The Codex of Roguelikes

[Infinitum]

Red with anger, blue with sorrow, washed out like something really pale idk.

 

[Irata]

New update to Shadow of the Wyrm
Change log:
https://jcd748.itch.io/shadow-of-the-wyrm/devlog/473262/v152

Downloads:
https://www.shadowofthewyrm.org/releases/ShadowOfTheWyrm-Win-1.5.2.zip
https://jcd748.itch.io/shadow-of-the-wyrm

 

[Infinitum]

Decided to try a martial class in incursion as well, so rolled with a Grey Elf Warrior 8 Blackguard 2 Abjurer 1. Dance of Tukima by level 5 to leverage the perform extra skill and CHA bonus, then melted everything.

Oddly enough, the mage multiclass together with the One Body, One Soul and Finesse feats completely solves all the crippling racial and religous issues, leaving you with the equally awe-inspiring upsides. Scribe Scroll in particular gets you all the support magic you'll ever need in conjunction with a Wand of Opening for raiding treasure chests for funds. Maeve is a thieving bitch of a goddess, but her bonuses are also extremely good and she's easy to gain influnce with bribe. Endgame permanent Immortal Grandeur with permanent Manifestation; oh my.

 

[Gaznak]

Whoah, Incursion looks very inspiring indeed. Thanks for a suggestion, fellow Codexians.

It's a pity that there's many very cool abandoned roguelikes. E.g. I remember having much fun in PRIME.

 

[Theodora]

Did any others try Terminus?



It's akin to a crosspoint between CDDA and Project Zomboid, but with a fairly pure focus on survival and momentum, with shelter and defence always being a temporary thing, rather than a focus on base-building. Still a lot of systems you'd expect, and barricading / establishing a safe zone is still an element, with a basic NPC system.

Has a distinct little combat system, and the developer is notably Korean. "EA"/in-development, like so many other roguelikes, but worth checking out, on top of the potential it has to become something more.

 

[680x0]

Yeah it's really good and the dev. is super responsive.

Playthrus are less than an hour generally, needs more content and systems but if you bring up a good idea to the dev he likely might implement it the next day.

It is much much much smaller in scale than Zomboid or CDDA, but that can be a good thing if you don't have infinite free time.

 

[buffalo bill]

Yesterday I bought golden krone hotel and have been playing it a bit (immediately beat it on the easy setting to get used to the mechanics). There are definitely some cool ideas—day/night cycle actually matters a hell of a lot, transitioning back and forth between human and vampire, hunger clock and turn-into-vampire clock for human, and gradual hp drain for vampire—but it overall feels rather casual. Especially when I compare it to a more serious horror roguelike like CDDA or Infra Arcana, but maybe the comparison is unfair (since IA is nearly a perfect game imo). Also, the art is awful, and the "ascii" mode also looks absolutely horrible (zoomed in, and somehow cartoony?). But I don't regret buying it.

 

[Covenant]

Yesterday I bought golden krone hotel and have been playing it a bit (immediately beat it on the easy setting to get used to the mechanics). There are definitely some cool ideas—day/night cycle actually matters a hell of a lot, transitioning back and forth between human and vampire, hunger clock and turn-into-vampire clock for human, and gradual hp drain for vampire—but it overall feels rather casual. Especially when I compare it to a more serious horror roguelike like CDDA or Infra Arcana, but maybe the comparison is unfair (since IA is nearly a perfect game imo). Also, the art is awful, and the "ascii" mode is also looks absolutely horrible (zoomed in, and somehow cartoony?). But I don't regret buying it.

What makes you rate Infra Arcana so highly, if you don't mind elaborating a bit?

 

[CryptRat]

Yesterday I bought golden krone hotel and have been playing it a bit (immediately beat it on the easy setting to get used to the mechanics). There are definitely some cool ideas—day/night cycle actually matters a hell of a lot, transitioning back and forth between human and vampire, hunger clock and turn-into-vampire clock for human, and gradual hp drain for vampire—but it overall feels rather casual. Especially when I compare it to a more serious horror roguelike like CDDA or Infra Arcana, but maybe the comparison is unfair (since IA is nearly a perfect game imo). Also, the art is awful, and the "ascii" mode is also looks absolutely horrible (zoomed in, and somehow cartoony?). But I don't regret buying it.

What makes you rate Infra Arcana so highly, if you don't mind elaborating a bit?

Why wouldn't you, have you played it? Every piece of system (Xp, spell system, noise ...) works perfectly and is often uncommon, emergent systems are plenty and every piece of content (classes, feats, items, spells, enemies and specific encounters) is unique and you'll need to learn how to use or deal with it.

The game is Rogue on steroïds with every bit of it improved, it's not some weird shit, with constant tension where you can always die, the game does not waste your time, it's not a game where you spend one hour brainlessly bumping onto trash mobs then die to a champion because you were not paying attention anymore. The generation is well-thought with plenty of spread crafted content and not a big mess of generic stuff with one million templates. There's some item identification and resource management is at its best, everything you're doing depends on what you have got left and choosing to use a spell or not, or machine gun or not will give you headhaches.

It's super cool that there's plenty of exploring and hiding. You need to find the right balance between going fast enough and uncovering maps for Xp, and sometimes between fighting for rewards and not dying.

With supported stealth, a special spell system and some special classes there are classes which play differently.

That the theme, atmosphere, presentation and gfx are great and fit perfectly the game is a bonus. Systems and presentation make it feel PnP-like.

The game is a masterpiece, it's very easily among the best roguelikes.

 

[buffalo bill]

Yesterday I bought golden krone hotel and have been playing it a bit (immediately beat it on the easy setting to get used to the mechanics). There are definitely some cool ideas—day/night cycle actually matters a hell of a lot, transitioning back and forth between human and vampire, hunger clock and turn-into-vampire clock for human, and gradual hp drain for vampire—but it overall feels rather casual. Especially when I compare it to a more serious horror roguelike like CDDA or Infra Arcana, but maybe the comparison is unfair (since IA is nearly a perfect game imo). Also, the art is awful, and the "ascii" mode is also looks absolutely horrible (zoomed in, and somehow cartoony?). But I don't regret buying it.

What makes you rate Infra Arcana so highly, if you don't mind elaborating a bit?

I agree with everything CryptRat said. I'd also say that it's the only game that has ever made me actually feel edge of my seat scared, and not from jump scares (or graphical depictions of gore or whatever, obviously), but from just the tension and atmosphere of the game. Also, like CryptRat said, every system in it works incredibly well, and many of the systems are unique—the stealth system is perhaps the best ever implemented imo (better than underrail), the spell system is quite unusual, the insanity system is unique as far as I know, etc. And at the end

Spoiler

you join with the forces of darkness

What's cooler than that?

 

[Covenant]

Yesterday I bought golden krone hotel and have been playing it a bit (immediately beat it on the easy setting to get used to the mechanics). There are definitely some cool ideas—day/night cycle actually matters a hell of a lot, transitioning back and forth between human and vampire, hunger clock and turn-into-vampire clock for human, and gradual hp drain for vampire—but it overall feels rather casual. Especially when I compare it to a more serious horror roguelike like CDDA or Infra Arcana, but maybe the comparison is unfair (since IA is nearly a perfect game imo). Also, the art is awful, and the "ascii" mode is also looks absolutely horrible (zoomed in, and somehow cartoony?). But I don't regret buying it.

What makes you rate Infra Arcana so highly, if you don't mind elaborating a bit?

I agree with everything CryptRat said. I'd also say that it's the only game that has ever made me actually feel edge of my seat scared, and not from jump scares (or graphical depictions of gore or whatever, obviously), but from just the tension and atmosphere of the game. Also, like CryptRat said, every system in it works incredibly well, and many of the systems are unique—the stealth system is perhaps the best ever implemented imo (better than underrail), the spell system is quite unusual, the insanity system is unique as far as I know, etc. And at the end

Spoiler

you join with the forces of darkness

What's cooler than that?

Fair enough, I'd agree with some of that (it does do a great job with its atmosphere). I think it's decent, but I'm just surprised to see it rated quite so highly. I think it's lacking a little bit in terms of tactical depth and meaningful gameplay choices, personally, and I don't see it get all that much discussion in wider circles.

It's certainly good, and I'd recommend it to someone who was interested in roguelikes, but it wouldn't be in my top five.

 

[Theodora]

Infra Arcana is a good lesson that compelling atmosphere isn't reliant on a huge budget with fancy particle effects and an elaborate, reactive soundtrack. Can't really think of another game that manages so much with so little, if that makes sense.

There are a couple of other Lovecraftian roguelikes, but none of them feel as complete or self-contained.

 

[Dadd]

He wasn't trying to teach you so why would it be a lesson

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I was going through my discord and I kept noticing this one icon:

It is for the XTAHUA discord.(Xtahua Discord) I found their Website HERE. I'm like: "when did I sub and wth is this?"

"Xtahua the Ancient is a unique fire dragon, much more durable than normal and with upscaled physical and fire attacks. Unlike standard fire dragons, Xtahua can destroy any doors in their way, and their breath attack leaves a cloudof fire at the end of its range."

Dungeon Crawl

I seriously forgot about this even if it isn't unknown to the rogue community.

 

[Theodora]

I seriously forgot about this even if it isn't unknown to the rogue community.

The unique or DCSS itself? Because I've not seen a roguelike thread anywhere where DCSS doesn't get mentioned. (Though it's usually in the form of people complaining about the direction it's taking.)

Found another post-apoc themed rl, but contra CDDA and co. it's a lot more straightforward looking? 'Coffee-break roguelikes' or whatever you want to call them. On sale at the moment too, if someone wants to try it.


More surprised I've never heard mention of this before: apparently Elona has a sequel prequel in the works? Visuals are really cute and endearing. Seems like it's been a wip for a while, but certainly flew under the radar for me.

 

[Narushima]

Speaking of games we're surprised nobody has mentionned, there's One Way Heroics. It's got an art style I dislike, but the mechanics are very solid. You have to constantly move to the right to avoid being engulfed by a Wall of Death™, which means you can't pick up everything and fight everyone. It has a tight balance which you rarely see.

 

[PapaPetro]

One thing I really really like about Nethack and Brogue is how each level fits neatly within the confines of the screen. I didn't even realize how agoraphobic I was until I tried CoQ. Are there any other noteworthy single-screen dungeon roguelikes I should try?

edit: lites too, FTL was nice and compact

ADOM (ASCII version)

 

[Theodora]

I didn't even realize how agoraphobic I was until I tried CoQ. Are there any other noteworthy single-screen dungeon roguelikes I should try?

By no means single screen, but Cogmind is very neat and unique and entirely "dungeon"-orientated.

Assuming you already know about the older ones, I'm not sure there's a ton of single screen roguelikes of note being made these days, outside coffeebreak RLs like these:




Could be wrong, but it's a pretty limited design space, and seems more born of historical limitations than choice?

 

[BLOBERT]

BROS DCSS IS JUST SHIT NOW FUKC THEM IN THERE ASSHOLES

 

[buffalo bill]

One thing I really really like about Nethack and Brogue is how each level fits neatly within the confines of the screen. I didn't even realize how agoraphobic I was until I tried CoQ. Are there any other noteworthy single-screen dungeon roguelikes I should try?

edit: lites too, FTL was nice and compact

Infra Arcana
DoomRL

 

[Narushima]

Infra Arcana

That's not single-screen, the screen moves to show more of the level when you reach the edges.
I don't remember if DoomRL does the same.

 

[buffalo bill]

Infra Arcana

That's not single-screen, the screen moves to show more of the level when you reach the edges.
I don't remember if DoomRL does the same.

ah sorry, yeah, that was a fairly recent change to IA—older versions are single screen. I was thinking of the older versions. Doomrl in ASCII is single screen.

 

[Rosey]

CDDA just released a massive update.

https://cataclysmdda.org/releases/

From their site

The 0.G release is more than double the size of the 0.F release, a distinction that we keep trying and failing to avoid. Even more than previous stable versions, this release features a massive range of bugfixes, code and content additions, and new features. 10,293 new game entities were added, 11,643,312 lines of source code were inserted, and 5,022,361 lines were deleted. This included several new language translations, multiple new tilesets; including some isometric tileset demos, and multiple new mods in addition to base game content and features.

Perfect timing for me personally. Someone convinced me to download zomboid which got boring, even in multiplayer, in about 2 hours. Hasn't that game been in alpha for like 10 fucking years? It's like they've added nothing at all. Anyway, look forward to getting back into CDDA. Full changelog is linked on their release page and it seems to be a considerable expansion.

 

[Rosey]

So the package manager installation for CDDA wouldn't run and when I extracted the tar files from the release page the folder was still named 0.F. However despite the mislabeling it was actually the new release and it ran fine on xubuntu.

First Run

I spawned as a professional fencer on an island. For some reason she had a batan that used a different weapon stat but I still made short work of the two zombified beach babes outside. No good loot on the island, but there was a boat with some gas. I drove it along the lakeside until I found a road and crashed ashore. Not long down the road I realized I was being stalked by some sort of red demon-dog. I started running until I was exhausted, and it charged from the woods barking and began a pattern of attacking, backing away before I could get hits in, then attacking again. I could only flail my batan uselessly. In desperation I approached a nearby pack of labrador retrievers who seemed friendly. I accidently bumped one; flailing my batan in its direction. Spooked, half of them took off chasing the hellhound away while the others chewed me apart until I collapsed and left. I bled out shortly thereafter.

Second Run

I spawned as a pyromaniac fishman with a companion in a shelter. A computer there showed us the way to a nearby refugee camp. Before setting out we decided to check out a nearby fire tower. There were decent supplies and the tower appeared to be a place to rest for the night. My companion wanted to seek religious comfort, and asked that we search for a holy relic. We could see a nearby cathedral with our newly looted binoculars. My character spent half the night reading about how to be more social, and this made him very upset. To lighten his mood I set fire to the tower in the morning before heading towards the cathedral. We passed a fleshy structure making weird noises and a blacksmith selling armor and samurai books along the way. After fire axing my way through a horde and reaching the church's basement I was pretty wounded. Behind a locked gate I could see the relic surrounded by pale humanoids devoid of any facial features save a small mouth. Fearing a tough fight I decided to first soak myself in antiseptic, bandage my wounds, smoke a cigar and talk with my companion to see if I could command him to picklock the gate. It surprisingly gave me the option to finish the quest (I guess since he was in the same room as the relic.) This gave an error message but without crashing the game, and by pressing enter to get past it the quest was completed. No fight with the freaky SCP goons nessesary. My companion, convinced from the sight of those pale monstrosities that this can be no natural event, wants to see a religious man's interpretation of these events. He now wanted to go ransack a preachers house for clues, located conveniently on the way to the refugee camp. My fucking eyes sting and Im going to bed. Awesome getting into this game again. It's been fucking years.

 

[xuerebx]

BROS DCSS IS JUST SHIT NOW FUKC THEM IN THERE ASSHOLES

What's wrong with it? Started playing it last week for the first time, it's insanely fun! My only gripe is that I'm shit