Best Tactical Roguelikes For Beginners

Roguelikes can be a difficult genre to approach for newcomers due to the unforgiving nature of permanent death and an often complex combination of mechanics. This can be especially true of tactical roguelikes, in which mistakes are often swiftly punished.

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While tactical combat is a staple of traditional roguelikes, many modern titles have managed to develop a more accessible approach. Games that feature less unforgiving mechanics and easy-to-read hazards can often be less frustrating for newcomers by giving them room to make mistakes.

7

Fights In Tight Spaces

A Turn-Based & Tactical Brawler

• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2021
• Developer(s): Ground Shatter
• Genre: Strategy

Fights In Tight Spaces is an action-packed tactics game that tasks players with playing out turn-based battles using a variety of cards. The game’s style, animations, and settings are clearly reminiscent of classic action movies, making each encounter fun to simply watch play out.

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The card-based structure combined with the turn-based tactics of its gameplay results in an experience that focuses on methodical strategy over skill. As a result, Fights In Tight Spaces is remarkably accessible, and the close-quarters nature of its encounters combined with the readability of its abstract art style elevates this even further.

6

Cobalt Core

Roguelike Deck-Building & Tactical Space Battles

Roguelike

Digital Card Game

Systems

Released

November 8, 2023

Developer(s)

Rocket Rat Games

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Cobalt Core is a roguelike deck-builder with a bright and colorful art style that’s both charming and approachable. This is supported further by a soothing soundtrack and quirky characters that make the overall presentation entirely welcoming.

The gameplay itself combines roguelike deck-building with turn-based tactics in dynamic space battles that are both strategic and accessible. With an abundance of diverse but easy-to-understand cards and a slowly ramping difficulty, Cobalt Core’s combat encounters are able to maintain a solid level of depth while preventing confusion.

5

For The King

Approachable Combat & Tactical Overworld Exploration

Released

April 19, 2018

Developer(s)

Ironoak Games

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

For The King is a strategy RPG with a roguelike structure that tasks players with leading a party of three across an overworld map and battling enemies in turn-based combat. With a deeper focus on strategy than tactics, For The King is able to offer remarkably accessible combat, but its overworld exploration remains a tremendously tactical experience.

Players must be careful about the positioning of their heroes on the overworld map and must plan their movements accordingly. The world changes over time, and players must act quickly and tactically if they’re to make the most of random events and avoid dangerous foes. Despite this, the game’s accessible combat mechanics keep it approachable, and playing in co-op significantly reduces the number of elements players need to juggle.

4

Necroking

A Tactical Autobattler

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: 2024
• Developer(s): Alawar
• Genre: Tactics

Necroking is a minimalist combination of real-time tactics and auto-battling with roguelite elements. In the game, players explore a grid-based overworld and take part in tactical battles, strategically summoning units to different sections of the battlefield in order to succeed.

The simple exploration of the overworld and lack of constant control over the combat encounters ensures Necroking is an accessible experience. However, the intuitive summoning system and deck-building elements ensure the player always has both tactical and strategic decisions to make.

3

Into The Breach

Turn-Based Tactics With A Forgiving Structure

Released

February 27, 2018

ESRB

e

Into The Breach isn’t necessarily an easy game, but its innovative approach to enemy telegraphing and puzzle-based game design makes it perfect for beginners. More specifically, each combat encounter in Into The Breach is incredibly easy to read, as all the necessary information is given to the player freely.

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These combat encounters are made all the more accessible via the addition of an undo button and the ability to reset entire turns when things go awry. Furthermore, Into The Breach tasks players with controlling just three units in its turn-based battles, ensuring players never have too much to manage at once.

2

Tinyfolks

A Short & Easy-To-Learn Tactical RPG

Systems

Released

June 1, 2022

Engine

Unity

With its minimalist pixel-art graphics, short play-time, and focus on threat assessment over tactical positioning, Tinyfolks is a great introductory experience for newcomers to the genre. Tasking players with assembling a party of unique classes and commanding them through tight combat gauntlets, Tinyfolks excels with its simple turn-based combat and risk-reward structure.

In the game, players are tasked with defeating a variety of unique dungeons with their own enemy types and bosses. Similarly to games such as Darkest Dungeon, Tinyfolks blends this turn-based combat with management mechanics. However, this title simplifies the dungeon-crawling aspect by removing exploration from the gameplay, and, unlike Darkest Dungeon, players need not worry about their adventurers having heart attacks.

1

Shogun Showdown

Combat-Heavy Roguelike Tactics

Released

September 5, 2024

Developer(s)

Roboatino

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Shogun Showdown is a turn-based roguelike that feels like an action game played out in slow motion. This is thanks to its intuitive and innovative combat system that tasks players with simple tiles to maneuver along a single axis, taking out enemies while avoiding incoming damage.

The focus on careful positioning and the overarching strategy brought in by the deck-building elements allows Shogun Showdown to be a deeply tactical experience. However, its simple controls and lack of overly complex mechanics keep it from being inaccessible.

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