We’ve all fallen in love with one of the best Switch games and wished that we could play it forever. Sadly, even the best open-world games come to an end, and replaying them isn’t quite the same. Roguelikes are one of the few genres that try and provide an endless gameplay loop by leaning heavily on randomized elements. Some do have endings, and there will come a point where you will have seen everything, but they offer an addictive experience in a bite-sized form. Being able to play them on the TV or on the go in handheld mode makes them one of the most popular genres on the Switch. While the genre was novel at first, we now have hundreds of roguelikes to pick from so stick to our list of the best ones for the best experience.
There might also be a few more roguelikes on the way on our list of upcoming Switch games.
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Dead Cells
83%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Motion Twin, Evil Empire
Publisher
Motion Twin
Release
August 06, 2018
Dead Cells is a self-described “Roguevania,” so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it tops this list in addition to our list of the best Metroidvania games. That name already tells you most of what you need to know about Dead Cells. It’s a roguelike action platformer with tough-as-nails combat and plenty of secrets to discover. It has a great balance of introducing temporary elements to improve your run while also unlocking permanent upgrades to make your next one just a bit easier. The game’s tight, responsive, and rewarding combat is what stands out most, but Dead Cells‘ level design, nonlinear progression, and long list of unlockables are all equally as impressive. Because Dead Cells has so much to offer, there isn’t an individual element to ever ruin the experience. Just be ready for a challenge.
Enter the Gungeon
77%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Dodge Roll
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Release
April 05, 2016
You might think you’ve played a dozen games like Enter the Gungeon just by looking at it, but this bullet-hell roguelike is one of the most mechanically polished games in the genre. Movement, dodging, and shooting are tightly tuned so that even the more brutal of boss bullet patterns are avoidable if you pay close attention. The pixel art is also beautiful on your Switch and full of charming enemy designs with pun-filled names and references to tons of other media and games. Runs don’t take too long and there’s just enough stuff to unlock and secrets to discover to feel like a meaty experience without becoming too bloated or overstaying its welcome.
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda
74%
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Music, Adventure
Developer
Brace Yourself Games
Publisher
Nintendo, Spike Chunsoft
Release
June 13, 2019
Nintendo very rarely lets other developers handle its IP which makes Cadence of Hyrule such a pleasant surprise. This game comes from the team behind Crypt of the NecroDancer and is essentially a Zelda-themed version of that game. You need to do everything on the beat of the music, which in this case is your favorite Zelda tracks. The roguelike elements are a bit lighter here compared to the other games, with the overworld staying the same but dungeons being random. Playing on the beat takes a bit of getting used to but eventually becomes second nature, especially if you already know and love these classic songs.
Slay the Spire
85%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie, Card & Board Game
Developer
Mega Crit Games
Publisher
Humble Games
Release
January 23, 2019
Before Slay the Spire showed the world how it was done, deckbuilding roguelikes were a niche within a niche. This is arguably still the best game within the subgenre thanks to its easy-to-understand, almost impossible-to-master gameplay design. You get a set starting deck based on your character and slowly add, remove, and upgrade cards as you choose your path up the spire. Combat is played in turns where you can see exactly what the enemy is going to do on their next turn, giving you the opportunity to avoid or minimize your damage. Deciding which cards are worth adding to your deck, or if you can pass up on healing to upgrade just one of your cards, make it always feel like you’re just barely scraping by. If you do eventually master the core game, the Ascension challenges will push you to the limit.
Into the Breach
82%
Platforms
Google Stadia, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie
Developer
Subset Games
Publisher
Subset Games
Release
February 27, 2018
Just like how Slay the Spire gives you all the information you need to react to your enemies, Into The Breach is more of a puzzle than a pure tactics game. After choosing your team of mechs, you are sent onto a grid with different objectives and waves of enemies. When they appear, you will see which ones will do what and in what order. Using that information, you need to puzzle out how you can move yourself, move the enemy, and attack to hopefully negate any damage to your units and friendly buildings while also using the enemy against itself. This game rewards slow, tactical play with missions that are the perfect length to play on Switch.
30XX
56%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Batterystaple Games
Publisher
Batterystaple Games
Release
August 09, 2023
If you ever wished there was a Mega Man roguelike, 30XX is the closest thing we will get. It looks and plays exactly like the classic Capcom franchise, but with a roguelike twist where each level is randomly generated. You will collect items and upgrades as you go, giving access to more options besides the standard blaster. It doesn’t have quite as much variety as other roguelikes but instead is laser-focused on delivering the ideal version of a roguelike Mega Man game. In that regard, it is a massive success.
Streets of Rogue
65%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Matt Dabrowski
Publisher
tinyBuild
Release
July 11, 2019
Plenty of games put the term “rogue” in the title, including Streets of Rogue, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great roguelike. In this case, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more dynamic and reactive roguelike than this (at least until the sequel comes out). Streets of Rogue is almost more of an immersive sim with roguelike elements than anything else. Each stage is a small ecosystem of people, monsters, factions, and more that all behave and respond appropriately to who you are and what you do. It might have a simple visual style, but it is one of the most deep and complex simulations you can play with.
Moonlighter
71%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Digital Sun Games
Publisher
11 bit studios
Release
May 29, 2018
Almost every game lets you play as the hero going on exciting adventures, but what about the shopkeeper? Moonlighter tells you their story, and it is a winning formula. At night, you go dungeon crawling with Zelda-style combat to defeat monsters and find treasures to bring back home to your shop. In the morning you need to set up your wears, set their price, and manage the store to make as much profit as possible. It is an addictive loop, especially once you start upgrading other aspects of the town, that has great cozy vibes all around.
Balatro
87%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Strategy, Indie, Card & Board Game
Developer
LocalThunk
Publisher
Playstack
Release
February 20, 2024
Be warned, downloading Balatro on your Switch may completely ruin your productivity for a few days. This is another deckbuilding roguelike, but one that uses the standard 52 deck of cards we all know and love to make traditional poker hands. That approchability will make it easy for anyone to get started, and from there start to learn how to alter the deck with the random Jokers that change how you look at your cards. It is the perfect example of a simple idea that expanded into something so deep and satisfying that it rightfully won tons of awards the year it came out. It has a surprising number of moving parts and different ways each run can go for a game that uses basic playing cards.
