The best roguelike games, according to hackers
12 roguelike games recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
All roguelike games
- NetHackPeople recommend it for deep, surprising game mechanics, huge replayability, and a free, classic roguelike feel. The most common caveat is that it is punishingly hard and often needs spoilers to win.60recommend
- Chess-Inspired RoguelikePeople recommend this browser roguelike for being fun and addictive, with chess constraints that keep choices readable. Critics mention that it feels unlike a daily game and that the leaderboard is easy to cheat on.33recommend
- Dungeon Crawl Stone SoupA free, open-source roguelike that people recommend as fun and fair for players who are new to the genre, with a design that makes it approachable even when you know little about it.16recommend
- Xs of YA fun retro roguelike with a nice interface that people keep returning to. Critics report instant deaths, gear that must be equipped by hand, and possible bugs.14recommend
- NoitaPeople praise its physics-driven pixel simulation, randomized wand spell-crafting and chaotic runs that keep surprising players. The steep difficulty and unforgiving early game are the common caveats.13recommend
- Caves of QudA deep roguelike that people keep replaying and often compare to NetHack, with ASCII-style graphics that feel friendly to many players.10recommend
- Vampire SurvivorsRecommended for its fun, vibe and genre-shaping influence, with many survivors-likes. Critics call it a mechanically simple dopamine shortcut that feels pointless.10recommend
- Shattered Pixel DungeonA free fork of Pixel Dungeon that people find fun and well suited to phones, with a touch UI that works well on mobile.9recommend
- HyperRogueFree game set in hyperbolic geometry, praised for its tilings and engaging puzzle-like play. Critics say it is weak as a roguelike.9recommend
- Hades by Supergiant GamesPeople call it phenomenal and original, and an obvious example of its sub-genre. No criticism appeared in the recommending quotes.8recommend
- BrogueA free, simple and well-executed roguelike that people recommend for its balanced, ingeniously designed play and its influence on other roguelikes.7recommend
- Dead CellsRecommended for its polished gameplay, controls and progression that feels rewarding; critics note it slows in hectic fights.6recommend