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[Africa's Toto]

People seem to be enjoying Returnal so I figured a few of you might be interested in variations on the roguelike game mechanics. There are quite a few roguelikes in the wild, and although Returnal is a little lighter on the rogue- inspiration, a few of you might be interested in checking out a few more genre standouts. Such as:


1. Prey Mooncrash



(I personally think this is the most similar, both aesthetically and partly thematically to Returnal, so this is my opener. It's also a standalone release, so you don't need to have already bought Prey to get this)



2. Spelunky 1/2






3. Risk of Rain 2








4. Dead Cells






5. Enter The Gungeon





Of course there are way more games within the genre, but the above 5 are all highly rated and great entry points to the genre, in my opinion.

If you're wondering why some other critically acclaimed games, like FTL or Hades, aren't here, It's because I mentioned only the games that are currently available on the PS4/5 (since this is a Returnal thread).

 

[Keihart]

I can't vote, there is no option if i already like Rougue likes.

 

[killatopak]

I personally don’t like roguelikes but I’m open to try these.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Nah I generally don't fuck with the low budget, 2D or top down shit

 

[bender]

Spelunky is one of the greatest video games ever created, a pity the sequel never clicked with me.
Risk of Rain 2 is pretty great, it's just started to get it's hooks in me.
Dead Cells has tight combat and great visuals, but I grew tired of the loop fairly quickly.
I only beat Gungeon once, the ramp in that game makes subsequent runs a chore.

 

[M1chl]

This reminds me of that shitty Prey DLC, who wanted shit like that in such a game...

 

[Keihart]

This reminds me of that shitty Prey DLC, who wanted shit like that in such a game...

I never finished Prey but i am now interested in the DLC because of this, lmao.

 

[xrnzaaas]

Dead Cells feels the closest to me even though it's 2D with a different setting.

You should also check out Housemarque's Nex Machina for some intense bullet hell action. You can definitely tell they were evolving some ideas from their previous games when they were developing Returnal.

 

[Africa's Toto]

This reminds me of that shitty Prey DLC, who wanted shit like that in such a game...

Eh. Can't say anyone asked for it, but I appreciate devs trying out new things.

People seemed to enjoy it when it released too.

 

[Hoppa]

I think Dead Cells was the first game I played of this type and I didn't like it that much. Loved Hades and Returnal has been great so far. Had my eye on Risk of Rain for a while..anyone know if it runs OK on Switch? It's discounted at the moment

 

[Thief1987]

I want to try Hades when it comes to PS5.
Sadly my relationships with (over)hyped indie games is not very good, most of them i didn't like at all.

 

[Reality Czar]

Really what drew me to Returnal was a lot of stuff particular to the game itself: the atmosphere, the emphasis on graphical density and polish, the sound design, the arcade gameplay, the mystery of the story, etc.

I voted "Maybe" because I would never say "No" to a game just because it has Rougelike elements. After all, I played this. I prefer handmade level design but if a game looks interesting, that is all that matters.

 

[Jigsaah]

Risk of Rain 2 is really fun, Dead Cells is good. I guess this thread isn't for me because I already play some Roguelikes.

I would like to play Returnal though. For those who have bought and played, $70 dollars well spent or nah?

 

[VFXVeteran]

I might check out Hades again since so many people said I should give it longer.

 

[BusierDonkey]

Dead Cells was one of my favorite games I've played in a while. Absolutely pinpoint controls, really good properly done pixel art and a really interesting world that I never got tired ripping through.

 

[Warnen]

I’ve got a ton of them from various give always/bundles. Not really my thing.

 

[Keihart]

I might check out Hades again since so many people said I should give it longer.

Game doesn't change much if you play it more, it's just more of what you get in the first hours.
If you don't like the main loop then there is nothing more to see.

I personally love it.

 

[Africa's Toto]

I really think people are sleeping on gungeon. It's received the least marketing of those 5, apart from Mooncrash.

The bullet hell gameplay really ups the tension normally felt in these games, and it has the *best* sci-fi pop culture references I've seen in a game.

 

[geary]

So now Playstation with Returnal is the eye opener toward roguelike games?Some of you live in a very small buble.

 

[Markio128]

Risk of Rain 2 is really fun, Dead Cells is good. I guess this thread isn't for me because I already play some Roguelikes.

I would like to play Returnal though. For those who have bought and played, $70 dollars well spent or nah?

I think a big deal has been made out of the lack of a save function in Returnal, although I agree that they should add some form of save function for those who don’t have infinite time to play - and it sounds like they may be doing that according to a recent tweet, so that’s good. Other than that, the game is well worth the dough, in my humble opinion. I have played a lot of rogue like games; Slay the Spire, Dream Quest, Dead Cells etc,. I didn’t necessarily buy Returnal for this reason, but more for the visceral action and interesting story. I was actually surprised at how spooked I got from the 2nd visit to ‘the house’. Housemarque have done a commendable job in mixing different styles.

 

[geordiemp]

So now Playstation with Returnal is the eye opener toward roguelike games?Some of you live in a very small buble.

Not really, its alot going on impressive 3rd person shooter that looks great.

I usually collect the low budget 2D / plan view or isometric indie games for free and dont play them anyway - its not the same experience.

Calliing them all rogue like is not a description you can put on 2D or plan view cheap indie games and returnal.

 

[lucius]

I have Hades also but really this is not a love it genre for me, but I see the great quality of both games. I most likely will finish both games which I never do these types of games.

 

[Africa's Toto]

So now Playstation with Returnal is the eye opener toward roguelike games?Some of you live in a very small buble

That's the point of the thread.

Exposing those people to the world outside the bubble, because the variety of games allows much more than playing through the same experience over and over (ironic for this, but you get the point)

On a forum like this, most people should be familiar with these games, so this thread is really for a small subset of members.

 

[Africa's Toto]

Not really, its alot going on impressive 3rd person shooter that looks great.

Fair enough, but there are bound to be people who are interested in the mechanics (I mean, you'll be playing this game for a while and have to get familiar with them to beat it, I think) and want to see more of that. Regardless of the other games being 3rd person.

 

[Roberts]

I ignored the genre for years and years, but thanks to Gamepass (that has many of them) I kind of fell in love. As a fan of westerns and Ron Perlman I spent quite a lot of time on West of the Dead. Can’t wait when/if Hades comes out on Xbox. Children of Morta is one of my favourite games of recent years - has better and more unique storytelling than most big AAA games.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

Nah I generally don't fuck with the low budget, 2D or top down shit

...

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Your loss.

Some awesome games in that genre.

I bet. But if they're not the absolute cream of the crop i.e Ori or Hollow Knight then I won't waste my time with them

 

[Fart Knight]

Hades is the only one I like

 

[Ezquimacore]

Hades is the only one I like

Funny how hades is barely mentioned when right now it's best rogue game even winning multiple goty awards.

 

[Jaysen]

Needs another poll option - I’m playing Returnal only because I already played and enjoyed other RLs.

 

[Africa's Toto]

Needs another poll option - I’m playing Returnal only because I already played and enjoyed other RLs.

I can't vote, there is no option if i already like Rougue likes.

I figure this is a good portion of the forum by default, but, eh.

Poll updated

 

[Vognerful]

Not even Hades in this list? Is it because not on PS yet?

 

[balls of snow]

Once Hades drops on playstation I intend to plat it. Heard good things about Prey Mooncrash and probably will get Dead Cells sometime after.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Adding Bullets per minute here:

I bet. But if they're not the absolute cream of the crop i.e Ori or Hollow Knight then I won't waste my time with them

eh, "cream of the crop" is veeeeeeeeery subjective you know.

 

[Ten_Fold]

I like dead cells I just wasn’t a fan of this game.

 

[Africa's Toto]

Funny how hades is barely mentioned when right now it's best rogue game even winning multiple goty awards.

Not even Hades in this list? Is it because not on PS yet?

Yup

If you're wondering why some other critically acclaimed games, like FTL or Hades, aren't here, It's because I mentioned only the games that are currently available on the PS4/5 (since this is a Returnal thread)

 

[Jaysen]

I like dead cells I just wasn’t a fan of this game.

Dead Cells does progression much better than this, and the levels aren’t stupidly long.

 

[Reality Czar]

So now Playstation with Returnal is the eye opener toward roguelike games?Some of you live in a very small buble.

Lol what are you the Jacque Cousteau of Roguelikes over here?

 

[Guilty_AI]

Another one i remembered is Void Bastards:

 

[Pagusas]

VR has made me get into this genre. specifically Super Hot, damn is that game fun

 

[Calverz]

If i finish returnal then im done with the genre

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Adding Bullets per minute here:




eh, "cream of the crop" is veeeeeeeeery subjective you know.

Obviously

 

[ClanOfNone]

I really think people are sleeping on gungeon. It's received the least marketing of those 5, apart from Mooncrash.

The bullet hell gameplay really ups the tension normally felt in these games, and it has the *best* sci-fi pop culture references I've seen in a game.

Gungeon would probably be my favorite game of all time if Dodge Roll would've just put in daily runs and leaderboards. It is amazing as is, but those additions would've given it more legs. I've been doing the Issac daily runs for years now.

This genre didn't even register on my radar until I grabbed Issac as a psn freebie. Now it sucks up the lion's share of my gaming time.

 

[greencoder]

The thread title portrays rogue-like/lite genre as something obscure and little-known.

Nah I generally don't fuck with the low budget, 2D or top down shit

What a retard!

 

[Keihart]

I wonder what's up with the no save because of save scumming in returnal, in Hades you have like the perfect system if you are worried about that, you can quit whenever you want, if this is not done repeatedly on the same floor and level there is no punishment, if you do it repeatedly you get sent back. That almost definitely solves the save scum worries while being flexible enough.

I wonder if Housemarque will treat this game as the indie devs do with their rouguelikes, Risk of Rain 2 and Hades got a whole bunch of updates even after 1.0.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

The thread title portrays rogue-like/lite genre as something obscure and little-known.

What a retard!

Bitch i'll smack your ass

 

[Bonfires Down]

Gotta say I liked Nuclear Throne a lot more than Gungeon. Though it might be stuck at 30 fps on PS4 which sucks.

Other than that my favorite is Immortal Redneck. Hope to get around to Mooncrash and Risk of Rain 2 at some point as they look cool.

 

[Vognerful]

Yup

Sorry but this stupid as most of the genre is released on PC, and you really don't need other than basic one to play them.

(since this is a Returnal thread)

but this is also a rogue lite thread.

 

[greencoder]

Bitch i'll smack your ass

Can anyone tell me, is this user always like this? Is he just playing a retarded character with a retarded avatar?

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

I'm interested in Returnal because of the atmosphere, combat, and exploration, I consider the roguelike elements to be a drawback. Will still probably wind up getting the game, but I think I'm going to wait until the first major balance patch since I'm fairly certain they're going to add the ability to quit the game without losing your current run. Not doing that seems untenable to me, anyway.