One of the biggest success stories of 2020 was the roguelike ARPG Hades from indie studio Supergiant Games. After being released in September out of early access, Hades was met with universal critical acclaim and a massive following. Winning multiple awards at the Golden Joystick Awards and the Game Awards 2020, Hades helped the roguelike genre generate mainstream attention with its emphasis on narrative.

In Hades, while the player will often die, they also continue to receive buffs, treasures, and weapons making subsequent runs a little easier. This mechanic along with the use of procedurally generated rooms and enemies define the roguelike genre. While Hades has undoubtedly become the new face of the genre, there are a number of fantastic indie roguelikes that players should not miss out on.

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Originally released in 2011, Binding of Isaac is perhaps the most influential indie roguelike as the series would go on to sell over 5 million copies and renew attention in the genre. Inspired by the biblical story of Isaac, players control and navigate the PC Isaac as he fights his way through a monster-infested basement after overhearing his mother's intention to sacrifice him. Featuring procedurally generated dungeons inspired by the original Legend of Zelda game, players collect powerups and items in order to defeat enemies and bosses. If Isaac died, players would have to start over in a newly-generated dungeon, and the roguelike nature of Binding of Isaac encouraged multiple playthroughs and provided players with an opportunity to slowly improve over time.

Eventually, developer Edmund McMillen would go on to remake the game as Binding of Isaac: Rebirth in 2014 after being limited by the Adobe Flash platform. Featuring a visual overhaul, multiple ports, additional content, and gameplay features, Binding of Isaac: Rebirth was released to critical acclaim like its predecessor. Fans of Hades looking to replicate the excitement of slowly learning a game's mechanics through continuous playthroughs should look no further than Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.

Alongside Binding of Isaac, 2012's FTL: Faster Than Light helped popularize the genre in the indie scene by incorporating different gameplay elements from traditional roguelikes. Based on tabletop board games, FTL places players in charge of a spaceship and its crew while avoiding a pursuing rebel fleet. The spaceship has a variety of systems such as engines, weapons, shields, med bays, and more that require players to micromanage effectively while they traverse through randomly generated waypoints. Over time, the spaceship will gain additional crewmates, money, and enhancements, but if the player loses in combat, they lose their progress and must restart from scratch.

Although FTL features roguelike elements, it also integrates tactical combat, management mechanics, and a sci-fi setting. This unique blend of different styles has aged gracefully, and to this day, no other roguelike game feels like FTL. It's unforgiving in its difficulty, yet extremely rewarding once players manage to get the hang of its mechanics. Similar to games in the Dark Souls franchise, FTL requires patience and a learning curve from players but will also reward them well once they learn from their mistakes. For Hades fans looking to find a more difficult roguelike with a learning curve, FTL is a great place to start.

Hades fans looking for an indie roguelike with a combat system similar to Hades should give Dead Cells a try. Often described as a "roguevania", Dead Cells combines the procedurally generated levels and permadeath mechanics of roguelikes together with the action platforming elements of Metroidvania games. Originally released in 2018, players take control of a clump of cells that can occupy the body of a prisoner in order to fight their way out of a dungeon. Much like Hades, Dead Cells puts a heavy emphasis on combat mechanics such as dodging and pattern recognition.

On the other hand, Dead Cells is arguably more punishing than Hades. With only a few minor upgrades that carry over in different runs, Dead Cells is fast-paced with a focus on twitch gameplay and combos. If players aren't careful, they could easily die within a few hits and be forced to start a new run. However, the progression value of Dead Cells is arguably much better than Hades, and players will get much more out of replays despite its limited story. Dead Cells is a great roguelike for players who enjoyed the combat system of Hades and are looking for an even greater challenge.

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On the other hand, if Hades fans are looking for a more story-driven experience in a roguelike title, Children of Morta is their best bet. Featuring an entire family of heroes called the Bergsons, players must help them overcome a supernatural force known as the Corruption. As players progress through the game, they unlock new family members who each have their own playstyles, and the family must traverse through procedurally generated dungeons defeating enemies and bosses along the way.

One of the most interesting features of Children of Morta is its narrative experience. Not only do players get to witness narrative changes and dialogue at the end of their runs, but there's also procedural narrative events which can offer unique stories on different playthroughs. Each Bergson family member has their own individual story which serves to strengthen the overall narrative arc. Along with sidequests, Children of Morta feels like one of the rare roguelikes to feature a fleshed out world and narrative. Hades fans will find plenty to love in Children of Morta, especially if they enjoyed the emphasis on story.

The original Spelunky was released in 2008 and was one of the first games that utilized roguelike elements in a side-scrolling platformer. Players take control of a cave spelunker who explores procedurally generated caves while collecting treasures, fighting enemies, and saving damsels. Although Spelunky isn't as difficult as other roguelikes, it still features frequent deaths, a lack of checkpoints, and a focus on discovery of mechanics. An enhanced version of Spelunky was released in 2013 and its sequel, Spelunky 2, was released in 2020.

While the original Spelunky is a fantastic game, it's likely that Hades fans will enjoy its sequel a little bit more with the addition of lore and backstories for the characters. However, Spelunky does differentiate itself from Hades with its focus on the platformer mechanics. Much of the game revolves around avoiding traps, and the combat is very basic in order to emphasize the platforming aspects. In terms of how Spelunky feels, it's more akin to the physics of the Super Mario series. That said, Spelunky is one of the best roguelike series and Hades fans will likely enjoy the progression system and backstories.

Hades is available on PC and Nintendo Switch.

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