Roguelite games have taken the gaming world by storm, offering a unique blend of challenge, replayability, and progression that keeps players coming back for “just one more run.” Unlike traditional roguelikes, which often feature permadeath and minimal progression, roguelites introduce persistent upgrades, unlocks, and meta-progression that make every run feel rewarding, even when you fail. But with their steep learning curves and unpredictable nature, how do you keep improving in roguelite games? In this guide, we’ll explore strategies, tips, and mindsets to help you master roguelites and turn every run into an opportunity for growth.
Whether you’re slashing through dungeons in Dead Cells, battling gods in Hades, or exploring the cosmos in Returnal, these actionable tips will help you level up your skills and make every run count. Let’s dive in!
What Are Roguelite Games?
Before we get into the strategies, let’s clarify what makes roguelite games special. Roguelites are a subgenre of roguelikes, characterized by:
- Procedural generation: Levels, enemies, and items are randomized each run, ensuring no two playthroughs are identical.
- Permadeath with progression: When you die, you restart, but you retain certain upgrades, resources, or unlocks that make future runs easier.
- High difficulty: Roguelites are challenging, requiring skill, strategy, and adaptability.
- Replayability: The combination of randomization and progression encourages countless hours of play.
Popular roguelites like Slay the Spire, Risk of Rain 2, and Enter the Gungeon have captivated players with their addictive gameplay loops. The key to success in these games lies in learning from each run and using your failures to fuel improvement.
Why Improving in Roguelites Feels So Rewarding
The beauty of roguelites is their ability to make failure feel productive. Every run teaches you something new—whether it’s a better understanding of enemy patterns, a clever item synergy, or a refined playstyle. This “fail forward” philosophy is what makes roguelites so engaging. By focusing on improvement, you’ll not only progress further in the game but also experience the satisfaction of mastering its challenges.
Here’s how to keep improving with every run in roguelite games:
1. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity
The first step to improving in roguelites is to shift your mindset about failure. Death is not the end—it’s a lesson. Each run provides valuable information about the game’s mechanics, enemies, and systems. Instead of getting frustrated, ask yourself:
- What caused my death? Was it a specific enemy, a bad decision, or a lack of resources?
- Could I have managed my health, currency, or items better?
- Did I miss an opportunity to synergize my build?
For example, in Hades, dying to a boss like the Bone Hydra might reveal that you need to prioritize mobility or focus on area-of-effect (AoE) damage. Take note of these lessons and apply them to your next run.
2. Master the Core Mechanics
Roguelites often have deceptively simple mechanics that hide deep complexity. To improve, focus on mastering the fundamentals of movement, combat, and resource management. For instance:
- Movement: In Dead Cells, precise dodging and parrying are crucial for surviving tough encounters. Practice timing your rolls to avoid enemy attacks.
- Combat: In Slay the Spire, understanding when to play defensively versus aggressively can make or break a run. Learn how cards interact and prioritize versatile ones.
- Resource Management: In Enter the Gungeon, ammo is limited, so knowing when to switch weapons or conserve resources is key.
Spend time in early runs experimenting with controls and mechanics. Many roguelites offer practice modes or low-stakes areas (like the starting biome in Dead Cells) where you can hone your skills.
3. Experiment with Builds and Synergies
One of the joys of roguelites is the variety of builds you can create. Items, abilities, and upgrades often synergize in unexpected ways, allowing for creative and powerful playstyles. To improve, experiment with different combinations and learn what works best for your playstyle.
- In Hades, combining boons from gods like Zeus (lightning) and Poseidon (knockback) can create devastating crowd-control builds.
- In Risk of Rain 2, stacking items like the Ukulele and AtG Missile Mk. 1 can turn you into a walking explosion.
- In Spelunky 2, items like the jetpack or climbing gloves can drastically change how you navigate levels.
Don’t be afraid to try unconventional builds, even if they seem risky. Some of the most powerful combinations come from thinking outside the box.
4. Prioritize Long-Term Progression
Roguelites reward persistence through meta-progression systems. These are permanent upgrades or unlocks that make future runs easier. To improve efficiently, prioritize upgrades that align with your goals.
- In Dead Cells, invest in the Forge to increase the quality of weapons you find.
- In Hades, use Darkness to unlock and upgrade Mirror of Night talents that boost your survivability or damage.
- In Rogue Legacy 2, upgrade your castle to unlock new classes or improve stats like health and mana.
Focus on upgrades that offer consistent benefits rather than situational ones. For example, increasing your maximum health is often more reliable than a niche ability that only works with specific builds.
5. Adapt to Randomization
Randomization is at the heart of roguelites, and learning to adapt to unpredictable situations is crucial. You won’t always get the items, weapons, or rooms you want, so flexibility is key.
- Assess your options: In Slay the Spire, if you’re offered cards that don’t fit your current deck, consider pivoting to a new strategy, like switching from a strength-based deck to a poison-focused one.
- Make the best of what you get: In Returnal, if you find a weapon with poor traits, focus on using parasites or consumables to compensate.
- Stay calm under pressure: Randomly tough enemy waves (like in Risk of Rain 2) require quick thinking and prioritization.
Practice adapting by intentionally taking suboptimal items or paths in low-stakes runs. This will train you to handle unexpected challenges with confidence.
6. Study Enemy Patterns and Bosses
Roguelites often feature enemies and bosses with distinct attack patterns. To improve, study these patterns and develop strategies to counter them.
- In Hades, the Furies have unique movesets (e.g., Alecto’s rapid slashes versus Tisiphone’s whip attacks). Learn their telegraphs and practice dodging.
- In Dead Cells, bosses like the Concierge require precise timing to avoid their shockwave attacks.
- In Spelunky 2, environmental hazards like traps often pose as much danger as enemies, so learn to navigate them safely.
If a boss keeps defeating you, focus on surviving their attacks rather than dealing damage. Once you’re comfortable dodging, you can shift to offense.
7. Optimize Your Run Strategy
Every roguelite has an optimal way to approach runs, whether it’s prioritizing certain rooms, managing resources, or choosing upgrades. Develop a run strategy that maximizes your chances of success.
- Route planning: In Dead Cells, decide whether to rush through biomes for time bonuses or explore for more items.
- Risk vs. reward: In Slay the Spire, weigh the benefits of fighting elites (which offer powerful relics) against the risk of taking damage.
- Resource allocation: In Hades, decide whether to spend obols on boons, health, or pomegranates based on your current needs.
Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you. For example, in Risk of Rain 2, some players prioritize speed to activate the teleporter quickly, while others farm items for a stronger build.
8. Stay Patient and Persistent
Roguelites are designed to be challenging, and progress can feel slow at times. Stay patient and trust that every run is making you a better player. Celebrate small victories, like reaching a new biome or defeating a tough enemy, to stay motivated.
If you’re stuck, take a break and return with a fresh perspective. Many players find that stepping away for a day or two helps them approach the game with renewed focus.
9. Engage with the Community
The roguelite community is full of passionate players who share tips, builds, and strategies. Engaging with forums, subreddits, or Discord servers can provide valuable insights and inspiration.
- Check out the Hades subreddit (r/HadesTheGame) for boon recommendations and boss strategies.
- Join the Slay the Spire Discord to discuss card synergies and deck-building tips.
- Watch speedrunners on Twitch to see how they optimize runs in games like Dead Cells or Spelunky 2.
10. Have Fun and Experiment
At their core, roguelites are about enjoying the journey. Don’t get too focused on “winning” every run—embrace the chaos and have fun experimenting. Try goofy builds, challenge yourself with self-imposed restrictions (like no healing in Hades), or play with friends in co-op roguelites like Risk of Rain 2.
The more you enjoy the game, the more motivated you’ll be to keep improving.
Conclusion
Roguelite games are a test of skill, adaptability, and perseverance. By embracing failure, mastering mechanics, experimenting with builds, and engaging with the community, you can turn every run into a step toward mastery. Whether you’re a beginner tackling your first biome or a veteran chasing high-difficulty clears, these strategies will help you keep improving and make every run feel rewarding.
So, grab your controller, dive into your favorite roguelite, and start learning from every death. What’s your favorite roguelite game, and what tips have helped you improve? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going!
Zareb Saleh is a journalist at Gulf Today and a ghostwriter for Gameoholic, specializing in gaming, technology, and digital culture. With a keen eye for industry trends, he delivers insightful stories that engage and inform readers.