One of the most pleasant trends in gaming over the past few years is the addition of freeroguelike (or roguelite)modes in post-launch updates. This allows fans to extend their engagement with single-player story-driven games, shifting the focus mostly to gameplay rather than the story.
Without a doubt, this practice is nothing new, but in recent years, there has been a spike in interest in such additional game mode implementations. For example,Sonyhas introduced great roguelike modes to games likeThe Last of Us Part 2andGod of War Ragnarök, leading to speculation that other games might receive similar treatments in the future.
For this list celebrating games with this added game mode, we include only roguelike/roguelite modes that are available to play for free to all owners of the base game. There are more examples of such additional game modes, but they are often available only as separate paid DLC. Some of these includeBorderlands 3: Arms Race,Remnant: From the Ashes - Survival Mode,Prey: Mooncrash,Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle,The Division - Survival, andMiddle-Earth: Shadow of War - Desolation of Mordor. Players interested in trying them out should purchase these DLCs to unlock new ways to enjoy their favorite games.
In December 2023,Sonysurprised everyone by releasingGod of War Ragnarök: Valhallaas a free update for the base game. This move was unexpected, especially considering the amount of contentValhallaoffers. ManyGod of Warfans admitted that this could’ve easily been a $10 DLC, but given the original game’s strong sales,Valhallabecame thefinal gift for the Norse Saga.
Offeringat leastfive to six hours of gameplay focused on exploration and combat,Valhallais not only a classic roguelite adventure, but it’s also a great send-off for the series. It successfully combines fighting through a series of increasingly difficult, randomized encounters with a strong narrative, featuring returning characters from previous entries and fully voiced dialogue and cutscenes that deepens and grows Kratos' already thoroughly explored character development in the recent games.
Assassin’s Creed Valhallais one of the biggest titles inUbisoft’s massive catalog,offering over 200 hoursof gameplay if you include all three expansions. Despite this, in August 2023, the developers releasedForgotten Sagaas a free update, adding a new roguelite game mode with great replayability.
InForgotten Saga, Eivor (or rather Odin) must venture into the realm of Niflheim to confront Hel and demand the revival of Baldr after his death in the events of theDawn of Ragnarökexpansion. As with most roguelite experiences, the gameplay loop in this DLC involves clearing individual random dungeons and fighting increasingly difficult enemies. There’s always the risk of permadeath and restarting the entire adventure, but players can unlock more powerful rewards, such as new gear and skills, to combat unique bosses created specifically for this mode.
Naughty Dogcrafted an exceptional combat system forThe Last Of Us Part 2, and more of it is always a good thing. TheNo Returnmode, included in the game’s Remastered PS5 re-release, allows fans toplay as many iconic characters, each with unique traits that spice up combat encounters.
No Returnis a separate roguelike survival mode that tests players' skills across runs of randomized encounters. While many arenas will be familiar to those who have completed the main story, the addition of new playable characters and unexpected gameplay modifiers offers great replayability and unpredictable runs. Featuring four different types of combat scenarios, from surviving waves of enemy reinforcements to capturing a safe that’s guarded by enemies, this mode provides a great opportunity to relive the game’s tense combat in a more brutal, condensed way.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2followed in its predecessor’s footsteps, but unlike the Survival mode for the original game, which was released as paid DLC, the sequel introduced a free roguelite mode in June 2023, offering hours of new challenges. Agents can playDescentsolo or in co-op at any time, starting without any gear. Instead, players must fight their way through a bunker facility, facing rooms of simulated hostiles to extract valuable intel. Along the way, players unlock new skills, talents, and weapons to grow stronger and face the final enemy.
Descentincludes plenty of modifiers that directly impact gameplay, such as fire, poison, or electric hazards. Naturally, if players die during their run inDescentmode, they lose all collected items, but upon completion, they earn valuable rewards like experience, caches, and collectibles to use in the main game.
Released in October 2023,RogueRunneris an expansion mode forGhostrunner 2, available as a free update to all game owners. This bonus mode adds replayability and extra challenges, providing the best way to test your skills in the dark, futuristic world ofGhostrunner.
RogueRunneroffers four simulation stages with increasing difficulty, unlocked over the course of the main story. Each stage lets you choose between several linked nodes of parkour or combat challenges, allowing you to tailor your experience in each run. It delivers everything expected from a roguelike experience: unforgiving difficulty, a limited pool of lives per run, and great rewards for the main game. However, even some of the biggestGhostrunner 2fans admit to having issues with the high difficulty of some challenges inRogueRunner.
Hitman 3isIO Interactive’s magnum opus, bringing the World of Assassination to its most refined, flexible, and exciting form. With tons of content, maps, and targets, players have plenty to engage with in the game. Released in January 2023 as a free update,Freelanceris one of the best ways to experienceHitman 3today. It stands out as one of the best AAA roguelikes available, fitting seamlessly with the rest ofHitman 3and providing fans with endless possibilities to enjoy their favorite game.
InFreelancer, Agent 47 no longer works for the ICA and operates independently. With new criminal syndicates emerging worldwide, players must search for and eliminate new targets in this heavily randomized, persistent, and replayable experience. The mode allows players to tailor adventures based on their preferences or playstyle. Each campaign inFreelancerincludes four syndicates of escalating difficulty, with three to six missions dedicated to each. Between missions, 47 returns to his customizable Safehouse to resupply and prepare for the next run.
One Of The Best Parts Of The Entire Package
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is the sequel to the critically renowned Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide. In this epic 4-player co-op game, you fight together with your friends against the forces of Chaos and Skaven in the Warhammer Fantasy Battles world. Vermintide 2 expands the intense first-person combat with a brand new enemy faction, 15 new career paths, talent trees, new weapons, an improved loot system, and more.Choose Your Path: Choose between 15 unique careers, each with different appearances, abilities, talents, and weapons.Master New Challenges: Experience unique scenarios and intense trials with the new Heroic Deeds System - consumable quests that will dramatically alter the enemy composition, level settings, weapon use, and mission objectives.Progress Your Career: Level up your heroes and climb the talent tree of your chosen career, unlocking new abilities and gaining access to powerful gear along the way.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2is already a very fun co-op first-person action game, butFatsharkmanaged to make it even better. Released in April 2021,Chaos Wastesis a free update that adds a new roguelite game mode to enjoy solo (with bots) or in up tofour-players in co-op.
In true roguelike fashion, players start from scratch and embark on expeditions to explore and clear out 15 unique locations, hoping to reach the expedition’s end and earn great rewards. Building your team is crucial, as choices for weapons and buffs are more important than ever and won’t persist from one expedition to the next. There are even cursed areas with extra challenges and deadly bosses that will demand your total commitment to survive.
Ghostwire: Tokyomight not be the game that thenow-defunctTango Gameworkswill be rememberedfor, but it offers a unique setting of an otherworldly Tokyo and a distinct first-person combat system. Released in April 2023,The Spider’s Threadis a free update aimed atcapitalizing on the game’s strongest aspects.
InThe Spider’s Thread, players must progress and survive up to 30 stages and over 120 challenges in a new roguelite-infused dungeon-crawling experience that introduces new enemies, talismans, Spirit Skills, and areas to explore. Despite combat being at the core of this new experience, with each level being unique, there’s also an additional layer of narrative, allowing players to learn more about this intriguing world and its characters.
While not a traditional separate roguelike/roguelite mode,Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons remain one ofFromSoftware’s most unusual experiments in the Soulslike genre. Available at almost any time in the base game, Chalice Dungeons allow players to explore layered, procedurally generated underground catacombs beneath Yharnam. These dungeons feature increasing difficulty, shifting environments, unique dungeon modifiers, and valuable rewards.
Death is a familiar aspect of anyFromSoftwarecreation, but unlike other entries, players won’t lose their progress in Chalice Dungeons. They can return to where they left off at any time, using items and rewards claimed in the dungeons freely in the main story, and vice versa. While not a traditional roguelike experience,Bloodborne’s dungeons are a great way tospend more time in its exquisite worldand test your skills against terrifying enemies and bosses.
Another soulslike on the list,Lords of the Fallen (2023)doesn’t introduce a separate roguelike mode but allows players to modify the main campaign at any time. The advanced modifier system enables players to tweak their journey through Mournstead in fundamental ways, from completely randomized loot to enemy spawns, presenting new challenges and possibilities every time you replay the story.
Although players won’t lose their progress or collected gear,Lords of the Fallen - Master Of Fateoffers new possibilities for every owner of the base game post-launch. The team atHexworkstruly deserves recognition for their effort in creating new ways to enhance replayability for the entire genre, and who knows what other ideas the devs might have in storefor the already-announced sequel.
