Get started with roguelike survival games

Whether you’ve seen the term Bullet Heaven, or wondered what Vampire Survivors is about, we’re here to help you get to grips with all things roguelike survival.

You’ll need reflexes and wits in this intense, high-stakes genre where just one mistake can spell your doom. But worry not – we’ll make sure that you’re armed with all the info to come out on top.

In roguelikes, you get just one life to beat a short, randomised campaign with whatever tools you find along the way. Roguelike survival games are similar, but instead of a campaign or set of levels, it’s just you against wave after wave of increasingly tougher foes in a wide open arena.

As with roguelikes, randomisation is an essential part of the formula. During each attempt you’ll find different combinations of items, skills and upgrades, which keeps every attempt feeling fresh and unique. Being able to roll with the punches while assembling a strong character with whatever you can find is the essence of roguelike survival.

As enemies grow stronger with each wave, you need to constantly be on the lookout for upgrades, skills and abilities. To really gain the edge in combat you’ll want to seek out pickups that compliment one another, enhancing their qualities and your own strength. Some items will even grant unique bonuses or powers when you hold both at once – these powerful pairings are called ‘synergies’.

Treat each attempt as an opportunity to experiment with power and unlock new tools, and you’ll be improvising preposterously powerful builds in no time.

While roguelike survival games may seem challenging, they’re actually quite easy to jump into. Here are our beginner-friendly picks to help you get started.

In this love letter to old-school gothic horror games, fend off a 30-minute onslaught against increasingly bigger and badder waves of undead. Fortunately, you’ve got an arsenal of auto-firing holy weapons with which to ignite the battlefield.

With simple controls, plenty of characters and unlockable permanent upgrades, you can focus on weaving and let the weapons do the cleaving in this excellent intro to the genre.

Ignite demons in dark forests with your magic and gunfire in this highly flexible top-down shooter. With a wide diversity of characters and upgrades available, there’s no wrong way to play, whether it’s sharpshooting, summoning or shapeshifting your way to victory.

With 10- and 20-minute modes, and an endless mode for those after a test of endurance, you can control how long you want to push yourself for. There’s also an option to toggle autofire and manual aim, making 20 Minutes Till Dawn a highly tailorable experience that’s perfect for newcomers.

In the melancholy fields of Magic Survival fend off encircling waves of dark, amorphous evil using your devastating elemental powers. With a mysterious world, sombre tone, and cryptic journals scattered across levels, this spell-casting chaos comes with a dash of intrigue.

Magic Survival may play similarly to Vampire Survivors thanks to its auto-casting spells and simple controls, but it stands apart for its focus on magic, mystery and a more flexible build potential. If you’re after something a little darker and more experimental, this is a great place to start.

Looking for more games in the genre to play? Take a look at these collections to find a new favourite.