In recent years the video game roguelike have become quite popular. Only now thousands of fans are waiting Hades II and many were excited by the announcement of TMNT Splintered Fatea Ninja Turtles title belonging to this genre.
Since it seems that they are on the rise and there are still other titles coming, with similar gameplay, here we explain their characteristics. We will also leave you some recommendations so that you understand better and perhaps inspire you to look for more experiences of the same type.
What you should know about roguelikes
What is a roguelike?
The first thing you should know is where the name roguelike comes from. We owe its origin to the video game Roguea title developed in 1980 for computers that used the Unix system. This gave rise to several of the most recognized elements of the genre.
In Rogue Players controlled a character who explored a dungeon in search of a magical amulet found deep inside. Throughout their journey they had to defend themselves from different enemies. Fortunately they could find items that helped them on their journey, whether offensively or defensively. However, if they die they will have to start over from the beginning, without any of their items.
Another feature of Rogue is that both its levels and its objects were generated procedurally. In other words, in each game the items you could obtain, the parts of the dungeon you explored, and the enemies you encountered changed. This is something that remains to this day in the games that were inspired by him.
Roguelikes are characterized precisely by this. They are games where you must reach a goal, but if you lose you must start from the beginning. In addition, each time it will be different, which means that no game is the same and invites you to try many more times.
This is where the name roguelike comes from, since literally translated it is 'similar to Rogue' in Spanish. Of course, over time several titles added some changes to modernize the genre. Like the ability to get permanent upgrades to make your next attempts easier.
What games can I play to learn more about the genre?
As we mentioned, the roguelike genre has become very popular in recent years, especially among independent developers. Here we share some that you can easily get right now and that are also some of its best exponents.
Let's start with Hadeswhich has a sequel on the way for 2024. Here you control Zagreus, the son of Hades, who seeks to escape the Underworld to meet his mother. For this he must cross Tartarus, the fields of Asphodelus and the Elysian fields. Here you start with a weapon of your choice, what changes are the blessings of the gods that you obtain in each game.
It also has different types of currencies within the game. Some help you buy items in stores while others let you acquire some permanent improvements so that your next game is not so complicated.
This is one of the most beloved and well-known roguelikes today. It is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and iOS, so there are no excuses not to give it a try. It also won several game of the year awards in 2020, which was when it came out.
Enter the Gungeon is an option that is more similar to the original concept
Enter the Gungeon It is another very entertaining roguelike. Here you choose from four different gunfighters who must reach the depths of the eponymous Gungeon. Along the way you can get different types of very creative firearms that will help you combat a wide variety of enemies.
We say that this game is very similar to the original concept since there are practically no permanent improvements here. Each game will depend on your cunning and your luck to try to reach the end. Fortunately, the art, weapons, bosses, and settings are so varied that they will keep you entertained for hours. It is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Dead Cells is a perfect fusion between roguelike and metroidvania
Another very popular game of recent years is Dead Cells, which combines roguelike elements with those of a metroidvania. Here you control a prisoner looking to get off an island. The Metroidvania elements are that each level has its own map that you can discover and also allows you to return with new skills or objects to open different paths.
As for its Rogue-like elements, each game will take you through different areas and give you new weapons. Like Hadeshere you have the opportunity to unlock permanent upgrades, such as increasing the times you can heal. Still, it is a quite challenging game that also adds more degrees of difficulty after the first time you reach the end.
Dead Cells In addition to being very fun, it is loaded with a lot of content. He even had a collaboration with Castlevania which added characters and weapons from this beloved Konami series. So if you want to get started in the world of roguelikes, this is a very good option. You can find it on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS.
Risk of Rain 1 and 2 give it a more modern touch
Now let's go with the couple of deliveries Risk of Rain. Both put us in control of different space explorers with the aim of exploring in search of a portal that will take us off the planet. Likewise, each game is different and there are various objects that help us, such as weapons, shields and amulets with passive abilities. Additionally, meeting certain objectives unlocks new characters with which to try your luck.
A particularity of this roguelike pair is that each character has different attributes, so they can better accommodate different play styles. Risk of Rain 2 Furthermore, it already happens in a 3D environment that also allows multiplayer games to share the odyssey with friends. Both titles are available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch consoles.
Returnal is perhaps the most produced roguelike on the list
Finally we come to Returnal which shows that the roguelike genre is already calling for larger studios. This game puts us in control of an astronaut trapped in a time loop from which she wants to escape. To do this you will have to use different weapons and special skills.
The game is separated into two halves, each with three different biomes. If the player dies, they return to the middle of the journey if they had already advanced, not to the beginning as in other examples of the genre. Although this makes it seem easier, it is quite challenging.
A post-launch update added multiplayer capability. So up to two companions can join together to try to escape the time loop. You can currently find it on both PS5 and PC if you want to give it a try.
Why are roguelikes so popular?
Although we don't have a certain answer, we think roguelikes are very entertaining because of how random they can be. Each time you play them you will encounter different dangers and your path will unfold in many ways. So in a way they could be endless.
No matter you complete their objectives, you have the opportunity to pass them again and it will always feel like the first time. If we add to this that many have very creative scenarios and weapons, then the player's experimentation is constant and contributes to the fun. Will you give any of these games a chance?
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