Roguelike games
Maps regenerated every run and permanent death: When you lose, you start over from scratch.
What is the roguelike genre?
Roguelike is a design tradition named after Rogue, a game from 1980. Two rules define it: The map and content are regenerated for every new game, and death is permanent. When you die you do not continue from a save; you start over from the beginning and face a completely different layout.
This structure means progress builds up in the player, not in the character. On your second run you do not start with a stronger hero but as someone who knows more: You have learned which item is useful, how each enemy behaves and which risk is worth taking.
What defines it?
Death ends the game; there is no going back to a save.
The map, enemies and item placement are rebuilt on every run.
Lasting progress lives in the player's experience, not in the character.
Every life, every item and every decision matters, and none can be undone.
Landmark games
Well-known examples often used to explain the genre. For the list on our site, see the games section below.
At a glance
Roguelike games (26)
PCB Defense
7.8
33 Immortals TR
Pax Autocratica TR
Guildrun TR
Inferius TR
Cardboard Town
Slay the Spire 2 TR
Ascenders: Beyond the Peak TR
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death TR
Ascend to ZERO TR
Made in Türkiye
Anomaly President
Ex Sanguis TR
Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown TR
Rabbit & Steel TR
Steel Swarm: Survivor TR
Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes TR
Let It Die: Inferno TR
Forestrike TR
Arcane Overdrive TR
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault TR
Sodaman TR
Cult of the Lamb TR
Prologue: Go Wayback! TR
Karate Survivor TR
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a roguelike and a roguelite?
In a roguelike, dying really sends you back to zero. In a roguelite some progress stays after death: New abilities, permanent upgrades or unlocked starting options carry over to the next attempt.
Are these games very hard?
The first hours are tough, because dying is a designed part of the genre. The difficulty does not drop over time; your knowledge grows, and that is exactly where the sense of progress comes from.