They're two different genres, you likely should have known that already, but she even helpfully explained the difference if you didn't for some reason. Unless you're being deliberately dense in hopes you can get roasted in the next mean comments video.
same as that people made rogue-lite up, cause there too dumb to call it roguelike. is hades 2 a roguelike or a rogue lite? there both accourding to steam... then tell me what is the diffrence between a roguelite and like? hades is rogue like, as in you go through a procedural generated dungeon, like as in 1980s rogue. (first game that did that). then wat is roguelite? you tell me!? roguelite is a tag not a genre. and metroid like is not a genre either...still just a platformer. like castle Vania. just with backtracking.
@@findstr.s-hi-c._w Funny how you toss around the ableist slur, 'dumb,' and yet somehow you can't figure out how to watch this video where she literally explains the difference so I don't have to 🤷♀️
@@winterburden no you cant...lite is nothing. you dont want to...cause you know im right. who sais she right!? convince me or with a straight forward awser or buss off. funny how you let other people "imagine" an anwser for you. go watch some video game history...instead of this ***
Personally wanted to say thank you for this video because my roommate and I are developing a roguelit(k)e of our own. Definitely taking notes on these opinions to help make sure we do it well. xD
I really appreciate such a detailed and extensive list. I got bit by the Roguelite bug about a year ago by Hades and Slay the Spire (late to the party, I know). It must have been quite a bit of work to make this video, so thanks!
The clip of Rogue showed an enemy called Kestrel. FTL's default ship is called Kestrel. Sweet, I didn't realise FTL referenced Rogue. While FTL does have meta progression (unlocking ships), the unlocked ships do not make the gameplay different for existing ships. The Kestrel ship is the same difficulty no matter how many other ships you unlock. So I think that makes FTL a roguelike. Also, I was playing FTL on iPad while watching your video, it's one of my favourites. If you ever decide to push over the difficulty curve, it's a real gem. Good video!
It may be a reference, it wouldn't surprise me. But a Kestrel is a type of bird of prey, so it would make sense to name a spaceship after one. (they're basically a VERY SMALL falcon.)
@@hoshisabi True, but all the FTL ships have clever referential names, e.g. the yellow Slug ship is called Ariolimax, which is the Latin name for the banana slug.
FTL is one of those games I can pick up and play any time. Time investment is small with this one and it rewards careful route planning while paying attention to the strength and weakness of the ship your using and upgrades your finding.
Thank you for defining the terms properly, Pam. How you defined it is how it actually plays out in the market. Hats off too for alphabetizing and chapter marking everything.
Although it was released in 2018, Dead Cells has received a healthy amount of updates. The developer has only just recently announced that production will be stopping for it. It’s a fantastic game even without that in mind.
"The game doesn't really tell you how to play" very much summarizes my experience with Kingdom: New Lands. I tried it once, I think it was on one of the subscription services, because I see it get recommended often, but I just couldn't figure out what to do at all. Considering the praise you're giving it as well, maybe I'll just give it another chance sometime. It's usually pretty cheap when it's on sale anyway. Did you try World of Horror? I think that usually counts as a roguelite. If anything it's a very unique style of game. I haven't played enough of it myself to really recommend it in any way. But with many of these kinds of game kinda blurring together, it's nice to have something very different.
Out of the park Pam! Yes, Vampire Survivor is addictive without necessarily being fun. Wonderful distinction. Like Flappy Bird. It means you will play the crap out of it, but once you stop you will never return because it wasn't actually fun. StS and DC? Check and check. And I agree HUNDO% on Hades. I LOVED the story. I got more enjoyment out of it than any other game on here. But gosh, the wash, rinse, repeat is just too many times for that precious bit of story. I always trust your take Pam. If you say it, I automatically just assume it's true (for me). And speaking as someone who gets very little time to play games, I can't waste time on hype-y duds. Honestly, I often just play vicariously through your opinions, meaning I can at least afford the time to imagine playing a game off of your opinion of it. It's sad, but its something at least.
Well done, love the list. Kudos on Kingdom New Lands being so high, I love that game and the others like Two Crowns. My friendly gripe would be Hades is way better than Dead Cells IMO. I agree the gameplay of Hades does get insanely repetitive, even easy. And while you can use the pact of punishment to some extent, some pacts just are not fun. End of the day though, the story is just so good it made me want to see everything even if I was grinding for darkness. Dead Cells is also a great game, but for me, particularly after getting past 1 or 2 heat, the huge amounts of weapons didn't mean anything and unlocking another new one just wasn't rewarding. Perhaps it was my understanding of the game that left me not finding interesting synergies or whatever but I just got bored. I will admit I felt the same way early on with Binding of Isaac Afterbirth, then as I really began to understand the game and synergies had more fun, but then it broke completely again in Repentance which I just hated. Oh well, interesting topic, more of these.
Awesome list. Great to see Kingdom: New Lands get some love since it seems to get slept on a whole lot and if you haven't you should definitely check out it's sequel Kingdom: Two Crowns. With the whole is VS a Roguelite thing I'd say eehhhhh maybe? The genre is fairly broad so I think it's fine to consider it even if it isn't strictly one. As for some of my thoughts on the rankings themselves I personally quite enjoyed Gunfire Reborn but it's mostly due to some synergies you can only get later and the intro can be rough for sure. I'd put it in B Personally. For me Balatro is an S because it just tickles my brain in the perfect way. Risk of Rain 2 is my favourite Roguelite by far and it's honestly not even close. Just the perfect gameplay loop and I can't wait for Seekers of the storm. I actually agree with Hades. I love it but it doesn't quite make it into S for me. For games not featured that I highly recommend: Roboquest. It's Gunfire Reborns general idea but with far better moment to moment gameplay and gunplay with a strong movement system. Streets of Rogue is an absolute favourite just for the sheer amount of ways to beat it and the variance in it. Noita is extremely unique even if it is pretty damn cruel (especially when you're starting out). The physics of everything in the world and the way you and the enemies interact with it all is always interesting (and potentially frustrating). Crime Boss: Rockay City now that it has been updated a bunch (and only cost £15 when I bought it on Steam) is surprisingly fun. Payday 2 but with Roguelite elements and a goofy as hell plot with just so many random celebs stuffed into it. I suppose no The Binding of Isaac since it's more of a Roguelike even though it does have a small handful perma unlocks It would definitely get an S from me if it did count though. Wow this was a surprisingly long comment on UA-cam for me but this video was fun seeing your opinions on these games and it being my favourite genre of game.
Deck of Ashes is very similar to Slay the Spire but with an asthetic closer to Darkest Dungeon. There are multiple starter and unlockable class-based character decks, each with their own story-archs. The run-map is more open-world than linear, and the hub-camp is upgradeable with various features regarding deck and card tweaking. It's probably my favorite deck-builder. I'm surprised it's not more popular but that may be due to its dynamic complexity in comparison to StS. Not sure if it's really a roguelite because I'm not sure I understand the genre. I believe you would get some enjoyment from it based on our mutual likes/dislikes. I'm interested to know if you've played it and what you think.
Great list and good to hear opinions that mean that even if I don't agree with a particular rating, I can at least understand why you feel differently. For me the Roguelite genre is inferior to the Roguelike genre in instances where a run can't be beaten without the meta progression. I was rubbed the wrong way by Rogue Legacy because it's practically impossible to win that game on your first run. Even if you were an experienced player, you need meta progression stats to make the game playable, so you basically need to grind for a significant number of runs before you can expect to win your first time. Contrast that to something like Slay the Spire (happy to see the S rank!) where you'll likely lose your first run, but if an experienced player starts a fresh save file they will have absolutely no issue beating the final boss on their first run because the 'meta progression' is really just card unlocks to encourage you to keep playing. New players aren't using all of the cards/relics anyway, so gating some of them for your first handful of runs isn't meaningfully restrictive and gives you something shiny while you're likely repeatedly losing.
What an expensive video to watch XD (got Hand of Fate 2 and Children of Morta). But Here's a couple of things: 1st. Check out SIFU, It's a Kung Fu Roguelite Brawler, but I think you'll like it. Also Darkest Dungeon 2 (I don't think the first Darkest Dungeon should've been on this list,but o.k) which I'm pretty sure has a lot less of what you don't like, and a lot more of what you do, it's very different from the first one! and Awaken Realm's Tainted Grail: Conquest. A Card battler a-la-Slay the Spire but with a narrative structure similar to Hades's. 2nd. I got to a make a similar video but only with Card Battlers :D
I’ve only played a few…2 that weren’t mentioned. Put a zillion hours into The Binding Isaac (S+ easy..digital crack), and Getsufumaden (good too). I own Canada and Gungeon..haven’t played either, but great to hear they’re A grade!
Hey Pam, hope all is well! I haven't watched this video yet, but I just wanted to say thank you for making this list! I love this genre of game and to date I've only played a precious few, my favorite one thus far being Fatal Labyrinth on the Megadrive/Genesis. I have a random question for you Pam. (Fingers crossed that you see this message) Do you play any TTRPGs or other Tabletop Games? I'm a bit of a board game and TTRPG hobbyist and collector. If so, would you consider doing a video related to your favorites in the future as a one off type of video? In any case, I love your work and I wish you the absolute best. Thank you for your time! Edit: I'm just now learning the difference between Rougelike and Rougelite. Fatal Labyrinth is not a Rougelite. Thanks for the intro to this genre Pam.
I play tabletop games from time to time. I enjoy them, but really never have a group of people to play them with. I've played a couple one shot games of things like D&D or Honey Heist.
Rogue Legacy 1 and OG Hammerwatch are the games that sold me on Roguelites. I started Rogue Legacy 2 in 2020 (early access) and eventually beat it in 2022 in 1.0, where it became my GOTY. I like it more than Dead Cells. If you like twin-stick shooters you should play Star of Providence (previously Monolith). Maybe you've covered it before, but I forget. Also, it's more Roguelike than Roguelite, but still one of my faves! Children of Morta keeps going to ~$6 on Steam and I've had it on my wishlist forever. Should really give it a try.
I loved the turn based battle system in "Star Renegades" and got pass one loop of the story. But a rogue like RPG is a crazy concept when every successful run takes hours but can be trashed into nothing at any moment. Think it´s developed in Toronto.
Great list! Except Kingdom (I have it on A), I have your S tiers on S as well. Did you play Kingdom Two Crowns already? Should be THE couch coop game for you.
Enter the gungeon is my all-time favorite game. Thousands of hours pour into it because the gameplay is just so smooth. It’s hard but damn it felt amazing to beat that game.
Really good list. Some obscure games on here deserve the attention like Flame in the Flood. I'm a little surprised Binding of Isaac isn't on this list somewhere. The only game I would of ranked much higher is FTL, but I can see how it's a game that isn't for everyone in 2024. I can't believe it's 12 years old now.
I’m having fun with Tunche. It’s a beat ‘em up roguelite based in Amazonian folklore. I love the setting, and the mythos and I think it adds a lot. It’s also multiplayer with different character play styles and progression. It feels along the vein Streets of Rage. I think it’s underrated and often overlooked. 👍🏾 I encourage you to check it out!
I didn't know most of these. You reminded me that I have to go back to Enter the Gungeon and really focus on it and learn how to play it well. As for Darkest Dungeon, it can stay uninstalled forever. Thanks for the video!
Great list, as usual. Yeah, Dead Cells can be absolutely frustrating, but when it works, it works. Vampire Survivors, while I like that, I agree with you on it. It's way deeper than it claims, and has a wild rabbit hole (or holes) if you persist with it. FTL is a take it or leave it, but in my case, take, even if it can be incredibly difficult at times. I adore Children of Morta, especially in multiplayer. So much fun. Hades is incredible and I swear that's incredible, with its balanced gameplay, fun characters, and also a surprisingly deep story. I'm really digging Hades II for pretty much the same reasons as the first, and love the extra layers and different paths, above and below, that be taken. I look forward to seeing it come out of early access.
Your taste is pretty consistent. I feel like by the second half I could mostly predict if you'd like something or not. That's pretty cool strength of character.
Loved the video, I dont play Rougelites or likes much myself, as I too dont care for the repetitiveness of it. I will say though Vampire Survivors is one of my favorites, and it does take more thought then just walking around. This list has defiantly shown me a few that I do want to try though, now that I think about it, I am sure I already own Children of Morta.
It's a good list. I would put Gunfire Reborn in either A or S tier though. It's pretty unique and plays really well. Also maybe move Vampire Survivors up to A or B tier just due to the influence it had on that genre.
Haven't played it in a while got to and finished ascention 20 on all 4 chars. So many fun ways to beat the game. Invite 4 card deck ironclad is super fun but the run takes so much longer cuz you gotta replay those cards a ton xD
Good list! I've never heard of Cobalt Core before; it's been added to my backlog. A few title's not mentioned: Returnal, Dicey Dungeons, and Don't Starve Together. They kind of straddle the line between 'like' and 'lite'? Regardless, they're worth a try.
I actually just tried out Don't Starve Together. Things are really tiny when trying to play that couch-coop, and I'm not much for sandbox-y games. Dicey Dungeons looks cool.
@@Cannotbetamed1I never thought Don't Starve lent itself very well to coop . The original Don't Starve is so much better imo. Once you learn the basics as to how to base build it gets to be very fun!
Thanks for sharing! Been doing StS runs again after many years. Just casually, on the tablet, while work meetings drag on. The perfect amount of distraction :)
Hi Pam - thinking of you as I’m stuck inGuelph for 6 weeks without my Switch, I actually like your description of Auto-battler. Clemmy from Get Indie Games calls them Bullet Heaven games but I think yours is more accurate. Children of Morta is a game I loved and devoured but like Hades the actual dungeons are just too short
I really like your clear and concise descriptions. You might like Iratus: Lord of the Dead. It's like a less grindy Darkest Dungeon. Another rare rogueli*e i didn't loathe was Shattered Planet. I also tend to think "i would like this if it wasn't a rogueli*e", especially with Hades.
Well, I did argue with you about definitions once, and you did reply to me, so I felt flattered even if your reply was firm and succinct with something like, "No, you're wrong. That's not a metroidvania." 🤣 Good video You've convinced me to give Slay The Spire a whirl even if I hate deck-builders (tbh, I've never really given them a chance but maybe STS is THE one 😃).
Pam! I appreciate you explaining the difference between the styles! thanks to this video, I have a few new games added to my list. Btw no love on Ember knights :(
Yeah Kingdom New Lands is Rouge Like, Kingdom Two Crowns however is Rouge Lite. If you like Kingdom New Lands, I would suggest Kingdom Two Crowns which has Co-op, and basically you collect certain permanent abilities, and need to build a ship to move over to another island, collect those permanent abilities. Like I found a Griffon that replaced my horse, and I had it for the rest of the game, and it has a push effect that pushes the Greed back.
I find really intesting that you talked about Kingdom New Lands but not Kingdom Two Crowns, which is actually more on the rogue lite side (upon loss of the crown and heir take charge on a previous island and greed wave strength is set back 100 days). This game is awesome you should play it, plus, it's also a coop
Great stuff as always, Pam. ☺ This is a genre I've only recently gotten into, mostly thanks to Hades. Which yes, I am an unabashed fanboy of, and eagerly await the full release of Hades II. Saw a few recommendations I may give a go.
I thought cult of the lamb was mid as well. I think we have similar taste in videogames as we grew up in the same era and have similar childhood gaming memories. I never got children of morta because of the steam reviews, i might have to go grab that now, as ive always wanted it but held back. Also, i didn't know you had a partner! You're breakin my heart here ; P
I really love Streets of Rogue. If you haven't played it before, you should give it a try. It's available on Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Android.
I worked at Crackshell and Heroes of Hammerwatch. You should be able to change the resolution so the camera is more zoomed in. Maybe it's not possible on the console port, which was outsourced. Too bad you didn't like the game very much, but I still like your channel 😊.
Of the ones you discussed I also think Dead Cells is the best followed by Hades and Balatro. My favorite overall however is 30XX which did a phenomenal job essentially translating Mega Man X to the roguelite genre.
i have not played alot of them but this is my ranking of the ones i did play: 1. slay the spire 2. nuclear throne 3. magic survival 4. pixel dungeon in my opinion slay the spire is a genius game. so well balanced, so much replayability. after owning that on my phone i don't need any other games. i play gaming casually, and it hits the spot. the only other game i play outside of that is magic the gathering vintage casually.
I am really baffled that you put Loop Hero and Vampire Survivors on such a low teir, they are imo amazing games and Vampire Survivors actually has alot of story, tons of levels and tactics to it. Vampire Survivors is a Rogue Lite, but after it came out there was a surge in similar games due to it's popularity of Vampire Survivors and I think they call it "Garlic likes" now. My list of must play Rogue lites: Binding of Isaac, Slay the Spire, Dead Cells, FTL, Balatro, Hades, Rogue Legacy, Darkest Dungeon, Loop Hero. I would also recommend "knock on the Coffin Lid". It is very similar to Slay the Spire (blatant rip off), but with a twist as it has story to it and the paths are not randomized from run to run in the normal mode, but you have to learn gradually how to defeat the last boss. So far I think it is great.
Brotato seems to often be referred to as a Survivors-like game, being one of the gazillion Vampire Survivors knockoff games. My personal favorite Survivors-like game, other than the namesake, is Boneraiser Minions. I wish they would port that one to consoles; it is incredibly fun and addicting, and adds quite a bit to the Survivors formula. 20 Minutes Till Dawn and Army of Ruin are also pretty good. There are so many Survivors-like games, many of them good. But unfortunately most of them are PC only and don't have a console release. Most are playable on the Steam Deck though. I've also heard these being referred to as "bullet heaven" or "reverse bullet hell" as opposed to bullet hell (the idea is that bullets are going all over the place, but they're coming from you instead of at you). I'm not a fan of either name really.
You are so right about dead cells playing so fantastically well. It’s difficult and I hate how hard the final bosses and you don’t have any way to practice on him but the actual gameplay is incredibly fun.
I know you have a billion games in your backlog and this comment is a drop in the ocean, but here are two roguelite suggestions: * Revita - IMO it's a better Neon Abyss * Skul: The Hero Slayer - Frenetic 2D combat like Dead Cells
WAYNE'S WORLD, WAYNE'S WORLD, BEST WORST, ROGUE LIKES OF ALL TIME, IT'S EXCELLENT! I just playued SHiren the Wander and the tower of fortune on Switch, pretty new port, an tonne of fun, 85 hours to beat it. It is the real OG proper ROGUE, mystery dungeon style of game, full proper rogue like. I recmomend! I love rogue genre alot. Also, rogue card games I recomend, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Rogue BOOK!
@@lobabobloblaw The last stand one is so good. I need 4 x burst laser MK2 and pref stealth with the kestrel to beat it. Target sheild first then get those weapons offline. Cloak power surge and cross your fingers rest goes well 😆
This is the first time that I've heard someone express almost my exact opinion of Hades. Not that I tried too hard to gauge opinions, but when I happened across them, it seemed like i was the only one with a critique. Though maybe I liked it more because ultimately, I pushed through all the side content and adding more and more difficulty modifiers was decent entertainment for a bit
I would rank Children of Morta a notch or two lower because of some gripes, notably the 'unlocks' cutscenes not taking into account the 'story progression' cutscenes. (Slight spoiler but I'll remain vague) - some things unlock only when you die or end runs often enough, and having an important story NPC bed-ridden and near death in one scene, then meeting the requirements for recruiting a new character by finishing a run and seeing the bed-ridden, near death NPC up and about and doing the dishes when they're supposed to be corrupted and on the verge of dying just really dragged me out of the story. Granted, maybe the player is supposed to believe these unlock cutscenes happened in the past, but there's no indication of that. After seeing the craft and dedication put into Hades' narrative, Children of Morta just felt unsatisfying and shoddy craftsmanship.
I had the same issue with Hades, kept thinking if they just had some DLC with maybe 2 more areas you had a choice Dead Cells style to pick from with a few new enemies that broke up the same trek to the surface it’d be a 10/10.
Children of Morta and Kingdom new lands is going on my wishlist! I felt the same way about Hades, I really want to experience all the story but I cant bring myself to playing it again.
Pretty much all the expected ones, all where they should be, only surprise is ranking Loop Hero so low...😮 Also, missing "Inscryption" thats a genuinely great Roguelite deck builder with great puzzles and amazing atmosphere, aesthetic and sound design.
@@Cannotbetamed1 Didn't realize there was more to the game - never beat the later bosses, I thought the card game and the room puzzle was the entire game. Time to go back.
Thanks Pam for another awesome video! Have you ever played The Last Faith? It’s a tough metrovania souls like game. I think you’ll like it. It has that gothic tone vibe like in BLOODBORNE
Good list Pam, cheers! Agreed with a lot of the points you were making, and yet we had quite some different placements. It's interesting how some games can just click for us where others don't. E.g. Rogue Legacy 2 is an easy S for me - it's just so polished and tightly designed, even compared to the original, that I just had a blast with it. But I also agree it doesn't do much new, and that's the same argument I'd use to put Hades in B; aside from the story, which involves an endless grind to experience, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill roguelite done really well. I just got bored of it really quickly, and no idea why when I couldn't stop playing RL2. It's more of a roguelike than roguelite but one of the best ones I played in recent memory is Brutal Orchestra. It's really weird, but definite recommend!
Cool to hear as I never played RL 1 but ended up buying the physical switch copy of 2 on limited run, said I would take a chance on it. Never heard of Brutal Orchestra so just checked it out on steam and it looks great! On to my wishlist it goes. Will pick it up on sale :D
Sunless Sea/Skies you can actually pretty easily Alt-F4 out of them if you’re about to die. I know it’s technically cheating but it does help to ease that soul-crushing difficulty you mentioned.
Some favorites: Against Great Darkness, the DLC for Astlibra Revision (base game is a great ARPG), Buriedbornes 1 and 2, Spell Disk, and The Void Rains Upon Her Heart Roguelikes with unlocks: Noita, Slice & Dice Agree survivorslikes are kind of their own thing. Some good ones: Halls of Torment, Spellbook Demonslayers
Darkest Dungeon is such a good game. GOG fans should know they just released the sequel on there as well. Also, YASSS, seeing you put Dead Cells on S tier. Dead Cells is like as addictive as crack, lol.
Really cool interesting upload with a few titles that I never heard of so thank you for that. I loved Loop Hero though so how dare you madam! jk. Keep up the great content!
The key word is "progression." I will go one step further. Some "roguelites" have the advantages gained from the prior run only good for the next, single run only. I don't like that. I want PERMANENT progressions, stacked up, to make the next run(s) better, sequentially.
I appreciate the distinction between "addictive" and "fun". I feel a certain kind of player, especially younger ones, are very prone to not noticing when they're being baited into dark patterns instead of enjoying their time. I personally felt this very strongly with Borderlands 2. It got me hyperfocused for weeks and after I snapped out of it I realized I didn't really enjoy my time nearly as much as other games that hooked me before. I didn't feel any strong emotions, or had any narrative fulfillment, or felt like I mastered any skills. I really felt manipulated.
Well put. I have run into that into the past. (Smite I'm looking at you) Now I have the rule of thumb. After playing a game do I feel happy or not after? Do I feel satisfied and pumped up? And am I excited to play again or do I just feel like it's an ocd I have to finish. Obviously certain games don't fit this mold but making a set of questions like this can help weed out problem games for yourself.
“I felt manipulated” gtfoh I don’t like Borderlands 2 either for the same reasons but it’s not “manipulative” your problem is with gambling and therefore capitalism. Yes I hate it as well when it is in games. But jeez it’s a video game. “Manipulated” man
@@BulyssesBwachowski lol that was a crazy roller coaster of "your problem has systemic roots but also screw you". chill dude. designers still make choices.
Its called Roguelike not Roguelite. Chick is ranking a genre of video games she doesn't even know what the hell it's called
They're two different genres, you likely should have known that already, but she even helpfully explained the difference if you didn't for some reason. Unless you're being deliberately dense in hopes you can get roasted in the next mean comments video.
This bro didn't even get to 0:16 in the video before farting in his hands and typing it out for all to smell.
womp womp, counting the minutes till this clown deletes his comment.
Real Vienna Sausage energy packed into that type of comment.
Damn, you tried to look smart and you ended up looking like a troglodyte.
These ranking videos over the years are probably my favorites on the channel.
Thanks!
I'm surprised _Binding of Isaac_ isn't on this list
Thanks for ranking them Pam!
My pleasure!!
same as that people made rogue-lite up, cause there too dumb to call it roguelike.
is hades 2 a roguelike or a rogue lite? there both accourding to steam...
then tell me what is the diffrence between a roguelite and like?
hades is rogue like, as in you go through a procedural generated dungeon, like as in 1980s rogue. (first game that did that).
then wat is roguelite? you tell me!?
roguelite is a tag not a genre.
and metroid like is not a genre either...still just a platformer. like castle Vania. just with backtracking.
@@findstr.s-hi-c._w You can stop spamming the comments section with ridiculous troll comments now, sweaty.
@@findstr.s-hi-c._w Funny how you toss around the ableist slur, 'dumb,' and yet somehow you can't figure out how to watch this video where she literally explains the difference so I don't have to 🤷♀️
@@winterburden no you cant...lite is nothing.
you dont want to...cause you know im right.
who sais she right!?
convince me or with a straight forward awser or buss off.
funny how you let other people "imagine" an anwser for you.
go watch some video game history...instead of this ***
Personally wanted to say thank you for this video because my roommate and I are developing a roguelit(k)e of our own. Definitely taking notes on these opinions to help make sure we do it well. xD
Glad to help. Good luck with your game!
I really appreciate such a detailed and extensive list. I got bit by the Roguelite bug about a year ago by Hades and Slay the Spire (late to the party, I know). It must have been quite a bit of work to make this video, so thanks!
I'm glad you liked it!
The clip of Rogue showed an enemy called Kestrel.
FTL's default ship is called Kestrel.
Sweet, I didn't realise FTL referenced Rogue.
While FTL does have meta progression (unlocking ships), the unlocked ships do not make the gameplay different for existing ships. The Kestrel ship is the same difficulty no matter how many other ships you unlock. So I think that makes FTL a roguelike.
Also, I was playing FTL on iPad while watching your video, it's one of my favourites. If you ever decide to push over the difficulty curve, it's a real gem.
Good video!
Oh, that's interesting, I didn't catch that.
And thank you!
It may be a reference, it wouldn't surprise me. But a Kestrel is a type of bird of prey, so it would make sense to name a spaceship after one. (they're basically a VERY SMALL falcon.)
@@hoshisabi True, but all the FTL ships have clever referential names, e.g. the yellow Slug ship is called Ariolimax, which is the Latin name for the banana slug.
FTL is one of those games I can pick up and play any time. Time investment is small with this one and it rewards careful route planning while paying attention to the strength and weakness of the ship your using and upgrades your finding.
Thank you for defining the terms properly, Pam. How you defined it is how it actually plays out in the market.
Hats off too for alphabetizing and chapter marking everything.
Yeah, helps finding the games you’ve never heard of.
Wizard of Legend
Dicey Dungeons
Neurovoider
are my favourites that aren't on this list.
Oooh, and Nuclear Throne!
Although it was released in 2018, Dead Cells has received a healthy amount of updates. The developer has only just recently announced that production will be stopping for it.
It’s a fantastic game even without that in mind.
Honestly, I liked it better before all the additions.
My favorite genre! Great list Pam!!
Thanks!
"The game doesn't really tell you how to play" very much summarizes my experience with Kingdom: New Lands. I tried it once, I think it was on one of the subscription services, because I see it get recommended often, but I just couldn't figure out what to do at all. Considering the praise you're giving it as well, maybe I'll just give it another chance sometime. It's usually pretty cheap when it's on sale anyway.
Did you try World of Horror? I think that usually counts as a roguelite. If anything it's a very unique style of game. I haven't played enough of it myself to really recommend it in any way. But with many of these kinds of game kinda blurring together, it's nice to have something very different.
No, I never tried World of Horror, it's been on my wishlist since it released though.
I think your rankings are pretty fair. But I'm kinda shocked that The Binding Of Isaac isn't on the list.
Out of the park Pam! Yes, Vampire Survivor is addictive without necessarily being fun. Wonderful distinction. Like Flappy Bird. It means you will play the crap out of it, but once you stop you will never return because it wasn't actually fun. StS and DC? Check and check. And I agree HUNDO% on Hades. I LOVED the story. I got more enjoyment out of it than any other game on here. But gosh, the wash, rinse, repeat is just too many times for that precious bit of story.
I always trust your take Pam. If you say it, I automatically just assume it's true (for me). And speaking as someone who gets very little time to play games, I can't waste time on hype-y duds. Honestly, I often just play vicariously through your opinions, meaning I can at least afford the time to imagine playing a game off of your opinion of it. It's sad, but its something at least.
Well done, love the list. Kudos on Kingdom New Lands being so high, I love that game and the others like Two Crowns. My friendly gripe would be Hades is way better than Dead Cells IMO. I agree the gameplay of Hades does get insanely repetitive, even easy. And while you can use the pact of punishment to some extent, some pacts just are not fun. End of the day though, the story is just so good it made me want to see everything even if I was grinding for darkness. Dead Cells is also a great game, but for me, particularly after getting past 1 or 2 heat, the huge amounts of weapons didn't mean anything and unlocking another new one just wasn't rewarding. Perhaps it was my understanding of the game that left me not finding interesting synergies or whatever but I just got bored. I will admit I felt the same way early on with Binding of Isaac Afterbirth, then as I really began to understand the game and synergies had more fun, but then it broke completely again in Repentance which I just hated. Oh well, interesting topic, more of these.
I think the gameplay in Dead Cells is more fun, which I generally count more than fabulous story/aesthetic in an action game.
Awesome list. Great to see Kingdom: New Lands get some love since it seems to get slept on a whole lot and if you haven't you should definitely check out it's sequel Kingdom: Two Crowns. With the whole is VS a Roguelite thing I'd say eehhhhh maybe? The genre is fairly broad so I think it's fine to consider it even if it isn't strictly one.
As for some of my thoughts on the rankings themselves I personally quite enjoyed Gunfire Reborn but it's mostly due to some synergies you can only get later and the intro can be rough for sure. I'd put it in B Personally.
For me Balatro is an S because it just tickles my brain in the perfect way. Risk of Rain 2 is my favourite Roguelite by far and it's honestly not even close. Just the perfect gameplay loop and I can't wait for Seekers of the storm.
I actually agree with Hades. I love it but it doesn't quite make it into S for me.
For games not featured that I highly recommend: Roboquest. It's Gunfire Reborns general idea but with far better moment to moment gameplay and gunplay with a strong movement system.
Streets of Rogue is an absolute favourite just for the sheer amount of ways to beat it and the variance in it.
Noita is extremely unique even if it is pretty damn cruel (especially when you're starting out). The physics of everything in the world and the way you and the enemies interact with it all is always interesting (and potentially frustrating).
Crime Boss: Rockay City now that it has been updated a bunch (and only cost £15 when I bought it on Steam) is surprisingly fun. Payday 2 but with Roguelite elements and a goofy as hell plot with just so many random celebs stuffed into it.
I suppose no The Binding of Isaac since it's more of a Roguelike even though it does have a small handful perma unlocks It would definitely get an S from me if it did count though.
Wow this was a surprisingly long comment on UA-cam for me but this video was fun seeing your opinions on these games and it being my favourite genre of game.
I love Two Crowns even more, I think. It's just not very rogue-ish at all.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Deck of Ashes is very similar to Slay the Spire but with an asthetic closer to Darkest Dungeon. There are multiple starter and unlockable class-based character decks, each with their own story-archs. The run-map is more open-world than linear, and the hub-camp is upgradeable with various features regarding deck and card tweaking. It's probably my favorite deck-builder. I'm surprised it's not more popular but that may be due to its dynamic complexity in comparison to StS. Not sure if it's really a roguelite because I'm not sure I understand the genre. I believe you would get some enjoyment from it based on our mutual likes/dislikes. I'm interested to know if you've played it and what you think.
I will put it on my wishlist.
Great list and good to hear opinions that mean that even if I don't agree with a particular rating, I can at least understand why you feel differently.
For me the Roguelite genre is inferior to the Roguelike genre in instances where a run can't be beaten without the meta progression. I was rubbed the wrong way by Rogue Legacy because it's practically impossible to win that game on your first run. Even if you were an experienced player, you need meta progression stats to make the game playable, so you basically need to grind for a significant number of runs before you can expect to win your first time. Contrast that to something like Slay the Spire (happy to see the S rank!) where you'll likely lose your first run, but if an experienced player starts a fresh save file they will have absolutely no issue beating the final boss on their first run because the 'meta progression' is really just card unlocks to encourage you to keep playing. New players aren't using all of the cards/relics anyway, so gating some of them for your first handful of runs isn't meaningfully restrictive and gives you something shiny while you're likely repeatedly losing.
I love the list Pam! And you actually covered Void bastards and actually liked it!
Yeah, it was on my top games of the year list the year it came out.
What an expensive video to watch XD (got Hand of Fate 2 and Children of Morta). But Here's a couple of things: 1st. Check out SIFU, It's a Kung Fu Roguelite Brawler, but I think you'll like it. Also Darkest Dungeon 2 (I don't think the first Darkest Dungeon should've been on this list,but o.k) which I'm pretty sure has a lot less of what you don't like, and a lot more of what you do, it's very different from the first one! and Awaken Realm's Tainted Grail: Conquest. A Card battler a-la-Slay the Spire but with a narrative structure similar to Hades's.
2nd. I got to a make a similar video but only with Card Battlers :D
I've heard very good things about Sifu, I'm just not much of a brawler person. I do want to try out Darkest Dungeon 2 soon.
I’ve only played a few…2 that weren’t mentioned. Put a zillion hours into The Binding Isaac (S+ easy..digital crack), and Getsufumaden (good too). I own Canada and Gungeon..haven’t played either, but great to hear they’re A grade!
Hey Pam, hope all is well! I haven't watched this video yet, but I just wanted to say thank you for making this list! I love this genre of game and to date I've only played a precious few, my favorite one thus far being Fatal Labyrinth on the Megadrive/Genesis.
I have a random question for you Pam. (Fingers crossed that you see this message) Do you play any TTRPGs or other Tabletop Games? I'm a bit of a board game and TTRPG hobbyist and collector. If so, would you consider doing a video related to your favorites in the future as a one off type of video? In any case, I love your work and I wish you the absolute best. Thank you for your time!
Edit: I'm just now learning the difference between Rougelike and Rougelite. Fatal Labyrinth is not a Rougelite. Thanks for the intro to this genre Pam.
I play tabletop games from time to time. I enjoy them, but really never have a group of people to play them with. I've played a couple one shot games of things like D&D or Honey Heist.
Rogue Legacy 1 and OG Hammerwatch are the games that sold me on Roguelites. I started Rogue Legacy 2 in 2020 (early access) and eventually beat it in 2022 in 1.0, where it became my GOTY. I like it more than Dead Cells.
If you like twin-stick shooters you should play Star of Providence (previously Monolith). Maybe you've covered it before, but I forget. Also, it's more Roguelike than Roguelite, but still one of my faves!
Children of Morta keeps going to ~$6 on Steam and I've had it on my wishlist forever. Should really give it a try.
Excellent editing with the music!!
Thanks!
I loved the turn based battle system in "Star Renegades" and got pass one loop of the story. But a rogue like RPG is a crazy concept when every successful run takes hours but can be trashed into nothing at any moment.
Think it´s developed in Toronto.
The art in that game is gorgeous!
I really enjoyed Dead Cells, Hades, Noita, Slay the Spire, and Vampire Survivors. Five different genres, but all great games.
Great list! Except Kingdom (I have it on A), I have your S tiers on S as well. Did you play Kingdom Two Crowns already? Should be THE couch coop game for you.
Yes, I love Two Crowns. I've played a lot solo and a little co-op. I think it mostly drops the rogue-ish elements.
@Cannotbetamed1 Yeah, I think so too. Now off to Kingdom Eighties. I already own it, but didn't have the mindset and time to play it yet.
Enter the gungeon is my all-time favorite game. Thousands of hours pour into it because the gameplay is just so smooth. It’s hard but damn it felt amazing to beat that game.
Really good list. Some obscure games on here deserve the attention like Flame in the Flood. I'm a little surprised Binding of Isaac isn't on this list somewhere. The only game I would of ranked much higher is FTL, but I can see how it's a game that isn't for everyone in 2024. I can't believe it's 12 years old now.
Thank you. It was a pleasure to watch and listen even though my favorite games of this genre are not present in the list - "BELOW" and "Warm Snow".
I’m having fun with Tunche. It’s a beat ‘em up roguelite based in Amazonian folklore.
I love the setting, and the mythos and I think it adds a lot. It’s also multiplayer with different character play styles and progression. It feels along the vein Streets of Rage.
I think it’s underrated and often overlooked. 👍🏾 I encourage you to check it out!
I didn't know most of these. You reminded me that I have to go back to Enter the Gungeon and really focus on it and learn how to play it well. As for Darkest Dungeon, it can stay uninstalled forever.
Thanks for the video!
Great list, as usual. Yeah, Dead Cells can be absolutely frustrating, but when it works, it works. Vampire Survivors, while I like that, I agree with you on it. It's way deeper than it claims, and has a wild rabbit hole (or holes) if you persist with it. FTL is a take it or leave it, but in my case, take, even if it can be incredibly difficult at times. I adore Children of Morta, especially in multiplayer. So much fun. Hades is incredible and I swear that's incredible, with its balanced gameplay, fun characters, and also a surprisingly deep story. I'm really digging Hades II for pretty much the same reasons as the first, and love the extra layers and different paths, above and below, that be taken. I look forward to seeing it come out of early access.
Your taste is pretty consistent. I feel like by the second half I could mostly predict if you'd like something or not. That's pretty cool strength of character.
Loved the video, I dont play Rougelites or likes much myself, as I too dont care for the repetitiveness of it. I will say though Vampire Survivors is one of my favorites, and it does take more thought then just walking around.
This list has defiantly shown me a few that I do want to try though, now that I think about it, I am sure I already own Children of Morta.
It's a good list. I would put Gunfire Reborn in either A or S tier though. It's pretty unique and plays really well. Also maybe move Vampire Survivors up to A or B tier just due to the influence it had on that genre.
Love these lists you make. There's always something new to discover!
I fully agree with you on questioning whether or not Vampire Survivors should be in this category, but can I argue with you anyway?
Sure!
I’ve only been playing Slay the Spire for the past 2-3 weeks and I already have 100 hours in between my phone and switch. Absolute banger of a game
It's so easy to sink time into.
Haven't played it in a while got to and finished ascention 20 on all 4 chars. So many fun ways to beat the game. Invite 4 card deck ironclad is super fun but the run takes so much longer cuz you gotta replay those cards a ton xD
Darn autocorrect its Infinite Ironclad
Good list! I've never heard of Cobalt Core before; it's been added to my backlog. A few title's not mentioned: Returnal, Dicey Dungeons, and Don't Starve Together. They kind of straddle the line between 'like' and 'lite'? Regardless, they're worth a try.
I actually just tried out Don't Starve Together. Things are really tiny when trying to play that couch-coop, and I'm not much for sandbox-y games. Dicey Dungeons looks cool.
@@Cannotbetamed1I never thought Don't Starve lent itself very well to coop . The original Don't Starve is so much better imo. Once you learn the basics as to how to base build it gets to be very fun!
Thanks for sharing!
Been doing StS runs again after many years.
Just casually, on the tablet, while work meetings drag on.
The perfect amount of distraction :)
Hi Pam - thinking of you as I’m stuck inGuelph for 6 weeks without my Switch, I actually like your description of Auto-battler. Clemmy from Get Indie Games calls them Bullet Heaven games but I think yours is more accurate. Children of Morta is a game I loved and devoured but like Hades the actual dungeons are just too short
I really like your clear and concise descriptions. You might like Iratus: Lord of the Dead. It's like a less grindy Darkest Dungeon. Another rare rogueli*e i didn't loathe was Shattered Planet. I also tend to think "i would like this if it wasn't a rogueli*e", especially with Hades.
I tried that one, I don't remember why I didn't stick with it.
Well, I did argue with you about definitions once, and you did reply to me, so I felt flattered even if your reply was firm and succinct with something like, "No, you're wrong. That's not a metroidvania." 🤣 Good video You've convinced me to give Slay The Spire a whirl even if I hate deck-builders (tbh, I've never really given them a chance but maybe STS is THE one 😃).
Haha. Have fun with Slay the Spire.
Pam! I appreciate you explaining the difference between the styles! thanks to this video, I have a few new games added to my list.
Btw no love on Ember knights :(
Yeah Kingdom New Lands is Rouge Like, Kingdom Two Crowns however is Rouge Lite. If you like Kingdom New Lands, I would suggest Kingdom Two Crowns which has Co-op, and basically you collect certain permanent abilities, and need to build a ship to move over to another island, collect those permanent abilities. Like I found a Griffon that replaced my horse, and I had it for the rest of the game, and it has a push effect that pushes the Greed back.
Yep, I love Two Crowns even more than the original. I think it's barely a Roguelite though and doesn't belong here.
I find really intesting that you talked about Kingdom New Lands but not Kingdom Two Crowns, which is actually more on the rogue lite side (upon loss of the crown and heir take charge on a previous island and greed wave strength is set back 100 days). This game is awesome you should play it, plus, it's also a coop
I love Two Crowns, but it's not very roguish at all, so I didn't include it on the list.
Not that experiences with the genre, but Crypt of the Necrodancer my favorite of the ones I've played.
Great stuff as always, Pam. ☺ This is a genre I've only recently gotten into, mostly thanks to Hades. Which yes, I am an unabashed fanboy of, and eagerly await the full release of Hades II. Saw a few recommendations I may give a go.
I've been addicted to the roguelite "The Dungeon Beneath" lately. It's a pretty chill party-building game.
Rogue was one of my favorite games when I was a kid with only a Tandy 1000 to play on. The opening screen was legendary.
I thought cult of the lamb was mid as well. I think we have similar taste in videogames as we grew up in the same era and have similar childhood gaming memories. I never got children of morta because of the steam reviews, i might have to go grab that now, as ive always wanted it but held back. Also, i didn't know you had a partner! You're breakin my heart here ; P
I see Tiny Rogues has not been included as it would be unfair to the competitors.
Great job calling out games that have no reason to be rougelikes. Fury Unleashed is another good one you may want to try.
Ooh, that one looks cool.
I really love Streets of Rogue. If you haven't played it before, you should give it a try. It's available on Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Android.
I worked at Crackshell and Heroes of Hammerwatch. You should be able to change the resolution so the camera is more zoomed in. Maybe it's not possible on the console port, which was outsourced. Too bad you didn't like the game very much, but I still like your channel 😊.
Of the ones you discussed I also think Dead Cells is the best followed by Hades and Balatro. My favorite overall however is 30XX which did a phenomenal job essentially translating Mega Man X to the roguelite genre.
i have not played alot of them but this is my ranking of the ones i did play:
1. slay the spire
2. nuclear throne
3. magic survival
4. pixel dungeon
in my opinion slay the spire is a genius game. so well balanced, so much replayability. after owning that on my phone i don't need any other games. i play gaming casually, and it hits the spot. the only other game i play outside of that is magic the gathering vintage casually.
Great video as usual! This is a genre that can be really fun. Thanks for the recommendations.
I am really baffled that you put Loop Hero and Vampire Survivors on such a low teir, they are imo amazing games and Vampire Survivors actually has alot of story, tons of levels and tactics to it. Vampire Survivors is a Rogue Lite, but after it came out there was a surge in similar games due to it's popularity of Vampire Survivors and I think they call it "Garlic likes" now.
My list of must play Rogue lites: Binding of Isaac, Slay the Spire, Dead Cells, FTL, Balatro, Hades, Rogue Legacy, Darkest Dungeon, Loop Hero.
I would also recommend "knock on the Coffin Lid". It is very similar to Slay the Spire (blatant rip off), but with a twist as it has story to it and the paths are not randomized from run to run in the normal mode, but you have to learn gradually how to defeat the last boss. So far I think it is great.
Brotato seems to often be referred to as a Survivors-like game, being one of the gazillion Vampire Survivors knockoff games. My personal favorite Survivors-like game, other than the namesake, is Boneraiser Minions. I wish they would port that one to consoles; it is incredibly fun and addicting, and adds quite a bit to the Survivors formula. 20 Minutes Till Dawn and Army of Ruin are also pretty good.
There are so many Survivors-like games, many of them good. But unfortunately most of them are PC only and don't have a console release. Most are playable on the Steam Deck though.
I've also heard these being referred to as "bullet heaven" or "reverse bullet hell" as opposed to bullet hell (the idea is that bullets are going all over the place, but they're coming from you instead of at you). I'm not a fan of either name really.
Hi Pam. Have you played Returnal? Did you like it? Do you think it belongs to the genere?
Nope
More:
Renowned Explorers: International Society
Devil Slayer - Raksasi
Griftlands
BlazBlue Entropy Effect
Leap of Fate
---
Chrono Ark
Samurai Bringer
Dreamscaper
Castle Morihisa
You are so right about dead cells playing so fantastically well. It’s difficult and I hate how hard the final bosses and you don’t have any way to practice on him but the actual gameplay is incredibly fun.
You do have a way to practice the bosses - there's a training room.
@@DansenOpWagner wait really?? How did I miss that?
I know you have a billion games in your backlog and this comment is a drop in the ocean, but here are two roguelite suggestions:
* Revita - IMO it's a better Neon Abyss
* Skul: The Hero Slayer - Frenetic 2D combat like Dead Cells
My favorites have been Hades, Rogue Legacy, Binding of Isaac, and Dead Cells.
WAYNE'S WORLD, WAYNE'S WORLD, BEST WORST, ROGUE LIKES OF ALL TIME, IT'S EXCELLENT! I just playued SHiren the Wander and the tower of fortune on Switch, pretty new port, an tonne of fun, 85 hours to beat it. It is the real OG proper ROGUE, mystery dungeon style of game, full proper rogue like. I recmomend! I love rogue genre alot. Also, rogue card games I recomend, Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Rogue BOOK!
I’m Team FTL on this one. Blame it on the Inner Picard.
Ftl is my fav too. Love the music
@@omgwerockhardyes-the music is a huge part of the experience!
@@lobabobloblaw The last stand one is so good. I need 4 x burst laser MK2 and pref stealth with the kestrel to beat it. Target sheild first then get those weapons offline. Cloak power surge and cross your fingers rest goes well 😆
This is the first time that I've heard someone express almost my exact opinion of Hades. Not that I tried too hard to gauge opinions, but when I happened across them, it seemed like i was the only one with a critique. Though maybe I liked it more because ultimately, I pushed through all the side content and adding more and more difficulty modifiers was decent entertainment for a bit
I would rank Children of Morta a notch or two lower because of some gripes, notably the 'unlocks' cutscenes not taking into account the 'story progression' cutscenes.
(Slight spoiler but I'll remain vague) - some things unlock only when you die or end runs often enough, and having an important story NPC bed-ridden and near death in one scene, then meeting the requirements for recruiting a new character by finishing a run and seeing the bed-ridden, near death NPC up and about and doing the dishes when they're supposed to be corrupted and on the verge of dying just really dragged me out of the story.
Granted, maybe the player is supposed to believe these unlock cutscenes happened in the past, but there's no indication of that.
After seeing the craft and dedication put into Hades' narrative, Children of Morta just felt unsatisfying and shoddy craftsmanship.
Thank you for the list. Identified one or two that I had skipped over which maybe deserve a second look.
I had the same issue with Hades, kept thinking if they just had some DLC with maybe 2 more areas you had a choice Dead Cells style to pick from with a few new enemies that broke up the same trek to the surface it’d be a 10/10.
Is the new TMNT game classified this way? What do you think of it? IM digging it , but its def different
Into the breach is a masterpiece. If you like advance wars and such. Get it for switch. Already played 50+ h and it's still addictive. ☮️
Children of Morta and Kingdom new lands is going on my wishlist! I felt the same way about Hades, I really want to experience all the story but I cant bring myself to playing it again.
My favorite genre. Thanks Pam!!
Pretty much all the expected ones, all where they should be, only surprise is ranking Loop Hero so low...😮
Also, missing "Inscryption" thats a genuinely great Roguelite deck builder with great puzzles and amazing atmosphere, aesthetic and sound design.
It's so good. It almost transcends the genre. Like the genera is as a meta commentary on itself.
Inscryption has a roguelite deck builder in it's first act, but I don't consider it to be a roguelite on the whole.
@@Cannotbetamed1 Didn't realize there was more to the game - never beat the later bosses, I thought the card game and the room puzzle was the entire game. Time to go back.
Inscryption is like a lot of games in one
One day Skul will be in the big leagues, one day.
Just bought it yesterday, noticed it didn't make the list.
38:31 Anytime Pam uploads a 50+ minute ranking video
My favorites: Hades/Hades 2, GOW Valhalla, Slay the Spire, Baltero, dead cells
Thanks Pam for another awesome video! Have you ever played The Last Faith? It’s a tough metrovania souls like game. I think you’ll like it. It has that gothic tone vibe like in BLOODBORNE
Yes, I just played it recently, it was fantastic.
Children of Morta complete edition is on sale for $7.83 (US) during the Games from Poland sale on steam. The 19th is the final day
Good list Pam, cheers!
Agreed with a lot of the points you were making, and yet we had quite some different placements. It's interesting how some games can just click for us where others don't.
E.g. Rogue Legacy 2 is an easy S for me - it's just so polished and tightly designed, even compared to the original, that I just had a blast with it. But I also agree it doesn't do much new, and that's the same argument I'd use to put Hades in B; aside from the story, which involves an endless grind to experience, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill roguelite done really well. I just got bored of it really quickly, and no idea why when I couldn't stop playing RL2.
It's more of a roguelike than roguelite but one of the best ones I played in recent memory is Brutal Orchestra. It's really weird, but definite recommend!
Cool to hear as I never played RL 1 but ended up buying the physical switch copy of 2 on limited run, said I would take a chance on it. Never heard of Brutal Orchestra so just checked it out on steam and it looks great! On to my wishlist it goes. Will pick it up on sale :D
Pam posts and im happy
Sunless Sea/Skies you can actually pretty easily Alt-F4 out of them if you’re about to die. I know it’s technically cheating but it does help to ease that soul-crushing difficulty you mentioned.
Would be good to know what systems you played each on to see if your experience matches ours.
Some favorites: Against Great Darkness, the DLC for Astlibra Revision (base game is a great ARPG), Buriedbornes 1 and 2, Spell Disk, and The Void Rains Upon Her Heart
Roguelikes with unlocks: Noita, Slice & Dice
Agree survivorslikes are kind of their own thing. Some good ones: Halls of Torment, Spellbook Demonslayers
It feels like I've been waiting for Void Rains Upon Her Heart to come out of early access forever.
thanks for introducing me to a bunch I've never seen or tried before
Very interesting and informative video!
Darkest Dungeon is such a good game. GOG fans should know they just released the sequel on there as well. Also, YASSS, seeing you put Dead Cells on S tier. Dead Cells is like as addictive as crack, lol.
I've been thinking of picking up the sequel at some point. It looks quite different.
Good list Pam!
Dead Cells deserves an S+, otherwise great list :D You might like Ember Knights for your co-op night.
Really cool interesting upload with a few titles that I never heard of so thank you for that. I loved Loop Hero though so how dare you madam! jk. Keep up the great content!
You reminded me that Dungeons of Dredmor exists.
And now you've reminded me that it exists!
The key word is "progression." I will go one step further. Some "roguelites" have the advantages gained from the prior run only good for the next, single run only. I don't like that. I want PERMANENT progressions, stacked up, to make the next run(s) better, sequentially.
Great video!
finally, someone who isnt instantly meatriding balatro! glad to see someome who is actually taking a more neutral perspective on it.
I appreciate the distinction between "addictive" and "fun". I feel a certain kind of player, especially younger ones, are very prone to not noticing when they're being baited into dark patterns instead of enjoying their time. I personally felt this very strongly with Borderlands 2. It got me hyperfocused for weeks and after I snapped out of it I realized I didn't really enjoy my time nearly as much as other games that hooked me before. I didn't feel any strong emotions, or had any narrative fulfillment, or felt like I mastered any skills. I really felt manipulated.
Well put. I have run into that into the past. (Smite I'm looking at you)
Now I have the rule of thumb. After playing a game do I feel happy or not after? Do I feel satisfied and pumped up? And am I excited to play again or do I just feel like it's an ocd I have to finish.
Obviously certain games don't fit this mold but making a set of questions like this can help weed out problem games for yourself.
“I felt manipulated” gtfoh I don’t like Borderlands 2 either for the same reasons but it’s not “manipulative” your problem is with gambling and therefore capitalism. Yes I hate it as well when it is in games. But jeez it’s a video game. “Manipulated” man
@@BulyssesBwachowski lol that was a crazy roller coaster of "your problem has systemic roots but also screw you". chill dude. designers still make choices.
@@voltcorp yeah they seem all over the place.
I played Curious Expedition 2 last month. It was a very fun roguelite. Try it out when you have a chance.
Ooh, that looks like exactly the kind of game I'd enjoy, thank you.
That looks exactly like my kind of game. And they were on sale! Picked up the first and second game, thanks.
sourc of madness is definitely artistic. i never finished it but its definitely interesting to look at