Roguelite

A genre that borrows the core pillars of roguelikes — procedurally generated levels and permadeath — but layers in persistent meta-progression that carries over between runs, softening the harshness of starting from scratch. When you die in a roguelite, you retain currency, unlocks, or passive upgrades that make future attempts slightly more powerful or give you more starting options. This persistent layer fundamentally changes the player psychology: every failed run contributes something, turning frustration into motivation. Hades, Dead Cells, Risk of Rain 2, Slay the Spire, and Vampire Survivors are defining roguelites. The term emerged in the early 2010s as game designers adapted the roguelike formula for wider audiences who found pure permadeath discouraging. The distinction matters because roguelites can be 'beaten' by accumulating enough meta-progress, while pure roguelikes demand raw skill from run one. Roguelites often also use real-time action combat rather than the turn-based movement found in traditional roguelikes, making them feel faster and more action-oriented. The genre is now one of the most popular in indie gaming, with new roguelites releasing every month across all platforms.