10 Roguelikes to Get Hooked On (Even If You Usually Play Cozy Games)
Beginner friendly roguelikes with comforting elements, charm, and humour
For a long time, I only played cozy games, and I was perfectly happy staying there. Farming sims, gentle stories, and low pressure gameplay felt like home.
Over the past year or so, I started noticing more and more games outside that bubble. Game Awards nominees and winners, recommendations from other gamers, and curiosity around popular indie titles kept nudging me to try something new.
Many of those games fell under a genre I’d always avoided: roguelikes. I assumed they were too stressful, too combat heavy, to gory, or just not for me. But to my surprise, some of them clicked instantly, offering the same comfort I love in cozy games, just in a different form.
This list is for anyone who loves cozy games but is feeling a little curious about other genres and games out there. These are roguelikes that helped me branch out, broaden my horizons, and find a fab addictive loop I just couldn’t stop playing.
*Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the pod! 🫶
Related: Have you checked out my must play Nintendo Switch games?
The BEST cozy Nintendo Switch games are waiting here!
What are Roguelikes?
Roguelikes are games built around repeated playthroughs or “runs.” Each run is different, with randomized levels, enemies, or items, meaning no two attempts feel exactly the same.
The key idea is learning through play. Even when a run ends, you usually unlock new characters, abilities, or knowledge that helps you progress next time. Rather than being punished for failing, roguelikes encourage experimentation and gradual improvement and usually have lots of variety.
What’s the Difference Between Roguelike and Roguelite?
You’ll often see the terms roguelike and roguelite used interchangeably, which I found confusing at first.
Traditionally, roguelikes reset completely after each run, with little to no permanent progression. Roguelites, however, usually allow some form of carryover, such as unlocked upgrades, story progression, or new starting options.
Most modern games (including many on this list) fall somewhere in between. For cozy players especially and myself, roguelites tend to feel more approachable because progress is always being made, even after a failed run, so you always feel like you’re getting better with each run.
Dicey Dungeons
Developer Image: Terry Kavanagh
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Dicey Dungeons is one of the most welcoming roguelikes I’ve played, and the easiest one to recommend to cozy gamers. Its bright visuals, playful music, and dice based mechanics make it feel more like a board game than a high pressure video game. Runs are short, losses never feel punishing, and experimentation is encouraged. If you’re curious about roguelikes but feeling hesitant, this is the perfect place to start.
Slay the Spire
Developer Image: Mega Crit
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Amazon Physical Copies*: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Slay the Spire is often recommended as a first roguelike, and for good reason. Its turn-based card combat means there’s no time pressure at all, you can take as long as you like to think through each move. Progress feels steady even when a run ends, and the strategic depth builds naturally over time. Cozy players who enjoy puzzles, card games, and thoughtful decision making will really enjoy this.
Developer Image: Deadpan Games, Gatzier
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Wildfrost feels like a cozy puzzle game wrapped in roguelike mechanics. The soft art style and turn based gameplay remove a lot of stress, allowing you to focus on planning rather than quick reactions. I found it especially comforting because each run teaches you something new without feeling punishing. This is a great next step for cozy players who enjoy strategy and learning through gentle trial and error.
Related: Want to know more about Wildfrost before playing?
Check out my full review here!
Developer Image: Local Thunk
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X
Balatro surprised me with how approachable it felt. While it has a reputation for being intense, it plays more like a satisfying card puzzle built around familiar poker mechanics. Runs are short, the rules are easy to grasp, and the game quickly settles into a calm, focused rhythm with a great synthy soundtrack. It’s ideal for cozy gamers who enjoy numbers, strategy, and that quiet “just one more run” feeling.
Related: Interested in Balatro but want to know more?
Check out my full review here and why I named it one of my Games of the Month
Developer Image: Snoozy Kazoo
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank keeps things light, humorous, and low pressure. Its playful tone and short runs make it easy to jump into without committing to long sessions. While it leans more action-focused than traditional cozy games, it’s forgiving enough that failure never feels frustrating. The characters are cute and genuinely quite funny. This is a great choice for cozy players who value charm and comedy.
Related: Want to know more about Turnip Boy?
Check out my full review here!
Developer Image: Massive Monster
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox
Amazon Physical Copies*: Nintendo Switch, PS5
Cult of the Lamb blends roguelike dungeon runs with cozy village management in a way that feels surprisingly comforting. Between runs, you’re decorating your base, caring (ish) for followers, and managing daily routines, elements that will feel familiar to fans of farming and life sims. The combat sections are structured and purposeful, helping balance out the darker themes. It’s a great bridge between cozy gameplay and more action driven experiences but with a humourously dark twist.
Related: Not sure if Cult of the Lamb is for you?
Check out my full review and see what I loved about it!
Developer Image: Dogubomb
Available on: PC, Playstation, Xbox
Blue Prince leans heavily into atmosphere, mystery, and puzzle-solving, making it a strong pick for cozy players who love slow discovery. While it includes roguelike elements, the experience feels calm and deliberate rather than stressful. I appreciated how much time it gives you to explore, observe, and think. It feels closer to a narrative puzzle game than a traditional combat-focused roguelike but the elements are still there and it’s very inventive.
Related: Want to know why I thought Blue Prince was one of the most inventive games of 2025?
Check out my full Blue Prince review here!
Ball x Pit
Developer Image: Kenny Sun and Friends
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Ball x Pit feels more like an arcade puzzle game than a typical roguelike. The mechanics are simple, the visuals are clean, and the focus is on satisfying interactions rather than difficulty spikes. Its short sessions make it easy to pick up and put down, and in between runs you get to build a little village with each building giving you new advantages in your runs. This is a great option if you enjoy tactile, physics-based gameplay without long term pressure.
Developer Image: Blobfish
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, PS5
Brotato is faster and more chaotic than earlier games on this list, but by this point it feels manageable rather than overwhelming. Controls are simple, runs are quick, and experimentation is encouraged with lots of options for characters to play with and weapons to use. This is a great pick for cozy gamers ready to try something a little more energetic, especially with the electronic soundtrack.
Related: Curious about Brotato?
Check out my full review and why I think its an energetic, fun pick here!
Hades II
Developer Image:
Supergiant Games
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Hades II (and Hades I, honestly both are excellent) is a confident step into more action heavy roguelikes, and a rewarding one. While it’s faster paced than most cozy games, the rich storytelling, memorable characters, and strong progression systems make each run feel meaningful. Accessibility options also help tailor the experience to your comfort level, which is great because both Hades games really are some of the best games ever made.
Roguelikes might not be the first genre that comes to mind when you think of cozy games, and that’s completely fair. For me, though, exploring these titles has been about curiosity rather than leaving cozy gaming behind. Each game on this list offered something familiar, whether that was gentle progression, thoughtful strategy, charming visuals, or comforting routines, just wrapped in a different structure. If you’re happy staying firmly in cozy games, that’s perfect. But if you’re feeling curious, these roguelikes are a perfect place to start!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve been playing any roguelikes and which are your favourites! 👇
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