Top 25 best roguelikes and roguelites for Android phones and tablets

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Roguelite or roguelike? Potato pot-ah-to. It’s all the same to us.

As a seasoned gamer who has navigated countless digital landscapes, I must say that the roguelike genre has truly captured my heart. The thrill of exploration, the suspense of not knowing what lies ahead, and the satisfaction of acquiring new skills and items – it’s an exhilarating ride!

The roots of these two terms can be traced back to the groundbreaking 1980 video game “Rogue,” developed by Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman. This game introduced the idea of dynamically generated levels, meaning no two gaming experiences were ever identical.

Additionally, they experienced the idea known as “permanent death,” which meant that a single blow would terminate their game without any chances for saving or restarting.

It turns out that this unpredictable method significantly increased the replay value and overall enjoyment of Rogue compared to many modern adventure games.

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In modern times, games have surpassed the basic graphics and abrupt tempo of old-school titles like Rogue. However, in more recent periods, a significant number of games have embraced the delightful aspects of procedurally generated levels and permanent character death.

Games following the rules of the “Rogue” gameplay style are called ‘roguelikes’. On the other hand, those which loosely follow or deviate from the original design may be referred to as ‘roguelites’.

We don’t mind which ones you choose for these Android games; we simply want to play them repeatedly. Over and over again. Yes, even more than that. If you’re already familiar with any of these, feel free to download them from Google Play. Let’s jump right into the list of top roguelikes for Android devices!

1 Crying Suns

Publisher:
Humble Bundle
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Crying Suns

It’s evident that the creator of Crying Suns has some experience with FTL, as this tactical roguelike shares several space exploration aspects. However, it also offers an engaging storyline and exciting squadron battle tactics that set it apart.

We find ourselves captivated by the numerous potential scenarios and endings, making it not just fascinating to experience, but also quite demanding due to the unpredictability of what might happen next. By the way, its stunning visuals have earned it the top spot on our list of best roguelikes for Android devices.

Want more? Read our Crying Suns review.

2 Bad North: Jotunn Edition

Developer: Raw Fury Games
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Bad North: Jotunn Edition

As a devoted admirer, I’d say Bad North ingeniously blends Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and Tower Defense genres with a roguelike run-based format. This unique mix makes the task of safeguarding my islands from relentless Viking attacks an exhilarating experience that keeps me coming back for more!

A notable feature of this game is its unique graphic design. The simplistic yet cheerful graphics give it a comfortable fit within the world of Bad North, making it worth exploring immediately if you haven’t already.

3 Juicy Realm

Available on: iOS + Android + Steam + Nintendo Switch
Find out more about Juicy Realm

Although Enter the Gungeon remains the top choice for a mobile roguelike twin-stick game, Juicy Realm serves as an excellent substitute, boasting vibrant, highly-detailed cartoon visuals and an endless array of quirky weapons.

If you’re fond of engaging Android roguelikes, you’re certain to adore all facets of Juicy Realm. It’s packed with features that will captivate you for extended periods, and the assortment of items and weapons you can acquire is nothing short of extraordinary.

4 Maze Machina

Developer: Tiny Touch Tales
Publisher: Tiny Touch Tales
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Maze Machina

The creator of Card Crawl, ENYO, Card Thief, and now this game has crafted an exceptional turn-based puzzle that involves swiping. Navigate a 4×4 grid layout, which changes randomly each time, to defeat mechanical adversaries using your mouse. What’s more, the game boasts breathtaking graphics and intricate 3D clockwork mechanics that you’ll encounter.

Everything created is uniquely crafted, with each individual part coming together to form an exceptional strategic roguelike game that you’re unlikely to find on any other Android platform.

5 The Legend of Bum-Bo

Available on: Android + Steam + Nintendo Switch
Find out more about The Legend of Bum-Bo

In contrast to The Binding of Isaac, which shares the same gloomy, humorous universe, The Legend of Bum-Bo introduces a unique twist with its turn-based match-four combat system. This game offers an exhilarating and enjoyable experience, while simultaneously testing your skills in selecting and enhancing the most effective items.

This is an exceptional Android game that offers deck building in a roguelike setting, and as you delve deeper, your enjoyment will undoubtedly increase. Initially, it may seem unassuming, but given time, its charm will definitely grow on you.

6 Downwell

Developer: Moppin
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Downwell

As I delve into the pulsating world of Downwell, every move brims with electrifying vigor! From leaping atop a nimble frog, to drilling through stratums with my gun-boots, or dodging into time bubbles for weapon enhancements – it’s an adrenaline rush like no other. This enthralling roguelike game manages to captivate using just red, white, and black hues, making it a perfect fit on any mobile gadget.

Have you heard? We actually wrote a review for Downwell! Yes, indeed, the game was such an exhilarating experience for us that we thought sharing our thoughts about it could only enhance its appeal!

7 Dead Cells

Developer: Motion Twin
Publisher: Motion Twin
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam + Nintendo Switch
Find out more about Dead Cells

Dead Cells delivers an exceptionally smooth and gratifying action-platformer adventure on mobile devices. Navigate, sprint, jump, and dodge through varying levels filled with unexpected twists, while gathering a diverse arsenal of swords, shields, projectile weapons, automated turrets, and magical spells. After each demise, you’ll restart the game, but this time with minor alterations to keep things fresh.

This game offers tremendous potential for repeated play, making it an essential choice for any Android user who loves roguelikes! For those ready to jump in, guides for the Cavern key in Dead Cells and the Gardeners keys are up for grabs. You don’t need to thank us – we’re just happy to help you enjoy the game!

8 Immortal Rogue

Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Immortal Rogue

This captivating Android role-playing game that combines hacking and slashing is incredibly sleek, allowing you to play it effortlessly with just one hand. It’s not simplistic or superficial in any way. Each formidable enemy demands a unique strategy, while there are numerous choices to make as your warrior advances.

Each decision will impact the gameplay, so you can’t just randomly select whatever comes easier. You need to think about the bigger picture each time, and that says something. You can have a well-done game even without brain-twisting mechanics, but still, make it plenty challenging!

Don’t miss our Immortal Rogue review!

9 Vampire Survivors

Publisher: Poncle
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Vampire Survivors

Among the outstanding roguelikes released on mobile within the past two years, Vampire Survivors stands out as a clear favorite. It’s earned several awards, which is fitting given its widespread appeal. Once you start playing, it’s hard to stop…It’s just so engaging and addictive; you can’t help but want to play one more round.

Although it’s out on PC as well, I believe that the mobile release is much more appropriate. Same with MOBA games, they are just easier to play on touch screens, and that’s it. All you have to do in VS is control your character’s movement and choose your weapons and their evolutions. Every weapon has its own effect and you need to utilise it through the right movement. Graphics is pixellated and at the later stages there might be a lot of flashy lights, but try it yourself since it’s free to play and see if it bothers you. We didn’t mind.

10 Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition

Developer: Klei Entertainment
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition

Experience a challenging survival game, characterized by its unique, spindly comic-style art. Escort Wilson across a dangerous parallel universe, using your skills to construct makeshift shelters and endure. Expect intense battles, meal preparation, and mental fortitude preservation – it’s packed with engrossing content that could keep you captivated for hours on end.

In our review for Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition, we emphasized that it delivers the same quality experience as its PC counterpart. Despite the differences introduced by touch controls, it remains a valuable investment of your time, not to mention the amount of time it may consume.

11 Meteorfall: Krumit’s Tale

Developer: Slothwerks
Publisher: Slothwerks
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Meteorfall: Krumit’s Tale

In a follow-up to Meteorfall: Journey, you’ll encounter an engaging blend of roguelike card gameplay, intense tactical combat, and captivating cartoon aesthetics. However, in this version, the art style delves even deeper into a more intricate grid-based setup.

Krumit’s Tale appears designed to immerse you in a skillfully blended genre game, rich with roguelike aspects and clever humor that perfectly times its delivery. For more insights, check out our Meteorfall: Krumit’s Tale review – it hits the mark!

12 Out There

Developer: Mi-Clos Studio
Publisher: Mi-Clos Studio
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Out There

What might be thought impossible for Android roguelikes is the inclusion of substantial narrative depth. However, Out There offers an immersive choose-your-own space odyssey that presents a unique experience each time you play. Its graphic style reminiscent of comics gives it a fresh, captivating feel as if it’s freshly picked up from your shelf and transferred to your mobile device. This game will whisk you away on an awe-inspiring journey defying the laws of gravity. For the best experience, consider playing it on a tablet!

By the way, I wanted to mention that we recently published a review for the intriguing game titled “Out There”. In our write-up, we delve into all the captivating elements that drew us to this game, as well as the unique aspects that make it an engaging experience worth exploring.

13 Hoplite

Developer: Magma Fortress
Publisher: Magma Fortress
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Hoplite

Hoplite is a simplified version of the roguelike genre, and it’s appealing because of its barebones approach. Navigate your Spartan character through sequential grid-like levels, engaging in swift turn-based combat with your adversaries – much like we discussed in our Hoplite review.

In this dungeon crawler game, the hexagonal layout found at every level offers numerous strategies, yet increases the overall complexity. One of its distinctive traits is that unlike many other Android roguelikes and roguelites, it doesn’t abruptly transport you to an extremely difficult level quickly. Instead, it provides a gradual increase in difficulty, allowing players to adapt effectively.

14 Void Tyrant

Publisher: Game Insight
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Void Tyrant

The vibrant card game known as Void Tyrant is constructed upon robust roguelike principles. Essentially, it’s a space-themed twist on the classic game of Blackjack, where the objective is to draw a higher hand than your extraterrestrial opponents, without exceeding 21 and busting.

If you’re all about deck construction and card combat games, I strongly recommend giving Void Tyrant a try. It could impress you with its quality, and who knows, you might stumble upon an exciting new interstellar roguelike game that becomes your next favorite!

15 OneBit Adventure

Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about OneBit Adventure

OneBit Adventure caters to the nostalgic retro gamer seeking a familiar experience akin to their ’80s favorites. Not only does it boast 16-bit music reminiscent of the era, but its sound design follows suit. This pixelated game combines elements of dungeon crawling, roguelike mechanics, and role-playing games (RPG). What sets it apart is its turn-based combat system, which might seem unconventional for this genre to some players.

As an avid gamer, I’ll embark on an epic journey, transforming my valiant hero, level by level, to face towering dragons and formidable foes. I’ll stand tall against these beasts until they deliver such devastating blows that I become another memory etched into their dungeon walls. The adventure is filled with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, and the variety of character classes ensures endless fun as I delve deeper into this captivating world.

16 Black Paradox

Available on: iOS
Find out more about Black Paradox

Black Paradox infuses the traditional 2D shooting genre with thoughtfully incorporated roguelike features, offering a gameplay experience that echoes bullet-hell style action with an added zest.

The pixel and brightly-coloured neon graphics feel at home and the option to customize your ship makes it even better. It’s easily one of the best shoot-’em-up space roguelites on Android. We loved it quite a bit, and so we’ve decided to write a Black Paradox review. Give it a quick read!

17 Slay the Spire

Publisher: Humble Bundle
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Slay the Spire

Card roguelike games have flooded the mobile RPG space in recent years, and this PC conversion is one of the meatier examples. It’s certainly one of my favourites on this list if my subjective opinion matters. In Slay the Spire, you’ll lead one character and try to overcome different enemies with abilities in the form of cards. Of course, it’s all turn-based, so you don’t need to have quick reflexes, thankfully. Even though I love roguelikes like Dead Cells, I’m older and slower, so games like this one suit me better.

In essence, you’ll navigate through the dungeons in much the same way as FTL, allowing you to choose paths and then viewing an outcome. If the result presents combat, assess your adversary meticulously and ponder thoughtfully about which strategies or cards you’ll employ and in what sequence. As each journey is random, the possibility for replayability is significant since every run offers a unique experience.

18 Balatro

Publisher: Playstack
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Balatro

Introducing Balatro, the hit card game of 2024! This poker-inspired title has taken both Android and Steam by storm and is sure to keep you engaged for hours on end. What sets it apart is its unique twist – instead of competing against other players, you’ll be striving to meet a set score. Each round calls for you to accumulate a specific number of chips.

You’ve got a wide variety of Joker cards at your disposal, each one capable of boosting your points or providing the necessary chips for moving onto the next exciting phase. It’s these combinations that make the game so thrillingly unpredictable and enjoyable!

19 Sproggiwood

Developer: Freehold Games
Publisher: Freehold Games
Available on: iOS + Android + Steam
Find out more about Sproggiwood

Sproggiwood is like Desktop Dungeons but with its unique, whimsical Finnish folklore theme that makes it stand out.

In a change of pace, this game allows you to cultivate your own society, abduct villagers of various social standings, and delve into dungeons using any of these options. It’s the kind of title where there’s plenty to do beyond just combat, which makes it a refreshing choice when you need a brief respite from battle.

20 Neon Chrome

Publisher: 10tons
Available on: iOS + Android + PlayStation Vita + Nintendo Switch
Find out more about Neon Chrome

In a vibrant, high-tech metropolis filled with neon lights, the fast-paced twin-stick action game Neon Chroms awaits you. The combat is intensely satisfying due to its powerful impact, while the game’s randomly generated levels and run-based mechanics ensure it stays fresh and engaging.

In this game, you’ll find user-friendly touch controls that offer a smooth experience, and a unique feature not typically found in its genre: auto-aim to assist when the action gets overwhelming (though we think it won’t be needed often). For a closer look at the gameplay, check out our Neon Chrome review.

21 Survivor.io

Developer: Habby
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Survivor.io

Another game on this list that shares similarities with it is Vampire Survivors. However, unlike its counterpart, Vampire Survivors has a more lighthearted and cartoony feel to it. It seems that the timing of Survivor.io’s release was perfect, as many people appear to be craving games like this one.

In this game, called Survivor.io, you control a character navigating a 2D environment filled with hostile creatures intent on ending your journey. If they succeed, it’s the end of that particular attempt. However, the beauty lies in the chance to start over. Often, when you meet an untimely demise, it’s because you were too hasty or didn’t select the best equipment for the situation. It’s seldom due to unfairness, as that is the essence of the game – one character against an entire world!

22 Cultist Simulator

Publisher: Weather Factory
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Cultist Simulator

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: Cultist Simulator isn’t just a roguelike narrative card game; it’s more like an unpredictable, cosmic game of Poker where every draw could lead you down a different path. You delve into arcane rites, make discoveries, and then, inevitably, meet your end. But don’t worry, you get another shot at it all.

As a gamer, I can tell you that this game is packed with strategic layers, and if you let your vigilance slip even for a moment, it could spell the end of the game for you. Trust me, once you dive in, it’s going to be hard to tear yourself away – hours will fly by unnoticed. For those who want to know more about this captivating experience, don’t forget to read our review on Cultist Simulator.

23 Death Road to Canada

Developer: Madgarden
Publisher: RocketCat Games
Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Death Road to Canada

Ah, good old Death Road to Canada.

Zombies have infected every gaming genre known to man, so a zombie roguelike survival action RPG was always on the cards. That’s Death Road to Canada in a slightly unwieldy nutshell. It’s pixelated, it’s intense, it can be done in multiplayer more, but most importantly – it’s awesome.

As a devoted fan of the roguelike genre, I can confidently say that you’ll scarcely stumble upon a game as captivating as this one. If you’re seeking adventure filled with looting, combat, and the constant struggle to stay alive, then you absolutely must give it a try. And for those of you who crave more, we’ve also prepared a review for Death Road to Canada!

24 Card Quest

Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about Card Quest

Experiencing the single-player game Card Quest feels like a wonderful adventure. The carefully tuned card battles offer plenty of opportunities to try different strategies, and exploring its nostalgic RPG landscape is enjoyable.

Explore various cities to find hidden dungeons, gather as much treasure from chests as possible, and do your utmost to defeat each boss in the captivating Card Quest. It’s easy to understand, and it’s well executed – if you’d like more information about this fantastic game, feel free to read our comprehensive review on Card Quest!

25 OneBit Adventure

Available on: iOS + Android
Find out more about OneBit Adventure

Currently, Roguelikes seem to be experiencing a resurgence, but they’re not exactly a recent development. OneBit Adventure is an old-school style dungeon crawler RPG that boasts pixelated graphics. A notable feature of this game, which classifies it as a roguelike, is the option for death to be permanent (though you can choose to disable this feature). Much like other games in its category, OneBit Adventure allows players to collect various items and progressively level up their character in an effort to make it through another level.

As a gamer, I find this game quite straightforward. You traverse through the world along a predefined route that’s somewhat pixelated, and when you stumble upon an enemy, all you have to do is bump into it. If your character is stronger, you’ll come out victorious! But if not, you might want to disable the permadeath feature or brace yourself for a tougher challenge.

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2024-12-12 15:51