Today we’re talking about 10 couch co-op roguelike games. Some newer releases, some that flew under the radar, and a few that are just worth highlighting.
Risk of Rain Returns
Risk of Rain Returns is more than just a remaster. It’s a full reimagining of the original 2013 roguelike. It has updated visuals, enhanced mechanics, and new content.
Right off the bat, it looks and feels like a significant upgrade. The pixel art has been refined, animations are smoother, and the color palette is more vibrant. It still keeps that gritty atmospheric look from the original.
The core gameplay loop remains the same. You choose a survivor, land on a mysterious planet, and fight for survival.
Co-op is where Risk of Rain always shines, and this version makes it even easier to play together locally or online. If you liked the original, this is more of that but better. Honestly, I think this version is even better than the original.
Crypt of the NecroDancer
This is one of those rare indie games that fuses two completely different genres. Rhythm gameplay and roguelike dungeon crawling.
You have to move with the beat. Attacking and dodging are tied directly to the music. If you stay on beat, everything flows smoothly. If you mess up, enemies can overwhelm you really quickly.
This is a game that I’m not very good at, but I understand why people love it. It’s tough, but it’s always fair.
There is a co-op mode, and both players move to the same beat and progress through the dungeon together.
Ammo and Oxygen
Ammo and Oxygen finally came out of early access.
This is a roguelike twin stick shooter that supports up to four players in local co-op. It has a really dark atmosphere and looks great visually.
When I played this with two friends, we found it to be very difficult. You’re not just fighting enemies, you also have to manage your oxygen levels. If it runs out, you die quickly.
If a teammate dies, another player can revive them. One thing I really liked is that you can find cassette tapes that trigger synthwave music. Up until that point it’s mostly ambient sound, so it really changes the feel of the game.
TMNT: Splintered Fate
This originally came out on iOS, but it was brought to Switch and Steam with local co-op added.
Unlike most TMNT games, this is a dungeon crawler roguelike instead of a beat ’em up. You can play with up to four players.
It might look a bit like a budget game, which makes sense since it started as a mobile title, but there’s actually a lot of depth here.
Each character has their own abilities, and you build them up over each run. Rooms are procedurally generated, and upgrades are temporary. If you die, you lose everything.
You progress through rooms, pick upgrades, and fight bosses like Bebop, Rocksteady, Leatherhead, and Shredder.
Cult of the Lamb
This is a hack and slash roguelike mixed with base building.
The dungeon sections are procedurally generated, and you collect resources and recruit followers. Then you return to your base and manage your cult.
You build structures, cook food, and perform rituals to improve your stats. The two parts of the game feed into each other.
It’s a really unique structure, and I think it works really well in co-op.
AK-xolotl
This is another game that started as single player and later added co-op.
It’s a top-down twin stick shooter with procedurally generated levels and random upgrades. It plays a lot like Enter the Gungeon.
I enjoyed it, but it can get repetitive if you’re not unlocking new upgrades consistently. The pixel art looks great and the characters are really unique.
Ants Took My Eyeball
This is one of the more unique games on the list.
It’s a 2D platformer with roguelike elements, including procedural levels and upgrades. The visuals really stand out. It has hand-drawn cutscenes and slightly grotesque pixel art during gameplay.
The combat feels good, with both melee and ranged attacks, and the platforming is solid.
I found it to be pretty difficult, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
Asterogues
Another roguelike with a top-down perspective and twin stick controls.
This one feels similar to Enter the Gungeon or NeuroVoider. I liked it a lot, but I definitely need to spend more time with it.
Vampire Survivors
This one started as a single-player game, but now supports four-player couch co-op.
You don’t really attack manually. You just move around, avoid enemies, and collect upgrades. Your character attacks automatically.
It looks very low budget at first, but it becomes really addictive, especially with friends.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
This blends roguelike elements with a tag-team beat ’em up system.
The combat is simple but satisfying, and the tag system lets you swap between characters and combine abilities. The structure lets you choose which boss to fight next.
The roguelike elements don’t always work perfectly, but the core gameplay is strong.
Visually, it’s a big departure from older Double Dragon games, but it works. The pixel art is detailed and colorful.
For me, this is the best Double Dragon since Double Dragon Advance.
Outro
So there you go. 10 couch co-op roguelike games that are worth checking out. What are some of your favorite couch co-op roguelites? And check out the video version if want!