Roguelike Games That Were Ahead Of Their Time

Key Takeaways

• Roguelikes use core tenets for unique gameplay experiences that prompt players to learn from each death.
• The Roguelike genre began almost fifty years ago with pedit5, influencing future game designs.
• Titles like Rogue, NetHack, and Spelunky revolutionized the genre with unique elements and established gameplay pillars.

Roguelike titles have become all the rage in gaming, with most indie developers using the core tenets of this genre to reuse assets in a meaningful manner. Gamers love the idea of playing through unique layouts of familiar levels and doing everything in their power to reach the end of a rewarding experience.

Without certain titles pushing innovative game design in this genre, it’s possible that roguelike games would’ve never enjoyed the prominence they do in modern times. As things stand, some of the best indie games players can get their hands on are roguelikes that force players to get better with each run, learning from their deaths and making meaningful progress each time.

8 pedit5

The First-Ever Example Of A Game With Roguelike Design

• Platforms: PLATO
• Developer: Rusty Rutherford
• Release Year: 1975

For a genre that has gained a ton of steam in modern times, most people would be surprised to know that the roguelike genre originated almost fifty years ago. pedit5 is a dungeon crawler that serves as one of the very first games to experiment with a bunch of different gameplay loops, and roguelike design is no exception here.

In this title, players explored a randomly generated dungeon, taking out as many foes as they possibly could before eventually biting the dust. It’s the earliest example of roguelike design and gave future games in the genre a template to follow.

7 Rogue

Served As An Inspiration For The Genre’s Name

It would be impossible to talk about revolutionary games in the roguelike genre without paying homage to a game that coined this genre’s name. Rogue is a game that established the common gameplay tropes one expects from roguelike games, including procedurally generated content and permadeath.

It was a revolutionary game back in the day that fans couldn’t get enough of, with the title embodying the classic goodness of dungeon crawlers that were becoming popular at the time. It’s a must-play for fans who want to check out the history of the roguelike genre for themselves.

6 NetHack

One Of The Most Popular Classic Roguelikes Of All Time

Rogue may have served as a stepping stone for the genre, but titles like NetHack made gamers realize the potential of roguelike dungeon crawlers that ooze charm and atmosphere. This open-source game became a phenomenon that fans of classic titles still can’t get enough of.

The lore of this game coupled with its sublime exploration at the time made it one of the most engaging dungeon crawlers players could get their hands on. The roguelike genre owes a lot to NetHack, a game that helped in establishing several gameplay pillars that have become a mainstay.

5 Spelunky

The First Game To Combine Roguelike Elements With Other Gameplay Loops

While the roguelike genre has established itself in the gaming market, it took a while for it to become mainstream. With the rise of indie gaming, it was only a matter of time before a talented developer tried a unique spin on this genre, and this is precisely what Spelunky accomplished.

Spelunky is a game that takes no prisoners, and players will die in it over and over again. Thankfully, each death serves as a learning experience that will help players understand more of what this title is all about, letting them make more progress in future runs and slowly become experts at spelunking.

4 The Binding Of Isaac

An Indie Darling Inspired By The Legend Of Zelda That Employs Roguelike Elements

The idea of playing a messed-up version of the classic Zelda games with roguelike elements enticed many fans, which is why The Binding of Isaac became such a major hit. The game is rife with dark undertones that players slowly uncover over the course of a harrowing adventure.

Every combat scenario in The Binding of Isaac can be a nightmare to deal with, and players must ensure that Isaac’s abilities are optimized to deal with the increasing difficulty. The player’s skills will also improve in this game as battles become wilder, allowing them to take on the title’s many challenging bosses without facing too many issues.

3 FTL: Faster Than Light

A Grueling Sci-Fi Roguelike That Takes No Prisoners

FTL: Faster Than Light is a title that took the gaming landscape by storm. Players control a ship that must relay valuable information to the allied fleet while avoiding rebels hot on their trail. Every death in FTL is a learning experience, and players will fail over and over again before finally accomplishing their mission.

This unmatched satisfaction makes it clear why unlocking better ships and escaping the rebel fleet makes for a satisfying gameplay loop. Once players understand how to tackle the many gameplay challenges standing in their way in FTL, they’ll be able to take out their opponents, maintain a high stock of fuel, and boast a large number of crewmates at all times.

2 Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

A Free Roguelike Game Jam-Packed With Content

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is one of the greatest roguelike games ever made, and the fact that this game is free is nothing short of a miracle. The sheer number of gameplay options players have access to in this title is mind-blowing and makes it one of the finest modern roguelikes players can get their hands on.

Once players manage to get over the rudimentary graphics, they’ll be more than pleased with the tough yet satisfying gameplay loop that rewards them with sufficient knowledge of the mechanics at play here. From dying at the hands of a zombie horde to flattening enemies with a reinforced vehicle, the progression curve in Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is as satisfying as can be and shows what a roguelike game can achieve when all its systems click.

1 Hades

The Narrative Structure Merges Perfectly With The Roguelike Gameplay Loop

Supergiant Games is hailed by many as a master of combining narrative design and gameplay elements to help a story flow as smoothly as possible. Hades is no exception here, with players having no problems with failing a run since it lets them interact with their favorite characters in the House of Hades before embarking on another escape attempt.

Hades may be one of the more recent games to come out, but the runaway success of this title will compel the roguelike genre to evolve for good. The seamless integration of narrative and gameplay is something that other rogulike developers should take notes from to ensure that their games feature a satisfying story that unfolds naturally over time.