Games Like Our Darker Purpose

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 36.8%, Roguelike 27%, Difficult 13.5%, Roguelite 6.8%, Procedural Generation 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: This is the definitive top-down action-roguelike that shares the same room-based exploration and dark, thematic undertones as the seed game.

The Madness of Little Emma is a difficult action platformer with roguelike elements. Featuring over 250 items with insane synergies, varied enemies, and numerous secrets and mysteries to discover.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 47.7%, Roguelike 16.5%, Difficult 9.3%, Indie 8.3%, Action 8%

Why You'll Like It: It shares a very similar dark, childhood-themed aesthetic and challenging top-down action-roguelike gameplay.

Children of Morta is a story-driven action RPG game about an extraordinary family of heroes. Lead the Bergsons, with all their flaws and virtues, against the forthcoming Corruption. Will you be able to sacrifice everything to save the ones you care for?

Why similar: Roguelike 28.5%, Action Roguelike 28.3%, Roguelite 17.6%, Procedural Generation 10.7%, RPG 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: It features a strong narrative focus and top-down combat that perfectly mirrors the blend of story and roguelite progression found in Our Darker Purpose.

Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 39.3%, Roguelike 18.7%, Roguelite 18%, Difficult 6.8%, RPG 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game excels at combining high-stakes, fast-paced action with a deep, character-driven story that unfolds through repeated runs.

Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 60.1%, Roguelite 32.2%, Action 6.8%, Singleplayer 0.8%

Why You'll Like It: The game perfectly captures a dark, gothic atmosphere while offering satisfying top-down combat and roguelite progression.

Explore a beautiful, vast and ruined world riddled with dangers and lost technologies.

Why similar: Difficult 50.5%, Indie 17.6%, RPG 16.3%, Action 14.7%, Singleplayer 0.9%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a similarly atmospheric and difficult top-down experience with a heavy emphasis on exploration and environmental storytelling.

Soulblight is a dark, unforgiving, top-down action roguelike luring you to cross the thin line between good and evil. Embrace your flaws to survive a journey through an unforgiving Sanctuary. Gluttony, Lust, Cannibalism - how far are you willing to go?

Why similar: Action Roguelike 18.4%, Roguelite 16.4%, Roguelike 13.3%, RPG 13%, Procedural Generation 10.7%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a dark, top-down dungeon-crawling experience that emphasizes tactical combat and RPG-lite mechanics.

ENDER LILIES is a dark fantasy 2D action RPG about unraveling the mysteries of a destroyed kingdom. On this sorrowful journey, encounter horrific enemies against whom a moment of inattention could be fatal. Overcome these hardships and seek the truth with the help of fallen knights.

Why similar: Difficult 38%, Female Protagonist 27.5%, Dark 12.4%, Indie 12.4%, Action 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: It features a dark, melancholic atmosphere and a female protagonist, capturing the somber tone of the seed game.

By night, delve deep into your subconscious and discover powerful artifacts to conquer your nightmares. By day, explore the city of Redhaven and build relationships to unlock the power of your dreams. DREAM. DIE. WAKE. REPEAT.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 37%, Roguelite 22.6%, RPG 9.6%, Roguelike 8.5%, Action 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: This roguelite focuses on emotional narrative and top-down action, mirroring the personal stakes found in the seed game.

Wizard of Legend is a no-nonsense, action-packed take on wizardry that emphasizes precise movements and smart comboing of spells in a rogue-like dungeon crawler that features over a hundred unique spells and relics!

Why similar: Action Roguelike 37.7%, Roguelike 23.3%, Roguelite 13.2%, Difficult 9.1%, Action 5%

Why You'll Like It: This title offers the same fast-paced, difficult top-down action that rewards player skill and build experimentation.

Moonlighter is an Action RPG with rogue-lite elements that demonstrates two sides of the coin – revealing everyday routines of Will, an adventurous shopkeeper that secretly dreams of becoming a hero.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 28.9%, Roguelike 23.7%, Roguelite 19.9%, Procedural Generation 13.4%, RPG 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: It features a compelling loop of top-down dungeon crawling and RPG management that complements the feel of the seed game.

Conquer the forces of Death in A Wizard’s Lizard, an action RPG for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Explore ever-changing dungeons, filled with powerful weapons and items. Battle back the hordes of evil. Rescue villagers to improve your town and increase your power for your next trek into the dungeon.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 30.9%, Roguelike 22.2%, Roguelite 16.9%, RPG 9.2%, Indie 5%

Why You'll Like It: A direct spiritual cousin to the seed game, offering similar top-down room-based combat and roguelike mechanics.

An action-adventure roguelike with a bit of RPG tossed in. Adventure deep into the UnderMine and discover powerful relics, deadly enemies, hidden secrets, and a few friends to help along the way.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 51.1%, Roguelite 22.7%, RPG 7.7%, Procedural Generation 6.1%, Roguelike 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers a classic top-down roguelike experience with RPG elements and a focus on persistent character growth.

Explore the secrets of a mysterious fallen temple and put your Templar faith to the test in Dark Devotion, where no sacrifice is too great in praise of your God.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 34.2%, Roguelite 14.8%, Difficult 11.2%, RPG 10.6%, Roguelike 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: A dark, souls-like experience that emphasizes challenging combat and a grim, oppressive world.

Enter the Gungeon is a bullet hell dungeon crawler following a band of misfits seeking to shoot, loot, dodge roll and table-flip their way to personal absolution by reaching the legendary Gungeon’s ultimate treasure: the gun that can kill the past.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 38.3%, Roguelike 30.9%, Difficult 15.3%, Roguelite 8.3%, Indie 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: A highly polished top-down roguelike that matches the difficulty and procedural generation depth of the seed game.

Embark on a journey through the longest night with Leila, a valiant member of the Vigilant Order. Delve into the hidden truths shrouded in eternal darkness, unravel the mystery surrounding Leila's enigmatic sister, and confront the eldritch horrors lurking in a world that has lost the light of day.

Why similar: Difficult 46.6%, RPG 23.8%, Female Protagonist 18.5%, Action 11.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game provides a dark, atmospheric world with a female protagonist and challenging combat mechanics.

Assume the role of Wyatt in this Action/Exploration Platformer as you explore the ruins of a holy city that was lost many years ago. Battle various types of demons, angels, and a new threat known only as the “Ferals”, using swordsmanship, martial arts, and sorcery.

Why similar: RPG 32.2%, Difficult 25.9%, Action 20.2%, Indie 16.5%, Female Protagonist 4.5%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a challenging action-platformer experience with deep RPG elements and multiple playable characters.

ScourgeBringer is a fast-paced free-moving roguelite platformer. Help Kyhra to explore the unknown and slash her way through ancient machines guarding the seal of her past, and maybe the redemption of humanity.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 24.3%, Roguelite 20.5%, Roguelike 18.5%, Indie 10.5%, Action 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers fast-paced, difficult action-roguelite combat that will appeal to fans of the seed game's intensity.

Deathstate is a roguelike bullet hell adventure set in a bizarre world of dimensional exploration. Play as a number of unique characters trying to discover the fate of Professor Elinberg who opened a portal to the void. Are you ready to venture deep into the abyss?

Why similar: Action Roguelike 37.5%, Roguelite 18.9%, Roguelike 13.3%, Difficult 11.3%, RPG 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: A bullet-hell action-roguelike that matches the intensity and procedural nature of the seed game.

Hunt the Night is a dark fantasy action-RPG where you play as Vesper, a Stalker fighting to reclaim a world annihilated by horrors. Slash through dungeons, endure brutal bosses, and wield forbidden powers in a relentless struggle against the Night itself.

Why similar: Gothic 43.4% ★, Action 24.7%, Female Protagonist 15.4%, Indie 15.1%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Why You'll Like It: A dark-fantasy action-RPG that captures the gothic, challenging nature of the seed game.

Wayward Souls is a randomly generated action-RPG with a heavy focus on story. Play as seven different heroes, all with their own sets of abilities. Fight through steadily greater hordes of enemies.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 42.3%, Roguelite 19.7%, RPG 18.4%, Indie 9.9%, Action 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title delivers a challenging, top-down action-RPG experience with distinct character classes and procedural levels.

As Humanity’s last hope, lead your army to combat in an intricate dance of spectacular actions and counters, using an original Dynamic Timeline System, and face fearsome bosses in epic battles.

Why similar: Roguelite 27%, Roguelike 20.1%, Difficult 14.1%, Female Protagonist 10.5%, Indie 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: It features a striking dark aesthetic and a female-led cast, focusing on tactical, high-stakes combat.

Withering Rooms is a challenging 2.5D horror RPG set in a procedurally generated Victorian mansion that changes each night. Explore Mostyn House to collect the perfect items for your build and face a huge cast of overgrown undead, invisible ghosts, devious witches, and more.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 53.8%, Procedural Generation 20.9%, RPG 9.2%, Female Protagonist 7.6%, Action 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: A horror-focused action-roguelike that captures the eerie, claustrophobic feeling of the seed game's setting.

Eldritch is the original imsim roguelike: a first-person action game inspired by roguelikes, immersive sims, and H. P. Lovecraft.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 35.3%, Roguelike 27.7%, Roguelite 12.4%, Procedural Generation 6.5%, Indie 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A first-person roguelike that shares the dark, Lovecraftian atmosphere and procedural generation of the seed game.

Going Under is a satirical dungeon crawler about exploring the cursed ruins of failed tech startups. As an unpaid intern in the dystopian city of Neo-Cascadia, you’ll wield office junk as weaponry as you make your way through the offbeat procedural dungeons beneath your company campus.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 28.9%, Roguelike 19.8%, Roguelite 17%, Difficult 14%, Procedural Generation 10.8%

Why You'll Like It: A satirical dungeon-crawler that provides a fresh take on the top-down action-roguelite genre.

Road Not Taken is a roguelike puzzle game about surviving life’s surprises. You play as a ranger adventuring through a vast, unforgiving forest in the aftermath of a brutal winter storm, rescuing children who have lost their way.

Why similar: Roguelike 86.1%, Indie 13.9%

Why You'll Like It: A roguelike that focuses on puzzle-solving and survival in a dark, mysterious world.

Three fractured realities. One collapsing multiverse. Fast, fluid combat in a dark sci-fi Roguevania where each run begins in a separate universe — then lets you fuse your parallel selves, powers, and worlds to create brutal, ever-evolving builds.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 31.8%, Roguelike 23.5%, Roguelite 19.2%, RPG 6.5%, Female Protagonist 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: This game combines roguelite progression with challenging combat across a variety of atmospheric environments.

Plunge into a living nightmare where every roll counts. Chain fluid combat with dice-fueled attacks, stack relics into ferocious synergies, and build unstoppable momentum. Slash through fate, bend chance to your will, and defeat the Black Die in this board-game inspired roguelite dungeon crawler.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 26.2%, Roguelike 21%, Roguelite 17.2%, Difficult 10.9%, RPG 6.5%

Discover the secrets of the estate, as you look for answers among the violent inhabitants. A strange and repelling madness took hold of the servants roaming the halls, and they will attack on sight, for their madness is one rooted in a deeper understanding of cosmic insignificance.

Why similar: Difficult 25.5%, RPG 24.3%, Action 14.3%, Indie 12.7%, Gothic 8.2% ★

Why You'll Like It: This title offers a dark, souls-like experience with a focus on intense, difficult combat.

Bloodlust is a dungeon crawling / action RPG experience that will allow players to explore the dark underworld of a forgotten society of Vampires and their disciplines, all while trying to battle for hierarchy among the clans in search of their sire.

Why similar: RPG 55%, Action 23.4%, Indie 21.6%

Why You'll Like It: This RPG features a dark, gothic world and dungeon-crawling mechanics that align with the seed game's tone.

Escape the department store and uncover the hidden truth in this full 3D roguelike dungeon crawler

Why similar: Action Roguelike 21.2%, Roguelike 19%, Roguelite 14.5%, Difficult 9.6%, RPG 9.5%

Combining its own unique take on the real-time roguelike genre, with a nostalgic 16-bit look and feel, Diehard Dungeon is a game that feels both familiar and quite different at the same time. Followed by a trusty, treasure collecting companion chest, you must make your way through the dungeons many randomly-generated rooms and levels.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 34.4%, Roguelike 27.3%, Roguelite 10.4%, RPG 10.4%, Action 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic top-down action-roguelike that focuses on dungeon exploration and challenging boss encounters.

Action-RPG slasher in which you have to get into the dark atmosphere of dungeons full of monsters and madness.

Why similar: Difficult 40.8%, Roguelite 16.1%, Action Roguelike 16%, Female Protagonist 13.5%, Action 10.6%

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an exploration-focused, side-scroller action RPG by Koji Igarashi. Play as Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist's curse that slowly crystallizes her body. Battle through a demon-infested castle and defeat its master to save yourself, and all of humanity!

Why similar: RPG 34.8%, Female Protagonist 21.9%, Action 18.1%, Gothic 12.6% ★, Difficult 10%

Afflicted by severe amnesia, you drift deep into the Common Dream. You scour for the lost pages of the Necronomicon, while clinging on to any little purpose you have left. Faced with mad dreamers, horrible abominations and eldritch deities, you feel drawn to the dark Abyss deep within.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 32.7%, Roguelike 19.4%, Roguelite 12.7%, Difficult 11.9%, Procedural Generation 6.4%

In the abyss where the mortal realm and netherworld intertwine, become a warrior wielding the power of the Nether Lantern to fight along with the fallen souls. With hardcore, soulslike action and intriguing roguelike builds, shatter the cursed barriers and unveil the truth woven from blood and soul.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 28.3%, Roguelike 24.5%, Roguelite 18.8%, RPG 9.9%, Gothic 6.7% ★

Open the doors between your everyday reality and a dark unholy world to unveil the mystery of the disappearance of your child. Explore both worlds to find clues, solve puzzles, decide whether you infiltrate or fight brutal enemies and stand up to an aberrant establishment.

Why similar: Female Protagonist 51.4%, Dark 45.2%, Singleplayer 3.4%

In Enlightenment, you play in a roguelike action-shooter with a fast-paced challenging journey deep into a underground complex called "the Ark". Players will be tested by large varieties of enemies in a procedurally-generated dungeon, and become stronger by learning from the inevitable deaths.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 35.6%, Roguelite 14.1%, Roguelike 9.6%, Difficult 8.6%, Action 7.7%

Trapped in a buried, forgotten facility, you must reach the core of an ancient machine to rescue your lost lover. System Purge is a challenging, atmospheric 2D platformer.

Why similar: Difficult 23.8%, Female Protagonist 22.3%, Dark 19%, Action 18.1%, Indie 15.6%

Vambrace: Cold Soul is a story-driven roguelite set amidst a frozen landscape. Plan expeditions, then journey to the cursed city surface with your party. Wield unique powers, avoid traps, brave strange encounters, and survive deadly combat in this gothic fantasy adventure!

Why similar: RPG 25%, Roguelite 19.5%, Roguelike 18.2%, Indie 12%, Difficult 10.9%

This is an action game focused on combat, where a girl returns from the abyss to explore her own secrets and redemption, until the end of an eternal battle to see if she can break free from the shackles of fate.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 32.6%, Roguelike 24.2%, Roguelite 19.3%, RPG 10.4%, Female Protagonist 5.9%

A deadly plague known as erosion broke out in the land of Elworth. It corrupted all life, bringing pain and destruction – Idonia, as the knight accepting the bloodthirsty imprint set out on a path to redemption, exterminating plague minions and destroying ancient evils

Why similar: Roguelite 41.6%, RPG 20%, Female Protagonist 17.1%, Action 13.9%, Indie 6.5%

AshenForest is a roguelite action RPG focused on boss-rush. To purify the ashen forest that is causing the plague, you must fight against all the monsters lurking in the forest.

Why similar: RPG 23%, Action Roguelike 17.7%, Action 14.1%, Indie 13.9%, Roguelike 12.2%

Corpse Keeper is a very challenging action-strategy roguelite. You'll need to lead a squad of three corpses to explore the grim and dark medieval world within limited time, build a powerful army of the living dead, and finally kill the demon lurking in the deep end of the cathedral.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 25.4%, Roguelike 20.5%, Roguelite 15.7%, Difficult 14.4%, Gothic 7.2% ★

As the final creation of the Goddess, Juxtia, journey through the ruins of two divine kingdoms, overrun by the Tarnishing. Challenging combat, a hauntingly beautiful score, and a sinister narrative work in unison to make The Tarnishing of Juxtia an unforgettable 2D dark fantasy action RPG.

Why similar: RPG 41.9%, Action 25.1%, Dark 18.5%, Indie 12.8%, Singleplayer 1.6%

Devil Slayer - Raksasi is a top-down action game with procedurally generated dungeons, profound roguelike elements, and intuitive soul-like fighting. It's a fair and challenging game, dodging, timing, striking, you need to master them all to fight your way out of this cursed world.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 26.4%, Roguelike 16.3%, Difficult 15.9%, Roguelite 14.6%, Procedural Generation 10.6%

Pascal's Wager: Definitive Edition is a challenging action role playing game set in a world of dark fantasy. Step into the shoes of Couriers, as they discover the tale behind the mysterious Dark Mist.

Why similar: Difficult 45.5%, RPG 34.9%, Action 17.9%, Singleplayer 1.7%

Touhou Project's Brand New Action Roguelite Fan Game! Strange incidents erupt in the Animal Realm and Primate Spirit Garden. Embark on an unknown journey, uncover the truth behind the anomalies, and break through this 'Touhou Dystopian'!

Why similar: Action Roguelike 40.2%, Roguelite 21.1%, Roguelike 15.5%, Female Protagonist 7.8%, Action 6.8%

Die. Adapt. Strike back. Climb Sanctora in this brutal Rogue-lite where every death unlocks powers, heroes, and paths to vengeance.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 44.4%, Roguelite 27.7%, Roguelike 17%, RPG 10.3%, Singleplayer 0.6%

Eternal Step is a deviously difficult, rogue-like action adventure game.

Why similar: Roguelike 27.4%, Difficult 22.7%, RPG 19.7%, Indie 11.5%, Roguelite 10.7%

In To Hell with Hell Natasias personal apocalypse has arrived as she finds herself in hell in a battle against an army of darkness. In a classic Bullet Hell rogue-like crawler she’ll survive deadly traps and fight dozens and dozens of mad demonic enemies.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 64.1%, Action 15.3%, Indie 15.1%, Female Protagonist 5.5%

Embark upon a tragic tale and discover the ravaged world of Elypse! Fight your destiny in an arduous 2D adventure, story rich platformer, in a mesmerising and mysterious world.

Why similar: Action 23.4%, Female Protagonist 23.3%, Indie 21.9%, Difficult 15.8%, Dark 14.5%

Weave your own story in this dark fairy tale. In the mysterious ancient ruins, you will adventure with Tania to reveal her origins and fate. Is there any chance of survival in the darkest and desperate place?

Why similar: Difficult 37.8%, RPG 22.1%, Female Protagonist 14.3%, Indie 12.7%, Action 12.1%

Cinderia is a fast-paced rogue-lite action game of pure exhilaration. Freely combine everything you can see—skills, combos, passives, and equipment—to create your own distinct fighting style. Darkness has swallowed the land, yet a faint glimmer still flickers among the ruins.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 32.1%, Roguelike 23.5%, Roguelite 19.4%, Procedural Generation 10.3%, Action 5.4%

Source of Madness is a side-scrolling dark action roguelite set in a twisted Lovecraftian inspired world powered by procedural generation and AI machine learning. Take on the role of a new Acolyte as they embark on a nightmarish odyssey.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 34.2%, Roguelite 30.7%, Procedural Generation 17%, Action 8.8%, Dark 8.7%

A challenging action RPG with deep souls-like combat and rogue-like elements. Explore a dreadful dungeon and fight smart enemies that will plan and collaborate between themselves to defeat you.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 26.4%, Roguelike 19.5%, Roguelite 16.1%, Difficult 13.2%, Procedural Generation 11%

Deep Dark Dungeon is a rogue-lite action game in which the player dives into the deep, dark depths of various dungeons filled with bad-tempered monsters that will attack them on sight.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 30.3%, Roguelite 16.9%, Roguelike 13.8%, RPG 12.1%, Difficult 8.1%

Cryptical Path is an action rogue-lite that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Play the Architect, build your own rooms, and tame an ever-changing labyrinth you've been summoned in.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 30.6%, Roguelike 23.1%, Procedural Generation 13.6%, Roguelite 10.1%, Difficult 10%

Xenon Valkyrie is a rogue-like with many RPG elements in which you will have to get to the deepest part of a moon and finish the plans of a wicked witch. You will be able to get many weapons randomly as you fight in a world that is created every time you play.

Why similar: Action Roguelike 31.1%, Roguelite 29.7%, Roguelike 23.9%, RPG 5.8%, Action 3.6%

“The Olders, they come to eat the Children…” All of the adults have become monsters, the rumors say. Nowhere is safe outside these walls. Welcome to Stray Children — a bittersweet, fairy tale RPG.

Why similar: RPG 48.4%, Indie 26%, Action 25.3%, Singleplayer 0.3%