One genre I’ve been appreciating more and more as I get older is roguelites. As a kid, they held no appeal for me, but nowadays I can’t get enough of them. There are some titles that pretty much everybody knows due to their incredible reputation, such as Slay the Spire or Hades. Then there are other great games such as For the King which aren’t as well-known outside the genre, but still have a pretty popular position with gamers. But for this list, I’ll be focusing on the underrated roguelite games that fly under the radar. These hidden gems are not to be missed!
Jump to...
Undermine
I felt like I was unearthing buried treasure when I first discovered Undermine. What a game. This fantastic title contains everything I love in a roguelite. There’re copious relics, randomly generated levels, an economy system, potions, upgrades, captivating NPCs, a banging soundtrack, and so much more. I was hooked from the get-go, and each run felt so different to the next.
Instead of playing as some kind of immortal being who’s constantly resurrected, as in many roguelites, Undermine fully acknowledges the fact that you die at the end of your run. Instead, each time you play, you’ll assume the role of a new adventurer. I like this as it artificially raises the stakes; if you die then you really do die. The combat isn’t overly complex but it’s very smooth, and combined with relics you can do some impressive damage. The movement flows wonderfully true, and you always feel totally in control of your character.
If I were to only recommend one game on this list, it would be Undermine, so please check it out! Also, they’ve recently announced a sequel, so you have that to look forward to!
Ring of Pain
I really wish I’d played more of this one. This was on Xbox Game Pass a few years ago, and I only saw it when it was in the ‘leaving soon’ category. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I decided to give it a shot, and I really enjoyed it. I ended up playing it exclusively for several days until it finally left the service, and I would probably still play it semi-regularly if it were still there. The only reason I haven’t bought it for myself is that I don’t think I can justify the price when I know that I’ll usually gravitate towards Slay the Spire if I’m in the mood for a card-based roguelite. I always keep an eye out for it in sales though, hoping that one day I’ll get lucky.
Rather than being a deck-builder, Ring of Pain is basically a dungeon crawler that uses cards as a mechanic. Along your way, you pick up skills, items, treasures, etc, that will help you destroy the creatures lurking in your path. You quickly learn which items synergise well with each other, and you can create some epic combos.
The runs tend to be pretty short, rarely lasting more than an hour unless you’re really good/ get very lucky, but that’s one of the things I love about this game. It’s not a huge time commitment, so you can get stuck in without worrying about losing a whole afternoon. Although, if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up playing for the whole afternoon anyway after telling yourself the lie “Just one more run”!
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
It was an incredibly bold choice for the creators of Turnip Boy to create a sequel in an entirely different genre to the first one. The original, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a hilarious RPG which ended up being one of my favorite indies of 2021. So when I saw that they were making a sequel, I was ready to play from the get-go.
It keeps the humour and ridiculous world-building of the original, whilst introducing a new style of gameplay. Whilst the original did have weapons, they were secondary to the exploration, and combat was far less intense. In Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, you’re on high alert all the time. There are several awesome upgrades to unlock, as well as a huge range of weaponry. My favorite weapons were the ones that reaped souls, as the souls could then be used to unlock new music, as well as accessing decent weapons early into a run. And believe me, unlocking new music is a huge plus, because the soundtrack is awesome.
The whole game is pretty short, and will only take a few hours total to complete, but it’ll be time well-spent. There are loads of cool side-quests to attend to, and it’s quite cathartic just zipping around firing bullets in any and every direction. The final boss battle is also surprisingly hard compared to the difficulty of the rest of the game. So, be prepared for some tough action!
Iris and the Giant
If you want games that have emotional value as well as just offering entertainment, then this one absolutely delivers. Iris and the Giant is so beautifully poignant, as it follows the inner world of a bullied young girl. The story surrounding this is brilliant, and you may well find yourself tearing up. The entire premise of the game is that you’re playing as Iris, and you’re battling against your own depression. It’s a really powerful message that stays with you long after you’ve logged out.
Unlike most deck-builders, you don’t get to recycle your deck once you run out of cards. Instead, each card can be played only once, so timing is crucial. Conserving your deck is a huge part of the strategy, so you’ll need to decide if and when to strike. It’s not the most complex combat system in the world and there are limited card effects, but I still found it enjoyable.
With multitudes of side-quests to recruit NPC helpers, as well as alternate game modes, Iris and the Giant has a lot of replayability. If you like deck-builders, this might be worth you trying out.
Rogue Lords
I remember being really excited for this one when I first saw the trailer, but it took a while to be added to consoles, so I didn’t get round to playing it until recently. I love the vibes here, it feels super gothic, but with a modern take. The character art is wonderful, and they have distinct identities. I also love how you alternate between overworld movement and single-screen events. It’s a fun way to hold your attention. Being able to use your devil powers to manipulate stats is also a brilliant concept.
The basic premise is that you complete a story one chapter at a time by progressing through a map that’s somewhat new every time. You may encounter events that require certain skills, or you may find yourself in battle with some pesky heroes. Throughout the game, you have the chance to earn souls which can then be spent on upgrades during your run. The combat itself uses action points and skills, the latter of which you acquire throughout your run. It’s relatively simple, but coming up with effective combos requires strategy and experience.
When you die, you’ll be rewarded for your progress in the form of unlocking new skills/ characters, which can make future runs easier, or at least more interesting. Overall, Rogue Lords is an excellent roguelite for people who enjoy accessible turn-based combat.
Brotato
This is the kind of game that feels like a joke at first. I looked at it and assumed it was just a silly take on Vampire Survivors that wouldn’t hold up under scrutiny. However, I couldn’t have been further from the truth! Much like Untitled Goose Game, just because a game has a silly premise, doesn’t mean it can’t deliver on the gameplay. Brotato employs impressive mechanics to create an engaging bullet hell that will have you on the edge of your seat. With a range of cool weapons to wield against the enemy hordes, this game can captivate you for hours! If you enjoy fast-paced roguelites then Brotato is definitely worth checking out.
Wildfrost
Another deck-builder, but I regret nothing. They’re a personal favourite of mine, and I’ll happily mention any that embody the spirit of what makes this subgenre so great. Wildfrost immediately appealed to me with its cute graphics and charming setting. I really love the progression through the map, and the upbeat soundtrack keeps you motivated as you play.
There’s a great range of cards, and if you plan correctly, you can come up with some impressive combos. Admittedly, there’s not quite as much depth as in Slay the Spire, but that’s hardly a fair metric. Wildfrost still offers plenty of variety, and you’ll need to put your thinking cap on to come up with winning strategies. With so many fun elements at play, this adorable title is well-worth your time!
Time Break Chronicles
This is another title that slipped totally under my radar for the longest time. It styles itself as ‘A roguelite JRPG adventure through space time’, and I mean, what a hook! The retro music is perfect and flares my nostalgia, taking me back to the RPG games of my youth. The pixellated look is also clean and classic, and overall the vibes are exactly what you’d hope for with a game like this.
Whilst it’s technically still in early access (as of April 2024), the game has been ‘out’ since 2020, and the game feels very well-made, unlike some early access games. Time Break Chronicles encourages trial and error to really learn the styles of the different heroes so as to win the turn-based combats. However, this process is fun, and each run feels unique, which is certainly helped by the sheer range of heroes available.
If it’s this good in early access, the full game is bound to be something really special! You should start playing it now so that when it finally gets the recognition it deserves, you can say that you were there before it was cool.
Rogue Glitch Ultra
When I think of this game, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘neon chaos’. There’s so much going on at once, so you really need to have your brain firing on all cylinders. The bright neon colour scheme just adds to the craziness, so Rogue Glitch Ultra is definitely not a game I’d recommend for anyone with epilepsy. The whole thing feels like some kind of mad fever dream.
I think that more games should be roguelite platformers, it’s a sub-genre that you just don’t see often enough. I’m really glad that the developers decided to take the plunge and try something different, because it works super well. They even added a co-op mode so you can experience the madness with your friends. Get your jump on, dodge attacks, and take out all the monsters!
The soundtrack is made of upbeat retro tracks which fit the vibe perfectly. The whole game flows really well, and you can tell that there was full cohesion between the developers. Everything comes together so well to create a fun game that’ll give you hours of fun.
Going Under
The art style for this game reminds me of Totally Reliable Delivery Service, yet somehow even wackier. It definitely leans into the humour, and the dialogue options tend to be pretty witty. I also love the premise that you’re an office worker just casually taking on hordes of enemies that happen to live right below your place of work. This is a dungeon-crawler, but not like you’re used to.
The combat is equal parts fun and hilarious. It’s a genius concept to allow you to use every single asset as a weapon. Pretty much anything you see in the game can be picked up and used as a weapon. This makes each dungeon attempt feel fresh and exciting. There are also plenty of upgrades to buy to make your attacks more powerful and to improve your attempts.
Despite some obvious differences in gameplay and art style, I actually think this one has similar vibes to Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, and if you enjoy one, you should definitely check out the other.
Conclusion
There you go! 10 awesome hidden gem roguelites for you to check out. Hopefully these underrated roguelite games will spice up your gameplay if you felt you were getting stuck in a rut with the same old titles. Even though Undermine is my personal favourite on the list, there are loads of excellent games here, and I’d be intrigued to know which ones you like the best.
You can join the discussion over in our Facebook community, or you can tweet to me on Twitter! And if you still feel like you don’t have enough roguelites to play, here’s my review of Ship of Fools.