Best Roguelikes on PS5

The PS5 is quietly one of the best places to play roguelikes, and PlayStation players have strong opinions about which ones are worth your time. Rather than hand you my favorites, I read thirteen PS5 and PlayStation Reddit threads asking exactly that, counted every upvote on every game anyone suggested, and let the totals decide the order. Hades took the top spot, with Slay the Spire right behind it, but the most telling result is third place: Returnal, the one game here built specifically for the PS5, across 111 games and 5,871 votes.

None of this is my personal ranking. I did not score these by what I like. Every spot is the sum of real Reddit upvotes from the threads people actually find when they search this, so the order is the community's, not mine. I just counted.

If you only want a recommendation, take the quiz below and it will match you to a game based on the kind of roguelike you are after. If you want the full picture, keep scrolling. Everything in the top ten is available on PS5, so you can act on any of it the moment you finish reading.

Written By

Steven SchneiderCo-founder, Rogue Ranker

20+ hours reading 13 PS5 Reddit threads and tallying 5,871 upvotes across 111 roguelikes, from Hades to Returnal.

Last updated 2026-06-26

Reviewed By

AidenCo-founder, Rogue Ranker

Aiden has been an avid gamer for 15+ years, with hundreds (and thousands) of hours in games like Rust, Risk of Rain, DRGS, Vampire Survivors, Brotato, and more.

Find Your Next PS5 Roguelike in 8 Questions

About My Data Collection Process

If you have read one of our other roundups, this will look familiar, because the method is the same every time. The whole point is to keep my taste out of the ranking. I am not telling you these are the best games because I played them and you should trust me. I am showing you what thousands of other PS5 players upvoted, and counting it honestly.

How I Chose the Reddit Threads

I searched Google and Reddit the way anyone would, with phrases such as best roguelikes on PS5 and PS5 roguelite recommendations, then collected the threads that ranked and read them directly on Reddit. They came from r/PS5, r/playstation, r/PlayStationPlus, r/roguelites, and r/ShouldIbuythisgame. Because this is a platform list, the PS5 and PlayStation thread scope is exactly the pool I want, so I kept all of those threads rather than filtering them out. Thirteen qualifying threads made the cut after dropping one that my capture could not read in full.

How I Chose the Games

If a game was suggested in a PS5 thread and no one argued it did not belong, it made the list. I dropped store-link self-promotion and joke answers, and I did not count a game named only as a comparison, where someone says a pick "feels a bit similar to" another title, since that is a description, not a recommendation. Every game in the top ten is available on PS5.

How I Ranked the Games

A game's score is the sum of upvotes on every comment that suggested it, added up across all thirteen threads. So if one comment recommending Returnal earned 65 upvotes in one thread and another earned 54 in a different thread, Returnal is credited with both. A comment naming four games hands its full upvote count to all four, which is how one thoughtful, highly-upvoted reply can lift several picks at once. Nothing is ranked by hand beyond that counting.

Two notes on terminology. Most of these are technically roguelites, but PS5 players use roguelike and roguelite interchangeably and so do the threads, so I counted votes the same way no matter which word a commenter used. And because this is a platform list, I treated the PS5 and PlayStation scope of each thread as the filter itself, the inverse of how I handle a cross-platform ranking. The votes decide; I just count them.

The Top 10 From 5,871 Upvotes

TL;DR

These ten lead the community vote. The names link to each game store page if you want a closer look, and we do not earn a cent from your purchases.

1		Hades	524 votes
2		Slay the Spire	514 votes
3		Returnal	502 votes
4		The Binding of Isaac	316 votes
5		Dead Cells	307 votes
6		Enter the Gungeon	294 votes
7		Risk of Rain 2	285 votes
8		Balatro	215 votes
9		Rogue Legacy	157 votes
10		Children of Morta	143 votes

The Full Ranking: All 111 Games

Every game suggested across the thirteen PlayStation threads, ranked by total upvotes. Sort by any column to find your fit.

#^	Game	Votesv	Mentionsv	Platforms
1	Hades	524	102	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
2	Slay the Spire	514	78	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile
3	Returnal	502	66	PS5, PC
4	The Binding of Isaac	316	54	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
5	Dead Cells	307	64	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile
6	Enter the Gungeon	294	45	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
7	Risk of Rain 2	285	40	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
8	Balatro	215	41	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile
9	Rogue Legacy	157	29	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
10	Children of Morta	143	21	PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox
11	Darkest Dungeon	122	21	PC
12	Ravenswatch	118	18	PC
13	Roboquest	106	18	PC
14	Monster Train	92	20	PC
15	Curse of the Dead Gods	91	10	PC
16	Astral Ascent	90	25	PC
17	BlazBlue: Entropy Effect	77	11	PC
18	Inscryption	74	11	PC
19	Nuclear Throne	71	11	PC
20	Shogun Showdown	68	6	PC
21	Spelunky	67	18	PC
22	Wizard of Legend	66	18	PC
23	Vampire Survivors	63	14	PC
24	[Redacted]	62	9	PC
25	Halls of Torment	62	8	PC
26	Gunfire Reborn	59	10	PC
27	Blue Prince	56	8	PC
28	Sifu	55	10	PC
29	Cult of the Lamb	52	15	PC
30	Into the Breach	52	7	PC
31	Synthetik	50	3	PC
32	Witchfire	46	2	PC
33	Devil Slayer Raksasi	46	1	PC
34	Inkbound	46	1	PC
35	Neon Abyss	44	7	PC
36	Crypt of the NecroDancer	43	7	PC
37	Absolum	42	17	PC
38	TMNT: Splintered Fate	41	15	PC
39	The Rogue Prince of Persia	40	15	PC
40	Sworn	37	9	PC
41	Skul: The Hero Slayer	32	12	PC
42	Spiritfall	32	11	PC
43	Ziggurat	32	7	PC
44	Revita	30	12	PC
45	Soulstone Survivors	30	8	PC
46	Brotato	26	11	PC
47	Ember Knights	24	8	PC
48	One Step From Eden	22	5	PC
49	Noita	20	8	PC
50	Warm Snow	19	9	PC
51	Going Under	19	5	PC
52	Peglin	19	5	PC
53	Dandy Ace	19	4	PC
54	Lost in Random: The Eternal Die	19	4	PC
55	Ball x Pit	18	7	PC
56	Warriors: Abyss	17	2	PC
57	Caves of Qud	16	4	PC
58	UnderMine	15	9	PC
59	Moonlighter	15	7	PC
60	Dicey Dungeons	14	2	PC
61	Have a Nice Death	14	1	PC
62	ScourgeBringer	14	1	PC
63	Tiny Rogues	13	2	PC
64	Breath of the Wild	13	1	PC
65	Heroes of Hammerwatch	12	8	PC
66	Wildfrost	12	2	PC
67	FTL: Faster Than Light	9	8	PC
68	Shape of Dreams	9	7	PC
69	Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor	9	5	PC
70	Against the Storm	9	4	PC
71	Deep Rock Galactic	8	4	PC
72	Death Road to Canada	8	3	PC
73	Elden Ring Nightreign	6	5	PC
74	Vault of the Void	5	3	PC
75	Windblown	5	3	PC
76	Saros	5	2	PC
77	Death's Door	5	1	PC
78	Dreamscaper	5	1	PC
79	Everspace	4	4	PC
80	Transistor	4	4	PC
81	Beneath Oresa	4	3	PC
82	Crab Champions	4	2	PC
83	Hollow Knight	4	2	PC
84	Atomicrops	3	3	PC
85	Griftlands	3	3	PC
86	Immortal Redneck	3	3	PC
87	Wizard of Legend 2	3	3	PC
88	Invisible Inc	3	2	PC
89	Streets of Rogue	3	2	PC
90	Blasphemous	3	1	PC
91	Nobody Saves the World	3	1	PC
92	Loop Hero	2	3	PC
93	Bastion	2	2	PC
94	Cobalt Core	2	2	PC
95	Darksiders Genesis	2	2	PC
96	Diablo	2	2	PC
97	Flinthook	2	2	PC
98	Pyre	2	2	PC
99	Salt and Sanctuary	2	2	PC
100	Wizard with a Gun	2	2	PC
101	Hand of Fate	2	1	PC
102	Magicraft	2	1	PC
103	Megabonk	2	1	PC
104	Ship of Fools	2	1	PC
105	Remnant 2	1	2	PC
106	Hyper Light Drifter	1	1	PC
107	Monster Hunter	1	1	PC
108	Nine Parchments	1	1	PC
109	Path of Exile	1	1	PC
110	Rogue Loops	1	1	PC
111	Voidigo	1	1	PC

The 10 Best Roguelikes on PS5, Examined

1

Hades

Source

#1 Most Recommended

524 votes12 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus12 of 13 threads

GenreAction Roguelike

StyleFast isometric hack-and-slash with a rich, voiced story

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$24.99

Hades took the top spot on PS5, named in more comments than any other game and pretty much the default answer when someone asks what to play. It pairs fast, fluid isometric combat with a fully voiced story that actually advances every time you die, which is the trick that makes its meta-progression feel meaningful rather than grindy. People warn newcomers about exactly one thing: it is dangerously addictive.

It runs beautifully on PS5, plays great with the DualSense, and is generous enough that even players who normally bounce off the genre stick with it. The story-forward structure means there is a real ending to chase, not just an endless loop, and the sequel keeps the hype alive. If you buy one roguelike on PS5, the community says start here.

What Works Well

• The most-recommended roguelike on PS5 by a clear margin.
• A voiced story that genuinely progresses through your deaths.
• Fast, satisfying combat that is easy to learn and deep to master.
• Famously the gateway game for roguelike skeptics.

Common Criticisms

• So addictive that commenters literally warn you about it.
• Isometric action will not suit players who want twin-stick or cards.
• Once you reach the true ending the loop can feel complete.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Hades.

u/Pure_Bottle5493r/playstationvia Reddit

"

Hades is the single best roguelike ever made. Be warned, it's like heroin. It's extremely addictive and once you try it nothing else gives you the same high.

u/nouserhere18r/playstationvia Reddit

View on Steam

2

Slay the Spire

Source

#2 Most Recommended

514 votes10 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXboxMobile

Community consensus10 of 13 threads

GenreRoguelike Deckbuilder

StyleTurn-based card battles climbing a procedural spire

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile

Avg Cost$24.99

Slay the Spire was a hair behind Hades for the top spot and is the runaway pick for anyone who wants a thinking-person's roguelike. You build a deck of cards on the fly, climbing a spire one calculated fight at a time, and the depth of its synergies is why it has stayed in the conversation for years. It also turned up free on PlayStation Plus, which is how a lot of PS5 players got hooked.

The one caveat people flag is that the combat is card-based, so it is a different rhythm than an action game, slower and more cerebral. But the recurring story in these threads is the same: players who say they were never into card games, strategy, or roguelikes ended up putting more hours into it than anything else on their PS5. If you want endless replayability without twitch reflexes, this is the answer.

What Works Well

• The top deckbuilder pick, near the very top of the whole list.
• Deck synergies deep enough to fuel hundreds of hours.
• Converts people who think they dislike card games.
• Has appeared on PS Plus, so many players already own it.

Common Criticisms

• Card-based combat is a slower, more cerebral rhythm.
• Less satisfying if you want action and movement.
• The learning curve on its mechanics takes a beat.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Slay the Spire is a personal favorite, but the combat is based on a card game so it may be different than what you're looking for.

u/Goblinslapperr/PS5via Reddit

"

I love slay the spire! I was never into card games, strategy or roguelikes but damn! Talk about an addicting game. By far my most played game out of my ps5.

u/Schism041198r/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

3

Returnal

Source

#3 Most Recommended

502 votes12 threadsPS5PC

Community consensus12 of 13 threads

GenreRoguelike Shooter

StyleThird-person bullet-hell built around the PS5 and its DualSense

AvailablePS5, PC

Avg Cost$69.99

Returnal is the highest-placing PS5-native game on this list, and the one pick here that was made specifically for the console. It is a third-person bullet-hell roguelike with a haunting time-loop story, and it leans hard on the DualSense and the PS5's speed in a way no cross-platform game does. Commenters call it the most polished, beautiful-looking roguelike out there, and several name it their game of the generation.

It is also the most demanding entry in the top ten, both in difficulty and price, and its dense atmosphere is a slower burn than the pick-up-and-play indies around it. But if you want the roguelike that best shows off what a PS5 can do, this is the consensus showpiece, and it picked up content updates that made it an even easier recommendation.

What Works Well

• The standout PS5-native roguelike, built for the hardware.
• Gorgeous, polished presentation and superb DualSense feedback.
• A gripping time-loop story unusual for the genre.
• Called game of the generation by more than one commenter.

Common Criticisms

• The most expensive and most difficult game in the top ten.
• A slower, heavier atmosphere than the breezier indies.
• Only on PS5 and PC, so no PS4 fallback.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Returnal. Don't know if it fits exactly what you're looking for but it's probably the most polished, beautiful looking roguelike out there with an incredible story.

u/poorkayr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

A million times Returnal. Game of the generation so far.

u/twistedfloydr/PlayStationPlusvia Reddit

View on Steam

4

The Binding of Isaac

Source

#4 Most Recommended

316 votes9 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus9 of 13 threads

GenreTwin-Stick Roguelike

StyleTop-down dungeon runs with absurd, endless item synergies

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$14.99

The Binding of Isaac landed solidly in the top five as the genre's bottomless content well. It is a top-down twin-stick roguelike where each run hands you a pile of items that interact in genuinely unpredictable, sometimes game-breaking ways, and no other roguelike quite matches its sheer volume of synergies. Players describe it as the game that does true randomness better than anything else.

There is a catch the community is upfront about: the full experience lives behind several DLC expansions, so it costs more than its base price to get everything. The grim, scatological art style is also an acquired taste. But for raw replayability and the thrill of a busted item combo you have never seen before, it is a staple on every PS5 roguelike list.

What Works Well

• Unmatched volume of items and wild, run-defining synergies.
• The community's pick for true, surprising randomness.
• Cheap to start and endlessly replayable.
• A genre staple that still holds up years later.

Common Criticisms

• The full experience is gated behind several paid DLCs.
• The grim, gross-out art style is divisive.
• Dense systems can overwhelm newcomers.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Binding of Isaac.

u/Spooky-pootsr/PS5via Reddit

"

I love hades and have played it more than Isaac, but I gotta say Isaac. No game does true randomness and weird interactions between items like Isaac.

u/shockwave8428r/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

5

Dead Cells

Source

#5 Most Recommended

307 votes10 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXboxMobile

Community consensus10 of 13 threads

GenreRoguelite Metroidvania

StyleFast 2D action with permadeath and permanent unlocks

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile

Avg Cost$24.99

Dead Cells rounded out the top five as the action-roguelite people say they keep reinstalling. It blends fast, fluid 2D combat with metroidvania-style exploration and a steady drip of permanent unlocks, so every death leaves you a little stronger and a little more dangerous. The recurring note is simple: it is the one they always go back to.

Years of free content updates have kept it deep and fresh, and the moment-to-moment combat is some of the snappiest in the genre. It is challenging and the run-to-run structure can feel repetitive if action roguelites are not your thing, but for tight, satisfying combat on PS5 it is a near-universal recommendation.

What Works Well

• Some of the snappiest 2D combat in the genre.
• Years of free updates keep it deep and current.
• Satisfying permanent progression between runs.
• The game players say they reinstall again and again.

Common Criticisms

• Genuinely challenging, especially later biomes.
• Run structure can feel repetitive to some.
• The full breadth is spread across paid DLCs.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Dead Cells. It's the one I always go back to and end up spending days playing it for no reason other than it's fun.

u/ConcreteSnaker/PS5via Reddit

"

You should try Dead Cells.

u/Escandiel458r/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

6

Enter the Gungeon

Source

#6 Most Recommended

294 votes12 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus12 of 13 threads

GenreTwin-Stick Roguelike

StyleBullet-hell dungeon crawling stuffed with gun puns

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$14.99

Enter the Gungeon is the top twin-stick shooter on the list, repeatedly named as a personal most-played alongside Isaac and Nuclear Throne. It is a dense bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll through rooms of projectiles, hunting an absurd arsenal of pun-named guns, and its combat is tight enough that fans call it their favorite of the twin-stick crowd.

It is hard, and the dodge-roll-heavy combat asks for real reflexes, so it is less forgiving than Hades or Dead Cells. But for players who want the bullet-hell branch of the genre on PS5, it is the standard-bearer, cheap, deep, and packed with secrets to chase.

What Works Well

• The community's favorite twin-stick bullet-hell roguelike.
• A huge, hilarious arsenal of guns to unlock.
• Tight dodge-roll combat that rewards mastery.
• Cheap and dense with secrets.

Common Criticisms

• Hard and reflex-heavy, less forgiving than the top picks.
• Bullet-hell intensity is not for everyone.
• Unlock grind can feel slow early on.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Enter the Gungeon, Nuclear Throne, and binding of isaac are some of my most played games. enter the gungeon is probably my favorite of the roguelite twin stick shooters.

u/GoldNautilusr/PS5via Reddit

"

Enter the Gungeon, 20XX if you like Mega Man.

u/Knuc85r/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

7

Risk of Rain 2

Source

#7 Most Recommended

285 votes11 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus11 of 13 threads

GenreAction Roguelike

StyleThird-person co-op survival with stacking item chaos

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$24.99

Risk of Rain 2 is the top co-op recommendation on PS5, a third-person action roguelike where the whole point is stacking items until you become an unstoppable, screen-clearing force. The difficulty scales with time, so every run is a race between your growing power and the escalating swarm, and it is at its best with friends along for the chaos.

Solo play is great too, but the multiplayer is what people keep coming back for, and the console version received the same content over time as PC. The loop can feel samey once you have seen the best builds, but for cooperative roguelike mayhem it is the clear PS5 choice.

What Works Well

• The standout co-op roguelike for PS5.
• The addictive thrill of stacking items into god mode.
• Time-based difficulty that keeps every run tense.
• Strong solo play on top of the multiplayer.

Common Criticisms

• Runs can feel repetitive once you know the best items.
• Console updates have historically trailed PC.
• The 3D arena combat is busy and chaotic.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Risk of Rain 2 is great.

u/VidGamrJr/PS5via Reddit

"

Risk of Rain 2, Rogue Legacy 2, Withering Rooms are my personal favorites.

u/WaterWraithr/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

8

Balatro

Source

#8 Most Recommended

215 votes9 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXboxMobile

Community consensus9 of 13 threads

GenreRoguelike Deckbuilder

StylePoker-hand deckbuilder with absurdly broken joker synergies

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox, Mobile

Avg Cost$14.99

Balatro stormed the list as the genre's most recent obsession, the roguelite-of-the-year that pulled in people who had never touched a deckbuilder. It looks like poker, but it quickly becomes something else entirely: you build a deck of jokers whose synergies snowball into gleefully broken score-multiplying machines. The hook is immediate and the runs are short enough to be ruinous to your sleep schedule.

It is approachable on the surface yet deep once you chase higher stakes, and it runs perfectly on PS5 and basically everything else. The poker framing fools some people into expecting an actual card game, which it is not, but that misunderstanding usually evaporates within a run or two. For pick-up-and-play brilliance, it is one of the easiest recommendations here.

What Works Well

• The breakout roguelike hit that converts non-deckbuilder players.
• Joker synergies that snowball into absurd, satisfying combos.
• Short runs and instant pick-up-and-play appeal.
• Runs flawlessly across PS5 and every other platform.

Common Criticisms

• The poker look misleads people who expect a card game.
• Deckbuilders are a slower rhythm than action roguelikes.
• Dangerously easy to lose hours to.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Balatro! roguelite of the year!

u/a r/roguelites memberr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Balatro isn't really a poker game. You score points by playing poker hands, but that's where the similarities end.

u/Apex_Konchur/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

9

Rogue Legacy

Source

#9 Most Recommended

157 votes11 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus11 of 13 threads

GenreRoguelite Platformer

StyleGenerational castle runs with permanent upgrades and quirky heirs

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$24.99

Rogue Legacy and its sequel are the genre's classic gateway, recommended over and over as a great first roguelite on PS5. The hook is its generational twist: when you die, you pick one of your randomized heirs, each with quirky traits, and spend your gold on permanent castle upgrades before the next run. That steady, visible progression makes the failure loop feel encouraging rather than punishing.

Rogue Legacy 2 refines the formula with smoother combat and more class variety, and most people now point newcomers there, though plenty still love the original. It is more forgiving than the hardcore picks on this list, which is exactly why it shows up whenever someone new to the genre asks where to start.

What Works Well

• A frequently recommended first roguelite for newcomers.
• The generational heir system makes progression feel great.
• Permanent upgrades soften the sting of every death.
• The sequel adds smoother combat and more classes.

Common Criticisms

• Less challenging than the genre's hardcore entries.
• The platforming can feel floaty to some.
• Two games to choose between can confuse newcomers.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Rogue legacy is a really good one.

u/Joe_mama_234r/PS5via Reddit

"

So many. Rogue legacy 2, hades, slay the spire, balatro, keep in mind that I use rogue like loosely here.

u/Regrettably_Southpawr/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

10

Children of Morta

Source

#10 Most Recommended

143 votes10 threadsPS5PS4PCSwitchXbox

Community consensus10 of 13 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StylePixel-art family saga with co-op dungeon runs

AvailablePS5, PS4, PC, Switch, Xbox

Avg Cost$21.99

Children of Morta rounds out the top ten as the most story-driven, warm-hearted pick on the list. You play the Bergsons, a family of guardians, taking different members into procedural dungeons while a genuinely touching narrative about that family unfolds between runs. It is gorgeous hand-animated pixel art with a heart most roguelites do not bother with.

The roguelite loop is lighter than the hardcore picks above it, leaning more on story and character progression than punishing runs, and it supports couch co-op, which is why it keeps surfacing in PS5 co-op threads. For players who want feeling and family alongside their dungeon-crawling, it is the community's standout.

What Works Well

• The most story-rich, heartfelt pick in the top ten.
• Beautiful hand-animated pixel art.
• Local co-op that fits PS5 couch play.
• A warm family narrative uncommon for the genre.

Common Criticisms

• A lighter, less punishing roguelite loop.
• Run variety is thinner than the genre's deepest games.
• Pacing slows when the story takes the wheel.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Children of morta is decent.

u/WeirdSunOfRedditr/PS5via Reddit

"

Children of Morta is my all time fav Roguelite.

u/Galeplayr/PS5via Reddit

View on Steam

Hades vs. Returnal

Hades

vs

Returnal

The two roguelikes PS5 owners argue over most: the beloved cross-platform classic versus the console's own flagship.

Hades is the easier, friendlier starting point; Returnal is the showpiece that proves what a PS5 roguelike can be.

Slay the Spire vs. Balatro

Slay the Spire

vs

Balatro

The two deckbuilders that dominate this list, one the genre's pillar, the other its newest sensation.

Slay the Spire is the deeper long-haul deckbuilder; Balatro is the one you will not be able to put down tonight.

Roguelike or Roguelite, and Does It Matter on PS5?

A roguelike is built around runs: you start over when you die, the layout and rewards are randomized, and getting better means learning the systems rather than grinding levels. A roguelite softens that by adding meta-progression, permanent upgrades that carry between runs, which is why most of the games on this list (Hades, Dead Cells, Rogue Legacy) are technically roguelites, while purists reserve roguelike for run-resets-everything games. PlayStation players use the terms loosely and so does this list, since the community votes the same way regardless of the label. What matters more on PS5 is the shape of the run: fast action such as Hades and Returnal, twin-stick bullet-hell such as Enter the Gungeon and Binding of Isaac, or deckbuilders such as Slay the Spire and Balatro. If you want the wider picture beyond this console, our best roguelike games ranking and the roguelike vs roguelite explainer go deeper, and our Risk of Rain 2 recommendations cover the co-op action side.

Best Roguelikes on PS5: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best roguelike on PS5?

By the community's count, Hades, with Slay the Spire a very close second. Hades is the near-universal first recommendation thanks to its fast combat and story that advances every run. The most PS5-specific answer, though, is Returnal at third: the one game here built for the console, which a lot of players call the best showcase of what a PS5 roguelike can be.

What is the best PS5-exclusive roguelike?

Returnal is the standout. It was a PS5 launch-window title built around the DualSense and the console's speed, and it places third overall here despite being on fewer platforms than the rest. If you want a roguelike that actually uses your PS5 hardware, it is the clear pick.

What is a good roguelike for beginners on PS5?

Hades and Rogue Legacy are the friendliest starting points: both ease you in with strong meta-progression so every death leaves you stronger. Balatro is the easiest pick-up-and-play option, and Dead Cells is approachable once you settle into its rhythm. Any of those four is a gentle on-ramp before you tackle the harder picks such as Returnal or Enter the Gungeon.

What is the best co-op roguelike on PS5?

Risk of Rain 2 is the most-recommended co-op pick, built around stacking items with friends until you become unstoppable. Children of Morta is the cozier couch co-op option with a heartfelt story, and Enter the Gungeon also supports two-player runs. All three turn up whenever PS5 players ask for something to play together.

Are these roguelikes or roguelites?

Mostly roguelites, technically. Games such as Hades, Dead Cells, and Rogue Legacy add permanent upgrades between runs, which makes them roguelites, while a strict roguelike resets everything on death. PlayStation players use the two terms interchangeably, so this list counts community votes the same way regardless of which word was used.

How are these games ranked?

Entirely by Reddit upvotes. I read thirteen PS5 and PlayStation threads asking for the best roguelikes, tallied the upvotes on every comment that suggested a game, and added them up across all of them. The total decides the order, with no personal scoring. Every source thread is linked at the bottom of the page.

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