Brogue
Brogue is an open-source, ASCII-based roguelike game for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It has clean, intuitive gameplay with emergent depth through its simulation of dungeon ecosystems. Brogue emphasizes strategy and tactics over character building.
roguelike
dungeon-crawler
turnbased
ascii
open-source
Brogue: ASCII-based Roguelike Game
An open-source, turn-based game with a focus on strategy and tactics, suitable for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android devices
What is Brogue?
Brogue is a popular open-source roguelike game first released in 2009 by developer Brian Walker. It features ASCII-based graphics and turn-based gameplay in a procedurally generated dungeon environment. Brogue stands out for its clean, intuitive gameplay and emergent depth that arises from its detailed simulation of dungeon ecosystems.
While many roguelikes focus on complex character building and customization through experience and loot systems, Brogue emphasizes tactical moment-to-moment decision making and clever use of the game's extensive item library to overcome challenges. The items and monsters interact in interesting ways, forcing the player to think creatively. For example, an acidic monster might dissolve a wooden shield, while an incendiary monster could set a scroll on fire.
The game is developed in C and runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux. Mobile ports are also available for iOS and Android devices. The source code is licensed under the GPL, allowing community contribution. Brogue enjoys an active player base contributing new content, graphical tilesets and gameplay modifications via variants and mods.
In summary, Brogue stands out as one of the most playable modern roguelikes due to its clean design, engaging gameplay emerging from simulation mechanics, and availability across major desktop and mobile platforms. Its open source nature also enables ongoing development from its dedicated player community.
Brogue Features
Features
- ASCII graphics
- Procedurally generated levels
- Permadeath
- Turn-based combat
- Inventory management
- Random item identification
- Hunger/starvation system
- Monster zoo with unique behaviors
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Challenging but fair gameplay
Clean, intuitive interface
Engaging simulation and emergent gameplay
Completely free
Active modding community
Available on many platforms
Cons
ASCII graphics turn some players off
Can feel repetitive after many playthroughs
Difficult for new players to master
Limited graphics and sound due to being ASCII-based
Official Links
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