Cardinal Quest 2

Cardinal Quest 2 doesn’t waste time. It drops you into procedurally generated dungeons, hands you a weapon, and dares you to survive its turn-based gauntlet of monsters, traps, and the occasional very angry Minotaur. Like the best roguelikes, it’s built on permadeath and randomness, but what makes it sing is how approachable it makes that usually punishing formula.

Instead of drowning you in menus and micromanagement, Cardinal Quest 2 trims the fat. Loot management is simple: if a shiny new sword isn’t better than your current one, it’s automatically sold off. Leveling gives you control over skill trees without bogging you down in spreadsheets. It’s roguelike minimalism done right, every decision matters, but you spend more time exploring and fighting than fiddling with inventory screens.

And there’s a lot of fighting to do. Seven distinct classes let you tackle its trio of campaigns and endless Tower mode in radically different ways. The Thief lurks in shadows, waiting to backstab unsuspecting victims; the Alchemist concocts bombs and potions while cobbling together makeshift firearms; the Ranger fights alongside a loyal dog, while the Fighter charges headfirst into danger like a medieval wrecking ball. Whether you prefer sneaky assassinations or blunt-force trauma, there’s a playstyle here that fits.

It also nails progression. Even though each run ends when you die (and you will die), you’re constantly unlocking new classes, skills, and starting gear using the morale you earn. That steady drip-feed of new toys keeps things fresh, even dozens of runs in. And with randomized loot, layouts, and enemy placements, no two dungeon dives feel quite the same.

Visually, Cardinal Quest 2 embraces its pixelated roots without feeling dated. The crisp UI and varied dungeon themes make it easy to navigate even as the screen fills with enemies, spells, and loot drops. Playing in portrait mode is perfect for mobile, letting you one-hand your way through turn-based carnage whether you’re on a train or sneaking in a run before bed.

While a minor lack of tension from being able to safely skip turns is one of its few shortcomings, it’s a small blemish on an otherwise tightly tuned experience. Cardinal Quest 2 understands what makes roguelikes addictive and trims away what doesn’t. If you’re even a little curious about dungeon crawlers, this one’s absolutely worth the plunge.