I was having an idle discussion with a couple of people on Twitter earlier, at least one of whom I know reads this blog (hi Anne!) and the subject turned to that of roguelikes. This is a genre of gaming that I’ve got to know quite well over the last couple of years and while I’m still not that good at them (I’m yet to beat one, for example), I feel I know a bit more about the genre now.
Quick recap for the uninitiated: a roguelike is a (usually) turn-based role-playing game typically focused on exploring randomly-generated dungeons, killing as many monsters as possible and acquiring lots of lovely loot. Sometimes there is a plot or quests and usually there’s some way to “win”, but they tend to be monstrously difficult games and generally feature “permadeath” in that they delete your save game if you happen to kick the bucket during one of your (mis)adventures.
It’s easy to see them as utterly impenetrable, however, thanks largely to the fact that many of them are presented using purely ASCII graphics, making them look more like something from Teletext than cutting-edge interactive entertainment. The fact that some of the more popular ones have a key command mapped to literally every key on the keyboard (shifted and non-shifted) doesn’t help matter, either.
So what I’ve gone and done is pick out some of the roguelikes I’ve played over the years that seem to be pretty accessible and easily-understandable. Then, if you’re curious, you can try them out for yourself. If not, you can, I don’t know, go and harass a badger or something.
So let us begin.
Diablo III
Okay, technically it’s not a roguelike in the strictest definition of the genre, but Blizzard’s upcoming title shares a lot of DNA with the genre. Randomly-generated dungeons, a focus on combat and loot whoring rather than plot (though the game does have a story, and seemingly somewhat better delivered than in its predecessors) and even the option for permadeath if you’re feeling masochistic. The Diablo series has always been very accessible yet deep for those willing to invest some time and effort into it, and early indications seem to be that the third iteration will be no exception. It also has a great multiplayer mode, which is the highlight of the experience for many.
Where to get it: Buy it for PC here. It’ll be released on May 15, but you can preorder and pre-download now.
Dungeons of Dredmor
Dredmor is an independently-developed roguelike from Gaslamp Games. The game casts players in the role of a male or female hero with a custom combination of skills — some useful, some just plain bizarre. It’s then up to the player to battle their way down through the titular dungeons on their way to a confrontation with Dredmor himself. Dungeons of Dredmor is accessible in that there are not many commands to remember and the base mechanics are pretty simple. It also has attractive pixel-art graphics, a bizarrely cheerful soundtrack and an excellent sense of humour. The developers also regularly release updates to the game that improve the experience significantly.
Where to get it: Buy it for PC and Mac via Steam.
Hack, Slash, Loot
Hack, Slash, Loot differs from many other roguelikes in its scope. Its quests are short, there’s no level grinding for experience points and the only stuff the player character can carry is the stuff they have equipped. Potions and scrolls are used immediately, and equipment is swapped out when picked up, meaning players have to weigh up whether or not their newly-discovered loot is worth taking with them. The whole thing is wrapped in an endearing retro aesthetic and its difficulty level is fond of kicking you repeatedly in the face until you cry. As compensation, however, the more you die, the more characters and quests you unlock.
Where to get it: Buy it for PC and Mac via Steam.
Doom: The Roguelike
Doom: The Roguelike (or DoomRL as it is often referred to) is an excellent example of the creativity often seen in the genre. The game is quite literally a reimagining of the original Doom but rendered as a roguelike. Until recently, it combined the original music and sounds of Doom with ASCII art, but the most recent update has added graphics, new music and remastered sounds. It’s a simple but fun experience and works considerably better than you might expect. Best of all, it’s free.
Where to get it: Download it for PC, Mac or Linux for free here, though the Mac port is a bit dodgy.
Tales of Maj’Eyal
Tales of Maj’Eyal (formerly Tales of Middle Earth) is one of the more well-established names in the free roguelike sector. It’s a more complex game than some of its peers, but its interface is accessible and the mechanics are straightforward to understand. There are lots of different character classes to try, and lots of locations to explore. The game is relatively unusual in the genre for including a “world map” and towns to explore between dungeons, giving it a more traditional RPG structure while still punching you in the squishy bits with its difficulty on a regular basis.
Where to get it: Download it for PC, Mac or Linux here.
100 Rogues
The quintessential iOS roguelike, 100 Rogues combines attractive retro pixel art with simple mechanics and addictive gameplay. The quest is short enough that it could potentially be finished in one sitting, and you get the opportunity to battle the Pope. Like most of its peers, it’s incredibly challenging, but very addictive.
Where to get it: Buy it for iPhone and iPad here.
There are hundreds of other examples out there, but these are some that I’ve played and enjoyed as someone who is still something of a greenhorn in the genre. Why not check them out? In my experience, roguelikes are some of the best games for creating “emergent narratives” — that is, the stories that occur naturally through your play rather than an explicit narrative included by the developer. Stories like these, for example.