Roguelike modes are all the rage these days, both in the mainstream and indie markets. From Greek myth to post-apocalyptic, there’s no shortage of games with a good challenge. Still, even with the variety that’s out there, certain titles perfect for a roguelike system implemented have been overlooked.
Encompassing the whole video game spectrum, roguelikes are capable of delivering supplemental or entirely new experiences from beloved titles. For developers, it can be a way to use existing themes or mechanics in a fresh way. For players, though, it offers an exciting way to experience our favorite games in a new, often more challenging, way.
10Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Card games like Inscryption and Slay the Spire have cemented deck builders as worthwhile roguelike contenders. Similarly, Fireaxis Games’Marvel’s Midnight Sunshas a great foundation already, with varied missions and a roster of heroes to choose from.
Going through a gauntlet of Hyrda goons where each mission rewards new cards to strengthen your decks sounds like a winning formula. Throw in a few villain mini bosses like Crossbones or Venomn to spice up your run, and you have yourself a Marvel adventure worthy of the comics.
9Ultrakill
Boomer shooters are the affectionately named style for games likeUltrakill, which emulate the fast-paced nature and old-school presentation of some of the original FPS games. Ultrakill stands tall amongst them thanks to its mixture of traditional shooter elements along with a style meter seen elsewhere in titles like Devil May Cry.
Already possessing spin-off modes like a training sandbox and an endless arena, a roguelike mode feels like it would perfectly match Ultrakill’s already wild tone. Just like at the start of the campaign, it would be thrilling to have to work your way up from a revolver to the full devastating arsenal using style points to purchase upgrades like alternative firing modes and arm enhancements along the way.
8SIFU
Few games put players on such a difficult road to true martial arts mastery asSifudoes. Those who finish its grueling campaign must truly understand the tools of combat the protagonist is equipped with. Afterwards, for those still seeking challenges, the Arena mode can satisfy that itch; however, a roguelike mode would be even more fitting for the game’s themes.
Already, death is a gameplay mechanic with the resurrection system and upgrades persisting between the main story runs. A roguelike mode would match the game’s existing content excellently, combining the multiple objectives of Arena mode with the patience required to see the campaign through to the end.
7Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonderonce again succeeds in capturing that same Mario magic while bringing new ideas to the table. Still, there is room for the Mario formula to expand even further.
With Super Mario Maker debuting the Mario 100 challenge, it would be a very pleasant surprise to see such a mode make its return. Rather than user-generated courses, though, having a random assortment of hand-crafted Nintendo levels including the newer elements introduced would make for a fresh, exciting challenge.
6Persona 5 Royal
ThePersonaseries has branched out beyond just its JRPG roots to explore other genres in the past, like dungeon crawlers and fighting games. Their success has proven that the characters and themes are highly adaptable, making them a perfect fit for the roguelike genre.
The fact that the protagonist is capable of capturing his enemies to use in battle would make for a fun way to mix up each run by needing to craft new teams on the fly. Not to mention another spin-off could be just another excuse to explore the dynamic of the much belovedPersona 5cast.
5Aliens: Dark Decent
Horror and roguelikes mix extraordinarily well, with the dread of the former combined with the tension of the latter creating a suffocating atmosphere. (In the best possible way, of course.)Aliens: Dark Decentwas a unique take on Alien IP, taking a more strategic approach to the series rather than the more action and survival horror of previous installments.
As the game is already structured around building and maintaining troops, a roguelike addition could be a way to build up your skills for the campaign or test your survival capabilities after the main story has been completed.
4Cyberpunk 2077
After an initially rough launch,Cyberpunk 2077has effectively redeemed itself in the eyes of gamers thanks to its expansion as well as the Netflix anime and comic book series. With many introduced to the setting via 2077, having it expand beyond just an RPG could be enough to attract even more new fans.
A roguelike mode would be able to do exactly that. Emulating the journey of the protagonist from Edgerunners, David, you could be placed on a fast track of working your way up to becoming a mercenary legend, all the while upgrading yourself with fancy new chrome and gear. Subsequent runs could be handled by new characters picking up the torch from the old, taking with them some of the eddies, implants, or firepower to increase their chances of success even further.
3Assassin’s Creed
TheAssassin’s Creedseries hasn’t been shy about trying new things. Side scrollers, action RPGs, and a VR title allow you to enjoy the world of assassins through several different perspectives, not to mention periods of history. While everyone has their favorite, a roguelike version would be the perfect way of revisiting these iconic historical settings and maybe even seeing some new ones.
The overarching narrative of Assassin’s Creed also makes justifying this surprisingly simple, offering those in the present day a rapid-fire look at the highlights of many assassins over the years.
2Baldur’s Gate 3
AsBaldur’s Gate 3won Game of the Year in 2023, it is clear that Larian Studios excellently handled adapting the D&D mechanics to video game form. The narrative does a wonderful job of immersing you in the world for dozens of hours, but there is little on offer for those searching for a more bite-sized experience.
This is why a roguelike mode could be the perfect way to capture the ‘one-shot’ experience found on the tabletop. A smaller mode more focused on combat to quickly play through an exciting scenario with friends while building up unique equipment and points would be a worthwhile addition to an already excellent game.
1Resident Evil 4 Remake
Many of theResident Eviltitles over the years have experimented with additional modes over the years to go along with their excellent campaigns. The ever-iconic Mercenaries mode is the most popular, but even it has seen different forms.Resident Evil 4 Remakeopted to call back to its predecessor with a more arcade focus, but something brand new in addition to this legacy game mode could be just what the remake needed to set it apart from the original.
A game mode built around the game’s stellar combat with a focus on upgrading weapons each run would be a blast to play. Doubly so if the unlockable characters from Mercenaries were included as well to offer even more replay value.
