The allure of dungeon crawlers has remained strong for decades, whether throughgrueling roguelikes,hack-and-slash loot-fests, or hybrids that mix dungeon-crawling with unexpected gameplay elements.
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Some games focus on the raw thrill of procedurally-generated levels and permadeath, while others take a more structured approach with deep RPG mechanics and sprawling worlds. But at their core, these games capture the essence of venturing into the unknown and diving into treacherous depths, battling unrelenting foes and emerging stronger, or not at all.
7Children of Morta
A Family that Fights Together
Children of Morta
Some dungeon crawlers revolve around lone adventurers or random roguelike heroes, butChildren of Mortatakes a different approach by focusing on family. Players step into the shoes of the Bergsons, a lineage of warriors tasked with pushing back an encroaching corruption that threatens their homeland.
Each family member serves as a unique playable character, with distinct combat styles ranging from swift dagger attacks to powerful spellcasting. Unlike traditional roguelikes where death resets progress entirely, this game carries over experience and upgrades, allowing for gradual improvement even in failure. The pixel art is intricate, but what truly elevates the experience is its emotional narrative – a rarity in a genre typically focused on gameplay over storytelling.
The dungeon layouts are procedurally-generated, ensuring no two runs are exactly alike, while a mix of hack-and-slashcombatand strategic upgrades keeps the gameplay loop engaging. Despite the roguelike structure, Children of Morta retains a melancholic undertone – where time passes, family members grow and the corruption only deepens.
6Moonlighter
Dungeons by Night, Profits by Day
Moonlighter
For those who enjoy dungeon crawling but also crave a break from endless combat,Moonlighteroffers a fresh spin on the genre. By night, players delve into ever-changing dungeons, slaying monsters and gathering loot. But by day, they step into the role of a shopkeeper, managing inventory, setting prices and selling their hard-earned spoils to customers.
This dual-life mechanic makes each dungeon run more meaningful. Loot isn’t just for upgrading gear; it’s a means of sustaining the business and funding deeper expeditions. The combat borrows from classicZelda-style action, with dodging and precision strikes taking precedence over mindless hacking and slashing.
Dungeon layouts shift with each venture, and as players upgrade their shop, they gain access to new weapons, enchantments and better gear. The blend of capitalism and dungeon crawling is surprisingly-addicting, proving that even heroes need to make a living.
5Cult of the Lamb
Crawling Through Dungeons, Preaching to the Choir
Cult of the Lamb
Merging dungeon crawling with cult management is something that shouldn’t work, yetCult of the Lambpulls it off flawlessly. As a lamb resurrected by a mysterious entity, players are tasked with building a following while simultaneously venturing into dungeons to eliminate rival deities.
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Dungeons are procedurally-generated, featuring tight, fast-paced combat reminiscent of The Binding of Isaac but with a more structured progression system. Each run gathers resources and followers, strengthening the cult and unlocking new powers. While dungeon crawling is a major component, it’s seamlessly-intertwined with the village-building mechanics, making every run feel purposeful beyond just defeating enemies.
The game’s dark humor, grotesquely-adorable art style and eerie soundtrack create an experience that is as unsettling as it is entertaining. Few games manage to turn dungeon crawling into a religious experience as this one does.
The Dungeon Crawler Drowning in Greek Mythos
Supergiant Games took the dungeon-crawling formula and refined it into something that feelsendlessly-replayable.Hadesputs players in the shoes of Zagreus, son of the titular god of the underworld, as he attempts to escape his father’s realm. Each failed attempt only fuels the narrative, with characters reacting dynamically to Zagreus’ progress, taunting him, encouraging him, or revealing new layers of the story.
The combat is a blend of lightning-fast action and strategic decision-making. Boons from the Olympian gods add layers of customization, allowing players to mix and match abilities for wildly-different playstyles. Unlike many roguelikes, Hades never makes failure feel like a waste of time – each run contributes to permanent upgrades, character interactions and deeper understanding of its mythological world.
With fluid combat, a story that evolves naturally and one of the best voice-acted casts in gaming, Hades is a dungeon crawler that refuses to grow stale.
3The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Tears, Trauma and Treasure Rooms
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
One of the most influential roguelike dungeon crawlers ever made,The Binding of Isaac: Rebirthtakes inspiration from classic Zelda dungeon layouts but layers it with unsettling biblical horror and randomized item synergies. Players control Isaac, a child escaping his zealot mother, as he navigates grotesque dungeons filled with disturbing creatures and cryptic lore.
Every run is a gamble – items picked up can make or break a run, sometimes combining in ways that completely change the game’s mechanics. The sheer number of power-ups, weapons and secret interactions ensures that no two runs are identical. The difficulty curve can be brutal, but every failure is a lesson in adapting to the chaos.
Isaac’s tear-based attacks and disturbing transformations make for a visually-bizarre yet compelling experience, and its procedurally-generated madness keeps players returning for just one more run.
2Path of Exile
A Labyrinth of Unmatched Complexity
Path of Exile
Few dungeon crawlers offer as much depth asPath of Exile.As a spiritual successor to Diablo 2, this game boasts an almost overwhelming amount of customization, with a skill tree so massive it looks like an ancient map of constellations.
Combat follows the traditional isometric hack-and-slash format, but the sheer variety of builds ensures every playthrough can feel drastically different. Unlike most dungeon crawlers, Path of Exile places a heavy emphasis on seasonal content, constantly adding new mechanics, enemies and items. The game doesn’t hold players’ hands – it throws them into a deep, complex world and expects them to figure things out.
The free-to-play model is surprisingly generous, allowing full access to the game without pay-to-win mechanics. For those who crave complexity, Path of Exile delivers an abyss of possibilities.
Still the King of the Crawl
No discussion of dungeon crawlers is complete withoutDiablo 3.While its controversial launch led to backlash over its real-money auction house, Blizzard’s eventual rework turned it into one of the most refined and addictive dungeon crawlers ever made.
With randomized dungeons, near-endless loot and a tight combat system, Diablo 3 thrives on the power fantasy of tearing through hordes of enemies with godlike abilities. Its streamlined approach made it more accessible than its predecessor, though some hardcore fans missed the darker tone of Diablo 2.
Regardless, Diablo 3 remains the gold standard for hack-and-slash dungeon crawling, proving that few things are as satisfying as a well-timed critical hit that clears an entire screen of demons.
