Rogue

About

"Rogue is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game, where each playthrough is unique due to randomly generated rooms and items. Battle enemies, gather equipment, and discover magical spells in your quest for the Amulet of Yendor. This version, Epyx Rogue , was one of the earliest commercial distributions for IBM PC."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 302 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

Rogue is a classic game that started the roguelike genre, offering a simple yet addictive gameplay experience.
The game features procedurally generated dungeons, ensuring that each playthrough is unique and engaging.
Despite its age, Rogue remains fun and challenging, making it a worthwhile experience for both nostalgic players and newcomers.

The control scheme is complex and not well-explained, requiring players to look up guides or manuals to understand how to play effectively.
The game can feel overly punishing due to its reliance on RNG, leading to frustrating moments where players may die unexpectedly.
There are better, free alternatives available that offer more polished gameplay and features, making the paid version feel less justified.

graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The graphics of the game are primarily ASCII characters, which some players find charming and nostalgic, while others consider them dated and uninteresting. Despite the lack of modern visuals, many reviewers appreciate the simplicity and the way the graphics allow for imaginative gameplay. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in a classic roguelike experience, with gameplay taking precedence over visual appeal.
- “The graphics do their job and leave plenty of room for your imagination.”
- “The ASCII graphics are charming, and the game works perfectly under DOSBox.”
- “Still extremely playable and aesthetically pleasing to this day.”
- “The graphics are ASCII code characters which make up everything.”
- “The visuals make Dwarf Fortress look like a graphical marvel.”
- “The graphics may be simple, well non-existent in this version, just ASCII characters, and sounds are almost absent; it's still fun to play if you're into adventuring with your imagination as a companion.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The gameplay of Rogue is generally regarded as solid and enjoyable, especially for fans of ASCII RPGs, despite its archaic feel and simple mechanics. While some players note that it lacks polish compared to modern alternatives, its challenging and addictive nature, along with its historical significance, make it a worthwhile experience for those willing to invest time in it. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its innovation and lasting influence on the genre, even if it may not appeal to everyone due to its simplicity and outdated graphics.
- “I really enjoy the gameplay, it's everything that I expected.”
- “The difficulty of the game mechanics combined with its simplicity keeps Rogue fun, even after all these years.”
- “This game is one of the ancestors of many modern games, and really was ahead of its time regarding gameplay features.”
- “I cannot recommend Rogue on Steam when there are way better alternatives that are free to play and offer much more polished and advanced gameplay systems.”
- “Aside from those minor gripes, the gameplay is still really solid and it is absolutely understandable why people wanted to imitate and expand upon the game.”
- “For the price, there is no graphics, soundtrack, and there is barely any gameplay.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game's story, reminiscent of classic RPGs, revolves around a rogue's quest to find the Amulet of Yendor in the Dungeons of Doom, with the narrative primarily presented in the manual. However, the lore has undergone significant changes, transforming the rogue's backstory from a guild initiate to an immortal adventurer trapped in a cycle of resurrection. Players appreciate the straightforward quest structure, contrasting it with more story-heavy games that detract from gameplay.
- “The game’s story is presented in the manual, where it is explained that your quest as a rogue is to find the Amulet of Yendor in the Dungeons of Doom.”
- “The lore of the game changed significantly; the story of who the rogue is transformed from someone trying to gain initiation into a guild to an immortal adventurer trapped in a dungeon, caught in an endless loop of resurrection.”
- “And so the story began... after some time playing, the story became a legend, and then the legend became a myth...”
- “This is how RPGs should be, not some story-heavy leading you around to talk to people trash with poor combat.”
- “The game lore changed; the story of who the rogue is got completely changed in the manual. He went from someone trying to gain initiation into a guild to an immortal adventurer trapped in a dungeon, caught in an endless loop of resurrection.”
- “Like older games, the game’s story is presented in the manual, where it is stated that your quest as a rogue is to find the Amulet of Yendor in the Dungeons of Doom.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the freedom to listen to their own music, citing it as a positive feature of the ASCII format, others criticize the complete lack of a soundtrack, viewing it as a limitation. Overall, the absence of music allows for a more personalized gaming experience, though it may not appeal to those seeking a traditional audio-visual experience.
- “The graphics are aaa and the unforgettable music score enhances the overall experience.”
- “You can listen to whatever music you want, allowing for a personalized gaming atmosphere.”
- “Once you get the hang of the controls, this game surprisingly holds up well and is perfect for playing with a podcast or chill music.”
- “There is no soundtrack, because it is an ASCII game.”
- “Also for the price, there is no graphics, soundtrack, and there is barely any gameplay.”
- “Its music to tell you when to feel emotions.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for its lightheartedness and clever references, particularly the amusing juxtaposition of a rogue character within the roguelike genre. Players find the comedic elements enjoyable, enhancing their overall experience.
- “Funny thing, I did a similar game in college for my programming class using C++ and I had so much fun.”
- “It's funny to see rogue among roguelikes.”
- “Funny thing is, it's still sooo cool!”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players consistently highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting its fun and challenging nature that encourages repeated play for high scores or casual enjoyment. This aspect is not only integral to the game's appeal but also reflects its significance in gaming culture and history.
- “Not only is it fun, challenging, and extremely replayable (if you like playing for a high score or just for fun in the moment) -- it's also an important part of gaming culture and history!”
- “I have put a lot of time into this game; the replay value is extraordinary.”
- “Oh yeah, I also highly recommend this game... what else is there to say but the fact it's fun and replayable?”
- “The game lacks any real incentive to replay it after finishing the main story.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little reason to go back and play it again.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”