Randomness and Fun
Rogue-lite games are my favorite type of video game to play.
Why do I love this specific genre of games so much? I am going to explain why I play these games the most. Outside of a few specific games like Xcom and Xcom 2, almost all of my Steam hours are in this genre of games.
First We Must Have an Understanding
First, let’s get what some of you think is pretentious out of the way.
Rogue-likes and rogue-lites are not the same. I don’t care what other gamers, developers, and publishers say. You are wrong.
Rogue-like games are like Rogue. The ancient turn-based tile game. It’s on Steam apparently.
Most games on Steam that claim to be rogue-like are nothing like this. They just want a marketing buzzword. The next time you think a game is rogue-like, explain what features of Rogue or similar games it has. Why is it rogue-like?
Most games people think are rogue-likes are probably more like rogue-lites. These games might have a single feature similar to Rogue, and the rest of the gameplay is entirely different. To me, this is like saying (American) football and basketball are the same sport. Both games have players who run around with balls. Totally the same thing, right?
I prefer rogue-lite games and I don’t like most traditional rogue-like games. So, to me, a game not being rogue-like is not an insult or anything.
Now, there is some grey area. For example, is The Binding of Isaac a rogue-like or a rogue-lite? I call it a rogue-like. It has most of the features Rogue has except different movements.
Anyway, I want to avoid getting too bogged down in this. I can make another post for that. But for clarification, when I say rogue-lite, I am referring to games that are different than rogue-likes.
I Like Shorter Games
Most rogue-lite games are short.
Things get muddled when you consider games with consistent progress and goals. For example, Rogue Legacy 1 or 2.
But if we limit what we consider a session to being one life, then most rogue-lite games are about an hour or two at maximum. I can’t think of a rogue-lite that takes hours to beat in a single session. Not playing normally anyway.
I can beat Downwell in as little as about 15 minutes! Downwell is one of my favorite rogue-lite games. A session of the Binding of Isaac Rebirth can last over two hours. But that is me going out of my way to do things some players probably never waste time doing.
As I have gotten older, my attention span has worsened. I want short games that don’t take weeks or even months to beat.
I love that you can make quick progress in rogue-lites. If it only takes an hour to win or lose, I can make much progress playing the game. These games are often accessible to jump back in as well.
Every New Run Is a Different Experience
Most rogue-lites have randomly generated levels or content. Every rogue-lites run is a little different. I like the excitement this randomness brings. There are so many possible outcomes.
I have played The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for over 1000 hours. But I still see new things in rooms sometimes.
Now, I should state that random systems have limits. Play the same game long enough, and you will recognize random rooms. But even then, I still have fun with most rogue-lite games.
A game with some fixed and random elements mixed in works very well for me. I can’t think of any particular rogue-lite that is bad because of random generation.
I Like Beating the Same Game Many Times
I enjoy playing the same short games many times. I have lost count of how many times I have beaten my favorite rogue-lites games. I especially love it when games show you how many times you win in a row. I like how The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth does this.
Being able to beat the same game many times allows me to master the game. I love learning everything possible about rogue-lites. I go out of my way to study the game by reading, wikis, watching videos, and anything else.
You can get good at beating any game, though. That is pretty much what most speed runners do. But I don’t feel the urge to replay most games often outside of specific games. But I plan on playing rogue-lite games until I can no longer hold a controller or use a mouse and keyboard.
I Like the Gameplay Focus in Rogue-Lite Games
Now, this one is a bit vague. I will explain this section very well.
I like playing video games because the controls and the minute-to-minute gameplay feel good. Just look at any of my game reviews. I write paragraphs describing gameplay and then write one sentence about how the game looks.
I rarely play games because of the story. I am not playing games to bond with other people. All that matters to me is this game is fun to play. By that, am I enjoying the game goals and controls? Do I feel a compelling urge to win?
Rogue-lite games often focus on how fun each tiny session or run feels. I also tend to like more challenging games because they can be exciting. A game like Spelunky or Spelunky 2 has me covered.
I can’t name any particular rogue-lite that feels bad when playing. I am sure these games exist. But I am good at picking rogue-lite games I will like.
You can eat a bland meal but still feel full and somewhat satisfied. I rarely play any games that invoke a feeling worse than that. I am also pretty lenient. So factor that in as well.
Rogue-Lites Give Me a Reason to Write
I enjoy writing about the games I like the most. So, I often write about rogue-lite games. Even when considering new games I have not played, I am more likely to try a rogue-lite game first, even if it is for my blog.
I have to force myself to try different game genres. That is how much I like rogue-lite games.
Rogue-lite games give me a reason to write and something to write about. Expect to see many reviews and guides on my website about these games.