Rogue Wizards
- May 25, 2017
- Spellbind Studios
- 4h median play time
Great variety of weapons and spells. Randomly-generated dungeons. Bright, vibrant aesthetic.
In Rogue Wizards, manage your own magical academy and delve into procedurally generated dungeons filled with loot and enemies. Utilize a wide range of spells and abilities to defeat foes and customize your wizard's appearance and skills. Engage in crafting, exploration, and turn-based combat in this addictive blend of RPG and strategy elements.
Reviews
- Great roguelike with balanced difficulty, perfect for both short and long gameplay sessions.
- Fun and colorful graphics with a rewarding loot system that encourages experimentation with different weapons and spells.
- The game offers a casual yet strategic experience, allowing players to save anywhere and play at their own pace.
- The gameplay can become monotonous and lacks depth, with repetitive mechanics and limited challenge as players progress.
- The magic system is poorly implemented, requiring specific resources that are hard to come by, making spellcasting feel restrictive.
- There are technical issues, such as UI glitches and clunky movement mechanics, which detract from the overall experience.
- story81 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Rogue Wizards" is generally considered simplistic and lacking depth, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the casual and amusing elements of the plot, many find it unoriginal and not particularly engaging, often preferring the more varied and challenging gauntlet mode. Overall, the story mode offers a linear progression with town-building mechanics, but it may not hold players' interest beyond a single playthrough.
“The story is novel enough to keep me motivated, the monsters come in bizarre combinations of varieties, and you can't predict what you'll be fighting in advance in most of the procedurally generated dungeons, so there is a fair bit of learning what they can do, and applying strategy on the fly.”
“There is a town which you have to build to acquire more weapons and allow you access to your magic spells etc. In your quests in the dungeons, you will encounter NPC characters/creatures who will give aid in battle with their own style of weapons.”
“Rogue Wizards is a fantastic roguelike dungeon crawler that delivers fun and challenging gameplay with a mildly interesting story.”
“Yes, there's a story, and yes it's pretty, but it's just not a whole game.”
“The story mode is 'meh'; I played for about 2 hours and stopped bored.”
“The story mode’s narrative doesn’t add anything to make the gameplay more compelling, so you may be better off with the gauntlet mode’s endless dungeon.”
- gameplay74 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it hypnotic and engaging once they grasp the mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. The turn-based system and grid layout are seen as straightforward but can lead to frustration, particularly with certain mechanics like mana management. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and solid mechanics, it struggles with pacing and player engagement, making it feel more suited for casual play rather than a deep roguelike experience.
“Once you get a roll on and understand all the mechanics, it's almost hypnotic in gameplay as you chase never-ending leveling up and go into a maniac-like looting craze.”
“It has sharp, colorful animated graphics, with good gameplay, nice sounds/music, etc., and once you learn the game mechanics, it is very easy to control.”
“The gauntlet mode provides a lot of replay value, and although the game has some issues, the attention to detail enhances the simple yet strategic gameplay to a real gem of an indie game.”
“The two major drawbacks are that the game doesn't scale very well (just like in Diablo when you'd spawn that one elite/miniboss that was basically unkillable) and the gameplay does get very repetitive.”
“An entry-level dungeon crawler with strong aesthetics that obfuscate weak gameplay mechanics and a general lack of player engagement.”
“The random nature of so many of Rogue Wizards' elements guarantees experiences that are dynamic, but the repetitive core gameplay and tedium of inventory management can also make them monotonous.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and colorful, featuring a cartoon-like art style with well-done animations. While some players appreciate the aesthetics and find them fitting for the gameplay, others feel the visuals are underwhelming and not captivating enough to compensate for the lack of engaging gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, though they may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to more modern, high-fidelity visuals.
“The graphics are big, bold, sharp, colorful, cartoon-like, and detailed with some lovely animations, and at a resolution of 1360 x 768, the graphics are sharp and very clear.”
“The visuals are very charming; reminds me of Shattered Planet, which is a game that's probably not well known, but in short, the 2D sprites and animations are just fantastic.”
“Very polished and charming rogue-like with lots of character and a beautiful art style.”
“The graphics are underwhelming, but the style and the art itself is not good either: not entertaining nor captivating enough.”
“If you are looking for all the classic roguelike features with a polished graphical interface, there might be better options.”
“Its flat 2D (not 3D or even full 3D) and may look old hat to some of today's modern players who are used to fancy graphics.”
- music30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its catchy tunes and atmospheric sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience. While some tracks, particularly in the dungeons, stand out for their eerie and engaging qualities, the main menu music is considered less impactful. Overall, the audio quality is deemed top-notch, contributing positively to the game's overall appeal.
“The music and graphics are very pleasing to both the ear and the eye.”
“The music and sound effects are fitting.”
“This track has a pulsating heartbeat sound accompanied by an eerie music track which gives the game more atmosphere, especially when going into deeper and more challenging dungeons.”
“I've heard some bad indie game music before, so having something passable is nice.”
“It's the music for the main menu that is maybe the weakest as you are more interested in getting into the game that you bypass it quickly.”
“Music is something of a non-entity.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and monotonous, with players noting that it quickly becomes an annoying exercise in backtracking and repetitive combat. While the variety in dungeons and spells offers some enjoyment, the limitations on rune capacity and the leveling system that keeps enemies on par with the player detract significantly from the overall experience, making it a challenging endeavor for those not fully committed to grinding.
“It starts off as something fun and entertaining, then it quickly becomes monotonous and tedious.”
“For a game that is primarily focused on dungeon grinding, this single flaw is enough to kill the game.”
“Unfortunately, the tedious nature of the combat and the immense number of dungeons that will need to be cleared simply to advance makes it a tough sell for those not devoted to the climb.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly immersive, drawing inspiration from titles like Bastion and Torchlight, featuring diverse monsters, loot, and extensive character customization. The combination of eerie music and a pulsating heartbeat sound enhances the tension, particularly in deeper dungeons, while the turn-based combat adds a layer of strategic intensity. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be exciting and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Very exciting immersion-drenched atmosphere with a lot of monster and loot variety along with plenty of character customization similar to Torchlight and Diablo.”
“This track has a pulsating heartbeat sound accompanied by an eerie music track which gives the game more atmosphere, especially when going into deeper and more challenging dungeons.”
“So going turn-based may make the game feel slower, but it cranks up the tension and atmosphere in the dungeons.”
“Very exciting, immersion-drenched atmosphere with a lot of monster and loot variety along with plenty of character customization, similar to Torchlight and Diablo.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light and charming, with death animations of creatures that are cute, funny, and surprising. Players find the special abilities of the creatures to be amusing, though they can also be frustrating during battles, adding to the overall appeal of the game. The clean interface and lack of bugs further enhance the enjoyable experience.
“The death animation of the creatures ranges from cute to funny to surprising.”
“Also the special ability that each creature has so far (only seen a few) again ranges from very funny to amusing or even frustrating when you're in battle, but that is part of the charm.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, particularly due to the gauntlet mode, which adds significant value despite some character variety limitations and minor gameplay issues. The strategic elements and attention to detail contribute to a rewarding experience, making it a worthwhile investment for its price.
“The gauntlet mode provides a lot of replay value, and although the game has some issues, the attention to detail enhances the simple yet strategic gameplay, making it a real gem of an indie game.”
“While the boss battles and AI are a little lackluster, the ability to teleport within floors, bonuses for defeating all enemies, and the replayability offered by the gauntlet mode make Rogue Wizards a good investment for the small price tag of $15.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization model is entirely free of in-game purchases, resembling a "cow clicker" experience that focuses on simple gameplay without additional financial transactions.
“It's as close to a cow clicker you can get without having any in-game purchases.”
Critic Reviews
Rogue Wizards Review
Great variety of weapons and spells. Randomly-generated dungeons. Bright, vibrant aesthetic.
80%Rogue Wizards (PC) Review
The random nature of so many of Rogue Wizards‘ elements guarantees experiences that are dynamic, but the repetitive core gameplay and tedium of inventory management can also make them monotonous. The Story mode’s narrative doesn’t add anything to make the gameplay more compelling, so you may be better off with the Gauntlet mode’s endless dungeon. Either way, this game works best in casual play sessions.
40%Rogue Wizards Review
Deep into a dungeon, surrounded by foes, allies defeated, and health low, I fear my time is up.
70%