roguelike
Rogue
By Epyx, released 1 Jan 1980
- Linux
- Microsoft Windows
- ZX Spectrum
- Mac operating system
- Commodore 64
- mainframe computer
What it is
Rogue is a dungeon-crawling game in which randomly generated rooms make each journey different, and death is permanent. This entry is Epyx Rogue, an early commercial version ported to MS-DOS for the IBM PC, identified as version 1.49 of that port. The goal is to find the Amulet of Yendor in the Dungeons of Doom and escape. Players face monsters and traps, search for hidden doors, and collect armor, weapons, food and other useful items. Spells and potions have varying effects, while the route runs through 26 randomly generated levels that grow more dangerous. Rogue helped give rise to the roguelike genre. Steam lists single-player and Family Sharing. The Steam platform listing is Windows; the broader platform list also names Linux, ZX Spectrum, Mac, Commodore 64, mainframe computers, Amstrad CPC and Atari ST.
What players like, and what they don't
- Randomly generated dungeon levels
- Permanent death shapes each run
- 26 levels and a quest for the Amulet
- Steam lists Family Sharing
- Steam platform listing is Windows only
- Single-player only
Who it suits
It suits players who want single-player dungeon crawling with random layouts, permanent death and an item-focused quest. The listed Steam version is for Windows.
Rogue offers a dungeon quest shaped by random layouts and permanent death, with 26 levels to cross before reaching the Amulet. The Steam listing is for Windows and single-player play.
