These are the RPGs and Roguelites I played in 2025 That i enjoyed the most
Out of all the games that I played and reviewed during the year, these are the turn-based games that stood out to me the most.
There was a nice mix of games this year. I know that might sound weird since we are talking about just turn-based games, but there are still a lot of different games in the genre. Developers are also finding all sorts of ways to mix it with other game genres. Without further ado, here are my top turn-based games of 2025, in no particular order.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
- Developers: Jump Over The Age
- Release date: January 31
- Steam Page
The original Citizen Sleeper came out in 2022 and was probably my favorite game of that year. So, there was no surprise that I was very excited when a sequel was announced. Citizen Sleeper 2 follows the story of an android that is on the run across a system known as the Starward Belt. It is a dice-driven RPG that leans heavily into its storytelling and unique dice system.
This game took everything that made the first game great and enhanced it even more. The role-playing, the character development, and even the dice system have all been improved upon. This was a game that I will definitely be coming back to every couple of years to replay.
If you haven’t played either game, I would say they are both worth picking up and playing in order. I just hope the developers continue to grow the Citizen Sleeper universe.
Sultan’s Game
- Developers: Double Cross
- Release date: March 30
- Steam Page
Continuing with another story-driven game, we have Sultan’s Game. It is a card-management game set in a very dark setting. You have been cursed by the Sultan to play his game. Each week, you must draw a card and fulfill the task or lose your life. The twist is that all the tasks force you to make dreadful choices to fulfill them.
Just because the game is a dark theme doesn’t mean you have to fall into darkness, though. It is completely up to you if you want your character to follow the temptation of the cards and become as bad as the Sultan himself.
You could also use the cards to your advantage and try to find a way to defeat the Sultan at his own game. Every choice you make alters the game in some way, which leads to a completely different ending each game.
The thing that makes it stand out to me the most is that it isn’t like anything else that I have played before. All the choices you make really do make a difference. Both the story and the card management system are very interesting and well-thought-out. It is definitely one I have told a lot of people about.
Dice Gambit
- Developers: Chromatic Ink
- Release date: August 14
- Steam Page
This next game also has an interesting story, but what really got this one on my list was the interesting ability trees and art direction. Dice Gambit is a turn-based tactics game mixed with a unique, in-depth character customization and RPG system.
You lead a family of Inquisitors who are in charge of ridding the city of chromatic monsters. You will be going on quests to eliminate chromatics, expanding your family, and leveling your characters. The leveling system is quite unique as there are many multi-class options, each with its own specialized abilities.
Dice Gambit really leaned heavily into the quirkiness of its characters and story. The dice-heavy combat system was also a lot of fun with its limitless combinations.
Knights in Tight Spaces
- Developers: Ground Shatter
- Release date: March 4
- Steam Page
Here is another game with a standout art style. This is also the second game on my list that builds off the successful system of its predecessor. Knights in Tight Spaces is a turn-based tactics game built on the same system that made Fights in Tight Spaces such a great game.
Each combat is in a small grid. You must use the ability cards that you have to command your party and defeat the foes.
What makes Knights in Tight Spaces such an interesting game is the fluidity of combat. All of the moves that you make flow in a nice sequence, no matter what order you play them. You can even watch it in “real time” at the end of each combat encounter.
What really made the game stand out for me was its variety and replayability. Each class had a unique set of ability cards that you could collect. Since you are building your deck as you go, you could build a completely different deck with each playthrough.
Death Howl
- Developers: The Outer Zone
- Release date: December 9
- Steam Page
Ok, ok. One more game with an amazing art style. This one only just came out, but its combination of deckbuilding and roguelite, and of course, stunning art, just kept me coming back for more.
Death Howl is about a mother doing whatever it takes to get back her son. Even if she has to chase him into the spirit realm to do it. It is a very heartfelt story in a very interesting world. Arm yourself with powerful cards, totems, and abilities to defeat anything that gets in your way.
The combination of deckbuilding and roguelite fit together so nicely that I was kind of surprised. It is a rough game, but that just makes each victory that much more satisfying. It is definitely a game that everyone needs to check out.
Day of the Shell
- Developers: Duper Games
- Release date: July 29
- Steam Page
Next, let’s talk about a fast-paced turn-based tactics game. Day of the Shell is a tactical roguelite that brings speed to the genre with its “on-click, one-turn” gameplay. This makes the gameplay simple, but also quite strategic. Every turn, you have to decide if you are going to move or shoot.
There are different weapons and items for you to collect to make each run a little bit different. Every time you die, you will also be able to make upgrades that affect future runs. The game is very fun and engaging. The speed of the game is also a nice change of pace.
One of the biggest standout things for me was how well the game played on my Steam Deck. With the portability of the Steam Deck and the quick pace of Day of the Shell, it made it an ideal game for travel or when I only had a limited time to get a quick gaming session in.
Inkshade
- Developers: Studio Vezelle
- Release date: August 14
- Steam Page
This next one was a surprise for me. I didn’t even know about the game until I was asked to do a review for it. Inkshade is a very mysterious turn-based tactics game. It is very similar to the game Inscryption that came out in 2021.
What makes Inkshade interesting is that it kind of has two separate parts to it. There is the time you spend at the table using your wooden figures to defeat the enemy pieces in grid-based combat. Then, there is the amount of time that you spend exploring the dark, hidden areas away from the table.
There are so many secrets to find when you are exploring. You will also want to use the table to upgrade your figures before the next run at the table.
I very much enjoyed both parts of the game and how they were interwoven together. It almost felt like a turn-based game mixed with an escape room. I also really enjoyed the wit of the shadowy figure who played as the game master at the table. It wasn’t afraid to call you out for touching all its stuff while you were exploring the rooms.
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
- Developers: Trese Brothers
- Release date: June 2
- Steam Page
Now, this is a game that I absolutely had to put on this list. The developers at Trese Brothers know how to put together a game with a lot of depth, and Cyber Knights: Flashpoint was no exception. It is always incredible to me that a small team can put something this big together.
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint is a unique heist tactics game. You have your squad to develop, a full RPG leveling system, and a whole base-building system on top of it. There is a lot to unpack here, and the developers just keep adding more.
I really enjoyed all the classes and the ability trees in the game. The most standout feature for me was the hacking system, though. You could have your hacker jack into a terminal right in the middle of combat, and their action points were transferred into hacking points.
At any time, they could disconnect from the terminal and unload their gun at a nearby enemy. It was a fluid part of combat, not just a separate part of the game. Definitely something worth checking out.
LONESTAR
- Developers: Math Tide
- Release date: April 3
- Steam Page
Last, but certainly not least, is a game developed by 3 cats, a dog, and two humans. I play a lot of turn-based games, so I am always looking for something unique that stands out from the crowd. LONESTAR certainly does that with its interesting shockwave battle mechanic.
On Steam, LONESTAR is listed as a turn-based deckbuilder. I feel like that is a little bit misleading since most people associate deckbuilding with cards.
However, in this game, you are collecting weapon modules instead of cards. You are using those modules to chain together numbers that determine the power of your lasers. If your lasers are more powerful than the opposing ship’s, then you hit them. If not, then they hit you.
LONESTAR is not a complex game. Not to say you don’t have to do some critical thinking. I think that is part of the reason why I enjoyed it so much. As much as I love in-depth RPGs, it is nice to be able to relax on my couch with my Steam Deck, doing some module mixing and blasting away opposing ships.
Well, that’s it for my list. It is always hard to narrow down a list like this after playing so many games throughout the year. Please remember that it was just based on the games that I played this year.
I know Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not on the list and won nine game awards, including Game of the Year. I was unfortunately unable to get around to playing it this year, along with many other games. Hopefully, I will get a chance sometime in 2026.
