Best Roguelikes On Xbox Game Pass

Roguelikes have come a long way in the past decade. They used to be a niche genre but thanks to games like the Dark Souls series, the type of risk-reward gameplay has become easier to understand for most players. Those games aren’t roguelikes, but they share a lot of the same DNA with the genre.

There are plenty of roguelikes to consume on the Xbox console side of Game Pass, along with a handful of roguelites. These titles are generally designed to keep players coming back for more, and they are often perfect games to throw on for a 30-minute session. What are the best roguelikes on Xbox Game Pass?

Updated on December 17, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Ultimately, there are only so many roguelike games on the market, so projects that fit the genre are not added to Game Pass every month. Still, subscribers who want to get lost in an addictive loop have more than a few titles at their fingertips, and most of these titles are designed to keep somebody busy for a long time.

Loop Hero

Metascore: 82 (PC)

Added to Xbox Game Pass in April 2023, Loop Hero is an auto-battler that focuses on stats and dungeon-building. As a hero in a grim world that has forgotten its history, players follow a set path that starts with no identifying features except for basic enemies. As they defeat the creatures blocking their way, the hero accumulates loot, including tile cards that change the map’s layout. Each tile has benefits and negatives, so players must carefully reshape the route in a way that increases their chances of surviving a run and defeating a boss.

Naturally, as this is a roguelite, death means starting over; however, since this is a roguelite, the hero retains some resources when they are defeated. This adds another strategic element to the experience since players have to determine which cards to take along with them for the next run.

Inkulinati

Metascore: N/A

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can try their hands at a few early access titles thanks to a program called Game Preview. Added at the beginning of 2023, Inkulinati is one of these projects. Naturally, as it is still in development, players need to take that into account if they plan to take this unique title out for a spin; however, there is already a lot to admire about the strategy game.

Inkulinati is a roguelike with an eye-catching visual style inspired by medieval scrolls and paintings. As a painter, players have to use limited ink to craft a party to take on the upcoming battle. The combat system is specifically strategic, and players will need to think multiple steps ahead rather than simply picking the attack that can do the most immediate damage. Inkulinati also changes its rhythm frequently, so a strategy that works for one encounter could prove useless for the next.

Darkest Dungeon

Metascore: 84 (PC)

Darkest Dungeon has been around for a couple of years, and its reputation as a hard-as-nails RPG is written in stone. As the indie title is reasonably popular, one has to assume that anyone interested in trying out the 2016 title has already descended into its horrifying dungeon. Nevertheless, Darkest Dungeon was added to Xbox Game Pass in February 2023, introducing it to a wider audience than just die-hard players.

After inheriting a mansion sitting on top of a dungeon, players can hire heroes to traverse the horrors waiting below. Permadeath is not only a thing but a regular consequence, which can be very frustrating since characters level up like in traditional RPGs. As the dungeon’s layout is procedurally generated, each run is unique, although they are all punishing.

Roguelikes and roguelites are known for their crushing difficulty, but even among its contemporaries, Darkest Dungeon stands out as an especially overwhelming experience. Newcomers might be tempted to give up within a few hours, but if they choose to persevere, they will be treated to deep role-playing mechanics and an addictive combat system.

Dead Cells

Metascore: 91

Dead Cells is one of the best roguelikes of the past few years. It’s still getting played on all major platforms today and a Castlevania DLC was recently announced. Besides Dead Cells being a fun game to replay, the developers have kept the experience alive by adding new content that expands on the base experience in exciting ways.

Dead Cells lives and dies on the strength of its combat, which is melee-based and requires players to analyze an enemy’s movements. The Metroidvania has garnered comparisons to Dark Souls, and as cliche of a statement as that has become, it is not unfounded in this case. Although by no means easy, Dead Cells does include a system that allows permanent items to be purchased, so a defeat does not have to result in a complete restart.

Merge & Blade

Metascore: N/A

Merge & Blade is a special case since the default mode, Campaign, is not a roguelike. However, the developer did add a Roguelike mode to the game, and there are plans to expand this option in the coming months. Merge & Blade is an auto-battler that tasks players with building an army to take on monsters; once the set-up is done, it is up to the soldiers to carry their weight. A unique feature is that the party’s formation is designed through a Tetris-style system that allows characters to level up if they are three of a kind.

The Roguelike mode plays out similarly to the Campaign, although it features different classes/characters and scenarios. A run lasts until the unique character dies, which can get pretty difficult after 10 or so battles. Merge & Blade uses a scoring system to keep track of a player’s performance, making it easy to keep track of how a run has gone.

Moonlighter

MyAnimeList: 88

Have you ever wondered who stocks shops full of potions and gear in RPGs? Moonlighter seemingly answers that question. It’s about a merchant who runs his shop in the daylight and then adventures into the dungeons at night to collect items to then sell in his shop.

This roguelike is approachable, even without the need for assist options. It’s not going to be easy by any means, but players should be able to get a grasp of the upgrade loop quickly. A little grinding will make any obstacle in Moonlighter seem like nothing at all.

Monster Train

MyAnimeList: 86

Deck builders and roguelikes go well together, and Xbox Game Pass has a few examples of the genres’ synergy. Monster Train tasks players with protecting a power source by setting up defenses across a train’s various levels. The goal is to resist the enemy’s attacks, and doing so requires carefully considering not only which cards to summon but also where they will be most effective.

Monster Train is challenging but generally fair. The roguelike comes with five starter decks, two of which are picked for each run. This selection provides quite a bit of variety, providing an incentive for players to shake things up when they start to get tired of a deck.

Neon Abyss

MyAnimeList: 81

Neon Abyss is another different take from the previous entries. Instead of hacking and slashing through enemies with melee weapons, the emphasis in this game is on guns. There are standard pistols and machine guns but there are more outrageous weapons too like one that can shoot lightning.

Neon Abyss is more arcade-like in nature with not a lot carrying over between runs which is fine. The bigger letdown with the game is that there isn’t a co-op option, even though it looks like there should be. Still, Neon Abyss is a fun roguelike with satisfying combat and a cool visual style.

Slay The Spire

MyAnimeList: 89 (PC)

Slay the Spire is a card-based roguelike that is also like a choose-your-own-adventure game. Players start with a small roster of heroes but unlock more, along with new cards, along the way. They are asked which paths they want to take with some leading to traps and monsters and others to treasure.

It’s a gamble, but that is what this genre is all about even if the fighting is more like a turn-based RPG. Slay the Spire is another challenging one, though, without much progression carrying over; however, it is also one of those games that encourage players to go for one more round after each defeat.

Vampire Survivors

MyAnimeList: 95

Created by a solo player, Vampire Survivors took Steam by storm when it entered early access towards the end of 2021. Eventually, the game garnered a full release on PC and made its way to Microsoft’s consoles, being available on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This roguelike drops players in maps with 30-minute time limits and challenges them to survive as long as possible. After picking a character and equipment, survivors are bombarded by enemies from all sides, with the battle intensifying as the minutes pass.

As players score kills, they level up their weapons and items, which is crucial to standing any chance during a stage’s last 10 minutes. Vampire Survivors has an addictive gameplay loop that is accessible and immediately understandable, while still offering a significant challenge. The game comes with plenty of unlockables as well, including new characters and weapons that come with their own strengths, weaknesses, and strategy guides.

Vampire Survivors is the perfect buffer game to throw on for a quick session in between longer experiences.

Hitman: World Of Assassination

MyAnimeList: 87 (Hitman 3)

Originally released as Hitman 3, IO Interactive opted to combine all three entries into World of Assassination, a package that is unquestionably one of the most expansive and complete options for stealth fans. Hitman‘s core gameplay loop involves completing missions as Agent 47, and players are encouraged to experiment with their approaches. As such, the core experience is not a bad fit for roguelike fans since repeating levels to try different strategies is standard practice. However, if that is not good enough, they can always turn to Freelancer mode, which is Hitman‘s take on the roguelike formula.

Freelancer reshuffles and reframes the campaign’s missions, crafting them into a spontaneous order for Agent 47 to take on. More importantly, players are left to their own devices, and they have to decide on a game plan and stick to it as they try to complete objectives. The locations are also populated by random NPCs, including an unknown target, to ensure players really feel like they have been thrown into the deep end and cannot just rely on accumulated knowledge to get by.

Other Games That Roguelike Fans Might Enjoy

Ultimately, there are not many roguelikes on Xbox Game Pass, and fans of the genre will eventually run out of games to try. Luckily, there are a few titles that can scratch a similar itch, even if they do not belong to the genres.

Deathloop

Deathloop has quite a few hallmarks of roguelites, all the while changing a couple of core elements that stop it from perfectly slotting in the genre. As Colt, players must infiltrate a party and execute eight targets over the course of a day, which is split into different periods. Failure to accomplish the mission resets the day, a mechanic that is plot-relevant since Colt is fully aware that they are stuck in a time loop. Deathloop is story-driven in general, with most playthroughs expected to last above 10 hours; however, unlike a number of roguelikes, the game has a fixed endpoint, and there is not all that much incentive to replay the campaign since the map is fixed and not procedurally-generated.

While not perfect, Deathloop is an interesting game with an engaging premise, decent Arkane-style combat, and a really fun PvP. Even if it does not offer everything a roguelike fan might want in a project, it shares enough similarities with the genre to warrant a try, especially for people who like some of the developer’s other releases.

Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut

A post-apocalyptic game with a Western aesthetic, Wasteland 2 is a highly regarded isometric RPG with solid tactical combat. Although not overly difficult for its genre, the game incorporates enough of a challenge to reflect its world’s harsh nature, punishing players who are poorly prepared or react too slowly. Throughout the campaign, players can recruit a range of NPCs to accompany their own created characters, with a party consisting of up to seven members.

If a character goes down in a fight, they can be revived either by the appropriate healing item or the Surgeon skill. If neither of these things is done in a timely manner, the fallen fighter can die permanently, and there is no way to reverse this in-game unless someone loads an older save file. Wasteland 2‘s permadeath feature is fairly forgiving in the grand scheme of things, but it does add an extra wrinkle to battles since there are genuine consequences for the player’s actions.

Wasteland 3 also has a permadeath mode.

Doom & Doom Eternal

Id Software’s Doom needs no introduction, and the series has been on a roll since 2016. Both the reboot and Doom Eternal are aggressive run-and-gun shooters with non-stop action, an unapologetic appreciation for gore, and satisfying weapon arsenals. Even on normal difficulty, the games are by no means easy, and they will challenge most players, even FPS veterans. The projects’ standard campaigns are straightforward linear shooters that utilize a checkpoint system, and they have nothing in common with roguelites; however, there is a way to change that.

Doom‘s Arcade Mode adds a scoring system. Players pick a level and try to work their way through it as fast as possible, butchering every demon en route to the finish line. If the Doom Slayer dies at any point, they will need to restart that run, a feature that basically mimics the thrills of a roguelike.

Doom Eternal features Extra Life mode, which basically removes the unlimited retries found in a typical playthrough. Similar to retro games, Doomguy collects additional lives by finding tokens scattered across levels; once all of their lives are exhausted, it is game over and players will need to start from scratch.

Although these modes scream “hardcore,” they can be played on any of the games’ difficulty settings, so they are hardly unbeatable.

Remnant 2

While they exist in their own bubble, Soulslikes are not a bad shout for roguelike fans. Both genres revolve around repetition, with the main difference being that Soulslikes do not typically send players back to the very start following a defeat (however, they will need to replay potentially large sections). Still, there is always a fear that a single mistake could ruin a lot of work, along with forcing players to work through a long gauntlet of enemies just to reach the same spot again. While this element is not as prominent in Remnant 2 as in some other Soulslikes since death does not result in a very significant punishment, the game makes up for it in other areas.

For instance, dungeons are procedurally generated for each playthrough, meaning their layouts and enemies are randomized. This design decision incentivizes repeat playthroughs since players will not be able to experience everything the game has to offer in a single run. And, just to be clear, Remnant 2 has a lot of content to offer. Along with a robust Archetype/class system that is tailor-made for co-op, the game has multiple unique worlds that are large semi-open hub areas filled with main missions along with some secondary content. Naturally, loot is also a big part of the experience, although it leans more into build and stat upgrades rather than endless weapons.

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