Since the release of Rogue in 1980, developers have continually refined the core concept of dungeon crawling, resulting in several enduring classic games. Today, the roguelike genre is thriving, particularly with the emergence of the rogue-lite subgenre, which introduces persistent meta-progression to Rogue’s foundational gameplay.
With titles like Hades, The Binding of Isaac and Rogue Legacy achieving widespread success, it’s easy to overlook some of the lesser-known roguelike games—but that doesn’t imply they aren’t worth playing. The enduring appeal of these games lies in their replayability and challenging gameplay, offering a unique experience for those seeking a deep dive into the genre.
NetHack
NetHack is a direct evolution of the 1984 game Hack. First released in 1987, developers made NetHack open source, increasing its accessibility. However, unlike many games in this list, NetHack retains a graphical style similar to Rogue, utilizing simple ASCII character designs that can be challenging to interpret initially.
Despite its visual simplicity, NetHack remains an excellent choice for those seeking a truly classic experience in the genre. It features randomized dungeon crawling, turn-based combat, and, of course, permadeath—meaning there are no second chances.
What sets NetHack apart from the original Rogue is its setting. While Rogue featured the high-fantasy world common in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns of the time, NetHack gradually incorporated popular cultural references and anachronistic elements, making it slightly less serious and more enjoyable to explore.
Ancient Domains of Mystery (ADOM)
ADOM was first released with ASCII graphics in 1994 and is still playable through the game’s official website. However, it became more accessible after a crowdfunding campaign launched by developer Thomas Biskup in 2012 funded the release of an updated version with modern graphics.
That doesn’t mean it’s grow easy, though. ADOM remains a decidedly old-school roguelike, incredibly complex and highly randomized. In fact, the game deletes your save file upon death, which can be frustrating for newcomers.
Once you adjust, you’ll appreciate ADOM’s high replayability, thanks to its deep story and 22 different character classes. There’s always something new to discover, and with multiple endings, you’ll spend countless hours exploring the dungeons.
Caves of Qud
Caves of Qud was officially released in 2024 after years of active development. Freehold Games began the first public version in 2010 and released it on Steam through Early Access in 2015, with continuous weekly updates.
Unlike NetHack, Caves of Qud features a main questline. Most quests are randomized, while some are fixed, giving players a primary objective to perform towards. Qud also draws inspiration from Dwarf Fortress in its simulated politics and history, giving each playthrough a randomized historical backdrop.
While not as visually polished as modern games, Qud’s ASCII art is superior to NetHack’s. With its intriguing post-apocalyptic setting, it’s one of the best modern roguelikes and deserves a larger community.
