Rogue Legacy

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,907 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • humor
Rogue Legacy Game Cover
Rogue Legacy mixes up genres and, through some inspired design choices, brings out the best in both. A deep and challenging game designed for small sessions and maximum satisfaction.
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"Rogue Legacy" is a procedurally generated action-platformer game where you control a succession of unique characters from a single family tree. Traits such as OCD, poor vision, or sexual orientation are randomly assigned to each new character upon death, adding a layer of replayability and unpredictability. Choose your heirs wisely and manage your gold strategically to delve deeper into the castle and uncover its secrets.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Epic Games
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,907 reviews
gameplay719 positive mentions
grinding627 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,713 mentions

    The gameplay of "Rogue Legacy" is characterized by its blend of roguelike mechanics and metroidvania-style exploration, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience. Players navigate procedurally generated dungeons, facing a variety of enemies while utilizing a unique heir system that introduces random traits affecting gameplay, which keeps each run fresh and engaging. While the game is praised for its tight controls and addictive nature, some players note that it can become repetitive and grindy over time, particularly due to the high difficulty and reliance on upgrades.

    • “The gameplay is challenging yet rewarding, with tight controls and precise combat mechanics that make every encounter feel intense and exhilarating.”
    • “With its addictive gameplay, clever mechanics, and endless replayability, it's sure to keep you coming back for more, generation after generation.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple but very efficient, and Castle Hamson is a pleasure to explore.”
    • “The gameplay tends to become repetitive at some point.”
    • “The gameplay isn't particularly thrilling or interesting, and the instant they throw you in it is super hard.”
    • “The gameplay loop isn't enjoyable.”
  • music654 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its catchy and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be fantastic and reminiscent of classic chiptune styles, others note that it can become repetitive over time, particularly in certain areas. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its limited variety.

    • “Fantastic game, awesome soundtrack.”
    • “The music is beautifully composed, and it makes so much sense when you play it; depending on your location, a different soundtrack will play, and they fit the theme so well.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal and the whole family tree aspect makes this game one you don't want to miss out on.”
    • “The settings and setup are very confusing to navigate, and the music is mediocre at best.”
    • “The soundtrack is pretty bland.”
    • “The music is forgettable.”
  • humor653 mentions

    The humor in "Rogue Legacy" is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the quirky and often hilarious traits assigned to characters, such as color blindness or flatulence. Many reviews note that the game's blend of challenging gameplay and comedic elements creates a lighthearted atmosphere, making repeated deaths feel less frustrating and more entertaining. Overall, the humor is described as charming, engaging, and integral to the game's appeal, contributing to its addictive nature and replayability.

    • “You respawn as one of your descendants, each blessed (or cursed) with random traits that range from mildly inconvenient to downright hilarious.”
    • “The humor in the writing, the mini-games, the progression system, quirks and traits, spells, equipment and classes all form the perfect tools and mechanics to explore a randomly generated environment crawling with challenging fights and tempting, sometimes impossible to obtain (in that life) loot.”
    • “The game has a good sense of humor with many of the traits, and default hero names.”
    • “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making the experience less enjoyable.”
    • “While the game tries to be funny, most of the jokes miss the mark and feel outdated.”
    • “The attempts at humor are hit or miss, with many jokes feeling more cringeworthy than clever.”
  • grinding639 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as excessively tedious and repetitive, often feeling like a necessary but unenjoyable part of progression. While some appreciate the grind for its role in character development and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges, others find it frustrating, especially when combined with imprecise controls and a lack of enemy variety. Overall, the game is characterized by a heavy emphasis on grinding, which can detract from the enjoyment for those who prefer skill-based progression over repetitive farming.

    • “Old school gamers will appreciate the challenge - and it's a real challenge, because the bar raises each time you buy an upgrade, so you have to get farther and farther into the castle to continue affording new upgrades (that means no farming!).”
    • “The random dungeon system makes you feel like you're not being tedious with every run, which is well done for a rogue game.”
    • “Not too grindy once you get the hang of it.”
    • “The game is incredibly grindy.”
    • “Even if you did manage to get enough gold in your previous run, most upgrades are tiny single point stat increases, making it all feel like a grindy slogfest.”
    • “The grinding in a lot of games gets old after a while, but rogue legacy has the perfect way of still making it entertaining, and there are a few brick walls that can't be won just because you have a maxed castle.”
  • replayability618 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by its random level generation, diverse character traits, and the New Game+ feature that increases difficulty. Many players find the gameplay addictive and engaging, with a variety of classes and upgrades that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some critiques mention that replay value may diminish after extensive play, particularly once players have fully upgraded their characters or completed the game multiple times.

    • “With its addictive gameplay, clever mechanics, and endless replayability, it's sure to keep you coming back for more, generation after generation.”
    • “The replayability is endless!”
    • “Rogue Legacy is a fun, addictive game with lots of replayability.”
    • “One, it turns the game into a massive skinner box; two, it defeats the entire purpose of a rogue-inspired game of restarting from square one to force you to make good choices in runs because getting stronger between runs removes any stakes of death as well as removing consistency; three, it means that the game is either too difficult or too easy depending on your progress; four, it basically invalidates the early areas of the game and makes them serve no purpose when you get too strong; five, it results in permanent boredom which kills replay value; and six, without stakes of death, consistency, a set difficulty, and no replay value, you end up not making a rogue-inspired game and just make either an RPG with less content or an idle game without idle content.”
    • “I'm not convinced on the replayability as I finished the game in about 16 hours and have been messing around in New Game+ since.”
    • “The replayability is next to endless.”
  • graphics564 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic 16-bit games, reminiscent of titles like "Ghosts and Goblins" and "Castlevania." While some players appreciate the simplicity and aesthetic appeal, others criticize the graphics as dated or lacking depth, with mixed opinions on their overall quality and execution. Despite these varying views, the visuals generally complement the gameplay, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable experience.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and easy to look at, unlike other pixel art games.”
    • “The pixel art style is charming and complements the game's nostalgic appeal.”
    • “The graphics are sharp and clear, with a lovely retro feel that enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The graphics are ugly.”
    • “Mushy controls, bad graphics, and low production values all around make Rogue Legacy a worse Infernax and a much worse Hades.”
    • “The graphics are pretty crap honestly.”
  • story549 mentions

    The story in "Rogue Legacy" is minimal and primarily conveyed through journal entries scattered throughout the castle, detailing the legacy of a family on a quest to avenge a fallen king. While the narrative is not the main focus of the game, it adds a layer of intrigue and humor, with players often finding the lore engaging enough to encourage exploration. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, which is the primary draw of the roguelike experience.

    • “It's a great roguelite with a surprisingly good story, but it excels in the gameplay.”
    • “The story is portrayed throughout the game with little journals left by one of the characters, so you find yourself looking all over the castle just to try and fit together the whole story, which, for a game like this, is surprisingly moving and deep.”
    • “The story is simple: you must find the traitor, who killed the king, inside a cursed castle.”
    • “In fact, very little in this game makes sense, story-wise.”
    • “It isn’t a game meant to be experienced for its story, and the story - the lore - is not even really meant to be considered.”
    • “The story is pretty short and at the end I never thought there could be a deeper meaning in this game.”
  • emotional43 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional response to the game, describing it as a challenging yet rewarding experience that evokes feelings of frustration, joy, and even tears. The combination of punishing mechanics, such as taking damage from merely touching enemies, alongside well-written narratives and impactful endings, creates a rollercoaster of emotions that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to make them feel a sense of progression and connection, despite its mechanical frustrations.

    • “I can say after fully experiencing the game, even hitting the 'thanatophobia' achievement, that no other game I own has made me feel like my heart is going to explode so much.”
    • “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
    • “This game is an emotional rollercoaster, one of the best stories I have ever read.”
  • atmosphere38 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of engaging visuals, captivating music, and a charming yet challenging environment. Reviewers highlight the effective use of soundtracks that enhance the overall experience, creating a memorable and immersive setting that draws players in. While some mention minor issues with gameplay mechanics, the overall ambiance and humor contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The atmosphere created by the visuals and audio will creep into your soul.”
    • “A charming atmosphere, a pleasant, easily playable mix between rogue-likes and permanent progression, and an insanely addictive feedback loop makes this game hard to put down.”
    • “Each zone is unique and atmospheric, the soundtrack is fitting for the environments, and everything comes together wonderfully.”
    • “It reminds me of playing Ghouls & Ghosts on the Mega Drive, except with less visual variety and atmosphere.”
    • “The cumulative effect of this is to create an atmosphere of wildly spiraling inflation.”
    • “This game is deceptively simple and surprisingly deep; it will have you traversing four different areas, each giving you little time to take in a changed atmosphere before they pummel you with new enemy types and an insensitive difficulty spike.”
  • stability27 mentions

    The game's stability is generally mixed, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, including visual issues, character movement problems, and occasional game-breaking errors. While some players find the game runs well on certain platforms, others experience significant stability issues, particularly on Windows 10 and OSX, leading to crashes or freezes. Overall, while the core gameplay remains intact for most, the presence of bugs can detract from the experience.

    • “A brilliant, addictive game that runs great on almost any PC or laptop; you can jump in for just a run and it will always feel like you are making a bit of progress.”
    • “It has some unbalances but it is almost bug-free, great gameplay, lots of replayability through New Game+ and there is just nothing bad to say about it.”
    • “Highly addictive game with great music! Also, if you're a streamer, the game runs great while streaming (no frame drops, runs smooth even when streaming at 60 fps).”
    • “0/10 on Windows 10 - won't launch, even after a lot of troubleshooting and many people experiencing this issue for a long time.”
    • “These are mostly visual bugs, like effects persisting, and are usually fixed by leaving and re-entering a room, but I've also had my character teleport into a wall and get stuck, forcing me to restart the game, and other more troubling glitches.”
    • “The OSX version also suffers from periodic freezes or stutters.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on high-end systems and performs well during streaming, users report significant performance issues on low-end hardware and with certain character traits that can drastically reduce frame rates. Some players experience stuttering and technical problems, making the game unplayable at times, despite its engaging gameplay and humor. The optimization appears to favor high-end graphics cards, leaving those with mid to low-end setups struggling with sluggish performance.

    • “Performance: no issues running on both my Steam Deck and desktop PC.”
    • “All in all a well optimized and supported game.”
    • “Highly addictive game with great music :) also if you're a streamer the game runs great while streaming (no frame drops, runs smooth even when streaming at 60 fps first PC game I have tested for streaming to run smoothly on my PC).”
    • “While Rogue Legacy is a fun game to a degree, the constant stuttering and technical problems make this unplayable sometimes.”
    • “The game seems strangely unoptimized considering what's happening on screen.”
    • “Optimization leaves something to be desired.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and variety offered through inherited traits and unlockable abilities, others find the options limited and the overall experience repetitive. The game features a robust system that can engage dedicated players for extended periods, but the lack of meaningful story progression and character variety detracts from the experience for some. Overall, the character design and development mechanics receive praise for their humor and nostalgic appeal, despite criticisms regarding execution and visual quality.

    • “The long game of character development, inherited traits, armor/rune stat/ability unlocks, and the infinite random nature of the castle are equally enjoyable.”
    • “With procedurally generated levels and a deeply robust character development system, Rogue Legacy will hold your attention for weeks.”
    • “Less avid gamers will enjoy the light-hearted humor, the sense of growth and character development from the castle improvements, and the plethora of options and combinations to choose from.”
    • “Might finish just to 100% if I can, but it's a slog with no reward for doing so, unlike Rogue Legacy 2 where you get story tidbits and side character development even on unsuccessful runs, not just gold down the drain like here.”
    • “Cons: terrible difficulty gradient, it's bragged about 'randomness' and 'variation' is at such a small scale that the game feels incredibly repetitive within a few hours, adolescent character designs and bland textures.”
    • “I would've liked to see a little more effort in the character design, as there isn't much variety, but the developer did a good job of making it funny by simply sticking a pink ribbon on the female characters' heads.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the fair pricing and lack of DLCs or microtransactions, others criticize it for being a cash grab and including in-game advertisements for other titles. Overall, the game's value is seen as strong, particularly for those who enjoy its challenging gameplay.

    • “Rogue Legacy is totally worth the asking price of $14.99 (as of late 2014), as it doesn't have any DLCs or microtransactions. It's developed by indie developers and it's just a great game overall.”
    • “Just a cash grab.”
    • “It's filled with in-game advertisements; yes, for other games by the same company, but advertisements still.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

Buy Rogue Legacy

Play time

22hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
16hMain story
38hCompletionist
10-46hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 75 analyzed playthroughs

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