The Roguelike Roulette: Has the Genre Rolled Snake Eyes?
There’s something deeply nostalgic about revisiting Enter the Gungeon, a game that, like a well-worn bullet-riddled jacket, feels both familiar and endlessly surprising. This month marks its tenth anniversary, and while the game’s creators, Dave Crooks and Adam “Doseone” Drucker, sat down to reflect on its legacy, their conversation took an unexpected turn—one that, personally, I find far more intriguing than any bullet-hell boss fight. The roguelike genre, they argue, has lost its way. And they’re not wrong.
The Slot Machine Syndrome
One thing that immediately stands out is Crooks’ comparison of modern roguelikes to slot machines. It’s a bold claim, but if you take a step back and think about it, the parallels are hard to ignore. Games like Vampire Survivors and Balatro—both wildly successful—have introduced mechanics that feel less like strategic gameplay and more like a dopamine-driven gamble. Every 45 seconds, you’re interrupted by a choice, a fanfare, a serotonin blast. It’s addictive, sure, but is it truly the evolution the genre deserves?
What makes this particularly fascinating is how Crooks ties this shift to the genre’s roots. Rogue, the 1980s classic that birthed the term “roguelike,” was about methodical decision-making, about surviving against all odds through skill and strategy. Fast forward to today, and the genre seems more interested in replicating the thrill of a casino than the tension of a dungeon crawl. Personally, I think this is where the genre risks losing its soul.
The Cash-Grab Conundrum
Crooks doesn’t mince words when he calls this trend “a little cash-grabby.” It’s a harsh critique, but one that’s hard to refute. Balatro’s gambling themes are so overt it earned a PEGI 18+ rating, while Vampire Survivors’ chest-opening animation is literally inspired by slot machines. These games are fun—I’ll admit I’ve sunk hours into both—but their success has spawned a wave of imitators that feel more like Skinner boxes than thoughtful game design.
What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t just about mechanics; it’s about the psychology of play. The roguelike genre once thrived on the balance between challenge and reward, on the feeling of mastery that came from beating the odds. Now, it’s increasingly about instant gratification, about hitting that next dopamine hit. This raises a deeper question: Are we still playing games, or are we just pulling digital slot machine levers?
The Future of Roguelikes: A Return to Roots?
This brings me to Enter the Gungeon 2, announced back in 2025. Given Crooks’ commentary, it’s clear that Dodge Roll is acutely aware of the genre’s current trajectory. Will they double down on the slot machine model, or will they chart a different course? Personally, I’m rooting for the latter.
From my perspective, the roguelike genre is at a crossroads. It can either continue down the path of quick fixes and cash grabs, or it can reclaim its identity as a genre that rewards skill, strategy, and patience. What this really suggests is that the future of roguelikes isn’t just about what games get made, but about what players demand.
Final Thoughts: The Gamble of Innovation
If you ask me, the roguelike genre’s current state is less a failure and more a symptom of its success. Vampire Survivors and Balatro didn’t kill the genre—they just exposed its vulnerabilities. The real question is whether developers will use this moment to innovate or exploit.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this mirrors broader trends in gaming. From loot boxes to battle passes, the industry has increasingly leaned into mechanics that prioritize engagement over depth. Roguelikes, with their procedural generation and replayability, were always ripe for this kind of manipulation. But here’s the thing: the genre’s strength has always been its ability to surprise, to challenge, to reward. If it loses that, it loses everything.
So, as we celebrate Enter the Gungeon’s tenth anniversary, let’s also take a moment to reflect on where the genre is headed. Personally, I’m hopeful. If Dodge Roll can bring the same creativity and care to Enter the Gungeon 2 that they did to the original, maybe—just maybe—they can help steer the genre back on course. After all, in a world of slot machines, sometimes you need a reminder that the real thrill comes from the journey, not the jackpot.
