Reflections on a Decade of Enter the Gungeon
Earlier this month, Enter the Gungeon marked a significant milestone, celebrating its tenth anniversary. With over 14 million copies sold, this title has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern action roguelike genre, standing alongside influential games like Nuclear Throne. Its impact has paved the way for contemporary successes such as Hades and its variants, including Vampire Survivors.
However, the creators of Enter the Gungeon express a mix of pride and concern regarding the legacy they have helped forge. In a recent conversation with Polygon, designer Dave Crooks and composer Adam Kidd Drucker, known as Doseone, shared their thoughts on the evolving landscape of the genre.
According to Crooks, the shift began with Vampire Survivors and has become increasingly evident in newer titles like Balatro. He expressed his apprehension, stating, “I don’t want to be the person that says this, but it feels a little cash-grabby.” He elaborated that the core enjoyment derived from these games resembles the mechanics of a slot machine more than the traditional experience of playing Rogue. This trend, he argues, has led to the development of games that prioritize these slot-like features, which are easier to implement.
Drucker echoed Crooks’ sentiments, highlighting a growing confusion between roguelikes and roguelites. He noted, “I think we’re seeing it mutate to the version of itself that popularity obfuscates.” This blurring of lines has resulted in a proliferation of roguelites, with authentic roguelikes like Caves of Qud becoming increasingly rare. Crooks pointed out that this reliance on progression-based gimmicks may explain the lukewarm reception of titles like CloverPit and Raccoin, despite their popularity.
Yet, Dodge Roll is not ready to step back from the genre just yet. The developer is actively working on Enter the Gungeon 2, which aims to preserve the original’s unique blend of roguelike and bullet-hell gameplay while introducing a fresh 3D art style. Given Crooks and Drucker’s insights, it will be intriguing to see if the sequel diverges from current trends and how this choice will shape the overall gaming experience.
