What is a Rogue-Lite (Roguelite)?

Ah, the vocabulary of video games! It’s complicated and ever-changing. Here, we’re going to talk about the difference between Rogue-like and Rogue-lite games, and you may discover that you often play one thinking it’s the other.

Defining a Rogue-like game is not an easy task. A "true" Rogue-like is based on three main aspects: permanent death (when the character dies, you lose everything you’ve gathered, and the game, the "Run," is over), procedural levels (with each new game, the levels are randomly recreated), and often a turn-based combat system. As a result, "true" Rogue-likes are quite rare these days.

For the past decade or so, gamers have favored Rogue-lite games, which are less punishing.

Rogue-lites, or lighter versions of Rogue-like games, use some of its mechanics: procedural level generation, but combined with other genres like action or tactics.

Unlike Rogue-likes, which are endless, Rogue-lites have an end, usually revealed after a final boss fight.

The concept of permanent death is also much lighter. In a Rogue-lite, death after death, you’ll gradually improve your character, making them stronger with each attempt.
This less punishing mechanic encourages players to try again and again, if only to collect rare items to upgrade their character.
Some Rogue-lites are also similar to hack’n’slash in that the main character becomes stronger over time through item collection (weapons, armor, specific powers). However, this type of game is not focused on RPG; there are few interactions with non-playable characters (NPCs), and the game proceeds through "runs."
Others, like For The King, for example, are described as a blend of Rogue-lite and turn-based board games.

It’s no coincidence that these games are often made by independent studios: these mechanics, which push the player to replay the same types of levels in loops, greatly increase the lifespan of a game, but only if the art direction encourages the player to return. The most enjoyable ones have excellent art direction, ranging from reworked pixel art to delightfully retro music.

For some, Rogue-lite doesn’t exist. They prefer to say that Rogue-like is an evolving genre, one that warmly embraces all titles that transform it.

It’s up to you to make up your mind.

We recommend three totally different styles: