Gaming on Android has found its own fanbase over the years. No gamer plays expensive AAA video games on their mobile phones, but there are some specific experiences well suited for this platform. Games in the roguelike genre fall into this category. These titles give mobile gamers incredible, unique experiences in short bursts.
One of the standout things about roguelike games is that no two runs are ever the same. In one instance, a gamer will go left and die; in another instance, they will choose a completely different path and probably survive a little longer.
For most of these games, their easy-to-play nature also makes them worth a try on mobile devices. They are not as complicated as console games like Resident Evil, which are practically unplayable on iOS without a physical controller.
In this list, we will list the best roguelike games on Android that you can play right now. This selection includes some well-known titles as well as certain hidden gems that you would have never heard of.
13 best roguelike games on Android that will keep you coming back for more
1. Terraria
Genre: Action-Adventure, Sandbox
One of the most successful sandbox games ever made, Minecraft, gave developers the courage to use pixelated textures. One developer who took this by heart is Re-Logic; the result of this newfound inspiration was Terraria.
It is an action-adventure sandbox game that allows players to explore alien worlds on a 2D plane. They can dig, build, defeat bosses, and start their own villages; the possibilities never end with this one. But the moment they get defeated, it starts from scratch. It is heartbreaking to lose all your progress, but that’s what roguelike games do: they test whether you have the guts to start over.
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2. Slay the Spire
Genre: Deckbuilder, Card Game
This deckbuilding title gives players access to hundreds of cards to add to their deck. They can use those cards to defeat the foes that try to prevent players from completing their journey. As players climb the spire, several difficulties will show their faces and if players get defeated, the journey starts over.
Players get to choose from four characters, and combat involves strategy and decision-making. So, play Slay the Spire if you are ready to face the consequences of your choices.
3. Into the Breach
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
Developers of popular rogue-lite FTL: Faster Than Light followed it up with Into the Breach, a strategy game set in the far future where humanity is fighting an army of robots called the Vek.
Players are given an objective on a map and a limited number of moves to complete it. One can use powerful mechs to do this; they are also required to ensure the civilian structures on the given maps stay out of harm’s way. It’s quite a unique game with beautiful artwork. Moreover, its gameplay is such that even though it’s a roguelike, defeat will not stop gamers from jumping back into it instantly.
4. 20 Minutes Till Dawn
Genre: Action, Shooter, Bullet Hell
This is a dark bullet hell shooter in which players are tasked with surviving the night. It is not as simple a task as it sounds, though. Players will be attacked by various creatures of the night with hordes of them coming at you. Defeat them using your weapons and various power-ups that you unlock eventually.
Upgrades and new unlocks will keep things exciting, but being a bullet hell shooter, this game will never feel easy.
5. Luck Be a Landlord
Genre: Deckbuilder
Luck Be a Landlord is a quirky game in which players use slot machines to earn their rent money. Players can add or remove certain symbols from the slot machine to increase their chances of winning their rent.
Just like some cards usually empower each other in strategy deck builders, in this game, slot machine symbols react to each other and lead to a higher payout. So, choose your symbols carefully and make sure you pay the rent before getting evicted.
6. NEO Scavenger
Genre: Survival, Role-playing Game (RPG)
In NEO Scavenger, players are tasked with surviving a post-apocalyptic wasteland. While doing that, they must also figure out their character’s identity. You will find yourself making some crucial decisions from the get-go, where to scavenge, what to eat, and which direction to go in, and all your decisions will have consequences.
Think hard before each turn, as the sense of progress in this game is such that once you die, it will hurt worse than most games on this list.
7. Brotato
Genre: Action-Sci-fi, Bullet Hell
A fast-paced action twin-stick shooter, Brotato is as fun as it is difficult. Use up to six weapons at a time to defeat the groups of enemies that come at you from all sides. The weapons fire automatically, but the aim is manual. You can customise your character and collect materials to gain experience to purchase items in between waves.
Brotato is one of the most addictive roguelike games on Android. Get into this game at your own risk.
8. Downwell
Genre: Shooter, Vertical scroller
Its name sums up pretty much everything that you need to know about Downwell. It’s a vertical scroller in which you jump down a well. In your freefall, you can use a gun on any creature that can cause you potential harm and earn gems for defeating each creature.
Health, weapons and everything else can be upgraded, but if you die, you must start again. It’s a fun yet challenging experience.
9. Immortal Rogue
Genre: Hack and Slash
Play as an eternal vampire in this unique, roguelike experience. The vampire wakes up every 100 years to feed, but the people you choose to feed can change the future forever. You keep altering the timelines with your eating habits.
Changing the timelines means you get to fight unique enemies and collect interesting items. While it sounds fun, this game is, without question, one of the most challenging roguelikes on Android.
10. Dead Cells
Genre: Platformer, Hack and Slash
Anyone looking for the top roguelike game on Android should give Dead Cells a go. As a prisoner of an old establishment, your escape will not be easy. In this game, you defeat several enemies at once, face challenging bosses and choose the right tools for your journey.
In Dead Cells, even if you die, you get a little more powerful, as the cells you collect can be used to empower your character between runs.
11. Don’t Starve
Genre: Sandbox, Survival
Cut down trees, craft tools, build elaborate structures, gather food for winter and protect the same food from rotting during the summer. Don’t Starve is a beautiful survival roguelike that challenges players at every point.
You cannot explore its world without the fear of being attacked by some unusual monstrous creature. One wrong step or surprise and hours of progress can go into shambles. Play it only when you know what you are doing; it’s not the game for the faint-hearted.
12. Slice & Dice
Genre: Turn-based strategy, Dungeon Crawler
In this game, players take control of five heroes, each of whom has their own unique dice. You will have to fight your way through levels that are full of monsters and then face the final boss. If anything goes wrong in between, you start from level one.
Each encounter in this game is randomly generated and you can choose from 128 hero classes. This means there’s no limit to this game’s customisation and replayability. So just throw the dice when you are ready.
13. Vampire Survivors
Genre: Shoot ‘em up
The last name on our list of the best roguelike games on Android, lets you select from several auto-attacking characters and fight continuous waves of monsters. You must survive as long as you can; depending on your survival time, you unlock new characters weapons and relics for later sessions.
If you manage to survive 15, 20, or 30 minutes, you will face a challenging boss named The Reaper. These reapers will keep on coming until players eventually die. It’s a fun, addictive shooter that you will keep restarting without giving it a second thought. There’s a reason it ended up being so successful when it launched in 2023. Hence, it is counted among the top roguelike games on Android.
If you are looking for even more games to play on your smartphone, Netflix Games has an incredible collection of titles for its subscribers.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Devolver Digital and Thomas Gervraud)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Terraria, Slay the Spire, Dead Cells and Brotato are some of the best roguelike game on Android.
Vampire Survivors is the highest-rated roguelike game on Android on Steam and Play Store.
