Recently, the indie gaming scene has revitalized the roguelike genre, introducing refreshing takes that diverge from the traditional action-heavy combat. While many titles focus heavily on adrenaline-pumping battles, a selection of games explores alternative pathways that emphasize strategy, resource management, and a blend of luck, showcasing that players can enjoy roguelikes without the relentless pursuit of combat.
This curated list presents ten remarkable games illustrating that endless fighting isn’t a prerequisite for a rewarding roguelike experience. For clarity, I will interchangeably use “roguelike”and “roguelite, ”as their gameplay dynamics often overlap significantly.
10 Cursed to Golf
Par for the Cursed
Imagine discovering that Purgatory resembles a constantly changing golf course. In Cursed to Golf, the story revolves around a golfer who meets a tragic demise right before a pivotal tournament swing. Fortunately, a chance to return to life emerges—with the caveat that he must play golf to earn it.
However, golfing in Purgatory is fraught with danger, featuring perilous spikes and explosions rather than typical obstacles like sand traps. To aid his quest, the protagonist gains unique abilities that vary with each run, such as altering the ball’s flight mid-air or drilling through surfaces. This unique synergy between golfing mechanics and roguelike elements renders Cursed to Golf an engaging and delightful addition to the genre.
9 Against the Storm
Winds of Change
Set in a dark fantasy realm beset by the Blightstorm, civilization clings to the Smoldering City. In Against the Storm, players assume the role of a governor responsible for expanding this last bastion against adversity by establishing new settlements.
Players face daunting challenges resulting from the Blightstorm, including inhospitable terrains and hostile creatures. The game requires you to cater to the diverse needs of various species, making strategic decisions to foster growth.
Instead of focusing on a single city, you’re tasked with creating multiple settlements, each presenting distinct challenges and specializations, providing a fresh experience with every run.
8 As Far As The Eye
A City Builder with No City
In conventional city-building games, the focus is often on establishing a stable settlement.As Far As The Eye flips this idea on its head by presenting a nomadic city-builder where players guide a moving population towards the world’s center before rising waters consume it.
Here, players face survival challenges and resource management dilemmas rather than direct combat scenarios. The key lies in advancing your tribe’s development to surmount the diverse obstacles encountered during their quest.
7 dotAGE
Old Man Yells at Villagers
In a similar vein to the growing trend of combat-free city-building games, dotAGE carves a niche with its compelling premise. Instead of cultivating a peaceful community, players must strategically expand their settlement to avert an imminent apocalypse.
Despite its charming visuals and whimsical art style, dotAGE delivers a punishing experience, starting with simple management of a small number of villagers (or “pips”) that quickly escalates into a frantic battle for survival amid troubling disasters.
This intricate game promises an expansive world of interactions and high replayability, demonstrating the potential of solo developers in the current gaming landscape.
6 Streets of Rogue
Don’t Need Combat to Sow Chaos
Streets of Rogue features ample combat opportunities, but it’s primarily driven by player choice. As an immersive sim-turned-roguelike, it allows various approaches to challenges, many of which bypass direct conflict.
Players can choose stealth or clever mechanics over brute force, for instance, sneaking past guards or setting traps instead of engaging them directly. This design rewards creative thinking and smart gameplay, with a focus on tactical maneuvering.
5 Luck be a Landlord
Fighting the One-Armed Bandit
The roguelike genre thrives on innovative concepts, and Luck be a Landlord stands out as a unique slot-machine game within this framework. Players strive to pay rent entirely through gambling winnings—eliminating the mundane grind of traditional employment.
After every spin, players choose a new symbol to add to their slot machine layout, each offering distinctive payouts and potential synergies. For example, a Chef symbol enhances adjacent fruit symbols, while a Coal symbol takes 20 spins to transform into a valuable diamond.
Strategic placement and effective management of limited space are vital, blending luck with skill to achieve victory.
4 World of Horror
Not for the Squeamish
While combat can generate tension, World of Horror creates dread through investigation and storytelling. Players investigate grotesque mysteries reminiscent of Junji Ito’s works or Lovecraftian lore, paired with a distinctive 1-bit aesthetic and haunting chiptune soundtrack that enhances the horror experience.
For fans of chilling narratives and psychological tension, World of Horror provides a rich, unnerving adventure that’s definitely worth the try.
3 Renowned Explorers: International Society
This Belongs in a Museum
Renowned Explorers: International Society invites players into a world reminiscent of grand expeditions featured in classic literature like *Around the World in 80 Days*.Players assemble a crew of three characters, each specializing in action, science, diplomacy, or scouting, allowing for versatile strategies on every expedition.
Exploration requires leveraging each character’s unique abilities to tackle challenges—whether negotiating with local factions, scavenging for resources, or recovering artifacts through cunning or conflict.
2 Curious Expedition 1 & 2
The Thrill of Discovery
Continuing the roguelike exploration theme, Curious Expedition stands out as a prime example of what aspiring Early Access titles should emulate. Each run presents a vast, procedurally-generated world where players guide their crew through perilous quests, encountering artifacts and engaging Indigenous tribes.
Resource management lies at the game’s core, focusing on preserving the crew’s mental state as the most crucial asset in the harsh unknown, making every adventurous journey both thrilling and worthwhile.
1 Balatro
Five of a Kind
Balatro, despite its straightforward mechanics, offers a unique gaming experience that can be challenging to explain to newcomers. The concept involves playing poker hands to score points, yet this engaging formula has earned accolades, being nominated for Game of the Year alongside heavyweights like *Astrobot* and *Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth*.
Its simple yet infinitely replayable nature delivers the thrill of gambling without real stakes, enticing players to strategize around the Jokers and cards they encounter, maximizing their score potential in a mathematically complex adventure.
Personally, I found myself engrossed for over 50 hours within the initial two weeks of play—an indication of its compelling quality that I’d recommend to anyone with even a passing interest.
Leave a Reply ▼