Rogue Legacy

The goal of Rogue Legacy is to explore a randomly generated dungeon, defeat four bosses in each of the four unique environments of the dungeon, and then defeat the final boss. Characters have the default ability to jump and slash with their sword, along with secondary abilities, such as magic attacks, which use mana. Players can also use their sword to slash platforms to make them extend.{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-rogue-legacy-256914.phtml |title=Review: Rogue Legacy |first=Patrick |last=Hancock |date=June 27, 2013 |publisher=Destructoid |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010734/http://www.destructoid.com/review-rogue-legacy-256914.phtml |url-status=live}}

Whenever a character dies as a result of losing all of their Hit Points (HP), control will transfer over to one of three randomly generated heirs which the player may choose between, though this number may be increased to six with a later upgrade. Each descendant carries their unique characteristics and abilities,{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/06/28/rogue-legacy-out-now-a-2d-roguelike-about-heroism-and-genealogy/ |title=Rogue Legacy out now: a 2D roguelike about heroism and genealogy |first=Phil |last=Savage |date=June 28, 2013 |publisher=PC Gamer |quote=Traits include dyslexia, tourette's and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702190038/http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/06/28/rogue-legacy-out-now-a-2d-roguelike-about-heroism-and-genealogy/ |url-status=live}} including such genetic peculiarities as color-blindness (in which the game is presented in black and white), ADHD (in which the player moves faster) and dwarfism (in which the character is short and can fit into small gaps).

Gold found while exploring the castle can be used to improve the character's equipment and abilities, which are passed on to that character's heirs. Gold can be found by smashing pieces of furniture, opening chests, or defeating enemies. There are also various fairy chests hidden in special rooms throughout the castle, most of which require the player to complete an objective, such as taking no damage in the room, in order to be opened.

Spending gold on the manor, which appears after a new heir is chosen, can increase stats, such as health and mana, and unlock and upgrade new classes that may be carried by one of the heirs. These include mages, which can use more advanced spells, warriors, who have higher strength, and assassins, who can use various stealth techniques and have an increased likelihood of having a critical hit.

Gold can unlock the blacksmith, the enchantress and the architect, who each provide their own services. The blacksmith can use blueprints found in the castle to create new armor and equipment for the player, improving their stats. Similarly, the enchantress can use runes found in fairy chests to give the player enhancements, unlocking additional abilities such as double jumping and dashing. Finally, the architect can lock down the design of a previously encountered castle (so that a new one isn't randomly generated) in exchange for a percentage of any gold found.

Any unspent gold must be paid to Charon in order to enter the castle, though upgrades can reduce the amount required to pay.

The game features a progressing "New Game +" feature, in which every completion of the game along a specific line of descendants increases the difficulty while also increasing the rewards offered by enemies and chests. After the second completion, the format for the name is "New Game +n" where n is the number of playthroughs since the first (begins at +2, then +3, etc.). Notably, while enemies increase in difficulty theoretically forever, bosses do not get any harder across playthroughs. Furthermore, the player cannot normally increase in power beyond a certain point, though small increases to various stats beyond this soft-cap are possible through the "Fairy Chests" system.

A number of secret bosses exist, all of which are remixed versions of each of the ordinary bosses.{{Cite web|url=http://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/mid-week-mission-rogue-legacy-cellar-door-games/|title=Turned Up to 11: Rogue Legacy's Remix Bosses and the Virtues of Nonlinear Difficulty Scaling|last=Podgorski|first=Daniel|date=January 20, 2016|website=The Gemsbok|publisher=|access-date=April 18, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407132507/http://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/mid-week-mission-rogue-legacy-cellar-door-games/|url-status=live}} Upon defeating all of the secret ordinary bosses, one may challenge the secret version of the final boss in order to unlock the secret "Traitor" class, based on the first form of the final boss.

The game was developed by Cellar Door Games, a Toronto-based developer consisting of brothers Kenny and Teddy Lee. This was the brothers' biggest project to date and took 18 months to develop. The game was inspired by such titles as Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. Teddy compares the design to games like Spelunky and The Binding of Isaac, noting that their goal was to make the game relatively forgiving and accessible, while also allowing permanent progression. Due to the need to streamline the game, several prominent features were cut during development, including an experience system. Kenny added that the revenue from the game will allow them to focus on larger future projects.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-29-the-making-of-rogue-legacy |title=The making of Rogue Legacy |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=July 29, 2013 |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=July 29, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224103800/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-29-the-making-of-rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}

The game cost the team about $15,000 of their own money to develop, all of which was earned back within an hour of release. Rogue Legacy went on to sell more than 100,000 copies within the first week.{{cite web | url = http://www.vg247.com/2014/03/18/rogue-legacy-turned-a-profit-within-an-hour-on-sale/ | title = Rogue Legacy turned a profit within an hour on sale | first = Mike | last = Irving | date = March 17, 2014 | access-date = March 17, 2014 | publisher = VG247 | archive-date = October 6, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094958/http://www.vg247.com/2014/03/18/rogue-legacy-turned-a-profit-within-an-hour-on-sale/ | url-status = live}}

Most versions of the game were done in-house, but the Xbox One version was ported by Abstraction Games.

In December 2014, Cellar Door Games teamed up with IndieBox, a monthly subscription box service, to produce an exclusive physical release of Rogue Legacy. This limited, individually-numbered collector's edition included a flash-drive with a DRM-free game file, the official soundtrack, an instruction manual and Steam key, as well as several custom-designed collectible items.{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2014 |title=Rogue Legacy Indie Box |url=http://cellardoorgames.com/rogue-legacy-indie-box/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206021802/https://cellardoorgames.com/rogue-legacy-indie-box/ |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |access-date=2017-06-03 |website=Cellar Door Games}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2015/01/08/review-indiebox-rogue-legacy/|title=REVIEW / Indiebox (Rogue Legacy)|date=2015-01-08|website=That VideoGame Blog|access-date=2017-06-03|archive-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914205151/http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2015/01/08/review-indiebox-rogue-legacy/|url-status=live}}

The Nintendo Switch version of Rogue Legacy was released on November 6, 2018.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-23-brilliant-genealogical-platformer-rogue-legacy-is-out-on-switch-next-month | title = Brilliant genealogical platformer Rogue Legacy launches on Switch next month | first = Matt | last = Wales | date = October 23, 2018 | access-date = October 23, 2018 | work = Eurogamer | archive-date = October 23, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181023200151/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-23-brilliant-genealogical-platformer-rogue-legacy-is-out-on-switch-next-month | url-status = live}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 85/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rogue-legacy/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Rogue Legacy for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 22, 2014 |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222185506/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}
PS4: 85/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rogue-legacy/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Rogue Legacy for PlayStation 4 Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209071842/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}
VITA: 85/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rogue-legacy/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita |title=Rogue Legacy for PlayStation Vita Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130095158/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}
XONE: 84/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rogue-legacy/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Rogue Legacy for Xbox One Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522034349/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}
NS: 80/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rogue-legacy/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Rogue Legacy for Switch Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125174746/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}

| Destruct = 8.5/10

| Edge = 8/10{{cite magazine | url = http://www.edge-online.com/review/rogue-legacy-review/ | title = Rogue Legacy Review | date = July 25, 2013 | author = Staff | access-date = July 22, 2014 | magazine = Edge | publisher = Future plc | archive-date = October 6, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114620/http://www.edge-online.com/review/rogue-legacy-review/ | url-status = live}}

| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-18-rogue-legacy-review | title = Rogue Legacy review | first = Christian | last = Donlan | date = July 18, 2013 | access-date = July 22, 2014 | work = Eurogamer | publisher = Gamer Network | archive-date = October 6, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006155836/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-18-rogue-legacy-review | url-status = live}}

| Fam = 34/40{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 7, 2015 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1375 |url=http://gematsu.com/2015/04/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1375 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511001033/http://gematsu.com/2015/04/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1375 |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |publisher=Gematsu}}

| GI = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/rogue_legacy/b/pc/archive/2013/07/16/rogue-legacy-review.aspx |title=Rogue Legacy Review – Making Death And Grinding Fun |first=Adam |last=Biessener |date=July 16, 2013 |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=August 2, 2013 |archive-date=July 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720233612/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/rogue_legacy/b/pc/archive/2013/07/16/rogue-legacy-review.aspx |url-status=live}}

| GSpot = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rogue-legacy-review/1900-6411102/ |title=Rogue Legacy Review |date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2014 |last=Peele |first=Britton |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715200823/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rogue-legacy-review/1900-6411102/ |url-status=live}}

| IGN = 9/10{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/26/rogue-legacy-review | title = Rogue Legacy Review | date = July 25, 2013 | first = Cam | last = Shea | work = IGN | publisher = IGN Entertainment | access-date = July 22, 2014 | archive-date = July 30, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140730044259/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/26/rogue-legacy-review | url-status = live}}

| Poly = 9/10{{cite web | url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4488182/rogue-legacy-review-family-matters | title=Rogue Legacy Review: Family Matters | date=July 3, 2013 | last=Kollar | first=Philip | work=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | access-date=July 22, 2014 | archive-date=August 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806135931/http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4488182/rogue-legacy-review-family-matters | url-status=live}}

| TA = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2019/08/21/rogue-legacy-review/ |title='Rogue Legacy' — Grab Your Sword and Shield, Castle Hamson's Open for Business! |last=Wyndcliffe |first=James |date=August 21, 2019 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823070043/https://toucharcade.com/2019/08/21/rogue-legacy-review/ |url-status=live}}

| rev1 = Wired

| rev1Score = 9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/07/rogue-legacy/ |title=Why Games Like Rogue Legacy Should Terrify Big Publishers |first=Chris |last=Kohler |date=July 19, 2013 |publisher=Wired |access-date=August 2, 2013 |archive-date=August 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811135444/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/07/rogue-legacy |url-status=live}}

}}

Metacritic gives the game a "generally favorable" score of 85/100 based on 43 reviews.

Mitchell Saltzman of GameFront describes the game as "insanely hard for the unprepared".{{cite web |url=http://www.gamefront.com/rogue-legacy-review/ |title=Rogue Legacy Review: A Stellar Cellar Door Game |first=Mitchell |last=Saltzman |date=June 25, 2013 |publisher=GameFront |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113054/http://www.gamefront.com/rogue-legacy-review/ |url-status=live}} Philip Kollar of Polygon and Mike Splechta of GameZone mentioned the short life spans of their characters,{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/game/rogue-legacy/13257 |title=Rogue Legacy review: family matters |first=Philip |last=Kollar |date=July 3, 2013 |publisher=Polygon |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=October 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005202056/http://www.polygon.com/game/rogue-legacy/13257 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2013/07/06/review-lead-your-heirs-through-the-devilishly-hard-rogue-legacy |title=Review: Lead your heirs through the devilishly hard Rogue Legacy |first=Mike |last=Splechta |date=July 6, 2013 |publisher=GameZone |access-date=July 8, 2013 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131729/http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2013/07/06/review-lead-your-heirs-through-the-devilishly-hard-rogue-legacy |url-status=live}} and Scott Nichols of Digital Spy expressed frustration when first starting out.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a495220/rogue-legacy-review-pc-carefully-crafted-randomness.html |title='Rogue Legacy' review (PC): {{Sic|hide=y|Carefully|-}}crafted randomness |first=Scott |last=Nichols |date=July 3, 2013 |publisher=Digital Spy |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=July 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706022043/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a495220/rogue-legacy-review-pc-carefully-crafted-randomness.html |url-status=live}} Other reviewers remarked that the game actually encourages these short runs while rewarding the player via the broader progression system.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/06/27/wot-i-think-rogue-legacy/ |title=Wot I Think: Rogue Legacy |first=Adam |last=Smith |date=June 27, 2013 |publisher=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=July 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701180438/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/06/27/wot-i-think-rogue-legacy/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nowgamer.com/pc/pc-reviews/1991535/rogue_legacy_review.html |title=Rogue Legacy Review |first=Jordan |last=Garland |date=July 4, 2013 |publisher=NowGamer |access-date=July 5, 2013 |archive-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824044431/http://www.nowgamer.com/pc/pc-reviews/1991535/rogue_legacy_review.html |url-status=live}} Ryan Stevens of GameTrailers described the game as "[riding] the line of frustration and fun".{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/iwml4q/rogue-legacy-review |title=Rogue Legacy Review |first=Ryan |last=Stevens |date=July 5, 2013 |publisher=GameTrailers |access-date=July 7, 2013 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101602/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/iwml4q/rogue-legacy-review |url-status=live}} Saltzman concludes that "difficulty may be a turnoff to those who get frustrated easily".

A sequel, Rogue Legacy 2,{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-02-acclaimed-rogue-like-platformer-rogue-legacy-is-getting-a-sequel | title = Acclaimed Castlevania-esque rogue-like platformer Rogue Legacy is getting a sequel | first = Matt | last = Wales | date = April 2, 2020 | access-date = April 2, 2020 | work = Eurogamer | archive-date = April 3, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200403000403/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-02-acclaimed-rogue-like-platformer-rogue-legacy-is-getting-a-sequel | url-status = live}}{{Cite web |last=Devore |first=Jordan |date=August 23, 2020 |title=Early Access Review: Rogue Legacy 2 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/early-access-review-rogue-legacy-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922145233/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/early-access-review-rogue-legacy-2-601161.phtml |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-10 |website=Destructoid |language=english}}{{Cite web|last=Frushtick|first=Russ|date=2020-08-18|title=Rogue Legacy 2 heroes have it rough, but at least they get disability benefits|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/18/21372798/rogue-legacy-2-traits-impressions-disability-benefits-early-access-impressions|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819021147/https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/18/21372798/rogue-legacy-2-traits-impressions-disability-benefits-early-access-impressions|url-status=live}} was released on April 28, 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.roguelegacy.com/}}

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