Some games are meant to be played for what feels like forever. It’s a daunting task when you think about it. A never-ending gauntlet of enemies, bosses, and levels that are ever-changing, and just enough weaponry to make it through to the end. Welcome, my friends, to the world of Roguelikes. A genre that finally sank its claws into me after taking far too long to land in my peripheral vision, finally. I’ve played a lot of games in the genre, and even some of the biggest names in the business have fallen off my radar faster than I may have anticipated. While my backlog grows ever larger, there are a few that have captured my attention and intrigue to earn a spot in my consistently rotating library of games.

Roguelikes can take the form of many different types of experiences. Some can be first-person shooters, with a unique style or hook that keeps players eternally captivated. With so many new games coming out, it’s hard to keep your attention glued to a particular experience at any given time, so that’s where I come into play. I’ve got three recommendations for you to look into, given that you have the time and patience to master them and become one with them. A first-person shooter that oozes style and charm. A side-scrolling beat ‘em up that would have gobbled down every quarter that I had if it were in an arcade. And a 3D hack-and-slash game that masterfully mixes stylish swordplay and Anime-inspired visuals to create my next indie obsession. 

Image Credit: RyzeUp Studios

‘Roboquest’ Takes the Cake When It Comes to the FPS Roguelike Genre, in My Humble Opinion

FPS, or First-Person Shooter games, are one of the longest-standing genres available on the market. These thrilling titles have captivated players for decades at this point, and we’re only seeing them get better as time goes on. Rather than devoting my time to a competitive multiplayer FPS that has billions of dollars in budget, I’d rather dive into the smaller games. The ones that have passion behind them, rather than profit. And that’s where Roboquest comes into the picture. Imagine, if you will, the genuinely excellent gunplay and graphical style of a game like Borderlands, but without the toilet-humor and pop-culture references that will age just as well as spoiled milk. Add in co-op gameplay with another friend, unique and interesting classes, and some of the coolest guns in the shooter genre imaginable. Then you’ve got the most basic, rough estimate of what makes Roboquest special. 

I’ve spent a lot of time playing FPS games. Ranging from certified classics like Goldeneye or Timesplitters, to the latest releases from talented studios with a budget bigger than I could ever imagine. But, after a while, these new-fangled FPS games typically lose the plot. Wild skins that don’t match the aesthetic of the game, overpriced DLC bundles that cost more than most new AAA games, and toxicity that would make Serj Tankian blush. Roboquest, on the other hand, puts gunplay and movement to the forefront, backing it up with a fantastic visual style and some of the most satisfying roguelike gameplay I’ve ever experienced. It’s the epitome of “one more run”, without realizing that the sun is on the horizon and that you’ve been playing for hours upon hours non-stop. 

The thing about Roboquest, however, is that it’s one of those games that is fantastic by itself or with a friend. You don’t need to bring a pal along for the ride. But if you do? Be prepared to devote some extra time every week to try and get just a little further. Selectable difficulties, classes, perks, and skills make this one that is accessible to everybody. Most importantly? It plays great with a controller, so regardless of what platform you eventually decide to pick up this masterclass of FPS gameplay on, it’ll play like a dream. But what if you’re not a fan of shooters? What if you want to just hack-and-slash your way through endless hordes of folklore-inspired creatures? Well, do I have the perfect game to put on your radar, then? 

Image Credit: Mixed Realms PLE LTD

‘13Z’ Brings the Hack-And-Slash Action to the Forefront, and Has Me Itching for More

Typically, in today's day and age, I associate browsing through social media with doomscrolling. It feels like we have a continuous flood of bad news plaguing our newsfeeds every day. Thankfully, I’ve catered my algorithms to focus a bit more on the better things. Slick indie games, friends and family, and videos of cats. The dream, right? Well, that’s how I discovered 13Z: The Zodiac Trails for the first time. I saw an interesting-looking game, with fast-paced action combat, an anime-inspired aesthetic, and that there was a demo available now. That was all I needed to see, and I was ready to embark on a journey for the ages. 

Growing up with the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2, hack-and-slash games were a massive part of my youth. But now, this is a genre that has fallen to the wayside in pursuit of the newer, shinier, and more punishing Souls-like formula. Apparently, however, other folks beyond my bubble know that there is untapped potential in the world of Action-combat games, and 13Z: The Zodiac Trials may be some of the most fun I’ve had with a game in this vein in quite a while. But rather than just taking inspiration from previous games in the roguelike genre, or even the hack-and-slash genre, 13Z is trying plenty of new and unique things. Including 4-player co-op. That’s right: you can bring your buddies along for this adventure, fighting your way through hordes of ever-difficult enemies and becoming the stuff of legends. 

Even though there is only a demo available for 13Z at the moment, it’s already got the sauce. It’s got the gameplay loop down to a science already, and it can only continue to improve. This is one of those games that I would suggest getting behind before it becomes the next big thing in the indie scene. Mainly so you can smuggly say “Yeah, I liked 13Z BEFORE it was cool”, or whatever you want to do. What if you’re looking for something that offers this same type of fast-and-furious combat, but with a few less… dimensions. A side-scroller? In the Lord’s year 2025? Oh yeah, it’s happening, and it’s brilliant, beautiful, and something you need to be watching. 

Image Credit: Dotemu, Guard Crush, Supamonks

‘Absolum’ Shows That You Can Have Both Beauty and Brawn

Frog Wizard. That should be more than enough to get people excited about what Absolum has to offer, but I guess I can dive a little deeper beneath the surface to explain why this is one that you should be preparing yourself to jump into. Have you ever heard of a little game called Streets of Rage 4? Imagine if you took the basic premise of beating the everliving piss out of anything that got in your way, added in some High Fantasy for good measure, and turned that general idea into a Roguelike. That’s what Absolum is aiming to do, and after playing the demo, I can say it’s succeeded in every possible way. Also? Frog Wizard. 

Co-op action? Check. Some of the most gorgeous, hand-drawn visuals in the land? Double-check. Satisfyingly crunchy, punchy action that makes most other side-scrollers feel inadequate by measure? Oh, baby, a TRIPLE. Absolum has everything I could have asked for. An incredible progression system, a fantastic cast and crew of characters and NPCs, and a roguelike structure that just begs to be revisited over and over again. Without exaggerating, I think that Absolum has the potential to become the next big thing on the scene, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an influx of side-scrolling beat ‘em up roguelikes wave the ride after this one is released. A wild mixture of Lord of the Rings meets Double Dragon with a flair for the fantastic? I’m sorry to say, but this is beyond peak.
I think it’s safe to say that roguelikes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, I think we’ve only scratched the surface of what this particular genre has to offer. With games like Roboquest, 13Z: The Zodiac Trials, and Absolum redefining and refining what makes this particular genre so enthralling for so many different types of players, we’re finally seeing the full potential of what Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman imagined could be possible back in the 80s with the release of ROGUE. As we continue to watch the genre unfold and advance before our eyes, we can’t forget where it started and where it will continue going from this point forward. And I, for one, am fully on board with the way that things have been moving.