2024 was a wild ride for indie roguelike fans. While the spotlight was fixed on blockbuster launches, a handful of innovative indies quietly dropped and, against all odds, managed to thrive in the most crowded release windows we’ve seen in years. If you blinked, you might have missed some of these genre-defining gems, so let’s dig into the best new indie roguelike games of 2024 that launched under the shadow of gaming’s biggest names.
Why Indie Roguelikes Flourished Amidst AAA Chaos
It takes guts (and maybe a touch of madness) to launch an indie roguelike when everyone’s talking about juggernauts like Silksong or Hades 2. Yet, that’s exactly what these five titles did, and they didn’t just survive, they thrived. The secret? Unique mechanics, bold art direction, and seriously addictive replay value. In a year where even the most hyped games risked getting lost in the noise, these indies offered something different: fresh ideas that kept players coming back for one more run.
“I picked up Pyrene on a whim and ended up missing my entire weekend plans. It’s that good. ”
The Standout Five: 2024’s Must-Play Indie Roguelikes
Top 5 New Indie Roguelike Games of 2024
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Shogun Showdown: A stylish, turn-based tactics roguelike released in September 2024. Players battle on a linear grid, combining strategic positioning with deck-building elements. Its unique combat and striking pixel art have earned it strong praise from critics and fans alike.
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Pyrene: This deckbuilding roguelike draws inspiration from Basque mythology, offering procedurally generated runs and challenging tactical battles. Pyrene stands out for its atmospheric art and innovative card mechanics.
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Mortal Glory 2: Launching in March 2024, Mortal Glory 2 is a tactical turn-based roguelite set in a fantasy gladiator arena. Players recruit, train, and equip a team of gladiators, facing off in brutal, randomized tournaments with permadeath stakes.
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Cryptmaster: A quirky, narrative-driven roguelike where players type commands to interact with the world. Its blend of dungeon crawling, word puzzles, and dark humor has made it a standout among 2024’s indie releases.
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Death Must Die: This action roguelite features fast-paced combat and a cast of playable heroes who battle endless waves of enemies. Its blend of hack-and-slash gameplay and roguelike progression has earned it a devoted following since its 2024 launch.
Let’s break down what makes each of these releases essential for any roguelike fan, and why they managed to break through the noise.
Shogun Showdown: Tactical Tension in Every Turn
Release Date: September 4,2024
Developer: Roboatino
If you love your strategy with a side of risk management and samurai flair, Shogun Showdown delivers. This turn-based tactics roguelike unfolds on a minimalist one-dimensional track, a setup that sounds simple but hides layers of tactical depth. Each move is a puzzle: Do you advance to strike or hang back to dodge incoming attacks? The game rewards patience and planning but punishes hesitation, making every decision feel meaningful.
The pixel art is sharp and evocative; combat animations are snappy; and the soundtrack keeps you locked into its tense rhythm. Despite launching alongside several high-profile releases this September (including Pyrene), Shogun Showdown carved out its own loyal following within days, a testament to just how compelling its core gameplay loop is.
Pyrene: Deckbuilding Meets Mythic Adventure
Release Date: September 2024
Developer: Two Tiny Dice
If deckbuilders are your jam but you crave something with more narrative punch than Slay the Spire clones, Pyrene brings an exciting twist. Set in a lush world inspired by Basque mythology (a criminally underused theme), Pyrene tasks players with assembling decks not just for combat but also for exploration and story-driven encounters. Every card choice can influence your fate, will you forge alliances or awaken ancient curses?
The game stands out for its gorgeous hand-painted visuals and branching storylines. Even as it dropped during one of the busiest release months this year (seriously, September was stacked), Pyrene found its audience among players hungry for both challenge and lore-rich worldbuilding.
Mortal Glory 2 and Cryptmaster: Reinventing Classic Roguelike Tropes
The innovation didn’t stop at deckbuilders or tactics games, Mortal Glory 2 and Cryptmaster both reimagined old-school roguelike formulas for modern tastes. Stay tuned as we dive deep into their unique approaches to permadeath, progression systems, and why Death Must Die rounds out this list as an instant cult classic.
Mortal Glory 2: Turn-Based Carnage in the Arena
Release Date: March 2024
Developer: Redbeak Games
Mortal Glory 2 is what happens when you take the bones of a classic roguelike and fuse them with tactical gladiator combat. This sequel doubles down on what made the original a cult favorite: unpredictable battles, quirky team-building, and a brutal permadeath system. The twist? Every gladiator you recruit feels distinct, with randomized traits that can spell either doom or dominance in the blood-soaked arenas.
The game’s procedural events and dynamic combat mean no two runs ever play out the same. You’ll agonize over every draft pick, every equipment upgrade, and every risky decision as your squad claws its way to glory, or gets unceremoniously wiped out by a lucky critical hit. Despite launching around heavy-hitting releases, Mortal Glory 2’s smart blend of old-school difficulty and modern polish made it an immediate hit among strategy diehards.
Cryptmaster: Wordplay Meets Dungeon Delving
Release Date: April 2024
Developer: Paul Hart and Lee Williams
If you thought roguelikes couldn’t get any weirder (or more creative), Cryptmaster will prove you wrong. This genre-bending indie combines dungeon-crawling with word-based puzzles, you literally type out commands to control your party of resurrected heroes, solve riddles, and cast spells. Imagine Zork meets Binding of Isaac, but with a gleefully macabre sense of humor.
The joy here is in discovery: each new word or command can unlock hidden powers or alternate paths through the crypts. With its clever writing and pitch-black comedy, Cryptmaster stands out as one of the most inventive indie roguelikes in recent memory. It’s also proof that there’s still plenty of room for experimentation in a genre often defined by tradition.
Death Must Die: Bullet Heaven With Roguelite Bite
Release Date: November 2024
Developer: Realm Archive
Bursting onto the scene late in 2024, Death Must Die takes inspiration from Vampire Survivors but cranks up both chaos and complexity. You’ll dodge relentless waves of enemies while stacking synergies from an ever-expanding arsenal of upgrades, and yes, death really is just the beginning. Each run sees you collecting souls, unlocking new characters with unique playstyles, and experimenting with wild build combinations that keep every session feeling fresh.
The game’s vibrant pixel art and relentless pace make it hard to put down, just one more run becomes an all-night affair before you know it. Death Must Die may have launched during one of the most competitive indie windows ever (with heavy hitters dropping left and right), but its addictive loop ensured it became an instant favorite among fans hungry for hidden gem roguelikes.
Which new indie roguelike from this list are you most excited to try?
2024 saw a wave of standout indie roguelike games launching alongside major releases. Which of these top picks are you most eager to dive into?
What Sets These Hidden Gem Roguelikes Apart?
If there’s a unifying thread between these five standouts, Shogun Showdown, Pyrene, Mortal Glory 2, Cryptmaster, Death Must Die, it’s their willingness to take risks while honoring what makes roguelikes so compelling in the first place. Whether through innovative mechanics (like Cryptmaster’s text-based controls), bold aesthetics (Pyrene’s hand-painted world), or razor-sharp design (Shogun Showdown’s minimalist tactics), each game delivers something truly memorable even when stacked against AAA competition.
Key Features That Make These 2024 Indie Roguelikes Must-Plays
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Shogun Showdown: Blends turn-based tactics with deck-building on a unique one-dimensional battlefield, requiring strategic positioning and attack timing. Its minimalist visuals and bite-sized runs make it both accessible and deeply replayable.
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Pyrene: Stands out with its deck-building roguelike mechanics set in a hand-crafted fantasy world inspired by Pyrenean folklore. The game features dynamic encounters, meaningful card synergies, and a rich narrative that unfolds with each run.
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Mortal Glory 2: Elevates the fantasy gladiator formula with tactical turn-based combat, randomized events, and deep party management. Its blend of permadeath, recruitment, and arena battles offers endless strategic variety.
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Cryptmaster: Delivers a word-based roguelike adventure where players type commands to interact with the world, solve puzzles, and battle monsters. Its innovative text-driven gameplay and quirky humor set it apart from traditional roguelikes.
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Death Must Die: Combines action-packed, bullet-hell combat with roguelite progression. Players choose from unique heroes, face relentless enemy waves, and unlock powerful upgrades, all set in a stylish, dark-fantasy world.
This year proved that even in crowded launch windows dominated by blockbuster hype cycles, creativity still wins hearts, and playtime. If you’re searching for your next obsession or just want to see how indies are pushing genres forward, these five titles are essential additions to any roguelike fan’s library.
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