Welcome, Dear Reader, to yet another exciting instalment of me writing about roguelikes and roguelites for your consideration.
In this feature we’re going all in on Game Pass roguelikes, roguelites, and roguish adventures, of which there are many on the popular subscription service from Microsoft.
For the uninitiated, Game Pass is a sub for Xbox and PC that is absolutely stacked with games of all sorts. It’s good value for money and so it has become very popular. It’s like Netflix but for video games.
It’s also got a decent selection of roguelike / roguelite games. So many, in fact, that it became necessary to put together a list that includes everything on Game Pass that identifies as a roguelike.
Roguelikes on Game Pass Core
Available only on console, Game Pass Core is the new name for Xbox Gold, the old multiplayer service. However, as part of the upgrade, Microsoft included a selection of games to keep people busy.
There are 30-odd games in there, much fewer than you’ll get in the main subscription, but it actually contains several games that I consider to be among the best of all the Xbox Game Pass games. I think I drew the line at Deep Rock Galactic, which uses procedural generation but isn’t a proper roguelite.
Dead Cells | Motion Twin, Evil Empire – Rogueliker’s first recommendation is, of course, Dead Cells. Motion Twin’s action platformer perfectly fuses metroidvania exploration and roguelike concepts to create a truly memorable experience. The pixels are super lovely, too.
Descenders | RageSquid– Descenders is all about riding down hills on a mountain bike really fecking quickly. I’ve come back to this procedurally generated hilltop on several occasions, and it never fails to entertain and exhilarate.
Slay the Spire | MegaCrit – The next recommendation is none other than Slay the Spire, the roguelike-infused deck-builder that offers huge replayability thanks to the array of carefully balanced cards at your disposal. Check out this lovely review for more on this genre-defining roguelike deckbuilder.
Vampire Survivors | Poncle – The fourth entry in my list of Xbox Game Pass Core games is probably my favourite. I love how the chaotic and mesmerising visuals in VS are contrasted by the elegant simplicity of the gameplay. There’s a growing collection of DLC, including a new Among Us collab that you can read about here.
Superhot Mind Control Delete | Team Superhot – In Superhot, time moves only when you do. This all important rule is the basis of the action-puzzles of this brilliant FPS. The stylised graphics accentuate the action and the procedural generation of Mind Control Delete keeps every new run feeling like a fresh.
PC Game Pass and Console / Ultimate Game Pass
Next, let us focus on the impressive array of roguelike / roguelite games that can be found over on the main service.
The selection of games detailed below is almost identical on PC and console at the time of writing, with nearly all of the games featured available on both platforms.
Finally, a bit of housekeeping before we get stuck in: I’ll be updating this page as and when games are added and removed from the service, so feel free to bookmark it for future reference.
33 Immortals | Thunder Lotus Games – A recent addition to Game Pass, 33 Immortals is an online action roguelike with a strong emphasis on co-op. The clue is in the name when it comes to this one, with groups of up to 33 players coming together to take on big raid-like challenges. The other thing I want to praise is the art direction, which is absolutely top class and worth taking a closer look at.
Against the Storm | Eremite Games – Next up it’s time to look at an excellent fantasy city builder that tasks players with steering a mixture of fantasy creatures through an environmental catastrophe. Against the Storm links all of your building projects together into a truly unforgettable roguelite-RTS campaign that boasts an extraordinary amount of replayability. Finally, Against the Storm is now available on console, too!
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – The Forgotten Saga | Ubisoft – First things first, the main game is absolutely not a roguelite, however, the free mode added after launch, The Forgotten Saga, very much is inspired by roguelite principles. I wouldn’t recommend this solely for its roguelite mode, but the main game is a fun jaunt through Anglo-Saxon Britain and Norse mythology, and this is a nice way to extend that fun.
Balatro | LocalThunk – This one is a favourite of mine and I’m delighted to see it land on the service, as even more people are going to get to fall in love with this deep and involving deckbuilder. Balatro is a fusion of solitaire, poker, and roguelike deckbuilding (as I found out direct from the developer in our interview), and I’m not exageratting when I say that it’s one of the most addictive games ever made. You have been warned.
Blue Prince | Dogubomb – Not a traditional roguelike by any means, Blue Prince takes some of the cleverest parts of the genre and repurposes them in a superbly intriguing puzzler. This unique and engaging adventure includes time loops and deckbuilding and it takes you into a brain melting mansion wherein you must track down the mysterious 46th room, wherever that is.
Brotato | Blobfish – As I explain in my review, Brotato is one of the best auto-shooters out there. Instead of Vampire Survivors huge maps, the emphasis here is on tight battles against waves of enemies and inventory management, as you look to equip your potato-headed friend with up to six weapons that they use to smash anything that comes near. The upgrade system is simple and intuitive, but it allows you a degree of freedom as your assembling your build for your next attempt. On top of that, while simple, the audio-visual experience is expertly done, making this a really satisfying game to get lost in.
Dead Cells | Motion Twin, Evil Empire – I wrote about the base game above, so I’ll use this entry as an excuse to talk about the impressive selection of DLC, which was made by Evil Empire rather than Motion Twin. You’ll have to pay for the expansions, but if you play the game long enough, you won’t mind doing so at all. As for free DLC, the last of the major updates is now live, so on console at least, Dead Cells is now content complete.
Deathloop | Arkane Studios – Here’s another game that has roguish tendencies, but isn’t actually a roguelite. I’m mentioning it, however, because Arkane Studios is one of the great game developers (I adore the Dishonored, all of which are on Game Pass, too) and you should definitely scope this FPS out.
Descenders | RageSquid– If you’re after the pure rush of speed, you’d have to play a roguelike a whole bunch before you can confidently go fast. Descenders brings that sense of exhilaration right out the box.
Descenders Next | RageSquid– Descenders Next is an ice-cold follow-up that brings a similar sense of exhilaration to your screens, this time with a new extreme sports focus. This is at the limit of games that we will consider for this article, but it gets the nod thanks to the heavy emphasis on proc-gen. Finall, this sequel is still in Early Access, and the Xbox equivalent, the ol’ Game Preview Program.
Enter the Gungeon | Dodge Roll – This pixel-perfect action-RPG is allll about the guns. I’ve always really enjoyed this charming little indie, but be warned as it doesn’t pull its punches. Be prepared to dodge, roll, and shoot with pinpoint precision if you’re going to conquer this dungeon.
For the King II | IronOak Games – This fantasy co-op roguelike sequel has been building up a head of steam after launching on PC in an uneven state. Things are much better now after several updates, and this charming fantasy party-based RPG is well worth checking out on Game Pass, especially if you love tabletop gaming.
Ghostwire: Tokyo – The Spider’s Web | Tango Gameworks – There isn’t a huge number of big budget roguelikes out there, but The Spider’s Web mode in Ghostwire: Tokyo is definitely one to check out. The roguish mode reshuffles the deck and serves up a string of new challenges, and as you can imagine, things can quite tricky as you progress.
Go Mecha Ball | Whale Peak Games – This novel arcade game brings together number of contrasting ideas to create something that feels quite unique when compared to the other games on this list. Of course there’s roguelite progression, but that’s the backdrop here; Go Mecha Ball introduces pinball mechanics and twin-stick shooting into the mix, and it’s a fun combination that’s worth a download.
He is Coming | Chronocle – The old school vibes in He is Coming are borderline brilliant, but for now this one’s only available for PC-based Game Pass subscribers. Still, this pre-apocalyptic RPG has loads of potential thanks to an already rock solid roguish framework, and as it moves through Early Access / Game Preview I’m eager to see how it balances out.
Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games – If you’re after atmosphere, perhaps a spooky game to play during Halloween, or maybe you just love a good deckbuilder, either way you should definitely check out this moody but utterly unique card game set in a strange cabin where you must make one or two sacrifices if you’re going to survive.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die | Stormteller Games – As we highlighted in our recent review of The Eternal Die, this is a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the scene. Alternatively, if you know your way around a rogue, this Lost in Random sequel is just plain fun.
Metal Slug Tactics | Leikir Studio – If you’re after a game that puts a completely different spin on a classic franchise, then look no further than Metal Slug Tactics. Leikir Studio’s tactics adventure blends roguish elements with hand-crafted maps and a roster of characters drawn from the iconic action series.
Monster Train | Shiny Shoe – Choo choo! All aboard the Monster Train, Shiny Shoe’s excellent roguish deckbuilder. This wonderful little card game is an epic battle between Heaven and Hell. With pesky angels entering at the bottom, you must play your demonic cards right to stop them getting to your pyre at the top!
Monster Train 2 | Shiny Shoe – You wait forever for one Monster Train to turn up, and then two show up at once! This eagerly-awaited sequel arrives exactly five years to the day after the first, and it’s a day one release on Game Pass for good measure. Monster Train 2 is a fine continuation of the original, with new clans, items, rooms, a game-making deployment phase, and much more to unpack. A first class follow-up to a fan-favourite deckbuilder.
Moonlighter | Digital Sun – I love the concept behind Moonlighter. By day you’re a shopkeeper, but by night you’re off into the local dungeon in search of loot and a bit of adventure. The pixel-art is lovely and the gameplay loop is one of the more endearing on this list.
Mullet MadJack | Hammer 95 – Frantic first-person shooter Mullet MadJack has a strange name, certainly, but it also offers an visceral and immediate experience. In short, you must kill robotic enemies to extend the clock and reach the end of each level, then ascend a tower and rescue the world’s most popular influencer. It’s batshit, but also brilliant.
Neon Abyss | Vewoo Games – Side-scrolling shooter Neon Abyss has distinctive pixel-art visuals and a whole bunch of futuristic style. The run ‘n’ gun gameplay also makes it standout from the games on this list, as does the impressive range of weapon synergies you’ll be able to discover. It’s a tough to get to grips with, but it’s really rewarding once you’ve mastered the controls.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap | Robot Entertainment – I can’t sat that I’ve played too much of this series, despite having written about it numerous times over my career. What I can tell you is the focus here is on setting up devious traps to kill orcs, and Deathrap has a roguish element to it.
PlateUp! | It’s happening – Yogcast Games and It’s happening have served up a culinary treat in the form of PlateUp! This one puts you in charge of a chaotic restaurant and has you feeding as many as people as possible, with this particular dish enhanced with a side-portion of roguish progression and a dollop of co-op.
Roboquest | RyseUp Studios – Roboquest has gone through the Game Preview program on Xbox. By the time you read this it will have lost its early access tags, however, this robot-filled shooter has got a lovely cartoony art style and last time I played it, it was a hella fun.
Sifu | Sloclap – If you after something a bit more tactile than your average action-roguelike, then look no further than Sifu. This kung-fu epic is tough but fair, and requires you to master a number of moves as you advance through a roguish tale of revenge. Not a traditional roguelike by any means, but interesting nonetheless.
Slay The Spire | MegaCrit – The deck builder that inspired an army of imitators remains one of the most addictive game on Game Pass. Only download it if you’ve got a few weeks spare.
Superhot: Mind Control Delete | Team Superhot – Building on the gameplay of the excellent original, MCD is a roguelite reworking of a compelling and stylish concept. Superhot is a shooter where time moves only when you do. It’s also all about taking down enemies like you’re John Wick, except in this universe people are crystalline and explode on contact, to stop you feeling like a total mass murderer.
Vampire Survivors | Poncle – I’ve lost so many hours to Vampire Survivors, and it’s a game that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a more relaxed roguelike-inspired experience.
Wargroove 2 | Chucklefish, Robotality – The penultimate entry in this round-up isn’t a roguelike, but it does boast a roguish game mode called Conquest. When played this way, your in-game decisions stick, and your progress carries over between skirmishes. If you want to up the ante, this is the way to play Wargroove 2.
Wildfrost | Deadpan Games, Gaziter – Last but definitely not least is a delightful deckbuilder about crossing a frozen tundra on a mission to push back an eternal winter. It’s cute and it’s clever, and well worth the download if you ask me.
For more great games, read about the best Xbox roguelikes here!
