The roguelite genre has reached new heights in 2025, delivering an unprecedented wave of quality titles that cater to every type of player.
From deck-building adventures to bullet hell chaos, this year proved that roguelites aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving.
Here’s our compiled his top 10 roguelites of 2025, and the diversity on display showcases exactly why this genre continues to dominate the indie gaming landscape.
1. StarVaders
Okay, so starting us off at number #1 is a game called StarVaders. Think of it as a turn-based deck-builder, and it came out at the end of April. Don’t let the simpler look fool you—this game has a ton going on under the hood.
Right away, you get to pick from three totally different classes. There’s the Gunner, the Stinger, and a third one I’ll let you discover for yourself. Each one has a few starting characters with their own special bonuses and decks of cards.
Where the real magic happens is in the compendium. Once you dive in, you’ll find a huge list of powers to unlock for every single class. Every character even has their own signature cards, which means you can try so many different playstyles.
If you’re someone who loves to 100% a game, you’ve got your work cut out for you with a hundred achievements. And if the base game gets too easy, you can crank up the challenge with three different difficulty mods.
2. The Rogue Prince of Persia
Let’s move to number #2. Here we have The Rogue Prince of Persia, made by Evil Empire—the same folks who did the Dead Cells DLC. It fully launched in August after a pretty wild early access period where they completely redid the art style. Honestly, the new look is great; it fits perfectly with the smooth, parkour-heavy action you want from a Prince of Persia game.
You’ll feel right at home if you’ve played Dead Cells. The movement and how you progress are really similar. Your goal is to rescue the Prince’s family from invaders, and every time you die, a magic bola rewinds time by three days. That time-loop isn’t just for story—it’s the core of how you get stronger between runs.
The game sets you up with a series of main missions to follow. As you save villagers, they’ll unlock new weapons, charms, and permanent upgrade paths for you. You can beat the main story in about 10 hours, but if you’re like me and want to grab every achievement and really learn the combat, you’re looking at 15 hours or more.
The fighting is all about dodging, wall-running, and smart positioning. You’ll go through six different areas and face off against three big bosses. The movement and controls are so fluid that every run feels exciting and active. My one small note is that the enemy types don’t feel quite as varied as some other top games in the genre, but it’s still a blast to play.
3. Void War
Okay, so this next one is for you if you’re a fan of the all-time classic, FTL. The game is Void War, and it came out in June. Think of it as a loving tribute that also brings some really smart new ideas to the table.
You’re put in command of a starship, flying through dangerous parts of space. Your job is to manage your crew, your weapons, and all your different ship systems while you get into real-time space battles. You can pick from different commanders and ships, each with their own gear, and you’ll be collecting scrap to buy upgrades, hire new crew, and find better weapons on your journey to a final boss.
One nice change they made? No fuel mechanic. It sounds small, but it makes the whole journey feel smoother—you just play until you either win or your ship is in pieces.
But here’s the real game-changer, and why I think you might love it: the crew combat. Your crew members feel like actual characters. Depending on their species, they can have armor, special weapons, tools, or psychic powers. Sending them over to board an enemy ship isn’t just a last-ditch move anymore.
4. The King is Watching
Now, I have to tell you about The King is Watching, which came out in July. Honestly, this might be the most clever roguelite I’ve seen this year. It’s a base-building strategy game, and it’ll really put your planning skills to the test.
You start by picking a king—there are several to unlock, each with their own special perks. Where it gets deep is in the progression. As you play, you’ll unlock new kinds of soldiers, new buildings, and even slots for royal advisers that give you passive bonuses. With so many advisers to pick from, you can take a totally different approach every time you play.
Here’s the basic loop: you’re building up a small kingdom, getting ready for the next wave of enemies. The cool part is you actually get to choose how hard the next attack will be. More enemies mean better rewards, but also a much bigger chance you’ll get completely overrun. You’ll be juggling multiple resources and building types, so it gets complex fast.
But the real standout is the “gaze” mechanic. You can only see and interact with the parts of your kingdom that are in your king’s line of sight. You have to be super smart about where you place your troops and your resource buildings. And since moving your gaze to a new area takes time, you feel this great tension when you need things to happen in two different places at once.
5. CloverPit
Okay, so if you liked the gambling vibe of Balatro, you’ll want to check out CloverPit. It came out in September and boils that concept down into something super simple and fun. Your main goal is to pay off a debt, and you do it by spinning the reels of a slot machine.
It’s easy to get into. Each round gives you a few spins to make money, and you usually need to survive three rounds to clear your debt. After each round, you spend your “green tickets” on charms. These are basically power-ups that change how the slot machine works—making certain symbols appear more, adding special effects, or even giving you a little interest on your cash.
That’s where the magic happens. Mixing and matching different charms is what makes each run feel new. Some charms only last a few spins, while others stick with you.
When you find a combo that works, you can absolutely break the game and pay off your debt in no time. You also get helpful “phone calls” between rounds that give you extra buffs, and these can be a lifesaver.
6. Monster Train 2
Now, for Monster Train 2. This was the big sequel to one of my all-time favorite deck-builders, and it finally arrived in May. It mixes deck-building with auto-battler mechanics; you’re building a deck and placing units on a three-floor train to stop enemies from reaching your engine.
Let’s be real, it can feel slow at first, especially if you didn’t play the original. The early runs are tough because you’re still learning all the card combos and enemy patterns. But once it clicks—oh man, it becomes one of the most addictive games you’ll play this year.
The variety is just insane. You pick a main clan, each with a totally different playstyle and a powerful champion unit. Then you form an alliance with a secondary clan, which decides what other cards you’ll see. The number of combinations you can try across all the difficulty levels is mind-boggling.
I love how they handle progression. You unlock new clans and cards gradually, so you’re not overwhelmed, but you’re always tempted to experiment. And for veterans, there are plenty of difficulty mods to really test your skills.
A typical run has about nine battles before a big boss fight, so it’s perfect whether you have 20 minutes or a whole afternoon. With all the possible clan mixes, card synergies, and relics, Monster Train 2 has enough depth to keep you coming back for hundreds of hours. It’s a total winner.
Summing Up
This is not it. There are other Roguelite games like Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, Absilum, Ball Pit, and the chart-topping Hades 2 that at least require some mention. Each of these games represent genre-defining experiences that pushed this genre in 2025.
The consistent quality across 2025’s roguelite releases proves this genre shows no signs of slowing down. Whether players prefer strategic planning, reflex-based action, or thoughtful deck construction, this year delivered exceptional options for every taste.
