What is a roguelike game?

Roguelike games are a subgenre of role-playing video games characterized by their high difficulty, permadeath, and procedural generation. Often featuring turn-based movement on a tile-based grid, they emphasize strategic decision-making and resource management.

Key aspects of roguelikes include:

• Permadeath: If your character dies, the game is over, and you must start a new game from the beginning. There are no saves or checkpoints to reload.
• Procedural Generation: Levels, items, and encounters are randomly generated each time you play, ensuring a unique experience.
• Turn-Based Gameplay: The game progresses in discrete turns, allowing players to carefully consider their actions.
• Tile-Based Movement: Characters and enemies move on a grid of tiles.
• Resource Management: Players must carefully manage limited resources such as health, food, and equipment.
• High Difficulty: Roguelikes are known for their unforgiving difficulty, requiring players to learn from their mistakes and adapt to unpredictable situations.

Classic examples of roguelikes include Rogue (the game that gave the genre its name), NetHack, and Angband. More modern games like Spelunky, The Binding of Isaac, and Dead Cells are often referred to as "roguelites" because they incorporate elements of roguelikes but typically relax some of the stricter conventions (e.g., by offering persistent upgrades or shorter run times).