What are roguelike games?
Last reviewed March 1, 2026
Quick Answer
Roguelikes are games featuring procedural generation, permadeath, turn-based gameplay, and high difficulty. Each run is unique with a fresh start after death.
Detailed Answer
Roguelike games are defined by several key characteristics originating from the 1980 game Rogue. Procedural generation - each playthrough features a newly generated level layout. Permadeath - death sends you back to the beginning with all progress lost. Turn-based gameplay - actions happen in discrete steps rather than real-time. High difficulty - games are challenging and require learning from mistakes. Random elements - items, enemies, and events vary each run. Modern 'roguelite' games soften some elements by keeping some progression between runs (meta-progression). The appeal comes from each run feeling unique and fair - success depends on skill and adaptation rather than memorization. Popular examples include Spelunky, FTL, Enter the Gungeon, and Hades.