Luca Galante, creator of the acclaimed game Vampire Survivors, has highlighted the growing interest in roguelike elements across various video game genres, including big-budget or AAA titles. During a recent interview, Galante expressed his excitement about seeing how these types of mechanics are being integrated into more conventional games, allowing players to enjoy a complete experience from the start.
They run out when you start enjoying them
Galante mentioned that he has experienced frustration with certain role-playing games where the true fun and potential of skills only manifest once the end of the game is reached, describing the initial narrative as an extensive tutorial. This feeling resonates with many players, who see roguelikes as an alternative that offers challenges and entertainment from the very first moment, eliminating the need to restart the game to enjoy the more complex mechanics.
The success of roguelikes has been palpable, not only in the indie realm where they have gained great popularity, but also in the AAA space, as demonstrated by the roguelike mode in God of War: Ragnarok and other similar additions in titles like The Last of Us 2 and Elden Ring. Galante pointed out that, despite the current trend towards roguelikes, it is possible that players will eventually return to more linear styles of gameplay, a shift that could make the variety and randomness of roguelikes less appealing over time.
At the end of the conversation, Galante made it clear that his desire is to see more games, especially in the AAA sector, that incorporate these roguelike systems, as they allow players to enjoy gameplay without waiting for a long time. As he expresses, “it makes me happy to know that these mechanics are being used, as it is one of the best ways to enjoy a video game”.