10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

10 Best Retro-Styled Roguelike Games

Contents

From the retro-style dungeons of Enter the Gungeon to the pixel-art levels in Risk of Rain, here’s a ranking of the best retro roguelike games.

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10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developers have continued to expand on the roguelike genre by adding more creative mechanics, writing compelling narratives, and, of course, crafting stunning character and world designs to appeal to more players. One popular type of design that has dominated the genre is the retro aesthetic, with massive hits like Dead Cells and Into the Breach using familiar elements from the art style.

From pixel art to classic weapons, there are a ton of design choices that make a game feel like it came straight out of the 90s. These low-budget roguelikes often provide players with a nostalgic experience through their straightforward controls and fascinating stories, giving fans hours of entertaining gameplay.

10 Noita

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developer Nolla Games gave players one of the most underrated indie video games in 2020. Noita lets players fight through pixelated dungeons and caves in a variety of ways. As a powerful witch, the protagonist can cast spells and use weapons to burn, melt, or freeze enemies.

In Noita’s world, every single pixel is simulated, which means the 2D world is highly interactive, with each part reacting to players’ actions in unique ways. Exploding barrels and fending off enemies is more satisfying when their individual pixels get scattered across the screen.

9 Neon Abyss

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developed by Veewo Games, players are tasked with infiltrating the Abyss in the run ‘n gun roguelike platformer Neon Abyss. Each procedurally generated dungeon has formidable enemies and stackable items that let players boost their characters’ attacks and defenses.

The game has a fun futuristic retro style with a vibrant neon color palette and fuzzy pixel art throughout its levels. Its weapon designs put a twist on classic platformer guns, with some capable of shooting multiple laser beams or sending out musical notes instead of bullets.

8 Risk Of Rain

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Risk of Rain thrusts players onto an unforgiving planet full of alien creatures and random items. Developed by Hopoo Games, it introduced roguelike fans to a challenging environment where time is of the essence; the longer they stay on a level, the tougher the enemies get.

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Its pixel art style and muted color palette complement the title’s straightforward but exhilarating gameplay. Players have to strike the perfect balance between collecting enough items in each level and making sure not to spend too long or risk getting stuck with undefeatable enemies. The goal is to find the teleporter in each stage and get strong enough to advance to the final boss.

7 The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is often considered to be one of the best rogue-lite games available on Steam. Game designer Edmund McMillen used his religious upbringing to come up with the original plot and grotesque monsters found in its procedurally generated dungeons.

As Isaac, players must use tears to fight creepy enemies in this top-down roguelike. The nightmarish level designs look simple at first glance, but its retro-style parody of biblical figures and anthropomorphic feces soon take center stage. It’s a strange but immersive take on the genre with hard-hitting themes and engaging gameplay that fans will not soon forget.

6 Crypt Of The NecroDancer

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developed by Brace Yourself Games, Crypt of the NecroDancer is one of the best rhythm games for beginners. Players must navigate its colorful dungeons and move according to the beat of the music or risk being killed by enemies. There’s even an option to use a dance pad!

With its pixel art style, hearts, coins, and dragons, NecroDancer features some of the best elements of retro-style games. The only real difference is its combat mechanics, which take some time to master, but are otherwise manageable once players get into their groove.

5 Enter The Gungeon

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developer Dodge Roll takes players on a thrilling journey in Enter the Gungeon where they must defeat comical enemies in pursuit of a ridiculous mission. Players must wade through anthropomorphic bullets and angry gunpowder to destroy the High Dragun and reach the ultimate gun that can kill the past. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is part of what makes it so fun.

The bullet hell roguelike boasts retro graphics that add flavor to each of the hundreds of guns available for players to choose from. Every randomly generatedpixel-art dungeon poses its own challenge with fun Easter eggs, a plethora of weapons, and other collectibles hidden everywhere.

4 Nuclear Throne

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Nuclear Throne is a post-apocalyptic top-down shooter that proves retro is still relevant for indie games. Developed by Vlambeer, players can choose between twelve different characters depending on their playstyles. Each procedurally generated level has hordes of mutants for the protagonist to take on in an effort to reach and claim the throne.

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The 2D graphics and vibrant colors of the game eventually fade to the background as players find themselves overwhelmed by an increasingly aggressive mob of monsters. Unlike most modern roguelikes, each grueling run doesn’t always give players permanent upgrades, making progression difficult but more rewarding.

3 Into The Breach

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Developed by Subset Games, Into the Breach is a turn-based strategy roguelike that tasks players with stopping a kaiju uprising while protecting cities. With armored mechs facing off against enemies on a chess-like board, it’s a creative approach to the genre that forces players to think about every move.

Its crisp-yet-cutesy graphics go well with its isometric perspective, giving fans a clear view of the playing field. It teaches players to make hard choices about which pawns are worth saving and which buildings are better used as sacrifices against the surprisingly consistent enemies.

2 Rogue Legacy

10 Best RetroStyled Roguelike Games

Rogue Legacy was a groundbreaking addition to the genre that masterfully blended Metroidvania-style gameplay with roguelike elements. Developed by Cellar Door Games, it lets players control heroes with individual impairments while also giving them the chance to keep any upgrades and purchases they make in each level.

The retro-style Metroidvania mostly takes place in a dingy castle, with its procedurally generated rooms spawning classic enemies like knights and giant eyeballs. Getting through every swordfight and bullet hell encounter is no easy feat, which is what makes this game so satisfying to complete even years after its initial release.

1 Dead Cells

Developed by Motion Twin, Dead Cells is a Metroidvania-style action-platformer that thrusts players into the body of a corpse who must fight his way through procedurally generated dungeons. It combines twitchy combat and challenging platforming with treacherous biomes, forcing players to upgrade their weapons with in-game “cells” to improve their chances of surviving each run.

The fast-paced game is set in a vibrant but dilapidated 2D environment, with its retro-style health bars and power-ups constantly reminding players that they’re always in danger of dying again. Players usually gain something new with each death be it skins, weapons, or new abilities. This makes each loop satisfying, keeping fans playing over and over again to uncover more about its fascinating world.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-retro-roguelike-video-games/

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