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“Please send help. I can’t stop playing these roguelikes” is a joke about the irresistible “one more run” loop—not a clinical diagnosis. In Aaron Zimmerman’s December 2025 Ars Technica roundup, that loop means clearing an encounter, choosing an upgrade, entering a new area and trying to assemble a stronger build. A run can end in defeat, but unlocks or other progression may carry forward. The ten games below range from fast action to deckbuilding and kingdom strategy; one, 9 Kings, is explicitly an Early Access exception to the original article’s 1.0 rule.
Why roguelikes make “one more run” tempting
Zimmerman uses “roguelikes” broadly for games that include roguelites. The distinction matters: roguelites commonly let players earn persistent upgrades or unlocks between attempts, even when each run itself resets. That mix of immediate decisions and longer-term progress is the article’s explanation for the appeal. It is not evidence of addiction or gaming disorder; the piece offers no clinical claims or health statistics. Read the Ars Technica roundup.
Which game fits the way you like to play?
| Game | Best fit if you want | Platforms listed in the December 2025 article |
|---|---|---|
| Hades II | Fast action, character progression, story and challenges | Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 |
| Ball x Pit | Breakout-like action, ball combinations and a between-run base | Windows, macOS, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Switch 2 |
| Absolum | Side-scrolling beat ’em up action, branching paths and co-op | Windows, PS4, PS5, Switch |
| Clover Pit | Slot-machine risk, trinket-driven outcomes and mounting deadlines | Windows |
| Shape of Dreams | Top-down combat and deep skill customization, including multiplayer | Windows |
| Megabonk | Chaotic third-person auto-shooter action | Windows |
| Deep Rock Galactic Survivor | Solo auto-shooter combat with mining and terrain tactics | Windows, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android |
| Monster Train 2 | Deckbuilding with spatial planning across train floors | Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch |
| Deadzone Rogue | First-person shooting and randomized gear | Windows |
| 9 Kings | Grid-based kingdom building and drafted cards | Windows, macOS |
These are platforms listed by the source article, not a guarantee of current regional availability. Check the relevant platform storefront for current editions and availability.
The ten games, and what makes each run different
Hades II: action, story and a standout recommendation
Play as Melinoë, collect Olympian blessings and develop a build while progressing along two paths. The game layers story and challenge unlocks over the repeated combat runs, making it a natural pick if you want action with substantial progression beyond the current attempt. Zimmerman singled it out as his standout recommendation.
#1 Best Overall
For players choosing a Nintendo physical edition, Supergiant says the standard physical game card for Switch and Switch 2 launched November 20, 2025. It includes a character compendium booklet, a soundtrack download code and reversible cover. Nintendo also lists a Hades II Nintendo Switch 2 Edition physical copy; confirm current stock and the exact edition before buying. Supergiant’s retail-edition announcement has the included-item details.
Ball x Pit: Breakout-like action and a growing base
This roguelite twists the brick-breaking formula: special balls acquire effects, fuse and evolve as a run develops. Between attempts, a base-building layer gives progression a different rhythm from games that focus mostly on combat upgrades. The Ars article noted a free demo.
Absolum: a beat ’em up with branching runs
For side-scrolling combat rather than a top-down or first-person view, Absolum combines beat ’em up action with roguelite paths, unlocks and build development. Co-op makes it the clearest option in this list for playing alongside someone else. Zimmerman also noted a substantial demo.
Rank #2
- COOPERATIVE FANTASY ADVENTURE – Work together with your party to defeat monsters, collect loot, and survive the dungeon.
- ROGUELIKE BOARD GAME EXPERIENCE – Every playthrough is different with evolving enemies, items, and strategic upgrades.
- STRATEGY GAME FOR GAME NIGHT – Perfect for tabletop gamers, friends, and families looking for tactical cooperative gameplay.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY – Unique encounters, enemies, and loot create a new adventure every time you play.
- IMMERSIVE FANTASY WORLD – Beautiful artwork, thematic monsters, and exciting boss battles bring the dungeon to life.
Clover Pit: a slot-machine gamble without real-money betting
Clover Pit builds its runs around a slot machine, payment deadlines that keep rising and purchasable trinkets that change outcomes. The casino comparison is a description of its game mechanics and comic tone: this is not real-money gambling.
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This top-down action game centers on skills called “memories.” You can modify each with essences, giving build-crafting a prominent role. The source also highlights multiplayer and persistent skill-tree progression, so there are both cooperative play and longer-term advancement to consider.
Megabonk: messy, energetic auto-shooter action
A third-person auto-shooter in the bullet-heaven mold, Megabonk combines ideas Zimmerman associates with Vampire Survivors and Risk of Rain 2. His enthusiasm for its chaotic fun comes with reservations: he criticizes its limited stages and balance. It is the one to approach for rambunctious action, not a promise of finely tuned variety.
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor: mine through the battlefield
This solo auto-shooter borrows the Deep Rock Galactic setting and adds terrain mining as a tactical wrinkle. You are not only managing combat; digging through the environment shapes how you move and approach a run. Zimmerman describes its progression as a grind, a relevant caveat if you prefer quick unlocks.
Monster Train 2: deckbuilding with a spatial puzzle
In this deckbuilder, units are deployed across multiple floors of a train. That layout adds a spatial planning problem to familiar card and unit choices: where you put a unit matters alongside what you play. Choose it if you enjoy strategy and planning more than reflex-led action.
Deadzone Rogue: randomized gear in first person
This first-person looter shooter uses randomized weapons, armor and upgrades to distinguish one run from the next. Zimmerman praises its gunplay and sound design while criticizing other presentation elements, so its strongest appeal is the feel of combat rather than uniformly polished presentation.
9 Kings: kingdom-building cards, with an Early Access caveat
9 Kings combines kingdom building on a grid with drafted cards and randomized opponents. It is the strategy-first choice for players who want to assemble and position a realm rather than concentrate on direct action. Zimmerman included it as an explicit exception to the roundup’s 1.0 selection rule: it was still in Early Access when the article appeared on December 8, 2025.
Quick Recap
How to narrow down the list
- Choose your combat view: try Hades II for action built around Melinoë, Absolum for side-scrolling brawling, Megabonk or Deep Rock Galactic Survivor for auto-shooter action, and Deadzone Rogue for first-person shooting.
- Decide how much build-crafting you want: Shape of Dreams makes skill modification central; Ball x Pit emphasizes evolving ball effects; Deadzone Rogue varies runs through randomized gear.
- Consider persistent progress: Hades II, Shape of Dreams and Ball x Pit have particularly clear story, skill-tree or base progression between runs. If repeated unlocking feels like work, note Zimmerman’s grind caveat for Deep Rock Galactic Survivor.
- Pick action or strategy: Monster Train 2 suits deck and spatial planning; 9 Kings suits grid-based kingdom strategy. The other entries lean more toward direct action.
- Factor in company and hardware: Absolum and Shape of Dreams are the entries specifically noted for co-op or multiplayer. The platform list in the table distinguishes PC-only games from those listed for consoles or mobile, but storefront availability can change.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
