• Nacktmull
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    7 months ago

    The answer to your question has been a subject of endless nerdy discussions for years. However I would answer it like this.

    Rogue-like, loose definition: A defined genre of games, based on the classic game Rogue. Key features of such games are:

    • dungeon crawling
    • procedurally generated levels
    • perma death
    • turn-based gameplay
    • grid-based movement

    Rogue-like, strict definition: A defined genre of games, based on the classic game Rogue. Key features of such games are:

    • dungeon crawling
    • procedurally generated levels
    • permadeath
    • turn-based gameplay
    • grid-based movement
    • non modal (every action should be available to the player regardless of where they are in the game)
    • complexity
    • resource management
    • hack and slash combat system
    • exploration of areas and items
    • typically such games are displayed in ASCII but it´s not a must

    Roguelike, examples:

    • Hack
    • NetHack
    • Ancient Domains of Mystery
    • Moria
    • Angband
    • Tales of Maj’Eyal
    • Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup

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    Rogue-lite, definition: Not a defined genre at all but just an umbrella term for games from any genre that share at least some of the following characteristics:

    • permadeath (a must have)
    • procedurally generated levels
    • metaprogression
    • short to medium length runs with victory conditions (a run can usually be finished in one sitting)

    Roguelite, examples

    • FTL - Faster Than Light
    • Dead Cells
    • Nova Drift
    • Hades
    • Children of Morta
    • Nuclear Throne
    • Nova Drift
    • Enter the Gungeon
    • The Binding of Isaac
      • Nacktmull
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        7 months ago

        You are welcome. I enjoy to systematize things :)

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      That definition of rougelike seems overly strict to me. I’d say the main difference is a system that provides progression outside of runs to make future runs easier. That would more things like FTL, enter the gungeon, and binding of Issac into the rougelike category.

      • Nacktmull
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        7 months ago

        The answer to your question has been a subject of endless nerdy discussions for years. However I would answer it like this.