10 Best Roguelike & Roguelite Games to Play in 2026

Roguelikes are the deepest genre in modern gaming. Each run is a fresh puzzle, and the meta-progression between runs gives every death a purpose. This list covers the best roguelikes and roguelites you can play in 2026, from the deckbuilders that defined the genre to the action games that are pushing it forward.

How we picked these games

1. Run-to-run variety — does each run feel different?
2. Build depth — are there meaningful synergies to discover?
3. Meta-progression — does failure feel productive, not punitive?
4. Active development or community — is the game still being supported or discussed?

The list

1. Balatro (2024, LocalThunk)

The poker-themed deckbuilder that took the genre mainstream. Balatro’s genius is in its simplicity: you play poker hands, score them, and the cards themselves become your build. With 150 Jokers, 15 decks, and dozens of challenges, Balatro has more build variety than any other game on this list. Gold Stake clears are still a satisfying challenge a year after release.

Best for: Anyone who has ever played a card game; completionists. Time per run: 30–60 minutes.

2. Slay the Spire 2 (2025, Mega Crit)

The sequel to the genre-defining deckbuilder, now in early access. StS2 adds three new characters, dozens of new cards, and a reworked relic system. The new character-specific mechanics make the early game much more dynamic, and the new act structure keeps each run feeling fresh. Even in early access, this is the most-played roguelike on Steam.

Best for: Slay the Spire 1 fans; new players who want the modern deckbuilder. Time per run: 45–90 minutes.

3. Hades II (2024, Supergiant Games)

The sequel to the award-winning action roguelike. Hades II adds new weapons, new gods with entirely new boon systems, and a much larger meta-progression. The new Arcana Cards system is brilliant — it gives you a powerful set of pre-run customization without removing the run-to-run variety that makes Hades great. The early access period is the longest of any game on this list, and the recent 1.0 release added the final arc.

Best for: Action game fans; players who liked the first Hades. Time per run: 20–40 minutes.

4. Brotato (2023, Blobfish)

A bullet-hell roguelite where you play a potato holding up to six weapons at once. The build variety is staggering (40+ characters, hundreds of weapons, dozens of items) and each run takes 20–30 minutes. Brotato is the most accessible game on this list — it is easy to pick up and very hard to put down.

Best for: Casual roguelike fans; players who want shorter runs. Time per run: 20–30 minutes.

5. Cult of the Lamb (2022, Massive Monster)

A base-building + dungeon-crawling roguelite where you manage a cult of woodland creatures. The cult-management layer is what makes CotL stand out — between runs, you have a full village to upgrade, worshippers to manage, and rituals to perform. The dungeon runs are short, the base management is satisfying, and the writing is genuinely funny.

Best for: Management-game fans; players who want variety between runs. Time per run: 10–20 minutes (plus base management).

6. Risk of Rain 2 (2020, Hopoo Games)

A third-person shooter roguelite with hundreds of items and dozens of characters. RoR2’s strength is in its item combinations — some of the most fun builds in any game are RoR2’s late-game item stacks. Multiplayer with up to 4 players is where RoR2 really shines.

Best for: Action game fans; co-op players. Time per run: 30–60 minutes.

7. Vampire Survivors (2022, poncle)

A minimalist bullet-survivor roguelite that is best described as “do nothing while thousands of monsters die around you.” The simplicity is the joke and the appeal. With dozens of characters and a constant stream of unlocks, Vampire Survivors is the most-played roguelite on Steam by player count.

Best for: Casual players; people who want to play a roguelite while watching TV. Time per run: 15–30 minutes.

8. Dead Cells (2018, Motion Twin)

A metroidvania-roguelike hybrid with gorgeous pixel art and excellent combat. Each run unlocks permanent upgrades, new weapons, and new paths through the castle. Dead Cells is one of the most polished games on this list and remains a fan favorite years after release.

Best for: Metroidvania fans; players who want a shorter roguelike. Time per run: 20–40 minutes.

9. Inscryption (2021, Daniel Mullins)

A deckbuilder-horror-puzzle-meta-narrative hybrid. Calling Inscryption a “roguelike” undersells what it is — it is one of the most inventive indie games of the past decade. The first act is a card game in a cabin; the second act is something else entirely; the third act is something else again. Play it without spoilers.

Best for: Players who want a unique experience; horror fans. Time per run: 4–6 hours for a first playthrough.

10. Enter the Gungeon (2016, Dodge Roll)

A bullet-hell roguelike with twin-stick shooter mechanics and hundreds of guns. EtG is one of the most mechanically deep games on this list — every gun has a unique effect, every enemy has a clear pattern, and every boss has a specific counter. The “curse” system adds a beautiful risk/reward layer.

Best for: Bullet-hell fans; players who want mechanical depth. Time per run: 30–60 minutes.

Honorable mentions

• Caves of Qud — a deep, weird, ASCII-leaning roguelike for the patient.
• Stoneshard — a medieval RPG-roguelike in early access.
• Noita — a physics-based roguelike where every pixel is simulated.
• Dicey Dungeons — a dice-rolling roguelike with great art and music.
• Hades (the original) — still worth playing if you skipped it.

FAQ

Which game should I start with?

If you have never played a roguelike before, start with Brotato or Vampire Survivors. They have the lowest mechanical barrier to entry. If you are a card-game fan, start with Balatro. If you are an action-game fan, start with Hades II or Risk of Rain 2.

Are these games expensive?

Most are $10–25. Balatro and Hades II are $15–25. Vampire Survivors is $5. Brotato is $5. There are also many free browser-based roguelikes that we did not include but are worth trying.

What is your personal favorite?

We polled the team. The split is roughly 40% Balatro, 25% Hades II, 15% Slay the Spire 2, 20% everything else. The good news is that you cannot go wrong with any of them.

Final thoughts

The roguelike genre is healthier than it has ever been. The games on this list are all well-supported, well-reviewed, and will give you dozens to hundreds of hours of play. Pick the one that sounds most appealing, and start your next run.