An Indie Backlog curated overview. We round up the best indie roguelikes and how professional critics and players received each one — the scores below are theirs, linked to the source.
A dungeon-crawler where you can only move to the beat of the music — the genre-blending roguelike that turned rhythm into combat.
At a Glance
| Developer | Brace Yourself Games |
| Release year | 2015 |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Subgenre | Rhythm roguelike |
| Length | ~15 hours (main story) |
| Metacritic | 87 / 100 |
| Steam rating | Overwhelmingly Positive (~96%, 26,000+ reviews) |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 11 |
About the Game
Crypt of the NecroDancer, from Brace Yourself Games, fuses a roguelike dungeon-crawler with a rhythm game in a way no one had before. You move, attack, and dodge only on the beat of an outstanding soundtrack — step off-rhythm and you lose your gold multiplier (or your footing). Each enemy has its own movement pattern, turning every room into a musical puzzle.
It takes the classic roguelike structure — procedurally generated floors, permadeath, item discovery — and forces it into a relentless, toe-tapping tempo. Mastery comes from internalizing both enemy patterns and the beat until you’re dancing through dungeons. You can even plug in your own music or a dance pad.
It became a cult favourite and spawned the Nintendo crossover Cadence of Hyrule, cementing its influence. Tight, original, and bursting with personality, it’s one of the most inventive genre mashups in indie gaming — and a roguelike like no other.
Screenshots
Screenshots: official Steam media for Crypt of the NecroDancer.
Why It Made the List
Crypt of the NecroDancer makes the list as the most inventive genre-blend in roguelikes. Turning movement and combat into a rhythm game sounds gimmicky and plays brilliantly — a tight, joyful, utterly original take on the dungeon-crawler.
What the Critics Say
Crypt of the NecroDancer holds a Metacritic score of 87. Critics praised its inventive rhythm-roguelike fusion, soundtrack, and personality; the main caveat is that its beat-locked movement has a steep learning curve.
What Players Say
On Steam it’s rated Overwhelmingly Positive across more than 26,000 reviews — about 96% positive. Players love the soundtrack and the novelty, while noting the rhythm mechanic takes time to click.
Praise & Criticism
Praise
- Brilliant rhythm-roguelike fusion
- Outstanding, driving soundtrack
- Bursting with personality
- Genuinely original
Criticism
- Beat-locked movement has a learning curve
- Rhythm focus won’t suit everyone
- Can feel punishing early
Games Like This
- Hades — rhythmic, dash-driven combat feel
- Dead Cells — fast, precise 2D action
- Enter the Gungeon — pattern-reading run-based action
Where to Buy
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