The roguelike genre has become saturated in recent years, with some great (and not so great) titles being released on the PS4. Because of this, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd.
Some roguelikes have that extra something that make you keep coming back for more dungeon crawling and procedurally generated action. The following list is subjective and, if you disagree with the choices, let us know your favorite roguelike games in the comment section below. Here are our 5 best PS4 roguelike games.
Dead Cells PS4 Gameplay
Dead Cells stands out from the crowd in many ways. Most strikingly, the visuals and artwork in the game are beautiful, and the game looks certain to stand the test of time if only for its colorful and stylish aesthetic.
But Dead Cells is more than just an eye-pleaser, the gameplay is fun, moreish, and exciting – everything you want in a roguelike game. The combat is tidy and has a futuristic flair to it that can create explosive blasts of powerful neon flashes. You can choose from melee or projectile weapons and have the ability to upgrade and specialize your character’s offense as you desire.
The story is pretty much none existent and, as with most roguelikes, Dead Cell instead chooses to focus on the gameplay, whilst this is understandable and something that the developers have executed masterfully, I would have liked to have seen a little more substance to the story to incentivize the player.
That being said, Dead Cells was a welcome addition to the genre in 2018 and is undoubtedly one of the best roguelike games for the PS4 in 2020.
Darkest Dungeon PS4 Gameplay
When Darkest Dungeon was released for the PS4 back in 2016, it hit the roguelike community with a bang, and it’s easy to see why. This roguelike was the result of a Kickstarter campaign that resulted in Red Hook Studios raising over $300,000 to develop the game.
The first thing you’ll notice when playing Darkest Dungeon is how gloomy it feels. The artwork team did a great job of creating a dark aesthetic that, at times, is really quite chilling.
The player controls a group of heroes and warriors that are recruited using the facilities in the town page, from which the whole game revolves around. Each character has unique abilities and you can select the appropriate team before heading out to explore dungeons and gather loot and money.
The dungeons are procedurally generated and rooms within each dungeon are connected via hallways that the player moves between in a side-scrolling view. Every dungeon feels different and there are a multitude of enemies that you must cut your way through to progress.
If you’re looking for a title with a good mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay, look no further. Darkest Dungeon is a must-try for lovers of the genre and is one of the best PS4 roguelike games around in 2020.
Slay the Spire PS4 Gameplay
Slay the Spire is a fusion of deck-building and roguelike games that no other has been able to execute so successfully for the PS4. Released in 2019, the game received widespread praise and has been highlighted as a pioneer for the deck-building roguelike genre.
At the start of each run, the player chooses one of four characters, each of whom has their own unique abilities. You then embark on a journey up the spire, which deviates at certain points along the map and contains various minigames, battles, and rest points, among other things. At the top of the spire, you will encounter the boss.
To get to the strop of the spire, strong tactics and effect strategizing is essential. You have to select the appropriate cards to have in your deck in order to defeat the spawning enemies. Your deck builds along the journey, and choosing which cards to keep and discard can be the difference between life and death.
This is not like your average deck-building game, and the customization and combination capabilities are huge. Because of this, so is its addictiveness and replay value. Without a doubt, Slay the Spire is a must try and one of the best roguelike games for the PS4 in 2020.
Enter the Gungeon PS4 Gameplay
Enter the Gungeon is usually the first game I recommend to people who are searching for a new roguelike game to try for the PS4. It has something for everyone and does everything right for a game in the genre.
As soon as the game loads up, you know it’s going to be something special. From the cute and stylish aesthetic to the smooth transitions between the procedurally generated rooms, Enter the Gungeon is a dungeon crawlers dream.
The gameplay is energetic and doesn’t take itself too seriously – there is humor to be found around every corner. Yet, when it comes to combat, the items and weapons that are encountered on a run can lead to some devastatingly powerful attacks that light up the entire dungeon. As the game has developed over time, so has its synergistic capabilities, and now this is one of the game’s greatest pulls.
This top down shooter has immense replay value and, if it wasn’t for the awesome addictiveness of the number 1 entry in this list, Enter the Gungeon would sit right at the top of the pile of best PS4 roguelike games.
The Binding of Isaac PS4 Gameplay
It will be no surprise to regular readers of Blog of Games that we have chose The Binding of Isaac to top the list of the best roguelike games for the PS4. When the game was first ported to the PS4, it was exposed to new audience and has revitalized the dungeon crawler genre.
The Binding of Isaac has a quirky charm that so many games attempt, but few are able to master. In BOI you progress through rooms and floors as you attempt to take on Mom and a number of other endgame bosses, but there is no real story to it.
The real draw of the game is the abundant list of items and plentiful synergies that make no two runs the same. Some runs will be better than others, and you may have to put in some hours to unlock the best Binding of Isaac characters, but every time you start the game you are presented with a different challenge. Something that gives the game a greater replay value than any other I have played.
Another great pull of the game is that you can master the game in different ways depending on your style. If you prefer to tank your way through a game, search for HP and orbitals and use defensive active items to keep you away from harm. If you prefer a zanier offensive approach, you can seek out a whacky synergy that will utilize Isaac’s tears to obliterate enemies of all shapes and sizes.
The Binding of Isaac is a game that all fans of roguelikes should try at least once. It is a masterpiece that gets better with each play, and with the impending release of the Repentance DLC, the game will only further cement its place as number one in the list of the best PS4 roguelike games.
We hope you enjoyed our review of the best roguelike games for the PS4 in 2020. If you think we missed a game that should have been included, let us know in the comment section below!
You may also enjoy our article on the best synergies in The Binding of Isaac. For any enquiries, contact me at [email protected]
Check out Youtuber Northernlion playing The Binding of Isaac below.