Roguelike Mobile Games

By Mykola Vyhohradov

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Roguelike games are a subgenre of role-playing games that have captured the imagination of gamers since the early days of video gaming. Drawing inspiration from the 1980 classic Rogue, these games are known for their addictive gameplay loops, where players must start over whenever their character dies or fails to complete an objective.

The best mobile roguelike video games in 2024
Top of the best roguelike and roguelite games on Android or iOS

One of the defining features of the best roguelike games on mobile is their randomly generated environments. Each new game presents players with a unique, randomly generated world, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same. This randomness keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, as players must adapt to new challenges and opportunities every time they play. Coupled with this is the concept of permanent death, or permadeath. When a character dies in a roguelike game, it’s game over for good. This high-stakes element means that players cannot simply pick up where they left off.

The evolution of mobile roguelikes has been remarkable. Initially, these games found their home on PCs, with titles like Rogue and NetHack becoming cult classics. However, the genre has adapted for Android phones and iOS, where their turn-based and strategic nature makes them perfect for short, frequent play sessions. Modern mobile roguelikes have used touch controls and mobile-specific features to create engaging and intuitive experiences. This adaptation has brought the genre to a wider audience, attracting both longtime fans and new players. We’ll take a look at the best roguelike games you can play in 2025.

The best roguelike games you can play in 2024

Key Features of Rogue-like Mobile Games

  • 1

    Randomly Generated Environments

    Each new game features a unique, randomly generated environment, making every playthrough different.

  • 2

    Permanent Death (Permadeath)

    When a character dies, it's game over for good. Players cannot continue from where they left off.

  • 3

    Turn-Based Movement

    Players make strategic decisions as the game progresses in turns, allowing them to plan their actions carefully.

  • 4

    Hack and Slash

    Combat often focuses on defeating monsters through direct, intense engagement.

  • 5

    Strategic Complexity

    Players need to think strategically, using scarce resources wisely and adapting to various challenges.

5 the most important features of roguelike mobile games

Popular Roguelike Mobile Games

Dead Cells (2017)

Dead Cells is a highly acclaimed roguelike-Metroidvania game where players take on the role of the Prisoner, an amorphous creature fighting its way out of a diseased island. The game combines fast-paced combat with exploration. Its procedurally generated levels ensure that each run is different, keeping the gameplay unpredictable and engaging. Players collect weapons, upgrades, and skills to defeat increasingly difficult enemies and bosses, with permadeath adding a layer of intensity to every decision.

Roguelike Metroidvania game Dead Cells

Vampire Survivors (2021)

In Vampire Survivors, players must survive waves of enemies while collecting power-ups and new weapons. The game is known for its simple yet addictive gameplay loop, where each playthrough feels unique due to the random nature of item drops and enemy spawns. The pixel art style and intuitive controls make it a standout title in the roguelike genre on mobile platforms.

Roguelike game Vampire Survivors with pixel art style

Slay the Spire (2017)

Slay the Spire merges deck-building with roguelike elements. Players ascend a spire filled with enemies, using a deck of cards to execute combat moves. Each level of the spire is randomly generated, and players must strategically build their deck with powerful cards and relics they find along the way. The game’s turn-based combat and strategic depth have made it a favorite among mobile gamers.

Deck-building video game Slay the Spire with roguelike elements

Crypt of the NecroDancer (2015)

Players must move and attack to the beat of the music, creating a unique and challenging gameplay experience. The dungeons are procedurally generated, and players can choose from different characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles. The combination of rhythm-based movement and roguelike mechanics makes it a refreshing take on the genre.

Rhythm-based video game Crypt of the NecroDancer with roguelike mechanics

Shattered Pixel Dungeon (2014)

A modern adaptation of the classic Pixel Dungeon, Shattered Pixel Dungeon is where players explore dungeons, fight monsters, and collect loot, with each dungeon being randomly generated. This mobile rogue-like game features various character classes, each with unique abilities, and a multitude of items and upgrades to discover, ensuring replayability and strategic depth.

Roguelike mobile game Shattered Pixel Dungeon, a modern adaptation of the classic Pixel Dungeon

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (2013)

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is an open-source survival horror roguelike phone game that emphasizes exploration and survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Players must scavenge for supplies, craft items, and build shelters to survive against zombies and other threats. The game’s deep crafting system, complex world interactions, and procedurally generated environments provide a challenge.

Open-source survival horror roguelike Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead

Darkest Dungeon (2016)

Darkest Dungeon is a rogue-like RPG for Android and iOS that brings a dark, psychological twist to the roguelike formula, emphasizing mental stress and resilience in addition to traditional survival mechanics. Players lead a team of flawed heroes through twisted forests, forgotten warrens, and ruined crypts, battling not only monstrous foes but also their mounting stress and madness. The game’s unique stress system and its impact on gameplay dynamics introduce a novel layer of strategy to the roguelike genre.

Open-source survival horror roguelike Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead

Ocean Keeper (2024)

Ocean Keeper is a roguelike game available on Switch and mobile that combines roguelike elements with survival and strategy within an underwater setting. Players must manage resources, build and upgrade their bases, and defend against the creatures of the deep. Each playthrough offers new challenges and opportunities, driven by procedurally generated environments and a dynamic ecosystem, making each session unique and engaging.

Action-packed roguelike with survival elements Ocean Keeper

Beginner's Guide to Rogue-like Mobile Games

Mobile roguelikes have become a significant part of the gaming world, known for their challenging and unique gameplay. They are popular not only on PC and consoles but also on mobile platforms and Steam. Here’s a look at some of the best mobile roguelikes, their prices, and what makes them special.

The table below highlights the price and key features of the most popular rogue-like games for Android and iOS, helping you find the perfect roguelike game for your mobile device or Steam platform. Dive into these exciting worlds and enjoy the unpredictable and rewarding challenges that Steam roguelike games are known for.

Game
Price
Features
Dead Cells
8.99 (for Android)
8.99 (for iOS)
Action, platformer, Casual, Hack and slash, Stylized, Pixelated, Play Pass
Vampire Survivors
free
Role Playing, Roguelike, Single Player, Stylized, Pixelated, Offline
The Darkest Dungeon
0.99 (for Android)
4.99 8.99 (for iOS)
Adventure
Slay the Spire
6.99 (for Android)
9.99 (for iOS)
#1 top paid card, Card, Card battler, Casual, Stylized, Play Pass
Crypt of the Necrodancer
4.99 (for Android)
3.99 (for iOS)
Role Playing, Roguelike, Casual, Single Player, Stylized, Pixelated, Offline
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
free (for Android)
4.99 (for iOS)
Role Playing, Roguelike, Casual, Single Player, Stylized, Pixelated, Offline
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
free
Strategy, Casual, Single Player, Offline
Beginner guide to roguelike mobile games

Gameplay Mechanics of Popular Rogue-like Mobile Games

Game
Unique Gameplay Mechanics
Dead Cells (2017)
Related to gun customization games, it combines fast-paced action and exploration with procedurally generated levels, permadeath, and a variety of upgrades and skills. Players must fight their way out of a diseased island as the Prisoner, making each run unpredictable and engaging.
Darkest Dungeon (2016)
Involves turn-based combat and exploration with a distinctive twist: heroes must manage their stress, fear, and paranoia. The stress mechanic adds psychological elements, making the game challenging as heroes can become afflicted by stress, impacting their performance.
Ocean Keeper (2024)
Combines resource management and customization, allowing players to manage upgrades and distribute resources strategically. Players can manually control character actions to attack enemies and collect resources, enhancing the challenge with thoughtful strategy and resource management.
Vampire Survivors (2021)
One of the best action roguelikes that features waves of enemies that players must survive while collecting power-ups and new weapons. The simple yet addictive gameplay loop ensures each playthrough is unique due to the random nature of item drops and enemy spawns.
Slay the Spire (2017)
Merges deck-building with roguelike elements. Players ascend a spire filled with enemies, using a strategic card-based combat system. The random generation of levels and the need to build a powerful deck add strategic depth.
Crypt of the Necrodancer (2015)
Players must move and attack to the beat of the music, with procedurally generated dungeons and various characters, each having unique abilities.
Shattered Pixel Dungeon (2014)
Offers a classic roguelike experience with randomly generated dungeons, various character classes, and a multitude of items and upgrades. Players explore, fight monsters, and collect loot, ensuring high replayability
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (2013)
Focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic world with a deep crafting system and procedurally generated environments. Players scavenge for supplies, and craft items, and build shelters to survive against zombies and other threats.
What are the most popular gameplay mechanics of mobile roguelike games

Challenges and Difficulty of Mobile Roguelikes

Below is a table detailing the specific challenges that require players’ skills in some popular hard roguelike games.

Game
Challenges Requiring Player Skills
Dead Cells (2017)
Fast-paced combat requires quick reflexes and strategic use of various weapons and upgrades. Mastering procedurally generated levels to adapt to new environments and enemy patterns with each playthrough.
Darkest Dungeon (2016)
Stress management mechanics where players must deal with psychological effects on characters, managing stress, fear, and paranoia. Turn-based combat and exploration in dark, procedurally generated dungeons.
Vampire Survivors (2021)
Surviving waves of enemies by effectively managing power-ups and weapons. Players must strategically choose upgrades and adapt to the random nature of item drops.
Slay the Spire (2017)
Strategic deck-building where players must carefully select and combine cards to create powerful synergies. Turn-based combat requires thoughtful planning to overcome enemies.
Crypt of the Necrodancer (2015)
Rhythm-based movement and combat where players must synchronize actions to the beat of the music. Adapting to procedurally generated dungeons and utilizing character-specific abilities.
Shattered Pixel Dungeon (2014)
Exploration and resource management in randomly generated dungeons. Players must make strategic decisions on using items and upgrades while facing various character classes with unique abilities.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead (2013)
Survival skills include scavenging for supplies, crafting items, and building shelters. Players need to navigate and adapt to a procedurally generated post-apocalyptic world filled with threats.
Ocean Keeper (2024)
Resource management and customization where players manage upgrades and distribute resources strategically. Manual control of character actions to attack enemies and collect resources.
What difficult roguelikes require player skills to play the game

Future Prospects of Android / IOS Roguelikes

The future of mobile roguelike games on Android and iOS platforms is promising because of rapid advancements in technology and development methodologies. The roguelike concept, known for its challenging mechanics like procedural generation and permadeath, has seamlessly integrated into various game genres, broadening its appeal and adaptability.

Advancements in mobile technology have significantly enhanced the capabilities of Android and iOS devices, allowing developers to create more sophisticated games. Full-cycle game development outsourcing now allows companies to produce complex games more efficiently. Moreover, specialized services for Android game developers and iOS game developers ensure that games are optimized for each platform.

Future of mobile roguelike games on Android and iOS

The flexibility of roguelike elements allows them to be incorporated into a multitude of genres beyond the traditional dungeon crawler:

  • Simulation games: including mobile roguelike mechanics into simulation games, like city builders or management sims, introduces layers of unpredictability and complexity that enhance gameplay depth.
  • RPG games benefit from roguelike features by adding replay value and increasing the stakes of character development and story progression.

The art and design in games play a pivotal role in defining the atmosphere and enhancing player immersion. Exploring the art for best roguelike mobile game genres can provide insights into how the best art for game genres can be used to make mobile roguelikes better across different genres. High-quality, genre-appropriate art helps in creating a more engaging and visually appealing game environment.

For example, Codename: Ocean Keeper, a game that merges mobile roguelike elements with survival mechanics, showcases how art and design can dramatically influence player experience. Learn more about Ocean Keeper how the art style and gameplay mechanics blend, a title that exemplifies the successful integration of roguelike elements into new genres.

The flexibility of roguelike elements in a variety of genres

As technology continues to evolve, the scope for mobile roguelikes expands, promising a future where these games are not only visually stunning but also rich in varied gameplay experiences. The adaptability of the roguelike formula ensures that it will continue to influence a wide array of game types, making it a perennial favorite among developers and gamers alike. With the right development tools and a focus on artistic quality, the next generation of roguelike games on mobile platforms is set to captivate and engage audiences worldwide.

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