What is a Roguelike?
Roguelikes are a genre of challenging games (typically for PC) based on three mechanisms: permadeath, turn-based combat, and randomized levels. Permadeath means that when you die in the game, you have to restart as a new character with none of the items or abilities you gained during your last life. And after each death, you begin in a new, randomly generated level. Combined with permadeath, this creates a truly unique, first-time experience every play-through with engaging battles and difficult situations.
Finally, combat in roguelikes requires you to plan out your attack/defense/next move before you initiate it (think Final Fantasy and other JRPGs). Hardcore fans of the genre will tell you that a true, traditional roguelike requires these mechanics, but there are similar, more modern games that put a twist on this classic formula. These games are known as roguelites.
What is a Roguelite?
Roguelites have some, but not all of the essential characteristics of a roguelike. Roguelites usually take design influence from different games like platformers, dungeon crawlers, and 2D shooters. While combat in roguelikes is strictly turn-based, combat in roguelites is typically much more fast-paced and engaging.
Another common difference is that roguelites often include unlockables, achievements, or characters that are not lost when the game restarts. Different roguelites put a twist on the classic roguelike formula in various ways, but their wide variety and interesting mash-ups of genres create delightful and frustrating experiences with each new game.
Characteristics of Roguelike Games
- Randomly generated levels
- Permanent death (permadeath)
- Turn-based action
- Dungeon-crawling theme
- Tile-based/ASCII graphics
- Complex, decision-oriented gameplay
- Resource management
Characteristics of Roguelite Games
- Complex gameplay features
- Randomly generated levels
- Gameplay is turn-based, fast-paced, or somewhere in-between
- Combat is optional, but it’s present in most games
- Modern, usually 2D graphics
- Combines roguelike elements with other types of games (shooter, strategy, dungeon crawler, etc.)
Top 10 Roguelike Games of Today
- Dungeons of Dredmor
- WazHack
- Dwarf Fortress
- Caves of Qud
- Dungeon Crawl
- DoomRL
- Tales of Maj’Eyal
- Cogmind
- NetHack
- NEO Scavenger
Top 10 Roguelite Games of Today
- FTL: Faster Than Light
- Spelunky
- Rogue Legacy
- Darkest Dungeon
- The Binding of Isaac
- Risk of Rain
- Dead Cells
- Enter the Gungeon
- Slay the Spire
- Downwell
