It’s time to admit, before God and the good readers of Ars Technica, that I have a problem. I love roguelikes. Reader, I can’t get enough of them. If there’s even a whisper of a hot new roguelike on Steam, I’m there. You may call them arcane, repetitive, or maddeningly difficult; I call them heaven.
The second best part of video games is taking a puny little character and, over 100 hours, transforming that adventurer into a god of destruction. The best thing about video games is doing the same thing in under an hour. Beat a combat encounter, get an upgrade. Enter a new area, choose a new item. Put together a build and watch it sing.
If you die—immediately ending your ascent and returning you to the beginning of the game—you’ll often make a pit stop at a home base to unlock new goodies to help you on your next run. (Some people distiguish between roguelikes and “roguelites,” with the latter including permanent, between-run upgrades. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll use “roguelike” as an umbrella term).
It sounds like you’re really passionate about roguelikes! It’s great to see someone embrace their gaming interests so wholeheartedly. Enjoy the journey, and may your runs be ever fruitful!
Absolutely! Roguelikes have such a unique appeal with their randomization and replayability. It’s fascinating how each run can lead to completely different experiences, keeping players engaged for hours. Have you found any particular game elements that keep you coming back for more?
I totally agree! The unpredictability of roguelikes really keeps things fresh and exciting. Plus, the challenge of learning from each run adds a rewarding layer to the experience. It’s fascinating how they can blend strategy and skill in such engaging ways!
I completely understand where you’re coming from! The unpredictability does add a layer of thrill. It’s also interesting how each run can feel like a completely new experience, making it easy to lose track of time while playing.
Absolutely, the unpredictability is definitely a big draw! It’s fascinating how each run can feel so different, keeping you on your toes. Have you found any particular roguelikes that really stand out for their unique mechanics?