plaguelike

Plaguelike is an informal term used in some gaming circles to describe roguelike games that foreground plague, disease, or epidemic management as a central mechanic. It is not an officially recognized genre name, and its usage varies; some apply the label to any roguelike with disease-themed content, while others reserve it for titles whose core loop centers on tracking and curbing infections.

Common features often associated with plaguelike designs include procedural generation and permadeath, along with grid-based or turn-based movement. Disease systems may track infection spread between units or locations, incubation periods, mutations, and symptom development. Players typically manage resources, craft countermeasures, treat infections, quarantine affected areas, or pursue vaccination or cures. Some games integrate base-building or settlement management, adding strategic layers to the exploration and combat elements. The overall tone is usually challenging and unforgiving, with emergent narratives shaped by random events and logistical constraints.

Relation to roguelikes and roguelites is informal and fluid. Plaguelike games generally share core roguelike traits such as randomness, high replay value, and a focus on meaningful decisions under pressure. The degree of persistence varies: some titles adhere to strict permadeath and complete runs, while others blend roguelike mechanics with lightweight progression between runs, aligning more with roguelite conventions.

Design considerations for plaguelikes include balancing the disease mechanics with player agency, ensuring that infection dynamics are engaging without becoming arbitrary, and designing rewards that justify the risk of exposure or quarantine. The term mainly describes a design space rather than a fixed, widely recognized category, and most examples emerge from indie development or niche mods. See also roguelike, roguelite, and epidemic simulation games.