Best Roguelikes & Roguelites For Couch Co-Op

Roguelikes and roguelites cater to a variety of players with their diverse gameplay styles and difficulty curves. From narrative-driven adventures such as Hades, to challenging deck-builders such as Wildfrost, these titles are able to offer a wide variety of experiences.

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Indie Roguelike Games to Play if You Like Hades

Hades, the roguelike ARPG from Supergiant Games, was one of the biggest hits of 2020, but there are plenty of other indie roguelikes to explore.

It’s a shame, then, that many of them are designed to be played in single-player. Others, such as Risk Of Rain 2, only allow for online co-op. However, there are a handful of well-crafted roguelikes and roguelites that allow for couch co-op play.

8

Rogue Star Rescue

A Co-Op Combination Of Tower Defense & Roguelite

• Platform(s): PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
• Released: 2021
• Developer(s): Chute Apps
• Genre: Roguelite

Rogue Star Rescue is a top-down shooter that combines bullet-hell gameplay with tower defense in a roguelite structure. The chaotic action combined with the strategy of tower defense is novel, and the addition of online and local co-op is a welcome one.

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The arcade nature of the gameplay and top-down perspective makes for a relatively accessible experience. Furthermore, the addition of controller support ensures players are able to enjoy local co-op with ease.

7

Ember Knights

A Co-Operative Action Roguelite

Systems

Released

April 20, 2022

Developer(s)

Doom Turtle

Ember Knights is a top-down action roguelite with stylish pixel-art and a variety of weapons, items, and boss fights. Most notably, Ember Knights includes local and online co-op that allows players to enjoy the action with friends.

The accessible hack-and-slash gameplay and forgiving nature of the roguelite structure keeps Ember Knights free of frustration, opening up its doors to a wider audience. This ensures progression even for those who are new to the genre.

6

Children Of Morta

A Co-Op RPG With A Roguelite Structure

Children Of Morta is an action RPG with the structure of a roguelite dungeon-crawler. In the game, players control members of a family, battling monsters in a variety of procedurally generated dungeons. The detailed pixel-art and RPG elements are obvious strengths, but Children Of Morta also excels with the addition of online and local co-op.

Similarly to roguelites such as Hades, Children Of Morta is a story-driven experience, giving players a natural sense of progression in addition to the RPG elements. Furthermore, the hack-and-slash combat is fairly accessible, keeping the overall experience approachable.

5

Crawl

A Combination Of Co-Op & PvP Dungeon-Crawling

Crawl is a top-down dungeon-crawler in which one player takes the role of the protagonist, with up to three other players taking the role of the dungeon’s enemies. Calling Crawl a co-operative game is a bit of a stretch, but there’s no doubt that players will have to work together in order to take down the current hero.

This strange three-on-one dynamic creates a unique scenario in which players must work cooperatively to face a common enemy. It’s a simple experience, but one that encourages a great deal of chaos, and that makes Crawl perfect for local play.

4

Death Road To Canada

A Co-Op Road Trip Through The Zombie Apocalypse

Death Road To Canada takes the intuitive gameplay loop of games such as The Oregon Trail and combines it with accessible top-down action and an arcade feel. Taking place during a zombie apocalypse, Death Road To Canada tasks players with making a dangerous road-trip, doing their best to survive against the undead horde as they gather necessary resources.

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The gameplay is relatively simple, with accessible controls and light management elements. However, this simplicity only makes the game more accessible, and its arcade style only makes it more appealing as a couch co-op experience.

3

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate

A Lightweight Roguelite Perfect For TMNT Fans

Action

Roguelike

Adventure

Systems

Released

July 17, 2024

Developer(s)

Super Evil Megacorp

Fans of Hades will immediately notice the similarities in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Though its narrative is far more bare-bones, its edges far rougher, Splintered Fate excels as a lightweight experience that’s perfect for newcomers to the genre.

The main strength Splintered Fate has over Hades, however, is the addition of online and local co-op, which allows for up to four players. With each turtle having their own unique skill-set, gameplay is also fairly diverse, ensuring that each player is able to feel like a unique part of the team. However, it’s likely that fans of the source material will get more enjoyment out of Splintered Fate than the average player.

2

Spelunky 2

A Chaotic Co-Operative Challenge

Spelunky 2, like its predecessor, excels with its chaotic gameplay. With runs that often end in blunt and brutal cartoon violence, it’s easy to get frustrated with Spelunky 2, especially as a newcomer. However, playing in online or local co-op can help to alleviate these frustrations, as the myriad of ways that players can perish often become all the more hysterical when playing with a friend.

Tasking players with delving into underground caverns packed with deadly traps and aggressive creatures, Spelunky 2 is a hazardous journey from start to finish. Players should expect to die frequently, but the fast pace of its gameplay and accessibility of its controls ensure the experience remains a breezy one.

1

Streets Of Rogue

Top-Down Sandbox Action That Rewards Teamwork

With its innovative combination of immersive-sim player agency and sandbox chaos, Streets Of Rogue is a one-of-a-kind action roguelite that excels in online and local co-op. The game’s objective-based nature frequently encourages teamwork, and the ability to revive teammates makes the experience all the more accessible.

The sandbox nature of each zone allows players to tackle objectives however they see fit, and this leads to some often chaotic scenarios that are more fun than frustrating when playing with friends. Furthermore, the variety of playable characters ensures players can experiment with combinations and fulfill different roles each run.

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