Steam is a treasure trove of a platform with endless amounts of PC games to play from a bevy of different genres and developers. No matter the category you're looking for, there will likely be a strong list of games available to choose from. This is especially true for dungeon crawler fans.
The genre is known for producing a plethora of hits, including those that also dip into different subgenres such as roguelikes and deckbuilders. It's because of this that the format has gotten quite popular, especially among indie games and on a storefront like Steam. However, some dungeon crawlers stand out more than others.
Updated August 5, 2023 by Jacob Whaling: We've updated this list with a few new hits in the dungeon crawling genre, including new remasters of old fan favorites like Etrian Odyssey.
14 Gloomhaven
Some of the more popular board games out there have been adapted into video games, but it's rare for one to be as special as Gloomhaven is. This tactical RPG is a nearly one-to-one adaption of the strategy game, with many of the assets matching that of the tabletop experience.
Gloomhaven is a turn-based dungeon crawler where parties are made of two to four individuals as they traverse deep into dungeons while walking across tiles. The game uses cards that you can select before heading into a run and then choose from once a battle is underway.
13 Slay The Spire
Speaking of card games, it is hard to make a list like this without including the innovative Slay the Spire. The goal of the game is simply to climb the Spire, but foes stand in your way at every turn. You will need to be prepared by building a deck that fits your play style.
Of course, the game also has rogue elements which will require you to be prepared for different enemies for each run. Slay the Spire is loaded to the brim with content, with hundreds of different cards to wield and different items to pick up during each run. There also different modes that allow for different variations on the game's format.
12 Crypt Of The Necrodancer
What if a dungeon crawling roguelike combined with a rhythm experience? That is the premise of Crypt of the Necrodancer, a game all about moving and battling while staying in time to the beat of the music. The game is considered incredibly difficult, but aspects like permanent upgrades after dying allow you to keep improving even through failure.
On top of that, the game has a solid soundtrack by the incredible Danny Baranowsky, but if that doesn't suit you, you can boot up your own music to dungeon crawl to. After Brace Yourself Games made Crypt of the Necrodancer and saw it have a large amount of success, the developer partnered with Nintendo to make Cadence of Hyrule.
11 Enter The Gungeon
With a genre that tends to be brutal, it is fun to have a dungeon crawler like Enter The Gungeon that doesn't take itself too seriously. With a focus on the bullet hell combat system, the game is about characters who are looking to retrieve the ultimate treasure that can erase their past.
Try a collection of different guns as you bounce from room to room, which introduces wild new enemies and even sets some traps for you to fall victim to. The game also has some memorable boss fights that are to be seen to be believed, including fighting a giant bullet.
10 Cult Of The Lamb
You don't often hear the concept of a dungeon crawler pairing well with simulation elements, but Cult of the Lamb is one of the more fascinating entries out there for this very reason. The game revolves around cute animals that are working together in a cult.
As the lamb, you will be tasked with recruiting other animals to your cult by going through dungeons and defeating enemies. Once back at camp, the goal is to manage the cult to make sure everyone is still following you. Each dungeon ends with a battle against those who initially sacrificed you at the start of the game.
9 Noita
For those who like battling with magic, Noita may be right up your alley. As a roguelite, the game relies on procedurally generated dungeons where nearly every detail in the game was randomly placed there for that run. However, there are types of environments that will consistently show up.
One of the best aspects of this game is the magic that can be wielded. Not only are there a great set of powers readily available, but you will also be able to combine abilities to create your own magic that can be used in a run, giving you a bit more agency over your dungeon approach.
8 Moonlighter
Moonlighter is a combination of a roguelite dungeon-crawler and merchant simulator. During the night, you'll explore different dungeons, pilfering the loot and materials found there. Then, during the next day, you'll open your shop and sell your loot, earning gold to fund your next adventure.
Moonlighter offers a unique gameplay loop in the dungeon crawling and rougelite spaces with the shop you manage during the day. You'll need to find the right prices for your items, prevent thieves from running off with your valuables, and tend to needy customers. Plus, the dungeon crawling experience is satisfying and engaging.
7 Chronicon
Chronicon is a loot-based RPG in the vein of Diablo 3 or Path of Exile. Enter the memories of ancient heroes to battle hordes of monsters to level up your character and collect new pieces of equipment. After reaching the maximum level, you can earn experience in Mastery Ranks, allowing for infinite progression similar to Diablo 3's Paragon system.
There are four different classes available in Chronicon, but they each have tons of different build options. Plus, with the ability to respec your skill tree for free at the main hub, you can change up your playstyle as often as you want.
6 Tiny Rogues
Tiny Rogues is a top-down rougelite bullet-hell dungeon crawler where you play as one of 17 different unlockable classes, each with its own passive abilities. The game features a simple pixel art style with some amazing music that makes crawling through its dungeons exciting.
Mechanically, Tiny Rogues isn't the most complicated. However, it's in this simplicity where the game excels. You aren't forced to read tons of ability or item descriptions or min-max your stats to do well. Tiny Rogues doesn't necessarily push any groundbreaking ideas in the dungeon-crawling rougelite genre, but it does the tried-and-true method exceptionally well.
5 Path Of Exile
Having been around for nearly a decade, Path of Exile is one of the few free-to-play dungeon crawlers that has risen to the top to become of the best entries for the genre on Steam. The online action RPG continues to be supported despite being around for so long.
The game allows you to choose from seven different classes, each bringing their own skillset to the table for you to utilize. To keep you coming back, the game makes sure that each dungeon varies greatly from the last, specifically in the types of environments and enemies that are faced.
4 Darkest Dungeon
When building up a character from scratch in a video game, the main factors we think about are how strong can we make them and how good do they look. Darkest Dungeon puts you in charge of individuals who will react emotionally to the horrors that they will see, which will need to be managed.
This game focuses on navigating dungeons and taking part in turn-based battles, but the fascinating aspect of this game is the "Affliction System," which takes into account the stress of having to deal with the worst monstrosities and keeping the heroes in line as you attempt to reach your goal.
3 The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
One of the more influential dungeon crawlers to come out is The Binding of Isaac. After its original release, the team at Nicalis released a deep remake of the game called The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth that added a ton of enhancements to the game's visuals.
The original Binding of Isaac is an action RPG that involves Isaac shooting at enemies as you attempt to maneuver through his basement and trying to gather items while under the constant threat of his mother. In addition to its fun single player campaign, there is also two-player local co-op for those in front of the same PC.
2 Etrian Odyssey HD Collection
The first three Etrian Odyssey games were remastered for PC in this HD collection, with updated graphics, remastered audio, and various quality-of-life improvements. The original DS games are staples of the dungeon crawling genre, making you feel like a true adventurer as you draw the maps of the dungeon by hand.
When you begin each game, you'll craft a party of five members of varying different classes before setting out into the labyrinths. You're free to design and equip your party in a number of different ways, which when paired with the map-drawing mechanic makes the Etrian Odyssey games the ultimate form of dungeon crawling exploration.
1 Hades
While it may be surprising that Supergiant Games decided to make their first sequel to a previous game, it is understandable considering it is a sequel to Hades, one of the biggest dungeon crawling roguelites to come out in recent years.
You play as Zagreus, the son of Hades who is looking to escape the underworld. Obstacles will be put in your way, but you will also have a handful of great weapons to choose from. Plus, the game is highly customizable, allowing you to choose how you want to approach each run, especially after completing the game once.