5 Forgotten Roguelike Games That Still Hold Up Today

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Ever since the original Rogue came out in 1980, game developers have consistently improved upon its core idea of exploring dangerous dungeons, leading to many beloved classics. Today, the roguelike genre is thriving, especially with the rise of “rogue-lites” – games that build on Rogue‘s gameplay by adding persistent upgrades and progression. While titles like Hades, The Binding of Isaac, and Rogue Legacy are hugely popular, it’s easy to overlook some excellent, lesser-known games in the genre – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth your time.

Here are five older, but still worthwhile, roguelike games, presented from oldest to newest.

5) NetHack

NetHack began as a spin-off of the 1984 game Hack and was first released in 1987. The developers made the source code publicly available, so it’s widely accessible. However, unlike many games today, NetHack uses a simple, old-school visual style – it’s presented with basic ASCII characters, which might take some getting used to.

If you want a truly classic dungeon-crawling experience, NetHack is a great choice. It creates levels randomly each time you play, uses a turn-based combat system, and features permadeath – meaning when your character dies, that’s it! Be warned: this game is challenging and doesn’t offer much help along the way.

I prefer this game to the original Rogue because of its setting. While Rogue used the typical high fantasy world common in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, NetHack gradually added humorous pop culture references and things that don’t quite fit the time period. It doesn’t take itself as seriously, which makes it a little more enjoyable to play.

4) Ancient Domains of Mystery

When ADOM first came out in 1994, it used simple ASCII graphics. You can still play that original version on the game’s official website. However, the game is now much more accessible thanks to an updated version with modern graphics. Developer Thomas Biskup funded this update through a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2012.

Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean ADOM is simple. It’s a classic, old-school roguelike – incredibly complex and brutally random. And it really commits to the genre: when your character dies, the game permanently deletes your saved progress, which can be pretty discouraging at first.

I have to admit, it took a little getting used to, but once I did, I realized just how addictive ADOM is! The story is so deep, and with twenty-two different classes to choose from, every playthrough feels fresh. Seriously, there’s always something new to discover, and with multiple ways the game can end, I’ve already sunk dozens of hours into exploring all its dungeons. I can see myself playing this for a long time!

3) Caves of Qud

Though it officially launched in 2024, Caves of Qud has been in development for many years. Freehold Games first shared a public version of the game in 2010, and it became available on Steam as an early access title in 2015. Throughout this extended development period, Qud has received consistent weekly updates, with content constantly being added and improved.

Unlike games such as NetHack, this game features a central quest system. While most quests are randomly created each time you play, a few are fixed, providing players with a primary goal. It also draws inspiration from Dwarf Fortress, simulating complex politics and history to create a unique, procedurally generated backstory for every playthrough.

Although the graphics aren’t as polished as some newer games, the art style—inspired by ASCII characters—is a noticeable improvement over NetHack. Combined with its enjoyable post-apocalyptic world, this is one of the better roguelike games available today and deserves more players.

2) Dungeons of Dredmor

Recommending Dungeons of Dredmor is a bit unusual. Released by Gaslamp Games in 2011, the game received three expansions in the following year. Despite some significant bugs and problems, players expected these to be fixed as the developer continued to update this popular indie roguelike.

After a while, the original developers stopped working on the game, for reasons of their own. While some problems remained, Dredmor gained a dedicated modding community who kept it alive. Over the past ten years, they’ve created a wealth of new content and fixed many of the game’s biggest issues.

Even without modifications, Dredmor is a fantastic example of a roguelike that really leans into randomness. It’s impressively complex, like all the best games in the genre, and that leads to plenty of surprising moments. Plus, it’s genuinely hilarious. If you can tolerate a few glitches, it’s a really enjoyable experience.

1) Invisible Inc.

Klei Entertainment, the creators of Don’t Starve, also made a fantastic, lesser-known game in 2015. Though it’s not a traditional roguelike, it stands out with its emphasis on sneaking and strategy. You take on the role of a spy working to dismantle powerful companies, but each mission has a strict time limit before you’re discovered.

Invisible Inc. blends the strategic gameplay of X-COM with the unpredictable challenges of roguelike games. Every mission is different because it’s randomly created, and if your agents fall in battle, you have to begin a new campaign.

Despite its complexity, Invisible Inc. does reward skillful play by unlocking new agents with different gear. You’ll also gain access to more items and abilities, allowing you to customize your agent to fit how you like to play. Ultimately, Invisible Inc. deserved to be a mainstream success, but it’s become a beloved game for a dedicated group of fans.

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2026-01-27 00:11