9 Roguelike games like Emberward that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Emberward down to the 9 that fit the “Roguelike” category. Bad North, Rise to Ruins and Kingdom: New Lands top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Emberward.

iRank97/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

The best roguelike games like Emberward

9 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Emberward. Each one has been evaluated across 15 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Bad NorthClosest overall match

iRank81

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloTacticalProceduralIsometricMelee

Steam👍 93%· 14KIGDB67· 2OC71· 29

Year 2018Dev Plausible Concept · Raw FuryOn PS4 · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of tower defense games: real-time strategy, tower defense planning and roguelike runs

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, deep simulation and puzzle design, while skipping card game strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

Genre100Game mode100World100Combat62Visuals54Setting0

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Steam GOG Epic

#2Rise to RuinsClosest on setting

iRank80

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagementEarly Access

Steam👍 88%· 7.7KRAWG👍 68%· 40

Year 2019Dev Raymond Doerr · SixtyGig GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are tower defense games — sharing tower defense planning, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom, while skipping card game strategy

Follow Development About the Game Rise to Ruins is at heart a godlike village simulator, but it also throws in plenty of familiar game play mechanics from classic 90s era real-time strategy games like Warcraft, along with some tower defense and survival elements in an attempt to create a new kind…

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100World63Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingNarrative

Steam👍 86%· 12KIGDB75· 2OC73· 12

Year 2016Dev Licorice · Raw FuryOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of tower defense games: tower defense planning, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, survival mechanics and adventure storytelling, while skipping card game strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: visuals and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

It predates Emberward by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World81Progression67Setting48Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 91%· 23KIGDB70· 2

Year 2015Dev Licorice · Raw FuryOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of tower defense games: roguelike runs, tower defense planning and procedural generation

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics, while skipping card game strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: combat and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

It predates Emberward by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Setting40Combat0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloProceduralFantasyBase BuildingManagement

Steam👍 88%· 17KRAWG👍 75%· 157

Year 2014Dev Dekovir EntertainmentPlaytime ~9hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, sandbox freedom and deep RPG systems, while skipping card game strategy

Craft The World is a unique sandbox strategy game, the mix of Dungeon Keeper, Terraria and Dwarf Fortress. Explore a random generated world populated by dangerous creatures, build a dwarf fortress, gather resources, and craft all the items, weapons, and armor you need.

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: visuals and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

It predates Emberward by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting60Progression55World49Game mode35Visuals0

GenreStrategySubgenreTower Defense

SoloProceduralMultiplayerCo-opDark

Steam👍 90%· 439MC75

Year 2010Dev Cadenza InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC

✓ Fits the tower defense games cluster, with tower defense planning, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and setting scifi, while skipping card game strategy

Jump in to intense turret defense action with Sol Survivor! Build turrets to defend your colony and the innocent colonists within. Smash enemies with volleys of actively-controlled orbital support.

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: setting and game mode.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

It predates Emberward by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Game mode34Setting0

GenreStrategySubgenreColony Sim

SoloProceduralFantasyManagementBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 29KRAWG👍 70%· 60

Year 2022Dev Sokpop CollectivePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Shared with Emberward: card game strategy, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, survival mechanics and turn-based strategy, while skipping tower defense planning

Stacklands is a village builder where you stack cards to collect food, build structures, and fight creatures. For example, dragging a 'Villager' card on top of a 'Berry Bush' card will spawn 'Berry' cards which the villagers can eat to survive!

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: visuals.

Game mode100Setting100World100Progression100Genre50Visuals45

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Steam itch.io

#8Balatro

iRank93

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloProceduralIsometricCasualHardcore

Steam👍 98%· 191KRAWG👍 86%· 263IGDB91· 5OC92· 64

Year 2024Dev LocalThunk · PlayStackPlaytime ~14hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Shared with Emberward: card game strategy, roguelike runs and procedural generation

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, vibe casual and punishing difficulty, while skipping tower defense planning

Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big. Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds.

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: visuals.

Game mode100World100Genre50Visuals36

GenreStrategySubgenreTycoon / Management

SoloProceduralFantasyManagementIsometric

Steam👍 84%· 2.3KRAWG👍 50%· 48MC82IGDB86· 2

Year 2013Dev Finji · QCF DesignPlaytime ~4hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Shared with Emberward: roguelike runs, procedural generation and fantasy world

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, deep RPG systems and turn-based strategy, while skipping tower defense planning

FREE GAME UPDATE! Desktop Dungeons: Enhanced Edition. More ways to die horribly in 10 minutes or less. The award winning quick-play puzzle roguelike is now packed with new content, new classes and a new way to play: Compete against your friends in the seeded Daily Dungeon!

Where it drifts furthest from Emberward: progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are very positive, against overwhelmingly positive for Emberward.

It predates Emberward by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Setting100World100Visuals54Genre50Progression43

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Steam

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