7 Best Indie Roguelike Games You Can’t Miss in 2024

Not Your Usual Roguelikes — Think you know roguelike games? Think again. 2024 is stacked with best roguelike games that bring fresh twists, insane difficulty spikes, and stories that suck you in. These are the best indie roguelike games 2024 has to offer, and they deserve your attention. Dive into these hidden gems and discover your next obsession before they blow up.

1. Dark Waters: Abyssal Descent – The Ocean Awaits

You’ve survived dungeons, scaled castles, maybe even fought through hell. But have you ever plunged into the abyss? Dark Waters: Abyssal Descent is one of the new roguelike games 2024 that’s setting a new standard for underwater adventures, where every dive is a battle against the deep. The ocean is alive, and it’s out to get you.

• Why It Rocks: No ground beneath your feet, just the endless blue. Real-time water physics mess with your every move, turning simple battles into frantic struggles for air. Every death leaves you with something—a relic, a memory, a reason to dive again.
• Play This If: You’re tired of the same old dungeon crawls and want a new kind of claustrophobia.

2. Celestial Fates: Echoes of Eternity – Cards, Space, and Chaos

Forget standard card games. Celestial Fates is another standout among the best indie roguelike games 2024. It blasts you into the cosmos, juggling deck-building with planet-hopping. Each world you land on is a new playground (or battleground) with its own rules, enemies, and secrets.

• Why It Rocks: You’re not just building a deck; you’re crafting a strategy that shifts with every planet. Plus, there’s a sneaky PvP mode where you face off against AI versions of real players.
• Play This If: You love strategy, but you’re bored with fantasy forests and dungeons. It’s time to go cosmic with one of the most exciting new roguelike games 2024 has to offer.

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3. Mortal Engines: The Steampunk Paradox – Time Loops & Tinkering

Welcome to a sprawling city of steam and steel where the rules change every time you die. Mortal Engines isn’t just another hack-and-slash; it’s a thinking person’s indie roguelike where every death rewinds time and forces you to rethink your approach.

• Why It Rocks: The enemies learn from you. Seriously. They adapt, forcing you to come up with new tactics or get crushed. Customize weapons, build gadgets, and manipulate time to stay one step ahead. It’s one of those best available roguelike games 2024 that challenges both your mind and reflexes.
• Play This If: You want a game that doesn’t just challenge your reflexes but your brain too.

4. Soul Ember: Shadows of Ashwood – Into the Dark Woods

This isn’t your standard medieval romp. Soul Ember throws you into Ashwood, a cursed forest where every shadow hides danger. Light isn’t just for seeing—it’s a weapon, a shield, and a strategy all rolled into one.

• Why It Rocks: Light and dark mechanics keep every moment tense. Do you use your last torch to see ahead or save it to fend off a creature stalking you? Add in alchemical crafting and branching story paths, and you’ve got a game that’s all about choices. A definite highlight among the top roguelike games to play in 2024.
• Play This If: You crave atmosphere and want every step to feel like a risk.

5. Labyrinth of Echoes: The Forgotten Lore – No Map, No Mercy

You’re dropped into a maze, and guess what? The maze hates you. Labyrinth of Echoes constantly shifts its walls and changes its paths, keeping you guessing.

• Why It Rocks: Forget memorizing layouts; this game learns how you play and changes up its traps, enemies, and even the lore you uncover. You’re not just surviving—you’re exploring an ancient mystery that adapts to your every move. Among the must-play indie roguelikes 2024, this one stands out for its dynamic environment.
• Play This If: You like your games unpredictable, with a side of lore that feels like a reward, not a chore.

6. Starfall: Neon Descent – Hack the Future

You’re not just fighting; you’re hacking. Starfall drops you into a neon-drenched cityscape straight out of your dreams. You play a rogue hacker fighting corrupt corporations and rogue AIs.

• Why It Rocks: Combat here isn’t just about guns and blades; it’s hacking terminals, dodging lasers, and outsmarting enemies in real-time. Every decision shapes the future of the city, leading to multiple endings that feel earned. It’s a fresh take among new roguelike games 2024.
• Play This If: You love cyberpunk but want a game that goes deeper than style and gives you real choices.

7. Forgotten Realms: War of the Wyrms – Dragons and Tactics

Command a squad of dragon riders in a world teetering on the brink of destruction. War of the Wyrms fuses squad management with tactical battles that demand smart, quick decisions.

• Why It Rocks: This isn’t just about picking the right team; it’s about knowing when to strike, when to retreat, and how to play the long game. The lore here is thick, the battles intense, and the stakes always feel high. Definitely one of the top roguelike games to play in 2024.
• Play This If: You’re into team-based strategy and want to lose yourself in a world that’s bigger than any single fight.

Wrap-Up: Why These Indie Roguelikes Matter

These aren’t the games that pop up on everyone’s radar, but they’re the ones you’ll be talking about by year’s end. Whether you’re after something mind-bending, nerve-wracking, or just plain fresh, these under-the-radar indie roguelike games of 2024 are here to scratch that itch.