Rogue | Glenn Wichman, Michael Toy, Ken Arnold | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), Switch
One thing I’ve noticed from these best ever roguelike lists – and I’ve consulted one or two in my time – is that the original Rogue rarely gets a mention. That stops here and now.
This often overlooked genre-defining RPG introduced the world to the gameplay mechanics that we all enjoy so much. Of course, Rogue never went away, and has been released on different platforms over the years. Most recently that meant a return to PC via Steam, and even a recent remaster.
I had previously played via web emulators and there was even a disastrous attempt to learn the complicated hand gestures needed to play a version of the game on mobile.
However, the recentish PC release has given me a chance to return to basics and take a fresh look at a game that has made such a huge impact over the years. There’s an even newer retail version of the game on Nintendo Switch, too.
Of course, if you’re interested in Rogue then there’s a good chance that you’ll want to dig a bit deeper. For that you should head over to The Rogue Archive. There you’ll find many different variations of the game, which will let you see how it has evolved as different people got involved.
You can find out much more about Rogue and nomenclature in this article about roguelikes and different definitions.
Caves of Qud | Freehold Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
If you’re after a more modern take on the traditional roguelike experience, I’m going to nudge you in the general direction of Caves of Qud. Of course, there are several notable genre classics that have landed between this and Rogue. I’m talking about games such as Nethack and Brogue, and other golden oldies that have been given a fresh lick of paint, such as ADOM.
For my money, however, Caves of Qud is the best modern interpretation of the original ASCII style – it’s reverent without being held back by tradition, in the sense that its simplistic interface has allowed its creators the space to create a truly impressive game world full of intrigue and adventure.
After an extended period of time in development, Caves of Qud is now finally out of Early Access (here’s my review). The 1.0 update saw the introduction of a tutorial mode as well as the game’s final ending, along with a host of additional enhancements. This final release is the culmination of more than a decade’s work and I consider it to be a truly remarkable achievement on the part of the developers.
While I’m being effusive, I should also give a shout-out to the character creation tools, which give the player huge scope to experiment during each new run. There are dozens of gameplay-changing mutations to play around with, and these can profoundly impact the way you experience the world, which itself is absolutely stuffed full of interesting shit to do. Caves of Qud is a demanding game, but it’s also a labour of love that gives back so much more.
Dwarf Fortress | Bay 12 Games | PC (Lin, Win)
If you want to see what happens when you let a small but committed team of talented game developers cook indefinitely, then I invite you to take a closer look at Dwarf Fortress.
To be fair, nearly everyone has heard about the fabled development journey of Dwarf Fortress by now, but it’s worth noting that despite things kicking off more than 20 years ago, development has really accelerated in recent years. Now the game is out on Steam with a detailed tile-set and so many more refinements.
Dwarf Fortress was able to build its cult following thanks to the richness of the world that is simulated, and you’ll constantly be surprised by the attention to detail. In fact, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that it’s one of the most influential games on this list, and it has directly inspired one of my favourite sci-fi games ever: RimWorld.
However, Dwarf Fortress is not just a top class sandbox fantasy simulator, there’s also an Adventure Mode for RPG fans to experience things in a more personal way. Set many years after the events of any simulations from Fortress Mode that you care to link to, your roguelike adventure will take you through a wild and granular world where it pays to pay attention. Once again it’s the detail of the world-building that helps the bring your adventures to life.
Path of Achra | Developer | PC
One of the more stripped down games on this list is Path of Achra, but don’t be fooled by the basic pixel-art or the Spartan presentation, this is one of the most interesting roguelike releases of recent years.
This turn-based RPG is set in a dark fantasy version of ancient Earth. Just as we’ve experienced before in games such as FTL, there is constant pressure from behind; in this instance it’s the rising flood waters that follow you on your journey.
You’ve got some choice but at the end of the day you’re still going to meet some fearsome challenges as you move ahead of the rising tide, regardless of which road you take.
While you do spend a lot of time tinkering with the configuration of your build, to make sure that you’re as deadly as possible, you do still have to explore each rooms. Once you enter a new area, you must battle anything you encounter before getting the loot. Combat is a complex turn-based dance but it can also be over in a moment, if you’ve got yourself set-up properly.
There are so many ways that you can create your character in Path of Achra, and therein lies the heart and soul of it. At the beginning of each adventure you are offered a range of extensive build options, with potentially countless combinations, from super-violent barbarian types to magic users who can summon strange creatures into battle. Then, once you’re on your way, there are further chances to upgrade and refine your build as you look to make yourself an unstoppable superhero capable of defeating all who come before them.
