I was recently asked what my favorite genre in gaming is and at first, I did not know how to answer. I see the strengths and shortcomings of a lot of different genres but did not know if I had a clear favorite. As I started to ponder on it and search through my gaming library, I came to a startling conclusion: roguelikes. I own nearly 10 different roguelikes, and I did not even realize how quickly they were becoming a mainstay in my collection. But what is it about the genre that is so appealing to me? Why have I been purchasing these since my return to gaming?
After taking a near decade hiatus from gaming, I returned to try out the Switch; this is where my exposure to roguelikes began. The uniqueness of the system created the perfect marriage between my available time to game and the short bursts of gameplay that the genre supplies. It was easy for me to pull out my Switch on a lunch break or when I had half an hour and attempt a run in Children of Morta, Enter the Gungeon, or The Binding of Isaac. For those not familiar, the key components of the genre include: procedurally generated levels, brutal starting difficulty, permanent death, discovery and limited retention, and grinding, grinding, grinding. Through time, I have discovered that I enjoy roguelikes because the genre best encapsulates and teaches us about life.