Rhythm
Metroidvania
Visual Novel
RPG
Horror
A genre not for the faint of heart, rogue-likes (or rogue-lites) can be absolutely brutal, sending you all the way back to the beginning if you dare to make a mistake. However, the focus on skill is what makes this genre of gaming so desirable for many, and the random generation makes them infinitely replayable. Which ones are the best from our beloved platform?
The Usual
Spelunky
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
While this is no means the definitive version of the game, The Binding of Isaac is and possibly always will be one of the greatest examples of the genre. With numerous different endings, upgrades, characters and bosses no playthrough is the same. With no shortcuts and certainly no hand-holding this is one of the purest examples of the rogue-like genre. Be warned getting good at this game is seriously addictive. The Binding of Isaac is very cheap digitally and while Nicalis announced that there would be a physical release for Vita I would certainly not hold your breath.
Darkest Dungeon
While I do love the phrase, I am not mistaken in calling Darkest Dungeon one of the greatest indie-darlings to come out of the past decade. Essentially a rogue-like RPG dungeon crawler, you collect your team who go out in search of spoils to keep the village going, overcoming disease and mental illness as you travel. As with the other highly-recommended rogue-likes, this one is absolutely not for the faint of heart but offers amazing satisfaction to those who succeed. A mainstream physical release was available in Japan, as well as a Western limited release collectors edition. It is also available digitally.
The Unusual
Downwell
Downwell is all about skill and it is why it has achieved such a cult following over the past half a decade. Improved hugely by the ability to play it vertically on Vita fall down the never ending well, bouncing off enemies and collecting power ups to see you land safely at the bottom. Oh and your shoes also have guns attached to them. With its super simple move and shoot control scheme this one is super easy to pick up and play. Only available digitally.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate
The definitive edition of the fifth installment in the Shiren series, Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate is a dungeon crawler rogue-like developed by Spike Chunsoft, the people behind the beloved Danganronpa series. Some of the old installments also used to be available digitally but I could find them on my most recent search. There is a reason why these games have such a strong and long running series, they are just fun to play! A collector’s edition released into the mainstream and their was a standard edition in Japan (with no English). It is still available digitally, but is quite pricey.
Risk of Rain
Risk of Rain is the epitome of the old adage of a simple idea done well. A 2D platformer/shooter/rogue-like with another exceptionally high skill ceiling, there is a reason why is game is so well received and respected. I do not recommend Risk of Rain as your introduction to the genre but those who are willing to test their capabilities could do a lot worse. This was released physically as a limited edition, but is still available digitally at a very decent price.
Rogue Legacy
Fitting itself more snugly into the rogue-lite end of the spectrum Rogue Legacy has long since established itself as one of the defining titles of the genre with its infinite replayability and super fast gameplay loops. Levelling persists across playthroughs making it a softer introduction into the genre, and while there are bullet-dense elements the 2D platforming and melee aspects are easy for beginners to conquer. Sadly, this release never received a physical release but it is widely available digitally and decently priced.
Other Recommendations
Crypt of the Necrodancer: This is one of my favourite examples of the genre but I didn’t include it only because it was already in my rhythm recommendations. Rogue-like meets dungeon crawler meets rhythm. Digital only.
Scourgebringer: One of the most recent entries to the Vita this is a super fast paced 2D platformer with melee combat, which is super smooth. What’s great about Scourgebringer is the accessibility options making it as easy or difficult as you wish. Physically as a collector’s edition or digital.
Neurovoider: By the same developers as Scourgebringer, this is another excellent rogue-like mixed with a twin stick shooter. This had a limited edition physical release and is also available digitally.
One Way Heroics: As the title suggests you are only going one way in this old school Final Fantasy style rogue-like. There is a limited physical release and it is also available digitally.
Don’t Starve: A great twist on the genre which is NOT based on combat. Instead you battle the environment with this survival based crafting game. Only available digitally.
Xenon Valkeryie+: Again not for the faint of heart this shooter based 2D platformer also has hints of bullet hell at the boss fights. Physical was a digital release, but also available digitally.
Demon’s Tier+: By the same developers as Xenon above, and similar in style, Demon’s Tier is the beginners rogue-like. As a fan of the genre it was on the easy side for me but still a lot of fun. Physical collector’s edition or digital.
And one to avoid …
Ported during it’s alpha phase and having not been patched since Nuclear Throne gives you a glimpse of the experience but this twin-stick shooter suffers badly from slow-down, freezing and other technical issues. Not a bad game, just hampered by a poor port.
What do you think of the above games? Have any more favourites to recommend?
Vita Paradisa 
6 thoughts on “PlayStation Vita Recommends – Rogue-Like”