Updated Andrii Kovalenko1 min read

The Most Anticipated Indie Roguelikes of 2026

The indie roguelikes to wishlist in 2026 — Hades II and more — plus a myth-soaked time-bender where you fight the gods with the titan Kronos.

The roguelike genre keeps getting deeper, and 2026 has a strong run of action-roguelikes worth watching — some already in early access, some still building toward launch.

Hades II

The headliner. Supergiant's sequel is in early access and still expanding, with Melinoe taking on Chronos himself across a steadily growing underworld. If you want the gold standard of the genre evolving in real time, it's the one to be playing now.

The roguevania lineage

The Dead Cells and Skul side of the genre keeps producing fast, build-driven action-roguelikes with Metroidvania map design. It's the most reliable corner of the genre for tight combat, and it's where a lot of the most interesting newcomers are landing — runs you restart, weapons you chain, maps you slowly pry open.

One to wishlist: KUTO: The Lock of Time

Our own entry, so weigh the recommendation accordingly. KUTO: The Lock of Time is a story-rich time-bending Metroidvania heading to Steam Early Access. You play Jokoan Kuto, an outcast betrayed by the gods and bound to the titan Kronos, fighting back through a crumbling Rome with the Scythe of Kronos and command over time itself. There's a full overview of what we know if you want the details.

Why wishlisting early matters

For an upcoming game, a wishlist is more than a bookmark. Steam's algorithm watches wishlist numbers to decide which games to surface, so early support genuinely shapes whether a game finds its audience at launch. If a roguelike on this list looks like your kind of thing, the single most useful thing you can do is add it now.

Add KUTO: The Lock of Time to your wishlist on Steam to follow it toward Early Access.

Frequently asked questions

What roguelikes are coming in 2026?
Hades II keeps expanding in early access, the Dead Cells / Skul lineage of action-roguelikes continues, and the time-bending Metroidvania KUTO: The Lock of Time is heading to Early Access.
Why should I wishlist an upcoming game on Steam?
Steam's algorithm watches wishlist numbers to decide which games to surface. Wishlisting early genuinely shapes whether a game finds its audience at launch.
Is Hades II still in early access in 2026?
Yes — Hades II entered Steam Early Access in 2024 and has been adding content in updates since. As of mid-2026 it has not yet hit its 1.0 release, making it one of the more active early-access roguelikes currently available to play.
What is KUTO: The Lock of Time?
KUTO: The Lock of Time is a story-rich time-bending Metroidvania developed by CPCS. You play Jokoan Kuto, an outcast betrayed by the gods who survives by merging with the titan Kronos, gaining the Scythe of Kronos and time powers. Runs carry you through multiple historical and fantastical eras, from Ancient Egypt to a neon cyber city.
What makes a good action-roguelike in 2026?
Strong build variety, readable combat, and a reason to keep running are the baseline. The best entries in 2026 tend to add a distinctive mechanical angle — a unique weapon archetype, time manipulation, asymmetric class design — on top of the roguelite loop rather than just iterating on the formula.
What is the difference between early access and a full release for a roguelike?
Early access means the game is playable but incomplete — content, balance, and systems are still being added. A full release signals the developer considers the game finished. Roguelikes suit early access well because even an incomplete build with solid core systems can offer many hours of play.
How do I find upcoming indie roguelikes before they release?
Steam's 'Upcoming' filter, the 'Roguelite' and 'Action Roguelike' tag pages, and community subreddits like r/roguelites are the most reliable places. Following developers directly on social media and adding games to your wishlist early helps you not miss announcements.
What eras does KUTO: The Lock of Time span?
Confirmed settings include Ancient Egypt, the Viking age, Ancient Greece, a falling Rome, the Old West, a neon cyber city, a post-apocalyptic era, and the sci-fi far future. Each era has its own enemies and visual identity; runs carry Jokoan Kuto forward through them in sequence.
Do roguelikes released in early access tend to be worth buying early?
It depends on the developer's track record and the current build's depth. Early access roguelikes with solid core loops often deliver value even before completion — Hades II is an example. The risk is games that enter early access light on content and stall. Wishlisting and waiting for community feedback is a low-risk alternative.
What time powers does KUTO: The Lock of Time give the player?
Jokoan Kuto carries two Time Keys per run, chosen before you descend. Abilities include bullet-time slow, rewind, a dash, and others drawn from the titan Kronos. Swapping which two you take changes how combat plays, which is the main source of build variety across runs.
Why do so many indie developers choose the roguelike genre?
Procedural generation and run-based structure let a small team create a large amount of replayable content without hand-authoring every encounter. The genre also rewards polish on core systems over breadth of content, which suits indie budgets. High community engagement — runs, runs, speedruns — extends game lifespan further.
What should I look for when evaluating an upcoming roguelike?
Core combat feel, the distinctiveness of the build system, and whether the developers are communicating actively are the main signals. A compelling hook — a setting, a mechanic, a tone — that isn't already done better elsewhere is what separates the genre's standouts from the crowd.

Keep reading

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