Roguelands

About

Roguelands is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Sean Young and was released on June 13, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Roguelands is a fantasy platformer offering both single and multi-player action. Experience procedurally generated worlds filled with unique creatures, resources, and challenges. Craft powerful gear, save the galaxy from a destructive beast, and prepare to laugh and grind your way through this replayable adventure, despite some bugs."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,417 reviews

gameplay134 positive mentions

grinding205 negative mentions

The game has a unique and engaging crafting system that allows for a variety of playstyles.
The pixel art and soundtrack are charming and enhance the overall experience.
Playing with friends adds a lot of fun and excitement to the gameplay.

The game has been abandoned by the developer, leaving it unfinished and lacking in content.
Multiplayer requires complicated setup through third-party software, making it difficult to play with friends.
The grind can become tedious, especially when losing a high-level character due to permadeath.

gameplay
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its engaging roguelike mechanics, offering a mix of hack-and-slash combat and exploration that is particularly enjoyable in multiplayer. While many players appreciate the smooth controls, diverse weapon options, and crafting system, some criticize the grindy nature and lack of late-game content, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game provides a fun and addictive gameplay loop, though it may require patience to fully appreciate its depth and mechanics.
- “Awesome, addictive gameplay that is even better with friends!”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and full of unique bosses, enemies, and NPCs.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the movement is amazing, the art is just perfect, and the game is very rewarding and addicting since you can just play for as long as you want.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple and grindy.”
- “Lack of goals/rewards and gameplay variety makes the game feel incomplete.”
- “The main thing that sinks Roguelands for me is a) the gameplay is boring and repetitive, and just doesn’t have much variety, and b) the controls are really clunky and annoying.”
grinding
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is a major point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game. While some players appreciate the grind for its potential rewards and the enjoyment of character progression, others find it aimless and frustrating, especially given the game's permadeath mechanics. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly depending on individual preferences, with those who enjoy grind-heavy gameplay likely to find it more rewarding than those who do not.
- “The grinding feels kind of aimless as well - no overarching objective.”
- “It's a frustrating game loop of grinding and leveling up.”
- “In between the create a new character bit and the perma-death/unlock new stuff bit is many, many, many hours of grinding the same levels over and over again.”
story
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
79%
5%
The game's story is often described as lacking depth and coherence, with many players noting that it feels incomplete or underdeveloped. While there are multiple storylines and quests tied to different factions, they tend to be simplistic and repetitive, primarily serving as a means to facilitate grinding for better gear rather than providing a rich narrative experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the charm and potential of the story elements, hoping for future updates to enhance the overall narrative.
- “It was chill, had an interesting story and really charmingly sweet music!”
- “The storylines are well made and the fact that most of them incorporate previously unimportant NPCs is pretty awesome.”
- “I love the story line as well!”
- “The story is extremely lacking and doesn't help the game at all.”
- “The story was never finished and endgame maps were never put in.”
- “The story doesn't really go anywhere and it feels like it was written in five minutes.”
graphics
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic titles like Magicite. Many players appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals, which enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some users noted issues with optimization and a lack of graphics settings, which can affect performance on certain systems.
- “The graphics are styled really nicely in my opinion, and the gameplay and progression are pretty fun.”
- “Good pixel graphics on the enemies, background and environment, interesting looking NPCs, and spot on BGM makes for a nice atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are really nice and fitting for a game like this (plus I kind of have a thing for pixelated graphics, so you get extra points).”
- “The only good thing about this game is probably the graphics; they are not new, they pretty much look like Magicite's pixel graphics, which was voted for during development.”
- “The graphics aren't awesome, the pacing is a bit slow at times, and those pop-up alerts are huge, annoying, and very unwelcome when a boss spawns.”
- “And again, I'm not saying they're the worst ever, they're just low effort graphics.”
music
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its variety and quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with catchy, immersive soundtracks that fit the game's atmosphere perfectly. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as both relaxing and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's replayability. While some reviews mention occasional repetitiveness, the general consensus is that the music is a major strength, making the game enjoyable and memorable.
- “The soundtrack alone is worth checking out too.”
- “The music is perfect for the type of game it is, and the sound effects complement the enemy perfectly.”
- “The visuals are stunning and gorgeous, and the music is beautifully composed and matches the beauty of the scenes.”
- “The music is generic, the sound effects generic, the combat leaves something to be desired, and the crafting mechanics are dull.”
- “I am sure I will get swarmed with 'fanboy' smack now, but this doesn't change the fact that this game is a very good looking, with a nice soundtrack underpinned by a boring, grindy piece of disappointment.”
- “There was no music and no life.”
replayability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, particularly due to its RPG elements, diverse character builds, and unlockable content, which keep players engaged for hours. While many reviews praise the fun factor and variety of gameplay, some note that the lack of updates and limited content can detract from long-term replay value. Despite these criticisms, the game remains enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings, and offers enough depth to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “There is a lot of replay value with RPG aspects such as item leveling and drop rates for special items.”
- “Amazing game, lots of fun, good replayability, good rogue-lite system, you don't lose everything on death, just items on your character and your character, so you can stash a lot of stuff and then get geared really quickly later on instead of having to grind everything from the beginning.”
- “From the constant support handed to us by the developer, with the never-ending replayability and challenge this game offers, Roguelands is without a doubt one of the noteworthy games for all roguelike fans.”
- “It's a fun game but the developer doesn't update it, the game has scaling issues, replayability issues, the race specific starter weapons is lame, and I've been softlocked before.”
- “This game is done well but, lacks in replayability.”
- “There's still too much content to come and gameplay right now is fully replayable.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unfinished features that significantly impact gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. Many users express frustration over the lack of ongoing support and development, leading to a perception of the game as abandoned and unpolished. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability and requires substantial improvements.
- “Multiplayer isn't as buggy as other games I've played.”
- “That being said, I do think it's still worth grabbing this game; just don't expect it to be bug-free.”
- “It's buggy, unbalanced, unsupported, and stuck in the past.”
- “Don't buy, it has been abandoned long ago, and has so many glitches you can't even play.”
- “The game has a long way to go, and there are still plenty of bugs and glitches, with a substantial lack of features.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its witty character narratives and the comedic elements of gameplay, including amusing glitches and unexpected surprises. Many reviewers find the game genuinely funny, contributing to an enjoyable experience that keeps them engaged for hours. Despite some game-breaking exploits, the overall comedic tone enhances the game's appeal.
- “Really funny!”
- “Each character has its own witty humor and narrative attached to them.”
- “Dying has never been so funny!”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Reviews on monetization highlight a divide in perceptions, with some players viewing the game as a cash grab lacking depth and balance, while others appreciate the developer's ongoing support and express openness to microtransactions. Overall, there is a sentiment that the game's monetization strategy may not align with player expectations, leading to frustration among some users.
- “I'm very happy about it. I wouldn't even be against the idea of adding microtransactions to this game. Sean is a developer who I'd be willing to support over time.”
- “At this point, seeing how Sean's games have gone, it's just a cash grab. Maybe he has the passion to start games, but he does not have the patience to finish them.”
- “In summary, the game is very unfriendly to new players, dull to experienced players, unbalanced, and a recycled cash grab.”
- “This 'developer' (Sean Young) only views this game as his next cash grab.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the games, often feeling heartbreak and disappointment with character deaths, particularly in narratives like the gray enigma storyline. The thrill of overcoming challenges and the bittersweet nature of loss create a compelling emotional experience, leading to both attachment and a desire for more gameplay despite the pain of setbacks. Overall, the emotional highs and lows significantly enhance the gaming experience, making it memorable and impactful.
- “It is so heartbreaking when you pick the gray enigma storyline.”
- “Every death makes me feel utterly disappointed, but the rewards are wholesome.”
- “Losing my level 99 spellblade was an emotional trial, but I'm sure that losing my next character at a higher level will be much more dramatic, and I can't wait for it.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant lag and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode. Many users note the absence of control support and limited graphics settings, which exacerbate the experience on lower-end systems. While some aspects of the game, such as graphics and design, are appreciated, the overall lack of optimization detracts from gameplay, leading some to consider refunds.
- “This is a really good game. Multiplayer needs a bit of optimization, but other than that, the challenge, the goals, the bosses, and the background art are good.”
- “To some extent, there are some pleasant things to the game at least--like the neat graphics and sprite design, and the concepts being very interesting, but because of the lack of optimization, the kind of bare-bones, bland, same-old roguelite style, no controller support, etc. I will update the review to the best of my ability as I play, but this is bordering on a refund.”
- “It is infuriatingly underdeveloped and unoptimized.”
- “There is no control support at all as far as I know; the optimization is non-existent (for me, at the very least) with the only graphics setting being 'amazing' and nothing lower, causing my game to lag a ton on my computer.”
- “And due to this lack of optimization, my game would lag in vital moments, and it would never be fair.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its good pixel graphics, engaging NPC designs, and fitting background music, which create an immersive experience, especially in the initial hours. However, some players feel that the atmosphere diminishes as the game progresses.
- “Good pixel graphics on the enemies, background, and environment, interesting-looking NPCs, and spot-on background music make for a nice atmosphere.”
- “I have to say that the first two hours of the game I was enamored by the atmosphere enhanced by the music.”
- “- doesn't have the same atmosphere at all”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is highly customizable, allowing players to select a class based on two attributes and a race with randomly assigned additional points. The diversity in character design is enhanced by various augments, classes, races, and unlockable hats, providing a rich and engaging experience.
- “Character development is unique, allowing you to choose a class based on two attributes and a race that has a random amount of other attribute points.”
- “The character design is incredibly diverse, featuring various augments, classes, races, and even hats that you unlock by playing the game.”
- “Character development is unique, as you choose a class based on two attributes and a race that has a random amount of other attribute points.”
- “The character design is so diverse with augments, classes, races, and even hats that you unlock by playing the game.”