#dodge roll

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth    The definitive roguelike for over a decade, The Binding of Isaac set most of the current genre standards in stone. While it wasn’t the first roguelike, it introduced the heavier emphasis on the macrogame progression of progressing challenges across numerous runs and massive item count that have become staples in future games. A scared, crying toddler named Isaac has fallen into his basement to hide from his religious fanatic mother, and now must survive the grotesque monsters and demons he’s trapped with, make use of the junk lying around to upgrade his abilities and weaponise his tears, and escape. With over 700 different items and almost as many achievements and unlocks (as of the Repentance DLC), Isaac is far and away the largest and most in-depth game in the genre. The playerbase is still as strong as ever, and a frequent train of updates from developer Edmund McMillen keeps the game alive and thriving.

Hades II    The long-awaited successor to one of the genre’s most popular entries, Hades II brings a greater focus on narrative and characterisation arcs rarely seen in other roguelikes through Melinoë’s interactions with the Greek pantheon across her countless runs through the Underworld. Determined to rescue her father Hades from the clutches of Cronos, the god of time, Melinoë gains most of her upgrades by encountering and challenging various gods - and the more often you find them in runs, the more familiar and chatty they’ll get with Melinoë and more of their own stories will open up. Much like the first game, Hades II has a beautifully distinct artstyle and incredibly striking and memorable character designs, alongside engaging narrative twists and turns that will keep the player coming back all the way to - and beyond - the game’s full release out of early access.

Risk of Rain 2    A stellar sequel to an old classic, Risk of Rain 2 mixes up the roguelike difficulty scaling by introducing a constant timer. The enemies gradually grow stronger and more dangerous the longer you spend in a run - the player must balance quickly tearing through the levels or carefully searching for more loot and upgrades before the ever-increasing difficulty leaves them out to dry. Beating the second-last level also gives you the option to rewind back to the beginning with all your gear, letting you get even stronger every single loop until you’re ready to confront the brutal final boss. You play as one of several different survivors, each with unique abilities and playstyles, trapped on a deadly planet and surrounded by savage wildlife and scattered ship cargo. Using mysterious teleporters to traverse the planet and find the remains of a previous expedition, the survivors must arm themselves with the strange cargo littering the world, slowly becoming just as monstrous as the creatures they’re fighting.

Dead Cells    How far will you go to earn freedom - especially if you’re not sure it’s even possible? In Dead Cells, you start each run by possessing the rotten bodies of new prisoners to escape a grimy cell in an infested dungeon, hoping this one won’t get torn apart five steps out the door. For an extra level of customizability in each attempt, you can also pick from a selection of starter weapons you unlock throughout the game - perhaps a defensive run this time with a shield, or go full offence with a pair of daggers? The game also introduces metroidvania-esque permanent upgrades to the roguelike formula, unlocking abilities needed to open up new areas and find hidden secrets. Once you look past the grim, dreary atmosphere and the bleak narrative of a decaying kingdom, you’ll find the true goofy lighthearted tone of the game; it’s even become somewhat of the indie-game-crossover central, bringing in weapons and costumes from other indie classics like Castlevania, Terraria, and Risk of Rain.

Enter the Gungeon    Within the depths of the Gungeon, a sprawling labyrinth of bullets and puns, time-travel shenanigans ensue as a small party of “gungeoneers” seek The Gun That Can Kill The Past and aim to erase their past mistakes. Enter the Gungeon brings much more intense bullet hell gameplay, with the player dodging and weaving through complex, intricate attack patterns while unloading your arsenal of guns at swarms of sentient ballistics. It features countless bizarre weapons, from realistic guns to more outlandish firearms like full-auto rocket launchers and giant bullets that fire guns that then fire bullets. Even the most obscure references and puns are turned into guns - you could shoot fish out of a barrel, or use a lower-case letter r as a gun because it vaguely looks like one. Despite the silliness, Gungeon demands a considerable level of skill and coordination for consistently staying alive against the endless Gundead, so it’s perfect for roguelike veterans and newbies alike that seek the extra challenge.

   There’s few gaming genres quite as diverse as roguelikes, with plenty of well-known examples beyond those on this list. Which one is your favourite? Know any other roguelikes that have something to set them apart from the rest? Let me know! Feedback, reblogs and likes are all much appreciated!   Thanks for reading!