Looking for coop roguelike Action RPG
So, my group has recently tried Ignite the Depths demo, and now we're looking for something else to scratch that itch.
Most of the time 2-4 of us will play at once.
In case you haven't read the community name, it has to run on Linux, I don't have Windows installed and another member plays on Steam Deck. Whether the game runs through proton or natively doesn't really matter.
Our schedules don't match too often, and we usually use it to play TTRPGs, which means we generally don't play all at once, so a tens of hours long campaign would be hard to play without someone having to grind up or fall behind.
Suggested games don't have play too similar to Ignite the Depths, we find the combat too simple, but we're looking for RPG elements like classes we could choose before starting a run and level up on the way.
There was also not enough variety among the enemies and locations, bu Ignite the Depths devs will probably add them along the Early Access.
AFAIK we don't have any more strong combat preferences regarding tempo and pace, so we're fine with, for example, something closer to Dark Souls series.
We've tried playing with friendly fire on and off. Playing with it turned on was harder, but we enjoyed the additional communication challenge.
Any sort of in-game story end goal would be a huge advantage. It'd help a lot with bringing us back, and convincing me - the group's rogue-like hater. BTW if you'd like a deck builder rogue-like with a really good story, try Chrono Ark.
And now, the personal preferences you can treat as a bonus:
Me
- progress even on the worst runs
- flashy combat, as long as everyone can see what happens; I know it's hard to do in multiplayer
- low on progress-blocking grind
- core class gameplay doesn't change depending on the loot - see Loop Hero, you can focus on certain aspects of the class, but no matter what you pick, necromancer will summon minions to fight and tank for him
Member 1
- low price, short on money for the next month or two, but we'd rather wait than waste our time on a mediocre Free to Play
- magic restricted to certain classes, low availability of elemental weapons and such (might conflict with Member 2's preference)
Member 2
- loves magic, more = better (might conflict with Member 1's preference)
Member 3
- likes dragons - they didn't express it, but I know them well enough I included it
Other people have not specified any special preferences.
One game we've found interesting, but haven't bought yet, is Elden Ring Nightreign. Seems to check most of the boxes. Still, more options to choose from would be nice.
30 replies
I would recommend trying out Enshrouded. They just did their 1.0 release recently, been playing it during development for the past 2 years with friends. Works great through Steam/Proton, I'm running Kubuntu on my system at the moment, and it runs without issues. Game has a ton of content, quests, things to fight, and places to explore. You can run through quests as a group or solo. Not everyone has to be on to advance the storyline. If someone misses a mission, the game will list them so the player can go back and run through them if they want. Not required but nice to do just to level up. You can build a character any way you want on the skill tree. Pick a mage route, or barbarian, assassin, archer, etc. Multiple routes spread out radially from a hub and the skills interconnect. Choose a pure route or mix and match any way you like. Should be enough options for whatever the folks in your group want to do, and you can pull your points and re-spec to something else if you feel like it. Good game with a lot of new things added in with the recent release. It's been fun even though development, and now it's just even better.
It's also easy to run your own server. I've got one running on an old PC so folks can hop on any time they feel like it, and we aren't paying rental fees every month.
Barony
I replied elsewhere but now that I'm at my PC I have some more recommendations:
+1 for Barony, especially with the DLCs. However, it's important to go easy at first. Don't scoff at the assistance shrine/items and custom options like turning off hunger or modding to make your first runs a bit easier. Vanilla can be excruciatingly frustrating, and you might bounce off a really fun game!
They're more first person slashers than action RPGs, but have you considered the Vermintide games? 4 player coop with 4 distinct "classes", magic restricted to one class, half hour to 45 minute missions, and there might be a dragon somewhere? They're usually very cheap, but they're low on classical RPG progression, so might not be a complete fit.
I got it on a giveaway and it is dirt cheap, so maybe we'll give it a go, but boy, that 60GB install size is definitely daunting. Thanks for suggestion
(I only use Linux so everything here runs on Linux via Proton)
Darktide is the current iteration of that game's line, it's in the Warhammer 40k universe (so Psyker instead of Wizard kind of theme).
It has a lot of flashy combat and depth to the combat systems. There's a thing that looks like Jabba the Hut, leaves slime trails and has a breath weapon (spoilers, it's slime)... it's kind of like a Dragon.
However, while it works on the Steam Deck it isn't a great experience and has a large install... but it is very hard to beat gameplay-wise.
Similarly, Helldivers 2 is an over the top Startship Troopers-esq PvE game. There's no class mechanic, there's a large amount of possible weapons and abilities ('spells', but artillery and air strikes) and a limited number of slots to put them in, so you work with your team to bring enough tools to handle everything. It is a bit better on the steam deck (played with keyboard/mouse on a TV @ 720p).
Risk of Rain 2 may be another one. It's class based, co-op action roguelike. Each class has a defined set of abilities and acquiring loot is largely random has a series of mechanics to tame randomness and let you guide your build. The power scaling can get out of control over the course of a run and is very satisfying to pull off.
At core you're racing against a clock that incrementally scales the hp/damage of everything while navigating around stages to open cheses and do various PoI mechanics in order to acquire loot. There is literally magic in the later expansions.
Note about expansions. Only the hosts needs to buy the expansions in order to unlock the in-game mechanics. The expansions also include extra characters and characters that you can unlock, only people who have purchased the expansion can select the new heroes.
The game has a cell shaded vibe that is very good on system resources and plays it well on the deck.
There's a Risk of Rain Returns, a remake of Risk of Rain 1, which is a 2d pixel art side-scroller which has the same system of loot scaling mechanics but in 2D... it is an excellent game as well and it is ALSO multiplayer. Being 2d pixel art, it runs on basically anything. This game is mechanically more difficulty and unforgiving so only get into it if you really love the RoR2 gameplay systems and/or want a challenge.
And, as an oddball idea, look at Magicka 2. It's a co-op game, but friendly fire is on because you can combine your spells in neat ways. The way you cast spells is very fun to learn but can require a lot of inputs so it may be harder to do on controller/Steam Deck.
It's a less serious game, with humorous storyline. It takes a bit to learn the magic system but it's worth it.
We have Vermintide 2 somewhere on the list, because 4 of us already own it and AFAIK never played.
I've got RoR 2, played it for a few hours and got bored. Don't think coop will make it better.
I think we've already finished Magicka 2.
Still, thanks for recommendations.
My friends and I have being enjoying Gunfire Reborn and Ravenswatch. There's enough diversity in the classes in each they might work for all.
I see they don't have a story, but I'll put Ravenswatch on the back of the list, thanks
I got annoyed solo with what I felt was Ravenswatch's slow pace in the first ~20minutes. Do you feel it gets more exciting at some point?
My frame of reference is things like Brotato.
I've never played it solo so really couldn't say. Personally I like a steady smooth progression. I don't like massive difficulty spikes you didn't see coming and have no way to prepare for.
I don't find Ravenswatch slow but like I said, I play with friends, so the first few minutes yeah I'm just chatting with friends while we run around doing the points of interest and then when it gets harder we focus up.
"necesse" might scratch that itch.
Isn't it closer to stuff like Valheim?
If you're looking for something lime Valheim check out Enshrouded.
I find valheim to be more grindy. necesse is easier to drop in and out. you can use the same character in both single and multiplayer and build multiple characters. not through stats perse but with items and such.
I wouldn't want to bother with the survival and crafting mechanics, so not really what we're looking for, but thanks for the suggestion
Maybe Shape of Dreams? It's a Moba/ARPG Rogue-Lite for 1-4 Players.
Lort looks like it might fit the bill, haven't tried it yet though!
The games my group has gone through seems similarly themed. Currently the game that might fit the bill is far, far west. Similar gameplay to helldivers but dramatically more forgiving and easy to complete runs in 15-20 minutes or spend more than an hour scouring a map.
I personally have been absolutely loving jump space. No classes per se, but flexibility to choose your load out with variable gameplay and relative forgiveness in missions. It's still early access and I'm just very excited for its future.
Other games we have enjoyed at length that might fit some of your listed interests:
Risk of rain 2 - tactical 3rd person fps
Gunfire reborn - tactical fps rogue like
Deep rock galactic - tactical fps Inkbound - turn-based
Slay the spire - deck builder
Vellum - similar to gunfire and risk of rain but with a book/literary theme similar to inkbound
The ascent - not rogue like, but top-down action shooter
Gatekeeper - isometric/top down shooter with a similar feel/theme to risk of rain 2 Trine - not really an RPG, but it has classes and you have to cooperatively solve puzzles
I've got my eye on Wyldheart. Fellowship might be a good boss battle roguelike. Unconventional but Tiny Tina's Wonderlands might work.
We're planning on trying Wyldheart in a few hours
Fellowship looks like it needs to keep oneself in the loop, pass
I think I have TTW on Epic, but I've tried Borderlands 2 and Destiny 2 and didn't like them. Do you think I should still give it a go?
No, it's Borderlands but with a Dungeons and Dragons/fantasy magic theme and slightly more over the top scaling than normal Borderlands. It was a COVID-era project that was a nice thing to have between Borderlands but Borderlands 3/4 are better Borderlands experiences for the time spent.
This is correct. I like it but if you don't like Borderlands/FPS looter shooters then give this a pass.
Reply how you like it if you think to do so. I suggested it because it seemed to fit your criteria, but still haven't tried it.
To quote my cooperator, "Genshin has more gameplay than this"
It's empty, "quests" are pointless (go to dungeon fight boss repeat), and the only good thing is combat animations
It's also far too easy, put on most armor you can and only other players (friendly fire perma on) will have enough damage to cause you to lose more than 1 hit point per hit
Thanks for saving me some time.
This might be way off, but I had a good time in Jump Space. I haven't dove too deep though.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/677120/Heroes_of_Hammerwatch/
Not sure if this scratches your itch but I really enjoyed playing it with ny buddies
Reviews say there's quite a lot of grind, so I'll keep it at the end of the list. Thanks for suggestion.
If you don't mind isometric view, Grim Dawn is amazing both solo and co-op!