Dave Crooks

As Enter the Gungeon celebrates its 10th anniversary, its creators have some choice words for the modern roguelike: 'We’re seeing it mutate to the version of itself that popularity obfuscates'

As Enter the Gungeon celebrates its 10th anniversary, developers Dave Crooks and Adam Kidd Drucker express concerns about the modern roguelike genre, particularly its increasing reliance on gambling-like mechanics and progression systems. They feel this trend, exemplified by games like Vampire Survivors and Balatro, deviates from the core experience of traditional roguelikes and can feel "cash-grabby." The developers are currently working on Enter the Gungeon 2, aiming to stay true to the original's blend of roguelike and bullet-hell elements.