Rogue Wizards on PC

There’s always been a certain something about the “roguelike” genre that’s appealed to me. Rogue Wizards, a turn-based RPG packed with elements of this often-used approach, is no different. A colorful, lively world and plenty of randomly-generated dungeons and loot to comb through, Rogue Wizards presents a somewhat lighter take on the formula. Of course, a lighter take doesn’t mean that the task of saving the world is going to be easy.

Rogue Wizards begins with a simple hero from humble roots. A destitute thief on the hunt for their first meal in two days, the hero stumbles upon a scroll that transports them, bewildered, into a dungeon. From here, the adventure kicks off in earnest. After finding an unlikely ally within this dungeon, the hero must fight their way through and begin to piece together the story and discover why they’ve been summoned.

As the story of Rogue Wizards comes into focus, it is a familiar one. A greedy, ostensibly-evil wizard is grabbing at power from all the realms, leaving rifts in reality as he goes. Monsters spilling out of these rifts are creating problems for the world of Rilfanor, and now it’s up to the hero, along with a robust supporting cast, to patch things up, close the rifts, and defeat the malicious magician before it’s too late.

Rogue Wizard’s gameplay is straightforward, as well. A simple point-and-click interface allows players to guide their champion through the dungeons, pick up loot, and battle creatures. Moving around the area is pretty freely done when there’s no danger afoot, but once enemies appear the action seamlessly switches to the turn-based “combat” mode. Here, players may use a turn to equip a new weapon or spell, heal up with an item, move, or attack.

What makes Rogue Wizards stand out is the robust selection of weapon styles and magical schools. A lance, for instance, gets a free attack when moving within range of an enemy, while an axe will likely boast more raw power. Ranged weapons, including the multi-targeting Chakram, give the player an advantage from further out, but produce much lower damage output overall.

While its story and approach play it safe, the smooth gameplay and optional “perma-death” Hard Mode still bring plenty to enjoy. With a wide variety of weapons and spells to choose from and a unique experience behind each randomly-generated door, it keeps things fresh without stepping too far outside of established comfort zones.

Score: 4/5 – Great