Roguelikes may have seen a recent rise in popularity thanks to heavy-hitters like Hades and Balatro, but they’ve been around for a while. There’s something satisfying about trying a run and losing, before trying it again and getting slightly further than before. Every run is better than the last until, multiple tries later, you finally reach the end.
While roguelikes are more popular on the PC, that doesn’t mean the PS5 doesn’t have some excellent picks to choose from. From the PlayStation first-party game Returnal to the indie darling Cult of the Lamb, those looking for high-quality roguelikes for the PS5 are spoiled for choice in the best way possible.
1. Hades
Most would argue that Hades was the game that put roguelikes on the mainstream map. The game has players fill the shoes of Zagreus, the son of Hades and Persephone, as he attempts to escape from the Underworld and reach the surface. That’s easier said than done, as standing in his way are all the residents of the Underworld, including the Furies, Cerberus, and even Hades himself.
Fortunately, Zagreus has a little help in the form of boons received from his godly extended family. From Zeus to Poseidon, players utilize various abilities based on the many Greek Gods to strengthen their character, alongside multiple unique weapons, to see what awaits Zagreus on the surface.
2. Balatro
If you told gamers in 2014 that a card roguelike game would be crowned Game of the Year ten years later, they’d likely laugh and then return to playing Dragon Age: Inquisition. However, the fact is that the poker-themed roguelike deck-building is one of the most immersive and addictive experiences in any roguelike.
Balatro has an excellent soundtrack, various challenge options to spice things up, and multiple starting decks that ensure every run is unique. The game masterfully combines poker with the roguelike genre, having players constantly want to push their luck in proceeding runs to see how far they can get.
3. Cult of the Lamb
If you’ve ever wanted to be a lamb literally leading a flock of sheep and other animals, then you have to get on Cult of the Lamb. While the premise may seem a little odd, Cult of the Lamb is an excellent roguelike that combines the good old-fashioned combat you can expect from a game like Hades with city-building mechanics.
Go on crusade runs in different regions to rid the world of Heretics and grow your cult by rescuing and indoctrinating new animals. With surprisingly interesting characters, a bustling community of fans, and amazing replay value, Cult of the Lamb is one of the best roguelikes on PS5 worth sinking your metaphorical hooves into.
4. Dead Cells
Continuing the train of unique roguelikes, Dead Cells is a roguelike-Metroidvania game that perfectly combines the two genres to deliver something entirely new. At the beginning, every run feels the same as your character wakes up in prison without weapons or abilities. He then proceeds to other rooms and builds his strength up to progress further than before. Eventually, the gameplay clicks, as you find yourself instinctively knowing what to do and which upgrades to prioritize.
Dead Cells emphasizes speed and fluidity, as players weave past enemies and their attacks to finally reach the boss cells at the end. With new weapons to use, bosses to beat, and challenge modifiers to enable, you may lose track of the time when you play Dead Cells.
5. Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is another roguelike deck-building game, similar to Balatro, but the presentation and premise of both games are entirely different. While Balatro emphasizes merging poker with roguelike mechanics, Slay the Spire stays true to the traditional dungeon-crawling roots, as players attempt to ascend a spire of multiple floors.
Combat in Slay the Spire takes place through the typical collectible card game system, where every card has unique abilities. These abilities can deal damage to enemies, apply stat changes to characters, or even help you draw more cards. The game has four characters with unique cards to add to their collections, and every level has a boss encounter waiting for you at the end.
