What are the Metroidvania, and Roguelike genres? I see them listed on some games as a genre, even on some games I played on cd back in the day. I do not know what these two terms mean on GoG. Are the definitions more or less specific when referring to GoG as apposed to the universe in general? I have never played Metroid or Castlevania, Is metroidvania supposed to mean the game is like a combination of those two games? Are there any other genres I might not recognize from the back of PlayStation 2 game cases, and if so what do they mean?


While I'm at it, FPP here stands for first person perspective right, I'm used to seeing FPS tied to games as First Person Shooter.

Is there a list somewhere I missed that lists all the GoG Genres and and a brief explanation? I know what platformer means, but if there was a list somewhere It probably explained these two as well.

A Metroidvania game is originally a Castlevania game that plays like a Metroid game, of which Symphony of the Night was the first. Later that term was used for every game that played similarly to those Castlevania games.

Roguelikes are that adhee to the same gameplay principles as the game Rogue. Simultaniously turn based, randomized gameworld and permadeath. Games that only use permadeath are usually called Roguelite, as in being lite on the harshness of the original rogue. Those games often only have permadeath, but apart from that anything goes.

And not every FPP game is a shooter. There are first person puzzle games and first person adventure games.

The games that are called "roguelite", as far as I can tell, always have procedural generation of some kind; the one difference between them and proper roguelikes is that roguelites are not turn-based.

For an example of a game with permadeath but not procedural generation, see the original Wizardry. I think Ultima 2 might be like this as well. There is no consistent list; some genre terms (RPG for one) are the subject of heated debate, in that people do not agree on what is an RPG and what isn't.

Also, sometimes GOG gets their genre classification wrong; Elminage Gothic, for example, has "Action" listed as the second genre, yet the game is clearly not an action game (it's a turn-based Wizardry-style RPG). One thing that differentiates Metroidvanias is that Metroidvanias generally don't have discrete states; instead, there's a map that you can explore and can backtrack on. The backtracking, I would say, is a crucial aspect of a Metroidvania that is not present in non-Metroidvania platformers.

Another important characteristic is that, as you progress through the game, you will acquire new abilities that allow you to reach places you couldn't before, and the abilities you acquire are generally permanent (unlike, say, the Fire Flower in Mario games, which disappears if you get hit, or subweapons in Castlevania games, which disappear if you die or pick up a different one).

(Interestingly enough, some of the Metroidvania Castlevanias (including Symphony of the Night) actually *do* have subweapons that you can only carry one of at the time, but they do have the other characteristics of the Metroidvania genre, and also have XP-based leveling and an inventory where you can change your equipment.)

There are already good posts with detailed descriptions of each genre.
Trying to simplify things a little:

Metroidvania usually refer to 2d platformers with some exploration. Think Super Mario Bros but you have to unlock stuff to be able to progress, and that may include go a few levels back.

Rogue like usually means a hard and short game but somewhat plays diferent each time. It's kind of a broad term nowadays but imagine old Arcade machines where time was allways against you, coupled with some random generated maps or unit placement. Once again, Super Mario Bros but enemys, coins and mushrooms placed radomly each time you play.

This is an example of why games should have more literal meanings instead of silly buzzwords. Metroidvania can be thought of as a platforming backtracker game. A simple explanation would be you proceed in the game collect something further ahead then run back and use it to access a new area or defeat a problem there giving you a new path.

Roguelike issaid usually involves dying and starting again along with auto created levels and random items like other posters have.
I would say it now means small collection of those game features instead of a genre.

Pretty much but some of the modern ones are a bit harsh in their difficulty curves (probably in no small part due to the popularity of Dark Souls).

If you're just starting off and want to ease into one that's a bit gentle while being great fun try Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition. It's one of the best examples of the genre in the past decade - just make sure you have a controller.

Historically Metroidvania games are games that are similar to Metroid series and some Castlevanias (Symphony of the Night, etc. not all). Those games are mostly 2D platformers, but some 3D games exist (like Metroid Prime). The main "feature" of Metroidvainas is that there are no separate linear levels in the game, but one huge labyrinth. You can travel in any direction you want, but to get into some areas you need to find special upgrades that grant you abilities (double jump, special weapons, transformation into some things to pass through certain obstacles).

Roguelikes are games that were made after Rogue (1980-s game). They are basically top-down view RPGs with randomly generated levels and huge focus on stat progression, loot and turn-based combat. Usually they don't have much in graphics department (in fact Rogue and many Roguelikes "graphics" is just symbols). Permadeath is often also present, but usually as an option.

There are also games that have only some elements of Roguelikes, but not all. Like instead of turn-based combat they have real time. Or have some additional elements, like expanding your "base of operations" in Darkest Dungeon Though usually some sort of random generation always present. All those games usually called Roguelite or Roguelike-like.

Obviously, since such definitions are very broad, you can have all sorts of confusion. I've seen many games that are called Roguelike, but acutally are only Roguelite. FPP can stand for first person perspective. But it also can stand for First Person Puzzle - games like Portal and Talos Principle.

It also requires some tricky combinations of button presses.

(In particular, this is one game I *don't* recommend for players who only have one good hand.)

"First Person Puzzle" seems to make allot of sense for Myst, as well as Waxworks from as far as I've gotten so far.
Waxworks is puzzling; I think a real maze would have been easier to navigate.

I think I get it now, thanks everyone.

Metroid: Go to new section, get new power, then go to previous section and use power to get where you couldn't before.

Rogue-like: One person against the world. Die a lot. Permadeath, unlock new features. Become good at survival and not getting surrounded. After a while you might even win.