A GENRE where dying means starting all over again may not sound exciting, but the quick runs are what makes them so enticing.
The Steam Summer Sale is now in full swing, but with so many games on offer, it can be hard to decide what to pick up.
Cult of the Lamb was a smash hit from last year.
For those who revel in a difficult challenge, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best games from the genre and many are less than £5 ($5).
Here are the must-play roguelikes that you can pick up in the Steam Summer Sale.
Hades – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
Hades is a roguelike dungeon crawler, where you play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, who is trying to escape the underworld.
With the help of the Greek gods, Zagreus has to pass through various chambers and decide his path through the levels of hell.
You’ll build relationships with the various gods and demons as you go, and perhaps even start a romance.
Hades is now 50% off, priced at just £10.49 / $12.49.
The Binding of Isaac Rebirth – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
The game that comes to most people’s mind when you utter the world roguelike and its challenging, permadeath characteristics.
You play as baby Isaac trying to escape the clutches of his abusive, religious mother via the house basement.
With tears as your only defence, cry your way through challenging dungeons and even more difficult to find secrets.
The Binding of Isaac Rebirth has a discount of 33% off, costing £7.36 / $10.04.
Cult of the Lamb – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
As the name suggests, you play as a lamb who controls their flock of cult members through new rules and doctrines.
You decide to use the carrot or the stick to build your town and gather resources from nearby dungeons.
Not all cults are created equal, and even if you survive, you can play again to find another way.
Cult of the Lamb is now 35% off, priced at £12.66 / $16.24.
Darkest Dungeon – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
Darkest Dungeon asks you to manage not only your teammates’HP, but also their mental health.
Battles take a toll on your party members, as you choose whether to go deeper for resources, or to let them have their self-care.
It’s a careful game of strategy, as you try to balance all of the elements at play.
Darkest Dungeon is currently 70% off and costs £6.29 / $7.49.
Vampire Survivors – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
One of the simpler yet more engaging games on the list, all you do in Vampire Survivors is walk around.
As monsters gather around you, you collect pickups, synergise, and try to keep the horde at bay.
Despite or possibly because of how easy it is to pick up and play, Vampire Survivors walked its way into players’ hearts.
Vampire Survivors can be found at 25% off priced at just £2.99 / $3.74.
Slay the Spire – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
A completely different take on the genre, Slay the Spire is a deck-builder where you use your cards to take down bosses.
Choose your path with strong elements of risk and reward, to build a deck with the right synergies to take down tough bosses.
If you’re not good at card games it will take time to get into the swing of things, but it will be worth the effort.
Slay the Spire is currently 66% off, selling for £6.62 / $8.49.
Crypt of the Necrodancer – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
Infamous rhythm-based dungeon crawler, Crypt of the Necrodancer sees you move through levels all to the beat.
Each of the enemies move on the beat too, and you’ll have to learn their patterns if you hope to defeat them.
Not for the faint of heart, you’ll enjoy the banging soundtrack, if nothing else.
Crypt of the Necrodancer is a bargain at 80% off, costing just £2.55 / $2.99.
Spelunky – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
As the name suggests, you will be spelunking down a number of different dungeons to find buried treasure.
Despite how easy it sounds, the depths will become increasingly difficult to traverse, with danger facing you at every turn.
Tactically deciding the path to follow, you’ll want to dive in over and over.
Spelunky can be bought at 80% off for just £2.19 / $2.99.
Loop Hero – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
Your town is stuck in a time loop, and it’s up to you to protect your camp and save it from the spell.
Collect cards and build booby traps to keep enemies away, and gather resources.
Make your campsite stronger to take on tough bosses and save the city.
Loop Hero is currently 67% off and can be picked up for just £4.22 / $4.94.
Tumbleseed – Steam Summer Sale roguelikes
A more unusual take on the genre, you control a tilt table as a seed tumbles across it.
You have to avoid potholes, and pick up upgrades in order to take out the enemies on your path.
A cute colourful game in a genre full of darkness, Tumbleseed is a stand-out game.
Tumbleseed and its soundtrack are available with 10% off for £14.39 / $17.99.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
