Guide: Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites And Run-Based Games
Updated with Absolum and BALL x PIT. Have fun!
Which are the finest roguelikes on Nintendo Switch? In the realm of contemporary video games, few genre labels are more contentious. That controversial term lures some gamers like moths to a flame, whereas others flee at the mere mention of it.
Nowadays, it seems that ‘roguelike’ is affixed to nearly every new title that hits the market. The classification has become so widespread that it now stands alongside ‘Metroidvania‘ as an increasingly vague (yet quite useful) shorthand for titles that employ certain mechanics. It’s safe to assert, there are a significant number on Switch (and, through backward compatibility, Switch 2), with many excellent examples.
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Therefore, below you will discover our selections — organized alphabetically — of the finest Switch roguelikes, roguelites, roguelike-likes, and all related variations. This extensive compilation is subject to modifications and growth in the future, so share your input and recommendations in the usual area, and we’ll persist in refining it over time.
The Finest Roguelikes, Roguelites And Run-Based Titles On Switch
20XX (Switch eShop)
20XX features an engaging tempo. You plunge into the level, procure loot such as enhancements and currency bolts, eliminate bosses to seize their weapons, and continue onward until your demise. After falling, you’d often experience that ‘just one more attempt’ craving that is so prevalent in roguelikes, and the structure suits an action platformer like 20XX superbly.
The procedural system does a commendable job of shaking things up, though after some time you might start to notice a slight repetition. However, that’s easily eclipsed by the remarkable variety and plethora of enhancements and customization available. Highly recommended — as is its successor, 30XX.
Absolum (Switch)
Absolum represents a comparable experience to Vanillaware’s Dragon’s Crown, yet it excels in terms of its pivotal metrics. Its combat, collectible enhancements, and strategizing are remarkably well-crafted, guaranteeing no playthrough is ever truly identical, while its tactical options and styles of play are continuously expanding. It’s tremendously impressive in its reinvention of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, advancing them into something novel and thrilling.
In that respect, it’s one of the premier titles of its type, regardless of what that type might be. If the notion of repetition and grinding doesn’t appeal to you, you may struggle with its initial five hours, but the momentum for one-more-go becomes so enticing after a time that releasing the controller seems unthinkable.
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Astral Ascent (Switch eShop)
Astral Ascent exemplifies a title that offers more than the sum of its components. Its robust character design, hi-bit graphics, precise combat, unforgettable bosses, and extensive build variety have all been present in titles you’ve likely experienced before—there’s nothing ‘novel’ here.
Yet, dismissing it as merely ‘another one of those’ in a saturated genre would lead you to overlook one of the most charming and unexpected releases of 2023. Astral Ascent is undoubtedly one of the finest roguelites available on the Switch. Don’t overlook it.
Bad North (Switch eShop)
A portion of Viking strategic warfare straight from the epicenter of Scandinavia’s indie gaming scene, Bad North pioneers a surge of intelligent yet inherently approachable real-time strategy games.
Swedish developer Plausible Concept dubs it ‘micro-strategy,’ and it superbly encapsulates a minimalist style that encompasses everything from unit management to the Monument Valley-inspired isometric art design. With sufficient enemy diversity to lead you to feel as though you’re engaging in an interactive episode of the Vikings television series, this endlessly captivating array of compact skirmishes will teach you to dread — and adore — the sound of the impending horde.
Balatro (Switch eShop)
Balatro caters to gamers who typically don’t enjoy roguelikes… and then extends to everyone else as well. It perfectly accomplishes what it sets out to achieve, delivering an immediately engaging, satisfying, and addictive gameplay cycle that anyone can understand.
From the outset, it’s a tremendously pleasurable experience, but as you delve deeper, there’s truly nothing else quite like it. Absolutely magnificent.
BALL x PIT (Switch eShop)
BALL x PIT amalgamates a remarkable array of concepts that it should, under normal circumstances, collapse under the weight of its own complexity. However, it functions in such perfect harmony that it appeals both to the instinct for one-more-go and to more intellectual planning and creativity. Kenny Sun Studios set up an immense challenge for itself but, fortunately, has maintained its balance.
It’s available on Switch 2 as well – and the upgrade is complimentary.
Black Future ’88 (Switch eShop)
Black Future ’88 is a captivating, demanding yet incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling game. While it may be a treat for the senses, the precise gameplay, high level of replayability, and the commendable endeavor that has been invested in addressing numerous critiques regarding the genre indicate that it’s more than just a visually appealing title.
If you seek a surge of thrilling cyberpunk excitement on your Switch, this one is a assured hit.
Crawl (Switch eShop)
We truly enjoy Crawl, and we wager our accumulated treasure and fury that you will, too. This dungeon-crawling hack-and-slash experience incorporates roguelike features, where one participant assumes the role of the hero attempting to navigate a dungeon while the others act as monster-controlling spirits striving to eliminate that hero and take their position.
It’s a free-for-all where everyone looks out for themselves, yet there are moments for frantic 3v1 cooperative gameplay — essential when all the non-hero ghost characters must collaborate to manage the bosses the hero confronts. It’s a blast in single-player mode due to some vigorous AI, but that ongoing threat gains an entirely new layer when you and three friends compete for XP and that crucial decisive strike.
Darkest Dungeon (Switch eShop)
Darkest Dungeon has consistently been an RPG that discovers ways to create discomfort for the player, and this Switch adaptation adds a few usability problems to that list.
Nevertheless, it remains an impressively intricate, thoroughly engaging dungeon crawler that will engulf you for hours on end.
Dead Cells (Switch)
Dead Cells exemplifies exceptional roguelike design, combining unrelenting intense action sequences, stunning landscapes, and an addictive cycle of unlocks and rewards into a splendid experience that no Switch owner should forgo.
There are countless hours of content available here, and although a sense of repetition can occasionally creep in, it’s astonishing how fresh Dead Cells manages to remain throughout all those hours. This game is exhilarating to play, full of visual brilliance, and filled with activities; be sure to experience this one.
Dicefolk (Switch eShop)
An appealing art style, robust combat system, and significant player decisions render Dicefolk a superb addition to the collection, as it successfully feels novel without straying too far from the fundamental concepts that make these types of games so compelling and beloved.
In fact, Dicefolk serves as a great entry point into the genre; accessible without being condescending, and it’s extremely enjoyable once you familiarize yourself with its unique quirks.
Dicey Dungeons (Switch eShop)
Terry Cavanagh has done it again with Dicey Dungeons; this ranks among the finest roguelike titles you can enjoy on Switch. A wealth of gameplay diversity, outstanding music, a high skill ceiling, and inviting visuals make this an utterly captivating and enjoyable experience you won’t want to forgo.
If you appreciate roguelikes — hey, you’ve reached #35 on a Best Roguelikes list, so we take that as a given — or card games, we highly suggest you acquire this as soon as you can — even if you’re not into them, we still advocate checking it out anyway.
Downwell (Switch eShop)
This is a superb port of a title that seems to have discovered a natural niche on Switch due to an abundance of control options and the console’s inherent capability with a vertical layout. Short of placing your 4K TV on its side, Switch provides the optimal way to experience Downwell.
Its roguelike framework and twitch-platforming may not appeal to everyone, but you should genuinely give it a shot. For our part, Downwell is a modern classic that ought to be in everyone’s collection; at the modest asking price, it’s a bargain.
Dreamscaper (Switch eShop)
Dreamscaper is a really solid roguelite; a game that undoubtedly merits more recognition than it has garnered.
What it lacks in innovation, it compensates for in emotion. A surprisingly heartfelt narrative, fulfilling progression system, brisk combat, and artistic visuals combine to create an experience that we’d recommend you give a serious consideration.
Dungreed (Switch eShop)
Dungreed is a rather conventional roguelite game with a few cleverly chosen enhancements in the design that make it stand out as something remarkable.
It might not be groundbreaking and it’s definitely not revolutionary, but it draws on other roguelite designs to create something polished, intelligent, and incredibly gratifying.
Enter the Gungeon (Switch eShop)
Enter The Gungeon is a exceptionally tactile, infinitely replayable twin-stick roguelike that ranks among the finest indie games available on Nintendo Switch. With gratifying combat, randomized levels, and a ceaseless supply of inventive weapons, items, and secrets, it’s always a sheer delight to play.
Yet another contemporary indie classic has found its rightful home on Nintendo’s console.
Everspace – Stellar Edition (Switch eShop)
While reminding us how much we’d adore seeing FTL on Switch, Everspace skillfully establishes an impressive identity for itself as you travel between sectors, progressively expanding your arsenal and skill level.
With gratifying space combat, an addictive roguelite core loop, and even some light-hearted, entertaining writing along the way, it performs admirably – if not perfectly – on Nintendo’s console. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and this port does an excellent job of retaining the complete experience on a handheld.
Fights in Tight Spaces (Switch eShop)
As this compilation demonstrates, it requires a significant effort for a roguelike to appear genuinely novel on Switch, but Fights in Tight Spaces excels at revitalizing a familiar format, making it feel distinctive. The turn-based mechanics ensure that you are continually evaluating the optimal tactic, while the unique difficulty tiers imply that finishing your initial run is merely the commencement of the fun.
While it may not be perfectly optimized for Switch, it still presents itself well and plays smoothly, earning our endorsement.
Flinthook (Switch eShop)
Flinthook is an exquisitely designed, enchanting, and enjoyable adventure. It ranks among the most tightly constructed action platformers and compelling roguelikes available, but due to its randomly generated levels, you may occasionally face frustrating spikes in difficulty or closely related areas.
However, these issues feel less significant thanks to its charm, character, and exhilarating gameplay. This journey through the cosmos may be challenging and somewhat iterative at times, yet it remains incredibly enjoyable.
Fury Unleashed (Switch eShop)
Fury Unleashed adopts the core gameplay loops reminiscent of Dead Cells and Enter the Gungeon, blending them with nostalgic ’90s action platforming, resulting in one of the premier roguelites available on Nintendo Switch.
Amazing Games’ effort greatly benefited from five years of development and an extended early access phase on PC, allowing its gameplay to be refined to near perfection, featuring smooth and responsive controls, a vast and satisfying arsenal of weaponry, rapid traversal mechanics, and procedurally generated arenas packed with secrets, challenges, and formidable adversaries eager to impede your progress repeatedly.
GALAK-Z: The Void: Deluxe Edition (Switch eShop)
GALAK-Z may not be suited for everyone: its roguelite nature, formidable difficulty, and harsh consequences for death (even in its more manageable Arcade mode) could frustrate some gamers who expect a quick, relentless action experience.
However, if you approach it as the slower-paced exploration and survival game it intends to be, your perseverance will bring you genuine satisfaction through thrilling space battles and an extensive array of customizable parts (not to mention its fantastic mech upgrade), all enveloped in a delightful ’80s aesthetic.
Gods Will Fall (Switch eShop)
Gods Will Fall is a distinctive and demanding dungeon crawler that skillfully weaves together a variety of innovative gameplay mechanics, resulting in consistently tense and exhilarating runs through some exceedingly difficult death chambers and boss encounters.
This game is notably brutal and unforgiving – likely to deter some players – but if you persist until it clicks, explore, experiment, and push through the frustration, you will be rewarded with one of the most addictive and original roguelikes we’ve encountered in quite a while.
GoNNER (Switch eShop)
An addictive, aesthetically stunning experience that promises hours of joy/frustration, GoNNER seems to fit the console perfectly – offering a gameplay style that caters to both quick sessions and extended, focused periods.
Potentially too challenging for some gamers, it demands considerable determination and provides little relief – expect to be sent back to the beginning countless times as you strive to advance. For those who relish a significant challenge, we recommend trying this title; it rewards unwavering players the most.
Hades (Switch eShop)
Hades is a masterful blend of satisfyingly gritty and adaptable combat, a beautifully vibrant art style, and a truly entertaining and engaging storyline. Supergiant Games boasts a strong track record with titles like Bastion and Transistor, but this truly feels like their crowning achievement — an exhilarating adventure through the underworld that arrived on Switch with an almost flawless port.
Even if you haven’t yet been convinced by the repetitiveness often found in roguelikes, we fervently encourage you to at least give this roguelite a chance; this is a heavenly portrayal of hell that’s worth your sacrifice.
If you’re looking for a Hades-like experience after escaping hell, then Hades II is equally exquisite – be sure to check out our review of the Switch 2 edition.
Additionally, Curse of the Dead Gods draws heavily from Supergiant. Or if reptiles and pizza pique your interest, the decent-but-not-extraordinary Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate could be worth a look.
Have A Nice Death (Switch eShop)
Have A Nice Death may not revolutionize the genre of roguelites, but it stands as a high-caliber entry. The punishing difficulty, imaginative theming, and gratifying combat merge to create a memorable and valuable experience, even if we desire better performance.
You should only dive into this underworld if you are confident in your skills, though. There’s much to appreciate about Have a Nice Death, but as the title implies, the bony hand of the reaper will be your only companion.
Immortal Redneck (Switch eShop)
A few minor visual and audio glitches aside, Immortal Redneck is an absolute delight.
By merging expertly crafted room layouts with randomly generated environments and granting the player the ability to smoothly dash, jump, and shoot through them with the finesse of a shotgun-wielding swan while continually enhancing their skills, it provides a massively satisfying, colorful experience that’s…
expected to remain indefinitely installed on your Switch long after you’ve removed other titles to create room.
Into The Breach (Switch eShop)
Into The Breach is a punishing, unyielding game of making difficult choices and facing the consequences of your errors, yet the brief length of skirmishes and limitless variety of playthroughs create an incredibly engaging experience.
The gameplay stands among the very best you’ll encounter in the strategy category on Switch, and we can seamlessly endorse this to anyone seeking an intricate game that’ll stimulate your mind. Into The Breach feels perfectly at home on the Switch, and whether you indulge more at home or while commuting, you’re quite likely to derive significant value from this release.
Into the Restless Ruins (Switch eShop)
Into the Restless Ruins completely took us by surprise. This is a fantastic addition to the Switch’s collection of roguelikes that manages to establish itself as fresh and distinctive in a genre inundated with dull imitators.
The combination of deckbuilding, combat, memory challenges, and dungeon crafting results in a game that pulls you in every time, stealing hours as you navigate its enchanting catacombs.
A bit more narrative depth might have propelled it even higher, but it’s still a title you definitely don’t want to miss.
Invisible, Inc. Nintendo Switch Edition (Switch eShop)
Invisible, Inc. stands out as a brilliant strategy game, ranking alongside Into the Breach and XCOM – if not surpassing them. Its compact structure suggests a surprisingly intricate and impactful game, where every choice ultimately carries weight in that final desperate offensive.
If you have an affinity for stealth or tactical games – or you’re merely seeking an entry point into either genre – then Invisible, Inc. warrants your attention.
Ironcast (Switch eShop)
A match-three puzzler that successfully combines various genre elements, Ironcast is a profound and captivating title; innovative and frustratingly immersive. The assorted mechanics intertwined in this game create an experience that is endlessly replayable, without becoming monotonous or dull.
If you’re searching for an entertaining time sink that can also be played in short sessions, treat yourself and give this one a shot.
Moon Hunters (Switch eShop)
Moon Hunters presents a delightful roguelike RPG that stands apart from anything else on the Switch, delivering a compact, engaging adventure that is highly replayable and can be enjoyed solo or with companions.
Despite some challenges with its low difficulty and occasionally excruciating load times, this title comes highly recommended. Moon Hunters offers considerable content within its limited scope, and you’ll likely find yourself revisiting this gem for an extended period.
Moonlighter (Switch)
If you wish to experience a top-down Legend of Zelda-style game as a roguelite while simultaneously managing a shop, then, hey, Moonlighter is set to fulfill a unique need for you. It occupies a sweet balance between gratifying swordplay and gritty economic simulation, although some players may feel it becomes ‘grindy’ over time in its mechanics.
Nonetheless, Digital Sun Games has crafted a vibrant work it can take pride in; one that even touches on our humanity in an uplifting manner.
NeuroVoider (Switch eShop)
NeuroVoider boasts a futuristic pixel art presentation, while the synth techno soundtrack is diverse, intense, atmospheric and perpetually exhilarating. Experiencing failure never becomes tedious and whether or not roguelikes, -lites or procedurally generated games appeal to you, the captivating, explosive gameplay and vibrant cyborg aesthetic here will likely charm you.
Even though the concept of a roguelike RPG shooter might seem like a mixed bag, NeuroVoider is a highly enjoyable experience if you’re keen to delve into customization or simply dive in arcade style, with plasma cannons and laser beams ablaze.
Risk of Rain 2 (Switch eShop)
Risk of Rain 2 showcases an exceptionally well-crafted iteration of the mechanics that made its predecessor famous. The shift to 3D gameplay was executed flawlessly, and the vast array of gameplay options paired with robust online multiplayer guarantees that this is a title you’ll consistently return to for an extended period.
If you’re seeking a top-tier 3D roguelike action title for your Switch, Risk of Rain 2 is among the best investments you can make.
Rogue Aces (Switch eShop)
Rogue Aces offers a remarkable, refreshing experience — especially if you never engaged with its spiritual predecessor Wings of Fury. It not only provides an audio-visual delight, but also an overwhelmingly entertaining sensory engagement due to the intense aerial dynamics you partake in.
Easy to grasp but wickedly tough to put down, Rogue Aces requires just the right balance of arcade shmup skills and strategic foresight complemented by a dash of fortuity when things just align. All this is enhanced by some fantastic humor in the form of quips from your Captain, the enemy Baron pilots, and the witty remarks from ally aviators. Rev up and get ready, fellow Switch captains; this battle won’t win itself while you’re lounging on that carrier deck.
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos (Switch eShop)
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is a charming Zelda-inspired roguelite brimming with secrets, surprises, and some
top-tier dungeon-crawling excitement. There’s an impressive central hub space to develop and enhance here, numerous enjoyable little side missions to engage in, and a well-crafted overworld that fully utilizes your hero’s continually expanding arsenal of weapons, abilities, and gadgets.
There may be a few too many skill trees and upgrade systems for our taste, and the narrative is entirely forgettable, but on the whole, this title comes highly endorsed for both co-op and solo explorers.
Rogue Legacy (Switch eShop)
Rogue Legacy offers a straightforward twist on the classic roguelike archetype, yet it accomplishes its goals remarkably well, resulting in a perpetually replayable and delightful action adventure that no enthusiast of the genre should overlook.
A high difficulty level, humorous writing, precise controls, and gratifying RPG elements make this an effortless recommendation; the gameplay design allows for easy play in quick intervals or extended sessions, making it an exceptional fit for the Switch.
And if you enjoy this, its sequel is equally outstanding.
ScourgeBringer (Switch eShop)
ScourgeBringer is an incredibly sleek and captivating roguelite journey that hurls players directly into relentless, chaotic combat and never lets up. This is an unapologetically challenging game, and if you find the consistent repetition and demise typical of the genre to be overwhelming, you might encounter some difficulties.
Nevertheless, if a challenge doesn’t discourage you, or if you’re a fan of Celeste or Dead Cells yearning for more, what Flying Oak Games has created here is sure to utterly enchant.
Shogun Showdown (Switch eShop)
Shogun Showdown is an essential indie title. A perfect core of left-to-right puzzle-inspired violence that resembles a sort of bloody rhythm activity, and it results in an endlessly engaging experience that’s simple to pick up and can consume hours.
There’s sufficient progression in skills to maintain its intrigue over time, along with ample mixing and matching of your attack and special cards to guarantee that no two confrontations are ever identical. This is must-play material.
Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate (Switch eShop)
Shotgun King also excels at distinguishing itself from the overwhelming abundance of roguelikes available today. Its fusion of traditional chess mechanics with shooting elements and randomized gameplay creates a fun and highly replayable experience that we suggest you attempt.
If you seek a relatively brief, addictive game that requires a bit of strategy to maximize your enjoyment, Shotgun King is certainly something to consider.
Sky Rogue (Switch eShop)
While it lacks a narrative and the random nature of the missions may appear lazy to some, arcade-style dogfighter Sky Rogue offers plenty of gameplay where it counts. The aerial combat is outstanding, supported by excellent controls, a diverse array of weapons, and numerous unlockable features.
The 12-stage campaign mode will keep you returning for quite some time — largely due to the unique roguelike mechanism where death entails losing everything, but the earned experience yields a better chance of success next time — and the opportunity to involve a friend in co-op boosts its longevity even further. Admittedly, once you eventually complete the game, there isn’t much to draw you back, but it will require a significant amount of time and effort to reach that point – and you’ll have had such a great time you won’t feel cheated.
Slay the Spire (Switch eShop)
Slay the Spire is an infinitely engaging roguelike card battler that’s a perfect match for the Switch. Its blend of fierce combat, amusing random occurrences, and selection of three remarkably different player characters ensures every attempt to ascend is a nerve-wracking and completely immersive experience.
Immensely creative card sets harmonize brilliantly into highly destructive combos, and attack and defense options mesh perfectly, allowing you to utilize the information from the brilliantly transparent Intent system for endless strategizing against hordes of vile monstrosities. This is one dungeon crawler that will remain memorable in our systems.
Spelunky 2 (Switch eShop)
Spelunky 2 is a masterclass in exceptional roguelite game design, skillfully merging punishing difficulty with a gradual reveal of new secrets and insights to keep you returning for more. Some players may be deterred by the steep challenge — this is definitely a game that requires some effort — but investing that time is guaranteed to reward you with numerous thrilling experiences.
There’s always the original Spelunky to explore as well, if you genuinely enjoy this title. And you will.
Steredenn: Binary Stars (Switch eShop)
Steredenn: Binary Stars is an amazing title that provides an experience that feels both timeless and contemporary. Its high difficulty, rewarding gameplay, endless variety, and stunning visuals make this a must-have purchase for any fans of the genre, and a strong recommendation for those who aren’t.
If you’re in search of a well-crafted arcade game that can be enjoyed in both brief periods and for marathon sessions, here’s yet another one for your collection.
Streets of Rogue (Switch eShop)
Streets of Rogue has benefited from years of developmental refinement in Early Access, and while we do feel the asking price is somewhat elevated for the final product on Switch, the amount of content you receive far exceeds what you might anticipate.
RPGs are often at their peak when they offer you a world where you can become anyone and do anything — Skyrim has established its legacy on that premise — so if you desire the freedom to be a werewolf, a scientist, or a bartender, then this is the game for you.
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (Switch)
Having made its way to a plethora of other systems, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ — effectively an enhanced Rebirth — seems like a splendid match for Switch. It’s a title you can engage with for 15 to 20 minutes at a stretch, saving or capturing images of your favorite seeds, or engaging with daily trials. The control schemes of the Switch, combined with simple couch co-op, only enhance the appeal.
This game evokes a fusion of classic mechanics and modern concepts; it’s a tribute to the difficulty and aesthetics of past games, while simultaneously asserting itself stylistically as something more modern. If that isn’t sufficient, the Repentance DLC brings a substantial amount of enhancements and modifications.
The Persistence (Switch eShop)
The Persistence is an intriguing and disquieting sci-fi horror roguelite that excels in transferring its gripping ambiance and captivating gameplay loops from its original VR setup to the Switch. Firesprite Games has accomplished an outstanding job in porting this entire eerie experience, with impeccable performance in both docked and handheld modes.
There are a multitude of weapons and gadgets to experiment with as you navigate the gauntlet, the enduring aspects of the gameplay are refreshingly liberal and survival mode along with New Game+ offer a suitably robust challenge for those who enjoy their roguelites to be formidable.
UnderMine (Switch eShop)
UnderMine is an exceptionally effortless game to endorse. Developer Thorium Entertainment showcases evident expertise in overall design, controls, upgrade mechanisms, and presentation, all coming together to create an utterly engaging experience.
The only caveat is that those who are weary of roguelites won’t discover anything to shift their perspective here; if you belong to that group… well, for starters, how did you make it through this list of the finest roguelikes?! Skipping this is essentially overlooking one of the best representations of the entire genre.
Vampire Survivors (Switch eShop)
Vampire Survivors surged in fame in 2022 for good cause. It stands as one of the finest roguelites in recent times due to its compelling gameplay loop and metagame that captivates your thoughts.
The Switch port merely adds more to adore with local co-op and fresh content. It’s incredibly easy to slip into a euphoric sense of rhythm in Vampire Survivors’ Castlevania-inspired, whimsically named stages as its electrifying soundtrack and gratifying sound design propel you into the oncoming horde, making it likely you’ll lose track of time while playing.
Fortunately, rounds typically don’t exceed half an hour. With the introduction of free Adventures and a myriad of DLC, this undead tycoon is brimming with vitality.
Void Bastards (Switch eShop)
Void Bastards presents a delightful roguelike escapade through a wonderfully distinct cel-shaded comic book universe filled with loud-mouthed adversaries and witty robots.
The fundamental combat is straightforward yet enriched with enticing graphics and augmented by hackable turrets and several other BioShock-like elements that add a touch of strategy to your encounters with the various Screws, Juves, Tourists, and Spooks you’ll encounter as you navigate the Sargasso Nebula.
Aesthetically, it’s a visual treat, featuring top-tier sound design, and its blend of coarse British humor and quirky space horror offers the entire experience a highly original essence that’s certainly worth exploring.
World of Horror (Switch eShop)
Alright, alright — there are many distinctive roguelikes out there: but World of Horror is among the most exceptional roguelites we’ve encountered on the Switch eShop. Its masterful amalgamation of text-driven exploration, survival horror, and roguelike principles creates a challenging, harrowing, and eerie journey that we’d suggest diving into.
Not everyone may be captivated by its intensely retro visuals, but if you can find the proper mindset to engage with this one, you’ll discover there’s much to cherish.
So, that’s quite a substantial serving of rogue-like-like-lites, isn’t it? Raise your hand if you’ve actually played Rogue…
Nintendo Life Staff Selections – The Pinnacle Of The Best Roguelikes
There are numerous remarkable roguelike/lites available that you might require a bit more assistance in pinpointing the top-tier options. Here are Team NL’s individual choices, the titles that would constitute our personal Mount ‘Roguemore’ (plus one…plus another one):
- Balatro
- Dead Cells
- Hades
- Rogue Legacy (2)
- Slay the Spire
- Spelunky
Indeed, that’s over four. Frankly, the competition was so intense that narrowing it down to six was a challenge.
Roguelikes, Roguelites And Run-Based Games FAQs
If you find yourself starting over and uncertain of what to do — or if you simply have inquiries about roguelikes — then we have you sorted.
What is a roguelike, anyway?
The term ‘roguelike’ originates from the 1980 dungeon crawler Rogue, which features procedurally-generated dungeons with random enemies and loot. Each playthrough is distinct, and your character can even perish permanently.
Roguelikes, in essence, are games with randomized components approached in a single ‘run’. You gradually gather gear and abilities along the way until you either conquer the game (yay!) or perish before being sent back to the start, empty-handed, to attempt again.
So what is a roguelite then?
As the name indicates, roguelites smooth out the rough edges that roguelikes tend to have.
Roguelites maintain a fundamental run-based structure but allow you to unlock certain gear or abilities that carry over in future runs, leading to a less unforgiving experience if you lack the time (or desire) to simply git good.
Is Rogue on Nintendo Switch?
It is! It’s known as Epyx Rogue (named after the original creator), and it’s quite affordable, too. This modern adaptation of the classic dungeon crawler incorporates numerous quality-of-life enhancements, like the capability to save and a more accessible difficulty.
Of course, if you desire the genuine experience, that’s available as well, in all of its intensity.
Are deckbuilders roguelikes?
At times! Titles like Slay the Spire and Shogun Showdown center around constructing a deck and utilizing it to navigate a run, but there are many other deckbuilders that don’t conform to the roguelike framework.
Fortunately, we have a quite comprehensive list of the best deck builders on Switch.
Where is [insert game name here]?
As you can see, there are numerous roguelikes on Switch — they’re one of the beloved indie genres at this point. Hence the expanse of this list. This means we’ve had to be quite stringent in selecting the top-tier options on the console.
If there’s one you believe absolutely ought to be included here — provided we’ve reviewed it — then do let us know!
Do you have a preferred roguelike? Is there a roguelike you’d like to see on Switch that isn’t already available? Share your thoughts in the comments.
