Best Turn-Based Roguelikes, Ranked
Choose your next run by the decisions between turns: positioning a mech, playing a card, assigning dice or developing an RPG character. Every entry here has the turn-based catalog tag and a complete published review.
Reviewed games, ranked
Only published, complete five-dimension reviews qualify. Scores and global ranks come directly from the full rankings; equal displayed scores retain their shared rank. These are site scores out of 100, not user votes or similarity scores.
| Game | Global rank | Score / 100 | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
 Into the BreachReview & evidence ↗ | #1 | 90.3 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Slay the SpireReview & evidence ↗ | #1 | 90.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategy |
 Slice and DiceReview & evidence ↗ | #3 | 87.0 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tacticsDice & chance |
 Monster TrainReview & evidence ↗ | #8 | 85.5 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 BalatroReview & evidence ↗ | #9 | 85.0 | Dice & chanceDeckbuilderTurn-based strategy |
 Vault of the VoidReview & evidence ↗ | #11 | 83.8 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategy |
 Caves of QudReview & evidence ↗ | #13 | 83.5 | Turn-based strategyTraditional Roguelike |
 Monster Train 2Review & evidence ↗ | #14 | 83.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tacticsCo-op adventure |
 Cobalt CoreReview & evidence ↗ | #16 | 83.0 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Slay the Spire 2Review & evidence ↗ | #18 | 81.8 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyCo-op adventure |
 MewgenicsReview & evidence ↗ | #20 | 80.8 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Tales of Maj'EyalReview & evidence ↗ | #20 | 80.8 | Traditional RoguelikeTurn-based strategy |
 DiceomancerReview & evidence ↗ | #30 | 79.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyDice & chance |
 Astrea: Six-Sided OraclesReview & evidence ↗ | #31 | 79.0 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyDice & chance |
 WildfrostReview & evidence ↗ | #31 | 79.0 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Alina of the ArenaReview & evidence ↗ | #34 | 78.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 InscryptionReview & evidence ↗ | #34 | 78.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Across the ObeliskReview & evidence ↗ | #39 | 77.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tacticsCo-op adventure |
 Darkest DungeonReview & evidence ↗ | #47 | 76.3 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 DecktamerReview & evidence ↗ | #51 | 76.0 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Darkest Dungeon 2Review & evidence ↗ | #58 | 74.8 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 RoguebookReview & evidence ↗ | #58 | 74.8 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategy |
 Brutal OrchestraReview & evidence ↗ | #66 | 74.0 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 PeglinReview & evidence ↗ | #72 | 72.3 | Dice & chanceTurn-based strategyDeckbuilder |
 ArcaniumReview & evidence ↗ | #74 | 71.8 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 SculplingsReview & evidence ↗ | #78 | 69.5 | Turn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
 Sol CestoReview & evidence ↗ | #82 | 63.3 | DeckbuilderTurn-based strategyStrategy & tactics |
Tactical boards, cards or characters?
Into the Breach is the starting point here for mech tactics. Slice and Dice builds combat around a party of five heroes with individual dice. Slay the Spire and Monster Train put deckbuilding at the center instead, even though they share the turn-based label.
For a broader RPG structure, compare Caves of Qud and Tales of Maj’Eyal. Their descriptions emphasize character building and exploration. Darkest Dungeon adds the stresses of managing a party. These are different commitments from choosing cards in an isolated encounter.
A pause for thought is not a difficulty rating
Taking turns does not by itself make a game gentle, predictable or easy to learn. Randomness and fairness are scored together: the question is whether risks can be understood and decisions can respond to them, not whether luck exists.
The table preserves global ranks, including gaps between numbers. A game ranked first within this filtered category still shows its overall rank, which makes comparisons with the full leaderboard consistent.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there card games and RPGs in one list?
Turn-based describes how decisions advance, not a single genre. Additional category labels and the individual game pages separate deckbuilding, tactics and traditional roguelikes.
Is real-time-with-pause the same category?
This page follows the explicit turn-based tag in our catalog. A game filed only under strategy, such as FTL, is not silently included just because it offers deliberate decision-making.
How are these games scored?
Core gameplay and builds each carry 25%; replayability and randomness/fairness each carry 20%; polish carries 10%. Only complete published reviews enter the rankings. The initial ratings use AI-assisted source research, not hands-on playtesting, and external review scores are kept separate.
Sources and scope
Game mechanics are paraphrased from publisher descriptions. Recommendations about fit are our interpretation. Scores and review evidence are linked separately in the comparison; current availability and features should be checked with the developer.
- Into the Breach — publisher description ↗
- Slay the Spire — publisher description ↗
- Slice and Dice — publisher description ↗
- Monster Train — publisher description ↗
- Balatro — publisher description ↗
- Vault of the Void — publisher description ↗
- Caves of Qud — publisher description ↗
- Cobalt Core — publisher description ↗
- Diceomancer — publisher description ↗
- Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles — publisher description ↗
- Wildfrost — publisher description ↗
- Alina of the Arena — publisher description ↗
- Roguebook — publisher description ↗
- Peglin — publisher description ↗