author: Mateusz Zdanowicz
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Top 13 Roguelike PC Video Games
Table of Contents
This is the game for you if:
- you value original style;
- you have a lot of patience;
- you like arcade gameplay.
The second version of Edmund McMillen's (now iconic) game (the original offers less content and a different style) is a perfect example of a popular roguelite title. There is no turn-based combat and no huge locations, but instead, you get a maze full of small rooms, where you fight various monsters, relying only on your reflexes, a good eye, and... luck. Finding the right items or upgrades – and there are hundreds of them – is extremely important and can even determine at an early stage the future of our grim adventure.
Isaac certainly stands out for its style and atmosphere. After all, the protagonist's abstract adventures, which are really a metaphor for a difficult childhood and a toxic relationship with an abusive mother, are something we don't often see in video games - and certainly not in arcade rougelikes. If you don't mind the style, you'll get a polished and engaging shooter that can surprise you even after many, many hours. PC mod support is also a big adventage.
Spelunky
This is the game for you if:
- you're an Indiana Jones fan;
- exploring tombs is your thing;
- you prefer uncomplicated but challenging gameplay.
Spelunky 2 was released in 2020, but it is worth bringing up the original - one of the first truly popular descendants of classic roguelikes. The originally free-to-play game was quite successful when, with a refreshed graphics, was released for Xbox 360 in 2012. The game owes its success to the dynamic yet simple gameplay with great challenges waiting on each level, charming visuals, and many secrets. Spelunkyhad basically everything one should expect from a roguelike. Since even the hundredth death in a row didn't frustrate too much, it means that the creator was up to the task.
The goal is simple - you explore mines and other types of underground locations to find the exit at the very end and reach the surface, carrying as much loot as possible. Of course, no one manages to get to the final boss and beat it on the first, second, or even tenth try. Spelunky doesn't go easy on mistakes but quickly teaches the player specific behaviors and habits, so with each playthrough, you are richer in knowledge. You can start to recognize many relationships and mechanics, not obvious at first.
Dead Cells
This is the game for you if:
- fighting is most important to you;
- you appreciate pixel art style;
- you care about sense of development.
Motion Twin studio's hit is typical fighting-focused roguelite, but what is that fight! Without the slightest doubt, I will say that no other roguelike offers such a satisfying, arcade-style butchery. The smoothness of skirmishes in Dead Cells is simply stunning. Great animations are, of course, part of it, but it all has excellent controls and many weapons and gadgets that help you deal with monsters. The good impression is certainly affected by the great pixel art style.
It's also an example of the "new wave" of roguelites - the developers have begun to introduce systems that allow players to feel like they're making visible progress in the game - despite repeated deaths and starting exploration from the beginning. Soin Dead Cellswe can unlock specific upgrades or access to new weapons, thanks to which the next playthrough of the game can be different or even a bit easier so that we can get to more difficult stages faster. The developers admit that they mixed elements of roguelike and metroidvania for this game. The variety of locations is large, and the whole game was filled with lots of secrets and an additional challenge mode.
