over on Steam, so you can also pick up the first game. That one is most definitely not a roguelike, however, it does offer a more curated experience than MCD.
There’s a VR game too, but as VR makes me want to hurl, I can’t in good conscience recommend you play that. Maybe you’ve got a stronger stomach than me.
Anyway… If you’re not in the loop, Superhot is a truly innovative first-person shooter where time moves only when you do. There’s plenty of Matrix-like bullet dodging as well as a hugely satisfying shatter-effect when you hit one of the polygonal enemies.
Superhot: Mind Control Delete takes the formula laid down so expertly with the first game and injects a roguelite structure to keep things fresher for longer. The result is that it doesn’t feel as authored, but you do get more gameplay variety.
There’s a largely forgettable narrative wrapper that holds it all together, but ultimately this one is all about action-packed gameplay and looking cool while taking down bad polygons. In that aim, it very much succeeds.
Superhot might be on sale on Steam, but it’s also available to play on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Regardless of platform, both the original and MCD come recommended, especially if you can grab them in a sale.
For more great action-packed games, check out our best roguelike games feature for Rogueliker’s top picks.
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Still with us? Of course you are! If you want to keep reading about great hand-picked rogues, the following articles represent a huge collection of the best roguelike games ever made.
Next, there are genre-specific lists that delve into the best roguelike games of all types. I’ve pulled out the best examples from each category, alongside the links to more in-depth articles!
The best turn-based roguelikes: Caves of Qud | There are some seriously incredible turn-based roguelikes out there. Of all the modern games, these are the closest to the original Rogue.
Awesome first-person rogues: Gunfire Reborn | We almost went with Blue Prince for this spot, but most people checking out first-person rogues probably want to wield a gun, you know?!
Cool roguelike deckbuilders: Balatro | Sorry, Slay the Spire fans, but this poker-solitaire deckbuilder has stolen Mike’s heart and won’t give it back.
Exciting roguelike platformers: Spelunky | Now, don’t get us wrong, Dead Cells is an incredible game, especially with all the DLC switched on. But when it comes to impact, you just can’t beat Spelunky.
Amazing action-roguelites: Hades 2 | And finally, let’s wrap things up with our favourite of them all. There’s no beating the original Hades, although Hades 2 comes pretty close!
