There are plenty of roguelikes to consume on the Xbox console side of Game Pass, along with a handful of roguelites. These titles are generally designed to keep players coming back for more, and they are often perfect games to throw on for a 30-minute session. What are the best roguelikes on Xbox Game Pass?
Updated on December 11, 2022 by Mark Sammut: Roguelikes and roguelites have become incredibly popular over the last few years. When executed properly, these titles can offer almost endless replayability, and plenty of these projects are on Microsoft’s subscription service.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is one of the best roguelikes of the past few years. It’s still getting played on all major platforms today and a Castlevania DLC was recently announced. Besides Dead Cells being a fun game to replay, the developers have kept the experience alive by adding new content that expands on the base experience in exciting ways.
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Dead Cells lives and dies on the strength of its combat, which is melee-based and requires players to analyze an enemy’s movements. The Metroidvania has garnered comparisons to Dark Souls, and as cliche of a statement as that has become, it is not unfounded in this case. Although by no means easy, Dead Cells does include a system that allows permanent items to be purchased, so a defeat does not have to result in a complete restart.
Gunfire Reborn
Duoyi’s Gunfire Reborn has been steadily building up momentum since its November 2021 release. The first-person shooter started its transition to consoles in October 2022 by debuting on Microsoft’s Xbox consoles along with Game Pass, exposing the roguelite to a wider audience. After selecting from one of Gunfire Reborn’s playable characters that come with their own strengths and weaknesses, players must work their way through zones containing randomly-generated levels along with a boss. The goal is simply to kill all enemies while collecting resources that can be used to buy or boost weapons and talents.
As Gunfire Reborn is a roguelite, death does not necessarily mean starting completely from scratch. Players can purchase permanent upgrades, along with successful runs being required to unlock more characters.
Despot’s Game: Dystopian Battle Simulator
Despot’s Game is a roguelike strategy game that casts players as the unwitting general of an army. Stuck in a dystopian battlefield, gamers have a squad of humans who must fight their way through room after room of enemy. Victory means growth, and the army will quickly begin to unlock unique classes. At this point, the player’s role is to set up their warriors in a way to maximize their likelihood of surviving the ordeals that await.
Once the battle commences, players are reduced to spectators as they watch their tactics lead their army to glory or defeat. Boasting a pleasing pixel art style and a decent soundtrack, Despot’s Game offers a nice change of pace from other Xbox Game Pass roguelikes.
Loot River
Loot River is a newer roguelike that spun the genre on its head. It’s also one of the more difficult entries in the genre as there is not a lot of progress that carries over between runs. Instead of running around endless hallways, every section of the game takes place on the water and in more open situations.
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Players then have to move floors around so that they can get across gaps. It’s part puzzle game, part roguelike, and very challenging all around. The puzzle elements manage to blend well with the roguelike action even if navigating can be a bit too tricky at times.
Moonlighter
Have you ever wondered who stocks shops full of potions and gear in RPGs? Moonlighter seemingly answers that question. It’s about a merchant who runs his shop in the daylight and then adventures into the dungeons at night to collect items to then sell in his shop.
This roguelike is approachable, even without the need for assist options. It’s not going to be easy by any means, but players should be able to get a grasp of the upgrade loop quickly. A little grinding will make any obstacle in Moonlighter seem like nothing at all.
Monster Train
Deck builders and roguelikes go well together, and Xbox Game Pass has a few examples of the genres’ synergy. Monster Train tasks players with protecting a power source by setting up defenses across a train’s various levels. The goal is to resist the enemy’s attacks, and doing so requires carefully considering not only which cards to summon but where they will be most effective.
Monster Train is challenging but generally fair. The roguelike comes with five starter decks, two of which are picked for each run. This selection provides quite a bit of variety, providing an incentive for players to shake things up when they start to get tired of a deck.
Neon Abyss
Neon Abyss is another different take from the previous entries. Instead of hacking and slashing through enemies with melee weapons, the emphasis in this game is on guns. There are standard pistols and machine guns but there are more outrageous weapons too like one that can shoot lightning.
Neon Abyss is more arcade-like in nature with not a lot carrying over between runs which is fine. The bigger letdown with the game is that there isn’t a co-op option, even though it looks like there should be. Still, Neon Abyss is a fun roguelike with satisfying combat and a cool visual style.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
Skul: The Hero Slayer is kind of like a roguelike version of Super Mario Odyssey. Players assume the role of a lowly skeleton warrior who has to get strong enough to defeat mythical heroes to then rescue his boss.
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Putting on different heads will change this skeleton’s abilities. Players can assume the role of a ninja, or genie, or even become the character from Dead Cells. There are a lot of official and unofficial crossovers like that in the game and one never knows what power they will unlock next.
Slay The Spire
Slay the Spire is a card-based roguelike that is also like a choose-your-own-adventure game. Players start with a small roster of heroes but unlock more, along with new cards, along the way. They are asked which paths they want to take with some leading to traps and monsters and others to treasure.
It’s a gamble but that is what this genre is all about even if the fighting is more like a turn-based RPG. Slay the Spire is another challenging one, though, without much progression carrying over; however, it is also one of those games that encourages players to go for one more round after each defeat.
Vampire Survivors
Created by a solo player, Vampire Survivors took Steam by storm when it entered early access towards the end of 2021. Eventually, the game garnered a full release on PC and made its way to Microsoft’s consoles, being available on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This roguelike drops players in maps with 30-minute time limits and challenges them to survive as long as possible. After picking a character and equipment, survivors are bombarded by enemies from all sides, with the battle intensifying as the minutes pass.
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As players score kills, they level up their weapons and items, which is crucial to standing any chance during a stage’s last 10 minutes. Vampire Survivors has an addictive gameplay loop that is accessible and immediately understandable, while still offering a significant challenge. The game comes with plenty of unlockables as well, including new characters and weapons that come with their own strengths, weaknesses, and strategy guides.
Vampire Survivors is the perfect buffer game to throw on for a quick session in between longer experiences.
Spelunky 2
Spelunky 2 is the most hardcore roguelike on Xbox Game Pass. Players will have to go through dungeons on repeat to perfect their path to the final confrontation. It is more approachable than the original game though as the controls are tighter.
Four-player co-op returns which can also be helpful in conquering the dungeons and there are tons of characters to choose from too. Think of it more like a party game than a roguelike and the experience will be much sweeter.
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