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Rogue Lords

While charming in its use of gothic horror themes and tropes, Rogue Lords barely does enough to stand out from previous turn-based dungeon crawlers.
Rogue Lords Game Cover
70%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, stability
67% User Score Based on 818 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Rogue Lords Game Cover

About

Rogue Lords is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Cyanide Studio and was released on September 30, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Rogue Lords, you play as the devil, reaping souls and commanding a dark council of minions in a roguelike adventure. You'll need to balance resources, manage your minions, and outsmart enemy agents to succeed. Each playthrough offers unique challenges, with procedurally generated levels and an array of skills and relics to discover. Your choices and strategies will determine the fate of your dark dominion.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
Rogue Lords screenshot
+4
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67%
Audience ScoreBased on 818 reviews
gameplay153 positive mentions
grinding33 negative mentions
  • Great art style and atmosphere, with engaging character designs and voice acting.
  • Unique mechanics, particularly the 'Devil Mode' that allows players to manipulate combat and events.
  • Challenging gameplay that rewards strategic thinking and careful planning.
  • Significant difficulty spikes that can feel unfair, especially in later chapters.
  • Repetitive gameplay due to limited enemy variety and long run times.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • gameplay
    375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Rogue Lords" is characterized by its unique "devil mode" mechanic, which allows players to manipulate game rules at a cost, adding a layer of strategy and risk/reward to encounters. While the game features a rich atmosphere and innovative mechanics, many players find the gameplay challenging due to balancing issues, unclear mechanics, and a reliance on RNG, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a complex and engaging experience, but its steep learning curve and occasional bugs may deter some players.

    • “What makes Rogue Lords unique is the integration of its 'devil mode' mechanic, which allows you to literally cheat the game’s rules in exchange for a resource called diabolic essence.”
    • “The combination of strategy, role-playing, and deck-building mechanics creates a unique gameplay experience, and the game's striking visuals and atmospheric music help to immerse players in its dark and gothic world.”
    • “The devil's essence is a really interesting mechanic that adds an interesting level to the strategy of it all, and even though they call it cheating it's just part of the mechanics, not cheating.”
    • “The initial allure of its setting and mechanics is hard to sustain in the face of its balancing issues and unforgiving difficulty.”
    • “The gameplay is very buggy and the balance isn't great.”
    • “The mechanics are overwhelming; there are so many different mechanics in play that, at first, you have no idea what's going on.”
  • story
    218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story, while not groundbreaking, offers a unique premise where players assume the role of the devil commanding disciples in a quest against Van Helsing. The narrative is presented through a series of chapters that blend engaging lore with gameplay, though it can become repetitive over time due to limited variety in missions and character interactions. Overall, the storytelling is complemented by beautiful visuals and voice acting, making it enjoyable despite some critiques regarding its depth and pacing.

    • “The game really has a lot of personality, even with its story being ultimately a little forgettable.”
    • “The story framing of being the devil and the characters your disciple in a revenge quest against Van Helsing is a pretty fun concept; the book framing and narration is fine.”
    • “Great storytelling and voice work, the theme is fine and everything else is okay at the absolute best.”
    • “The story is weak; I think an inferred narrative would have been more effective.”
    • “The story felt like it offered little more than a backdrop.”
    • “Too much repetitiveness, too much sameness, since the story doesn't really hold your attention that much.”
  • graphics
    152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their striking gothic aesthetic, unique art style, and detailed animations that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and atmospheric visuals that complement the game's dark themes, although some criticize the graphics for being inconsistent or not as polished as expected. Overall, the visuals are a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive quality.

    • “The art direction oozes style, embracing a painterly, gothic aesthetic that feels both elegant and sinister.”
    • “The dark, gothic atmosphere is visually striking, with an art style that perfectly complements the game's eerie and fantastical world.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and has a strong identity of its own.”
    • “Horrible graphics.”
    • “There's not much to say, the game's graphics are too stiff and not as good as those of mobile games.”
    • “This is an odd game to review, I don't think I have seen such a big gap between gameplay quality and graphic quality.”
  • atmosphere
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its rich, dark, and gothic aesthetic, evoking a haunting fairytale world through stunning visuals, atmospheric music, and engaging voice-over narration. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by the combination of art direction, sound design, and thematic elements, although some note that the slow progression may detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay and drawing players into its eerie and fantastical setting.

    • “The environments are richly atmospheric, featuring moonlit forests, burning villages, and cursed landscapes that evoke the feel of a dark fairytale.”
    • “Visually, the game is stunning, with dark, gothic art that perfectly captures the eerie atmosphere.”
    • “The game is presented as a dark fairy tale, complete with striking visuals, atmospheric music, and voice-over narration that brings the world and characters to life.”
    • “The atmosphere is darkish.”
    • “Too bad though, because I love the atmosphere.”
    • “Really love the dark atmosphere of the game and the medieval legends; you can really tell that a lot of love for evil went into the game.”
  • grinding
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the progression slow and tedious, particularly in the early hours and during battles. While some enjoy the unique character skills and strategies, the repetitive nature of fights, long traversal times, and the need for significant investment to unlock upgrades can lead to frustration and a lack of motivation to continue. Overall, players recommend caution, suggesting the game may feel overly grindy and tedious, especially for those seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “Each of the characters are very unique and interesting to play, with lots of different skills to unlock (and not all that grindy) - Dracula and Baron Samedi are my favorites.”
    • “Progression between runs can be slow as well; unlocking new disciples, relics, or permanent upgrades requires significant investment, which can make early hours feel grindy.”
    • “A tedious, frustrating, repetitive, and unbalanced mess I bitterly regret buying.”
    • “Unlocking everything seems like a tedious job and there is not much motivation to continue at all.”
  • music
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the atmospheric and thematic elements with melancholic strings and brooding choirs that complement the dark fairy tale setting. While some players find the soundtrack catchy and immersive, others describe it as forgettable or lacking variety across different areas. Overall, the music effectively supports the game's gothic aesthetic, contributing positively to the overall experience without being overly memorable.

    • “The soundtrack complements this mood perfectly—melancholic strings, brooding choirs, and ominous whispers set the stage for your infernal crusade.”
    • “The game is presented as a dark fairy tale, complete with striking visuals, atmospheric music, and voice-over narration that brings the world and characters to life.”
    • “The music fits the theme just perfectly and the graphics are very aesthetic.”
    • “Music was instantly forgettable.”
    • “And then when you realize the music doesn't vary between areas, you'll mute that, too.”
    • “The music so far hasn't stood out as being anything to write home about, but it's inoffensive and seems to fit the mood well.”
  • replayability
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the high replay value due to diverse characters and dynamic gameplay. However, some express concerns about the randomness and linearity that can detract from the experience, while others note that certain mechanics, like hidden content and repetitive strategies, limit replay potential. Despite these criticisms, several reviews highlight the potential for significant replayability, especially with additional content or modes.

    • “The replay value is very high because all the characters play differently.”
    • “The map is always different, giving this game infinite replay value. There is a lot to enjoy here, and I hope to see them continue to add more things to the game.”
    • “Death as a part of your journey, as opposed to being the end of it, brings with it a considerable amount of replay value as you hone your strategy with new tools after each loss.”
    • “The same randomness that fuels its replayability can sometimes work against it.”
    • “As it is, the replayability is low, since after you defeat the main campaign books there's really nothing else to do.”
    • “Game really just doesn't have much replayability because the power climb is exactly the same every run - get terror up, focus on events and buff damage, then get skills, in that order every time.”
  • stability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with numerous players reporting significant bugs affecting gameplay, such as inconsistent damage and status effects, unresponsive interfaces, and broken achievements. While many appreciate the game's mechanics and visuals, the pervasive bugs detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among users. Despite some improvements since launch, the game's stability remains a major concern.

    • “I don't remember if it was the same the first time I played it, or maybe it's due to some updates, but currently the game is extremely buggy: damage or statuses sometimes work and sometimes don't, effects proc when they shouldn't and don't when they should, and some achievements don't work as they should - you can get an achievement 'you did x' when you didn't do x, and vice versa, no achievement for doing something that should give it.”
    • “Great concept and overall execution of the theme, however the gameplay is very buggy and the balance isn't great.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess.”
  • character development
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive character design and unique backstories, which add depth and intrigue. While many players appreciate the variety and creativity in character aesthetics, some express concerns about gameplay balance, particularly regarding character abilities and the impact of RNG on progression. Overall, the character design is well-received, contributing positively to the game's appeal.

    • “The character design and backstories of the characters really adds some nice spice to the game.”
    • “Fantastic lore and character design as well.”
    • “Great characters, great character development.”
    • “Woke character design; I've played nearly 20 hours and the only characters I've unlocked are women who greatly outshine the 2 men that you start with.”
    • “The character design, voice acting, and world design are all great.”
    • “The character design and backstories of the characters really add some nice spice to the game.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and quirky, with some players finding it genuinely funny despite its repetitive nature. While the initial comedic elements and voice lines can be amusing, they tend to lose their charm due to overuse, leading to a sense of annoyance for some players. Overall, the humor adds a unique touch to the experience, but its effectiveness may vary depending on individual tolerance for repetition.

    • “Very funny, the art is cool, and the combat can be psycho hard until you figure out the right combo of folks and skills.”
    • “The story was dark, a little messed up, and had a nice touch of dark humor.”
    • “It might be humorous at times and not take itself too seriously, but it is difficult, especially for people who thought this was a relaxed after-work game.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has seen improvements since the demo, with fewer major bugs reported; however, some users still experience occasional performance issues. While some complaints focus on gameplay challenges, others emphasize the importance of strategic team-building and skill selection for optimal performance. Overall, the optimization is a mixed bag, with progress made but still room for enhancement.

    • “These complaints about hard battles fail to see that their strategies are flawed and that effective team-building begins with optimization of skill and relic selection, recognizing that you cannot spread yourself thin, how to emphasize your advantages and minimize disadvantages.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's let down a little by the occasional bug and random performance issues.”
    • “But boy, is it a tricky performance!”
    • “They fixed a lot of the performance issues I saw during the demo week, so thus far no major bugs.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that the main menu contains remnants of a Discord advertisement, including links and text that are loaded but not displayed, suggesting potential issues with the monetization strategy or user interface.

    • “Not to forget, in the main menu there was probably once an advertisement for Discord.”
    • “At least images, Discord links, and an advertising text are loaded, but not displayed.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game to be an emotional rollercoaster, balancing moments of empowerment through skill and progression with the frustration of sudden, overwhelming challenges. The strong visual style and heartfelt effort contribute to the overall emotional impact, making the highs and lows of gameplay feel particularly intense.

    • “The visual style is strong, and you can feel the heartfelt effort that has been put into the game.”
    • “In its current state, it feels like an emotional rollercoaster—experiencing the thrill of being incredibly powerful with skills, artifact synergies, and stat increases, only to feel devastated when you get one-shotted by normal enemies.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews
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20h Median play time
19h Average play time
15-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Rogue Lords is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Rogue Lords is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 19 hours playing Rogue Lords.

Rogue Lords was released on September 30, 2021.

Rogue Lords was developed by Cyanide Studio.

Rogue Lords has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Rogue Lords is a single player game.

Similar games include Beneath Oresa, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, Gordian Quest, Roguebook, Across the Obelisk and others.