Permadeath can be a bitter pill to swallow at the best of times, and so you might not think of roguelikes as the ideal place to look for family friendly games. Yet there are plenty of great roguelites (they’re all roguelites) aimed at children and family play, whether that be via a game’s cutesy art-style or its streamlined mechanics.
Watching my own boys get into Hades and Cult of the Lamb of their own volition has been hugely satisfying. And after spending the last few hours listening to my family play Spacelines from the Far Out together without killing each other, I resolved to make a handful of recommendations below, and then come back to this page with further recommendations as we continue our procedurally generated adventures together.
Remember: the family that plays (roguelites) together, stays together is probably a bit unhinged, but in a good way.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate | Super Evil Megacorp | iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
I’m going to open with a new addition to this list, one which I’ve recently been playing with my youngest son. He doesn’t normally sit still long enough to play rogues with me, but we were both fully immersed in this portal-hopping TMNT adventure, which features characters from the more recent CGI series and supports up to four players in local co-op!
In subsequent entries on this list, you’ll see that we’ve captured the thoughts of my eldest son, but he hasn’t really played much of this one with me and his younger brother is currently out climbing a tree somewhere, so you’ll have to take it from me: this is a great entry level rogue. You can share progression and work towards improvements that both players benefit from, and there are some great abilities to unlock. If you love a bit of Turtle power, check it out!
Spacelines from the Far Out | Coffeenauts | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), Xbox
Next up we have the game that inspired this whole thing. Spacelines is FTL meets Overcooked, and if you’re after a crazy afternoon of family co-op action, look no further than this little gem. Working as a team, you and your familial comrades must operate various systems to ensure that everyone arrives on time and they do so happy. If only all family journeys ended like that.
What my 13-year-old son Harrison says: It’s a fun but stressful game. If you’re good at multitasking, I’d recommend this. But, if you’re not good at that sort of thing, all I’m going to say is: good luck!
Hades | Supergiant Games | PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Obviously there are one or two age ratings to consider, including the one for Hades, but if your kids are old enough then this is a game that I absolutely recommend. Young uns are already super interested in Greek mythology, and if that’s not the case, then Hades is the kind of game that can easily spark an enduring special interest. We all love a bit of Hades in our house, except possibly my wife, who has had to listen to me playing the game for untold hours while doom-scrolling.
What Harrison says: I like Greek myths so I was drawn to this from the get-go. As I got into it more, I started to really enjoy it. Also, have fun with the final boss!
Spelunky 2 | Mossmouth, Blitworks | PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
If there’s one roguelite that both the kids and I happily come back to time and time again, it’s Spelunky 2. The multiplayer modes are a huge hit in our house, although they’ve started one or two arguments, too. If you know the game already, you’ll know how chaotic it can get at times, even when playing one player. Throw in a couple of buddies or children, and that chaos grows into something else entirely.
What Harrison says: I like the bombs and I like playing it with my dad and my brother. But mostly, I like the bombs. Kaboom!
Cult of the Lamb | Massive Monster | PC (Mac, Win), Switch, PS, Xbox
Another game for older kids, but one that will keep them coming back again and again thanks to its wickedly fun narrative layer and accessible combat system. Cult of the Lamb blends roguelite aspects with base management elements to cook up something new and exciting, and it has an oddball sense of humour that draws ewe in and won’t let go. I would like to add that the latest update, Sins of the Flesh, does exactly what the name implies, although these mechanics are no more explicit than the woo-hoo in The Sims.
What Harrison says: I love Cult of the Lamb sooooo much. I like the cult management, the crusades are enjoyable, and the bosses are really fun to fight. I like the weapons and the way the game looks, as well as the customisation options you have with your cult and followers.
Update: This one has received a big co-op update since we first published this article, making it even more accessible!
FTL Faster Than Light | Subset Games | iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
This one has been THE go-to game in our house for the last decade. Not only have I played it a whole bunch, but I’ve also played it with my little ones. They often struggled to concentrate on reading time, but the choose-your-own-adventure approach of FTL has proven a real hit. Don’t get me wrong, we always die horribly at the hands of someone (or something) we probably should have avoided, but everything up to that point is always reliably great.
What Harrison says: I love playing FTL with my dad and my little brother before bed. The battle system is fun and I like the sense of terror when you realise that you’re being chased by a fleet of ships that are out for your blood.
Enter The Gungeon | PC (Lin Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
The graphics are definitely family friendly, but make sure everyone playing is ready to duck and dive all over the place. I love nothing more than kicking over a table or two in Enter The Gungeon, and that sense of interactivity and place, along with the silly enemy designs, makes this a great starting point for anyone looking to get into roguelites.
What Harrison says: It’s a tough game but pretty fun. It’s very gun-oriented and I think my favourite enemies were the grenades, which gave me creeper vibes. PS. This was the only game that my dad forced me to play for this article, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Ship of Fools | Fika Productions | PC (Win), Switch, Xbox
Played alone, Ship of Fools is a cute roguish ship sim about navigating dangerous waters and trying to stay alive long enough to battle a kraken. Played with a friends, or even a family member, and it becomes voyage into desperation and frantic teamwork. It’s got a similar feel to Ship of Thieves, where you’re rushing around to repair damage and keep your enemies at bay, however, Ship of Fools doesn’t make you steer the ship, instead you’re switching between melee combat and firing cannons at incoming enemies. Fun stuff!
What Harrison says: I think Ship of Fools is a great game. I really enjoyed the stress and the thrill of entering the second sea. I also enjoyed upgrading my turrets so they could do more damage. I highly recommend you play this with a friend or a family member.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die | Stormteller Games | PC (Win), PS5, Switch, Xbox Series
And we’re wrapping things up with one game that the little ones haven’t got their grubby mitts on yet, and that’s Lost in Random: The Eternal Die. Kieran reviewed this one, but I can still tell you that it’s a great entry level rogue and thus an ideal starting place for anyone looking for something accessible and easy to grasp.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is never too punishing, and its generous difficulty curve is supplemented by an eye-catching art style that impresses from first boss to last.
