Roguelike

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A name used to describe random dungeon type video game RPGs, often using ASCII-like graphics. The name was coined from the eponymous 1980 computer game Rogue. Neckbeards have an inveterate fondness for these, and they are one of the few vidjyas one can mention on /tg/ without generating apocalyptic nerd rage.

Typical definitions for Roguelikes

Rogue! Its the epic tale of some guy who needs to find some amulet. Why? Because fuck you.

Roguelikes generally have minimalistic graphics, most often just using ASCII and colors to represent everything with a surprising amount of detail once you get used to it. Although the games differ greatly in scope and approach they generally have a few things in common. Levels and items are procedurally generated, usually starting unidentified so the player is forced to expend valuable resources IDing them or risk drinking poison like a retard. Combat is turn based, tactical and brutal. Death is swift and irrevocable, and just to add insult to injury the game usually deletes your save file for good measure.

Notable Roguelikes

• Rogue

The great granpappy of all Roguelikes. Looks like chewed over ass and plays about as well but you'd better have some motherfucking respect, this thing basically created the modern gaming industry.

• Nethack

Arguably the most balanced traditional roguelike. Doesn't take itself too seriously. It's known for creating a subgenre called "hacklikes", which put a greater focus on resource management, improvisation, secret knowledge and spectacular, brilliantly bullshit zany schemes.

• Dungeon Crawl

Severely fun roguelike, occasionally quite imbalanced, with an insane set of classes, races, and gods. Also has one of the most diverse dungeon environments. Stone Soup version has a kickass tileset, an improved mouse-optional interface, more classes, more races, more gods, and more of generally everything. /tg/'s preferred roguelike. Sadly, in recent years it has been on the decline, gutting itself with each successive update.

• Doom RL

It's Doom, as a Roguelike. /tg/'s current second favorite behind Stone Soup. Wickedly difficult, prepare to have your anus ripped and torn.

• Ancient Domains of Mystery

A German roguelike set in a large mountain chain with many dark caverns where the forces of law and chaos do battle for the fate of the universe. A gazillion different skills to upgrade and feats to take. The biggest flaw of the game is that many elements are not randomized, requiring you to trudge through them over and over every time you die.

• Castle of the Winds

Old-skool roguelike made in the glory days of Windows 3.1 shareware. Has a tileset.

• Incursion: Halls of the Goblin King

In the words of the author "Incursion is a traditional roguelike", and it is very influenced by D&D. You have to descend through multiple floors of caverns to reach the Goblin King and slay him. Plans include an outside world but that's for future releases.

• Tales of Maj’Eyal

A solid, graphical roguelike (with a side option for ASCII players), with relatively deep lore and a heavy "quest" focus (in other words, multiple dungeons and a few puzzles). A heavily tactical focus, with lots of class skills limited by cooldowns. Available in a free version, and a purchasable Steam version; the latter is only required if you want to play the expansions. (Two so far: A mini-expansion that brings a lot more Demons, and some demon-related classes, and a full new campaign about attacking what you achieved in the original campaign.)

Realtime Roguelikes

If it's not turn based, and it's not more of a strategy game (see below), it goes here.

• Red Rogue

Action roguelike written in Flash, intended as a sequel to the original Rogue. The flash file is small and you can save it locally to play without a net connection. Open-source, and dude writes articles about his design decisions.

• FTL: Faster Than Light

Babby's first roguelite. Currently popular due to regularly being on special offer on Steam, this multiple award winning game describes itself as "a real time Roguelike-like IN SPESS". A good way to ease into the genre.

• The Binding Of Isaac

A roguelite shooter by Edmund McMillend, avalaible on Steam. What it lacks in fantasy (or sci-fi) ambientation, it more than makes up for it in sheer WTFery.

• Sunless Sea

Maritime roguelite available on Steam. Should appeal to fans of the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

"Roguelites"

Roguelikes that the player playing more than one "character" (a single ship is allowed to count as a "character" here), or are fundamentally strategy games rather than RPGs (but are still procedural death labyrinths) go here.

• Dwarf Fortress

If you don't know what this is how did you even get here? Its got motherfucking dwarves, mining, goblin sieges, every other goddamn thing you could imagine, and a bunch you couldn't. Not strictly speaking a roguelike as much as a strategy sim but we can't stay mad at it.

• Darkest Dungeon:

What would happen to the people who went into a dungeon, fought monsters and (if they were lucky) came back? The answer: bad things. A solid game with an incredible visual design and audio, you have to manage a platoon of "heroes" by sending them into dungeons, where they can become sickened, scared physically and mentally in order to get loot to build you estate up. In it's own way it's more grimdark then 40k is.

• CATACLYSM: Dark Days Ahead

Cataclysm DDA is what happens when you take people from the Bay forums with a sizable knowlege of C++, and have them create a Sci-fi equivalent of Dwarf Fortress Adventure Mode. This game starts you off at Day-0 of every apocalypse imaginable happening at the same time. It's key features include a Crafting system with literally thousands of unique items, a highly robust combat system reminiscent of Dwarf Fortress, and a vehicle creation system so robust, you can make a Life-sized LAND RAIDER in it. Don't believe me about the land raider? Here it is: [[1]]

Oh, and tilesets are available, with a menu-option to enable or disable the graphics if you still prefer the feel of ASCII