Hades is one of the best roguelike action games of all time. The popular roguelike game is not only one of the best games of the genre but one of the best-reviewed games of 2020.
Hades took the roguelike action genre by storm, with the hack-and-slash gameplay resonating with critics and fans alike. The game is critically acclaimed, achieving around 93 on Metacritic from critics and 8.9 from users.
However, despite the success and popularity of Hades, it is not the only game in the roguelike action genre that is of great quality; many roguelike games rival Hades.
This article will outline Roguelike’s 15 great games like Hades; the video game scene is full of them.
Great Games Like Hades – Our Top Pick👌👌
- Diablo 3
- The Binding of Issac Rebirth
- Transistor
- Darkest Dungeon
- Minecraft Dungeons
- Enter the Gungeon
- Hell Divers
- The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past
- Dead Nation
- Bastion
- Dead Cells
- Rogue Legacy
- Slay the Spire
- Bloodroots
- Wizard of Legend
1. Diablo 3
The Diablo series is not the newest video game franchise on the market. Still, Diablo has excelled as an excellent example of how great roguelike action games can be if done properly. Diablo 3 is a prime example of this.
Diablo 4 was released in 2012 as the third installment in the Diablo franchise, adding a vast range of content and improving the mechanics of the previous two games.
The game keeps its predecessors’ isometric perspective and hack-and-slash gameplay and is considered one of the greatest games in the series.
Diablo 3 is a game like Hades, using similar top-down hack-and-slash gameplay, but differs significantly in using loot-based gameplay to push progression. Over the years, Diablo 3 has been added to using DLC expansions such as the Reaper of Souls DLC.
The game has seen a significant rise in popularity, released on consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Diablo 3 scored an 83 on Metacritic and a low 4.1 user score due to a divided player base.
Diablo 3 is a classic game and one of the best roguelikes on the market; it should be played by any gamer who loves grinding for loot and those who love roguelike games.
2. The Binding of Issac Rebirth
The Binding of Issac Rebirth is a remaster of the classic roguelike game The Binding of Issac, released in 2017. The game adds a higher framerate, reaching 60fps, updated graphics, a new soundtrack, and other features.
Aside from that, the gameplay and story remain similar, with the game based on the biblical story of The Binding of Issac. The game also takes inspiration from the Legend of Zelda with similar gameplay mechanics, such as powerups and randomly generated dungeons.
The game is also like Hades, using similar roguelike mechanics with a biblical nature. The games do differ, though, in their graphical art style and some gameplay elements.
Nevertheless, if you loved Hades, you would enjoy this game. Much like Hades, the game also scored well on Metacritic, with average critic scores of 85 and a user score of 8.3. Overall, The Binding of Issac Rebirth is a must-have for a roguelike action fan.
3. Transistor
The transistor is a roguelike action hack-and-slash game developed by SuperGiant Games, the developers behind Hades. Much like Hades, the game features top-down hack-and-slash gameplay.
The game follows the story of Cloudbank, a singer who survives an assassination, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the weapon known as Transistor. The game heavily inspired Hades, with similar isometric gameplay and level design. Thus, the game is like Hades.
Transistor is hugely popular within the roguelike genre and the gaming scene in general, with the game receiving a high score from critics when it was released in 2014. The game has around 83 on Metacritic from critics and an 8.2 average user score.
Conclusively, Transistor is one of the best Roguelike games on the market and very similar to Hades, showing that SuperGiant games are one of the best Roguelike action developers. Pick up this game if you haven’t already; you can’t miss out on one of the decade’s best games.
4. Darkest Dungeon
Although not similar to Hades in terms of graphical and gameplay style, Darkest Dungeon features many of the same attributes as a roguelike.
Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based RPG that controls a group of adventurous heroes as you lead them into the darkness to fight evil.
Much like Hades, the game is notoriously difficult, with the roguelike being one of the most challenging games on the market.
Similarly, Darkest Dungeon leans on the same aesthetic as Hades, with both using a gothic style. Despite its difficulty, it was reviewed well, gaining an 84 from critics when released in 2016 and a slightly lower user score of 8.3.
Overall, Darkest Dungeon is a game like Hades but does differ in several ways. Nevertheless, those who want something a bit different and a challenge should pick up this game. It is a great roguelike game.
5. Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons took the popular sandbox game Minecraft and added dungeon crawling. Minecraft Dungeons was released in 2020, adding an action/adventure twist to the dungeon-crawling genre.
The game took the Minecraft franchise in a brand new direction, showing that the franchise was not just a one-trick pony. The game expanded the Minecraft universe and its player base, reaching roguelike fans and those who love adventure games.
The game is similar to Diablo regarding loot and other gameplay elements and adds customization, multiplayer, powerups, and other features that make this game stand out.
Minecraft Dungeons is the PG roguelike of the genre introducing younger generations to games like hades. Minecraft Dungeons received a mediocre 70 from critics and a lower user score of 6.5, showing that future games in the series need more polish.
Nevertheless, the game is a great step in the right direction for the franchise. All in all, check out this game if you are new to the roguelike genre.
6. Enter the Gungeon – Games like hades on switch
Enter the Gungeon is a unique Roguelike game from developers Dodgeroll and Devolver Digital publishers.
The game is a Dungeon crawler game that follows a group of no-gooders who seek to reach the bottom of the Gungeon in the hope of finding the dungeon’s ultimate treasure.
The game involves gunslinging action gameplay from a top-down perspective rather than the hack-and-slash mechanics of most games in the genre. Enter the Gungeon also includes loot-based gameplay as a form of progression.
The game was later succeeded by Exit the Gungeon, which follows its characters trying to escape the Gungeon. Enter the Gungeon takes inspiration from games such as The Legend of Zelda, with dungeon-crawling gameplay including bosses and powerups. The game is also a game like Hades, with similar top-down gameplay mechanics.
Furthermore, critics received the game well, with an 82 on Metacritic, and fans with a 7.6. Enter the Gungeon should be played regardless of your experience with the Roguelike genre, with both entering The Gungeon and Exit The Gungeon showcasing what the developers of Dodgeroll can do.
7. Hell Divers
Hell Divers is one of those games that should have been more popular than it was. Helldivers was released in 2015 to critical claim winning the Dice awards handheld game of the year and IGN’s best PlayStation 4 game of E3 2014.
The game is a top-down shooter action game that has you take control of a member of the Helldivers, an elite fighting force tasked with defending humanity from alien threats.
Helldivers involved a four-player coop, with missions contributing to a wider global community of Helldivers as they seek to push back the alien menace.
Helldivers is a game like Hades, with top-down hack and slash (shoot) but without the dungeon crawling elements. Although the game was well-received on standard living room consoles, the game was better suited to handheld devices, taking a shine to handheld devices such as the PlayStation Vita.
The game also featured crossplay and cross-buy between PlayStation devices, making it one of the first to do this. The game received a high score of 81 on Metacritic and an 8.0 user score.
Despite high scores, the game wasn’t that popular, with third-person sci-fi games such as Destiny taking the limelight. Nevertheless, if you enjoy top-down shooters and hack and slashers, pick up this game. You won’t regret it.
8. The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past
The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past is the grandaddy of top-down action games, inspiring countless games on this list.
The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past was the third installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise and took players back to Zelda’s original top-down roots. The game once again had you take on the evil Ganon as he tried to spread darkness across Hyrule.
The game introduced features such as the Pegasus boots that became conventional for future Zelda games. The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past is one of the quintessential top-down action games that helped start it all.
This game inspired games like Hades; thus, it deserves a place on this list. The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past scored an impressive 95 from critics and a nine from users, making it one of the best-reviewed Zelda games.
The game sold an estimated four million units worldwide, placing it third on the list as the most-sold Zelda game of all time.
Overall The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past is a classic top-down action game that anyone should play. It is a unique and special part of video game history that should not be overlooked.
9. Dead Nation
If you think of a top-down zombie shooting them up, you instantly think of Dead Nation. Dead Nation is a top-down action shoot-them-up game based on post-apocalyptic earth filled with zombies developed by Housemarque.
It is your job to fight and shoot through hordes of zombies as you try to save humanity from the virus that has turned much of the human race into zombies.
During the game, you take control of Jack McCready or Scarlett Blake as they seek to save humanity and discover the secrets behind the zombie virus.
Dead Nation’s story is gripping and challenging, with difficult gameplay. The game includes upgradeable weapon options, boss battles, and the ability to play with a friend in a two-player coop as you mow down zombies.
Dead Nation is a blast to play alone or with a friend, offering a unique take on the already saturated zombie franchise. Dead Nation is a game like Hades, including the nitty-gritty action top-down gameplay expected of these games.
The game is fun and highly recommended for those who love playing games with friends. The game received a high score of 77 from critics and 6.9 from users on Metacritic, with lower ratings on the PlayStation Vita.
10. Bastion
Bastion is another excellent game from SuperGiant Games, the developers behind Hades. Bastion is an action RPG set in a world where you must protect and fight for civilization.
The first game was created by SuperGiant games and started the studio off on a streak of producing high-quality action games. Bastion includes deep customization options, an engaging story, and polished fighting mechanics.
The game is one of the best top-down action games and has received over one hundred awards. Bastion helped pave the way for games like Hades, inspiring future SuperGiant titles.
Bastion heavily inspired Hades, with a similar art style and gameplay mechanics present within each. Bastion reviewed slightly lower than Hades, with an average score of around 89 and a much lower fan score of 7.7.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy Hades, you will enjoy Bastion; the game started all for SuperGiant games and is a masterpiece.
11. Dead Cells
Dead Cells is another excellent roguelike game heavily inspired by Castlevania and Dark Souls. Dead Souls is a 2D roguelike game that is brutally difficult, with souls-like elements adding considerable difficulty to the game.
The game includes no checkpoints, permadeath, and an ever-changing castle-like dungeon that will make you pull your hair out after the constant rinse-and-repeat process of killing enemies and dying.
Dead Cells takes inspiration from classic games such as Dark Souls and side scrollers such as Rogue Legacy. The game has customization options, bosses powerups, and many other features.
Games like Hades are similar to Dead Cells, with both games having challenging difficulties and roguelike features. Dead Cells reviewed well, scoring around 89 on Metacritic from critics and a lower 7.7 average score from users.
All in all, Dead Cells is a game that you shouldn’t look past. It is a great game but not for the faint-hearted due to its difficulty.
12. Rogue Legacy
Much like Dead Cells, Rogue Legacy also uses the idea of permadeath in its gameplay. Rogue Legacy is a side-scrolling action roguelike well-known in gaming as being incredibly difficult.
Rogue Legacy is a brutal action game that uses permadeath as a core element of its gameplay. The game has you complete the game’s challenging dungeons under the conditions of permadeath, whereby when you die, your child replaces you.
Each child has a unique characteristic, such as being a dwarf or even color blind. As you continually die, you will not only learn the enemy types and dungeons better but will be able to upgrade your characters with increased stats and abilities.
The game is like Hades as it involves classic roguelike gameplay and hard difficulty. Rogue Legacy was well received by critics achieving an 85 and a user score of 7.7 on Metacritic.
Overall, any gamer that likes a game with challenge and soul-like elements should pick up this game. Rogue Legacy is a standout game and one of the best roguelikes.
13. Slay the Spire – Roguelike games like hades
Slay the Spire is a unique roguelike game, very different from other games in the genre. The game is a deck-building game that sees you climb a tower, defeat enemies, and take on bosses to reach the top.
The game is randomly generated, meaning each part of the Spire is different, adding considerable challenge to the game. Unlike most roguelikes which use action and combat, the game features cards and deckbuilding gameplay unique to the genre.
The game, as a result, is different and adds freshness to a saturated genre. Despite its obvious differences from Hades, the game is like Hades in that both are roguelike dungeon-crawling games that require both wits and strategy in their completion.
Slay the Spire is highly rated, achieving an 89 from critics and around a 7.5 from users on Metacritic. Overall, the game adds freshness to the Roguelike genre and should be played by those who want something a bit different and those who love TCGs.
14. Bloodroots – Games like hades with excellent gameplay
Bloodroots makes this list due to its excellent gameplay, laugh-out-loud humor, and similarity to Hades. Bloodroots is a top-down hack and slasher that takes inspiration from games like Hades and adds a one-hit kill mechanic.
The one-hit kill mechanic not only means you can get killed in one hit, but you can kill enemies in a hit, allowing you to chain enemies and create combos.
The game is great, with excellent mechanics, controls, and hilarious cut scenes that make the game stand out. The game also has great weapon variety allowing you to practically pick up any object and use it as a weapon.
However, games like Hades are different from Bloodroots in many ways, such as the game’s lack of dungeon crawling.
Bloodroots is similar to Hades because it features the same hack and slashes gameplay. Bloodroots is an excellent game scoring an 81 on Metacritic with a mediocre user score of 6.4.
Nevertheless, the humor alone in this game makes it well worth picking up. It is a great top-down action game that deserves more love.
15. Wizard of Legend
Wizard of Legend is a great roguelike action game that follows a wizard who wants to become a legend. The game is a 2D roguelike action game specializing in fast-paced magic combat. The game features chainable attacks, a vast range of enemies, and power-up options.
Wizard of Legend incorporates over one hundred spells, allowing you to customize your loadout based on your preferred game style, whether upfront combat or stealthy gameplay in the shadows.
The game also features coop allowing you and a friend to work together to complete the chaos trials. Wizard of Legend is a fantastic roguelike action game similar to Hades.
The game involves similar roguelike dungeon mechanics; thus, Wizard of Legend is a game like Hades. Wizard of Legend reviewed well on Metacritic, receiving a 79 from critics and a 6.9 user score.
Overall, Wizard of Legend is a great game that fans of the Roguelike genre and those who love strategic gameplay should be played.
📚FAQ
What are games like Hades?
Suppose you liked playing Games of Hades and looking for other games similar to it. In that case, you can go for Dandy Ace, Dreamscaper, Enter The Gungeon, Children Of Morta, Curse Of The Dead Gods, Dead Cells, Gunfire Reborn, Transistor, Scourge Bringer, UnderMine, Pyre, Neon Abyss, The Binding Of Isaac, Ancient Abyss, and Bastian.
What type of game is Hades?
Hades is a roguelike action dungeon-crawler video game developed by Supergiant Games.
Early access to the game was made available in December 2018, and the public version was released in 2020. The game was released for Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch.
How long does it take to beat Hades?
Completing the main objective of the game takes around 22 hours. However, if you wish to complete all the aspects of the game, then it will take 96 hours to complete the game 100%.
How many deaths does it take to beat Hades?
You might have to die 30+ times before you reach the final boss. If you start to die to the first boss, then with each run, you will come stronger and stronger.
Why does Hades have a Bident?
During the Gigantomachy, the weapon was used in possession of the god Hades. After that, he lost this weapon after using it to pierce the back of a giant fatally.
Later the leader of the demon Seraphim infiltrated the cave in which this giant washed ashore and claimed the weapon for himself.
Is Hades stronger than Zeus?
Hades is stronger than Zeus, but this does not mean that Zeus is weak; Zeus is better at ruling than Poseidon and Hades. In some ways, there is always an advantage and disadvantage for Zeus and Hades.
What is the best weapon used in Hades?
Some of the best weapons used in Hades are-
- Stygius, Blade of the Underworld.
- Exagryph, The Adamant Rail.
- Aegis, The Shield Of Chaos.
- Vaartha, The Eternal Spear.
- Coronach, The Heart-Seeking Bow.
- Twin Fists Of Malphon.
Final Thoughts on Games like hades
Overall, this article has outlined 15 great games like Hades. Hades is a fantastic and one of the best roguelike top-down action games. As highlighted by the article, Hades is not the only outstanding game in the genre.
Similar games such as Bloodroots, Rogue Legacy, and the Darkest Dungeon (to name a few) also standout out as some of their respective genre’s very best.
The roguelike RPG genre is heavily saturated with high-quality games, with some of the most well-rated games coming from within.
As this console generation progresses, we will likely see more games of this ilk, perhaps surpassing games like hades. The roguelike action genre is only expected to get more popular, paving the way for future titles pushing innovation’s limits.
