Plenty of gamers are curious about the differences between roguelikes and roguelites, and today we’re going to try and give some answers.
Similarly to the way that aspects of the RPG genres have slowly infiltrated every other genre, so to roguelike elements have become more and more prevalent in all types of games. These can include a plethora of things, starting with randomized levels/items and so forth all the way to a gameplay style focused on individual “runs” instead of a linear campaign. So let’s get to the bottom of why all of these mechanics are so succesful.
What is a Roguelike?
The term roguelike was coined during the 90s as a nod to one of the first games that introduced mechanics familiar to fans of the genre. This game was called Rogue and came out in 1980 for PC-like platforms of the time like the Amiga, Commodore, and many more. While the game might look like an amalgamation of dots and lines, it did shape the future of the genre by introducing unique concepts like randomly generated levels and items as well abilities that your character can use. Permadeath is also a very important part of the game, forcing you to start over after each failed run. But this is part of the magic for the roguelike genre since every run will be completely unique.
Despite the success that Rogue gained throughout the 80s, the genre didn’t really become widely popular. Plenty of games tried to either copy certain elements of Rogue or create straight copies, with various amounts of success. But the last 10 to 15 years have seen a huge resurgence of the roguelike genre, with absolute gems like The Binding of Isaac, Hades, and many more coming out. If you want to try out some great roguelikes maybe take a look at our best roguelike games list.
And while these are pretty difficult games to get into, once you do get the hang of it the fun truly begins. That aspect is at the core of the gameplay loop for any successful roguelike. You start off, and you’re horrible. Enemies are brutal, you don’t know what any item or powerup does, and you are generally confused. But if you take the time to learn all these things, everything will start clicking, and you’ll finish your first run before you know it. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Truly learning and mastering a roguelike can take hundreds of hours, but if you enjoy the mechanics that means hundreds of hours of fun.
What is a Roguelite?
While a roguelike emphasizes a more varied playstyle and a whole plethora of complex items/abilities/mechanics that you need to grasp, roguelites are a bit different. While they also maintain some of these randomized elements, they generally do it in a smaller package. A good example would be the latest trend of roguelites like Vampire Survivors or Brotato that focus on easy controls and a nigh-infinite number of enemies you must take out. You also have weapons and abilities that you can mix and match but in a limited capacity compared to a fully-fledged roguelike.
But this is what can make roguelites capable of a wider variety of genres that they can take and make their own. The fact that only a few mechanics need to be shifted and adjusted to fit a particular genre makes things a lot easier for developers. But there are certain limitations since roguelites do have to emphasize simplicity and a rather short gameplay loop. And since the genre is growing in popularity, check out our best roguelite games list.
Complexity with a capital C
So, to put it plainly, the main differences between roguelikes and roguelites are the scope and complexity. Whereas roguelikes can be rather complex games that require a lot of time and effort to fully grasp, roguelites are easier to get into and aren’t as complex. If you’re a fan of roguelike mechanics, both can scratch the same itch even though in different packages.
