Difference between revisions of "Themes"

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Possible themes for a roguelike, presented in an orderly way:--[[User:Rdanhenry|Rdanhenry]] 22:15, 8 May 2005 (CEST)
For a list of games by Theme, see [[List of Roguelikes by Theme]].


Please feel free to adopt one of these for your own roguelike project,
= Mythology and folklore =
select one of the zillion worlds described on a world construction
* [[African mythology]]
hobbyist's website, or come up with your own ideas. I hope on the wiki, this
* [[United States Folklore]] (Tall Tales, Historical Legends, etc.)
list will finally grow.
* [[Arabian Tales]] (e.g. Arabian Nights)
* [[Arthurian legend]]
* [[Asian Blend]] (Chinese, Japanese, maybe Korean, Indian, SE Asian)
* [[Australian]] (Aboriginal myth, more recent folklore, and/or the pop myth of Aussie-land)
* [[Aztec Mythology]]
* [[Celtic Mythology]]
* [[Chinese Mythology]] and Folklore
* [[Egyptian Mythology]]
* [[European Fairy Tale]] Setting (could be more Disney, could be more Brothers Grimm)
* [[Greek Mythology]] (or the Romanized version)
* [[Indian Mythology]]
* [[Japanese Mythology]]
* [[Norse Myth]]
* [[North American Indian Myths]]
* [[Traditional English folklore]]
* [[Russo-Finnish Mythology]] (esp. the Kalevala)
* [[Slavic Mythology]] (and legends)


MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE
= Historical and pseudo-historical =
  African mythology
* [[Aerial Warfare]] (First World War might be ideal)
  American Folklore (Tall Tales, Historical Legends, etc.)
* [[Alternative History]]: we've discussed an alternative Middle Ages, where Egypt ruled the Mediterranean instead of Rome, leaving behind a rather different cultural heritage when it fell
  Arabian (e.g. Arabian Nights)
* [[Ancient Egypt]]
  Arthurian legend
* [[Ancient Rome]]
  Asian Blend (Chinese, Japanese, maybe Korean, Indian, SE Asian)
* [[Dinosaurs]] (semi-realistic)
  Australian (Aboriginal myth, more recent folklore, and/or the pop myth of Aussie-land)
* [[Gladiator]] (simple setting, combat intensive, time for the highly detailed and lethal "realistic" combat model)
  Aztec Mythology
* [[Gold Rush!]]
  Celtic Mythology
* [[Heian-Era Japan]]
  Chinese Mythology and Folklore
* [[Medieval]] Setting
  Egyptian Mythology
* [[Organized Crime]] action, probably in the Prohibition Era USA
  European Fairy Tale Setting (could be more Disney, could be more Brothers Grimm)
* [[Pirates]]
  Greek Mythology (or the Romanized version)
* [[Pre-Columbian]] North America, with whatever borrowing from native mythologies
  Indian Mythology
* [[Renaissance]]
  Japanese Mythology
* Solo infiltration mission into a Nazi held castle (I think some game may have used this premise before :-)
  Norse Myth
* Stone Age ([[hunter-gatherer]])
  North American Indian Myths
* Stone Age ([[primitive agricultural]])
  Traditional English folklore
* Stone Age ([[Mesoamerican level]])
  Russo-Finnish Mythology (esp. the Kalevala)
* [[Wild West]]
* [[Wilderness Survival]]
* [[World War II]]


HISTORICAL AND PSEUDO-HISTORICAL
= Fantasy =
  Aerial Warfare (First World War might be ideal)
* [[Dungeons and Dragons | D&Dish stock fantasy]] world
  Alternative History: we've discussed an alternative Middle Ages, where Egypt ruled the Mediterranean instead of Rome, leaving behind a rather different cultural heritage when it fell
* [[Children's Fantasy]] (Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, etc.)
  Ancient Egypt
* [[Conan-style world]] (mighty swordsmen, relatively rare (but powerful) supernaturalities, very human dominated)
  Ancient Rome
* [[Dinosaur Sword and Sorcery]] (with semi-humanoid hero dinos)
  Dinosaurs (semi-realistic)
* Fantasy, but [[PC is a monster]] (dragon, gryphon, demon) who must grow from the weakness of childhood by rampaging across the countryside, terrorizing the peoples, defeating or avoiding the bold knights and cunning wizards and sneaky elves, gathering a hoard of treasure, and establishing oneself as Monster Supreme. See [[OrcRL]].
  Gladiator (simple setting, combat intensive, time for the highly detailed and lethal "realistic" combat model)
* Fantasy in [[modern high school]] (ala many Japanese/Korean fantasies)
  Gold Rush!
* Fantasy, non-cliche, centered on [[exploration]] rather than combat
  Heian-Era Japan
* Fantasy with [[small animals]] as protagonists
  Medieval Setting
* [[Goblin Camp]] – colony manager (Like Dwarf Fortress)
  Organized Crime action, probably in the Prohibition Era USA
* [[Gothic]]
  Pirates
* [[Horror]]
  Pre-Columbian North America, with whatever borrowing from native mythologies
* [[Lovecraftian]] Horror
  Renaissance
* Michael Moorcock's [[Eternal Champion]] stories (or better, a rip-off)
  Solo infiltration mission into a Nazi held castle (I think some game may have used this premise before :-)
* [[Middle-Earth]] (it's been done; although not mixing it with [[Dungeons and Dragons | D&D]]-generica would be new, problem is, it's hard to do a pure Middle-Earth RL)
  Stone Age (hunter-gatherer)
* [[Modern and supernatural]] (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy)
  Stone Age (primitive agricultural)
* [[Narnian]] (can take talking animals, human children, and mythological creatures and make a new "Narnian" world)
  Stone Age (Mesoamerican level)
* [[Oz]] (old enough and rich enough to rip off)
  Wild West
* [[Underwater]]: fantasy (sea elves, merpeople, no fire elementals)
* [[Vampire(theme)|Vampire]] Gothic (modern "gothic")
* [[Weird West]] ([[Wild West]] with supernatural elements)
* [[World without spells]]
* [[World without magic items]]
* [[Wuxia]] (Chinese kung fu action fantasy) [calling the martial arts superheros "ninjas" is not a new theme!]


FANTASY
= Science fiction =
  *D&Dish stock fantasy world
* A universe of giant bug theme races. No humans.
  Children's Fantasy (Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, etc.)
* Alien [[invasion of Earth]]
  Conan-style world (mighty swordsmen, relatively rare (but powerful) supernaturalities, very human dominated)
* Earth's [[invasion of Aliens]]
  Dinosaur Sword and Sorcery (with semi-humanoid hero dinos)
* [[Aliens ripoff]]: fight alien monsters in underground passages
  Fantasy, but PC is a monster (dragon, gryphon, demon) who must grow from the weakness of childhood by rampaging across the countryside, terrorizing the peoples, defeating or avoiding the bold knights and cunning wizards and sneaky elves, gathering a hoard of treasure, and establishing oneself as Monster Supreme
* [[Barsoom ripoff]] (i.e. sword & sorcery in space and with "science" replacing sorcery)
  Fantasy in modern high school (ala many Japanese/Korean fantasies)
* [[Comic SF]] (e.g. Red Dwarf, Hitch Hiker's Guide, Galaxy Quest, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians)
  Fantasy, non-cliche, centered on exploration rather than combat
* [[Cyberpunk]]
  Fantasy with small animals as protagonists
* [[Cyberspace]]: The world you are in is a representation of (a) computer network(s).  Think William Gibson.
  Gothic
* [[Fantastic Voyage]] ripoff (get shrunk and travel the human body)
  Lovecraftian Horror
* [[Fugitive]] on an alien planet
  Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories
* Fusion of [[Mad Max]] and [[Cyberpunk]]
  Middle-Earth
* Futuristic [[dystopia]]
  Modern + supernatural (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
* [[Gamma World]] style post-apocalypse
  Narnia (can take talking animals, human children, and mythological creatures and make a new "Narnian" world)
* Huge "[[generation ship]]" sci-fi setting
  Oz
* isolated interstellar [[colony]] (no FTL)
  Underwater: fantasy (sea elves, merpeople, no fire elementals)
* Jack L. Chalker's [[Well of Souls]] rip-off, specifically the mix of many "worlds" into a single world, multiple races, technologies, etc.
  Vampire Gothic (modern "gothic")
* [[Mad Max]] style post-apocalypse
  Wild West + supernatural
* [[Martian colony]]
  World without spells
* [[Mecha]]
  World without magic items
* [[Paranoia]] RPG's Alpha Complex
  Wuxia (Chinese kung fu action fantasy)
* Play a [[sentient starship]]
* [[Robot]] World
* [[Salvage mission]] into alien base/starship
* [[Space exploration]] and commercial exploitation
* [[Space Opera]]
* [[Starship Troopers]] ripoff: fight alien monsters in a very powerful and cool powered battlesuit
* [[Steampunk]]
* The [[AI's have turned on humanity]]! (or for bonus originality points, the AI's have turned on some alien species!)
* [[Time Travel]]
* [[Tron]]: You are ''inside'' a computer. Each program/command is a species, so plenty of variety.
* [[Ultratech]] Sci-Fi (advanced biotech, nanotechnology)
* [[Underwater]]: science fiction (bioengineered or just properly equipped)
* [[Virtual Reality]] setting
* High-tech world with almost extinct [[humans gone savage]] (Blame!, GUNNM)


SCIENCE FICTION
= Other (the unusual, the crossovers, the hard to classify) =
  A universe of giant bug theme races. No humans.
* Alien planet where [[battle is sex]] to submission by orgasm
  Alien invasion of Earth
* [[Anime]] themes
  Aliens ripoff: fight alien monsters in underground passages
* [[Antarctica]] (penguin based?)
  Barsoom ripoff
* [[Atlantis]] has resurfaced. Explore.
  Cyberpunk
* [[Cartoon]] based
  Fantastic Voyage ripoff (get shrunk and travel the human body)
* [[Completely new world]] "as little related to ours as possible"
  Fugitive on an alien planet
* [[Dimensional crossover]] (mixing themes)
  Fusion of Mad Max and Cyberpunk
* [[Dream world]]: may be used as a solo idea or in conjunction with another world concept
  Futuristic dystopia
* [[Escape from Hell]] (after arriving via clerical error)
  Gamma World style post-appocalypse
* [[Furry]] (any other theme, but races are anthropomorphic animals)
  Huge "generation ship" sci-fi setting
* [[Highlander]] (set in present day or progressing through a series of temporal settings) [note: would not be hard to change the premise a little to create a new semi-immortals battle across history background]
  isolated interstellar colony (no FTL)
* [[Indiana Jones]] style archaeological digs
  Jack L. Chalker's Well of Souls, specifically the mix of many "worlds" into a single world, multiple races, technologies, etc.
* James Bondesque (or Austin Powersesque) [["spy" adventures]]
  Mad Max style post-appocalypse
* [[Jungle Adventure]]
  Martian colony
* [[Lost Valley]] (PC explorer from modern times, Victorian, 1920's etc.)
  Mecha
* Modern [[Covert Ops]]
  Paranoia RPG's Alpha Complex
* [[Pimp]] roguelike (and yes, that's pimp in the literal sense)
  Play a sentient starship
* [[Pulp]] Adventure
  Robot World
* [[Rescue Worker]]: could be fantasy, modern or sci-fi setting, but your job is to deal with crisis situations and rescue people, animals, and property. For instance play as a firefighter
  Salvage mission into alien base/starship
* [[Shakespearean]] Roguelike
  Space exploration and commercial exploitation
* [[Sports]] (including futuristic or fantasy): try a career as a jockey, a charioteer, a stock car driver,zero-gee soccer/football [note: this would be a difficult theme to pull off, IMO, but doable]
  Space Opera
* [[Superheroes]]
  Starship Troopers ripoff: fight alien monsters in a very powerful and cool powered battlesuit
* The Quest to [[Get Laid]]: Probably modern, seek out and explore strange new sex partners; requires parental warning label (sex could work, romance elements could be used in a roguelike, but can't be central because sex is the mechanics, romance is too intangible for the RL world to adequately handle)
  Steampunk
* [[Underwater]]: alien (create your own exotic realm of the deep)
  The AIs have turned on humanity! (or for bonus originality points, the AIs have turned on some alien species!)
* [[Calvinball]]: the Roguelike
  Time Travel
  Ultratech Sci-Fi (advanced biotech, nanotechnology)
  Underwater: science fiction (bioengineered or just properly equipped)
  Virtual Reality setting


OTHER (THE UNUSUAL, THE CROSSOVERS, THE HARD TO CLASSIFY)
Some of these ideas can be combined, others are obviously incompatible.
  Alien planet where battle is sex to submission by orgasm
  Anime themes
  Antarctica (penguin based?)
  Atlantis has resurfaced. Explore.
  Cartoon based
  Completely new world "as little related to ours as possible"
  Dimensional crossover (mixing themes)
  Dream world: may be used as a solo idea or in conjunction with another world concept
  Escape from Hell (after arriving via clerical error)
  Furry (any other theme, but races are anthropomorphic animals)
  Highlander (set in present day or progressing through a series of temporal settings) [note: would not be hard to change the premise a little to create a new semi-immortals battle across history background]
  Indiana Jones style archeological digs
  James Bondesque (or Austin Powersesque) "spy" adventures
  Jungle Adventure
  Lost Valley (PC explorer from modern times, Victorian, 1920's etc.)
  Pimp roguelike (and yes, that's pimp in the literal sense)
  Pulp Adventure
  Rescue Worker: could be fantasy or sci-fi setting, but your job is to deal with crisis situations and rescue people, animals, and property
  Shakespearean Roguelike
  Sports (including futuristic or fantasy): try a career as a jockey, a charioteer, a stock car driver,zero-gee soccer/football note: this would be a difficult theme to pull off, IMO, but doable
  Superheroes
  The Quest to Get Laid: Probably modern, seek out and explore strange new sex partners; requires parental warning label (sex could work, romance elements could be used in a roguelike, but can't be central because sex is the mechanics, romance is too intangible for the RL world to adequately handle)
  Underwater: alien (create your own exotic realm of the deep)


Some of these ideas can be combined, others are obviously
= See Also =
incompatible.
[[List of roguelikes by theme]]
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Latest revision as of 11:04, 9 July 2023

For a list of games by Theme, see List of Roguelikes by Theme.

Mythology and folklore

Historical and pseudo-historical

Fantasy

Science fiction

Other (the unusual, the crossovers, the hard to classify)

  • Alien planet where battle is sex to submission by orgasm
  • Anime themes
  • Antarctica (penguin based?)
  • Atlantis has resurfaced. Explore.
  • Cartoon based
  • Completely new world "as little related to ours as possible"
  • Dimensional crossover (mixing themes)
  • Dream world: may be used as a solo idea or in conjunction with another world concept
  • Escape from Hell (after arriving via clerical error)
  • Furry (any other theme, but races are anthropomorphic animals)
  • Highlander (set in present day or progressing through a series of temporal settings) [note: would not be hard to change the premise a little to create a new semi-immortals battle across history background]
  • Indiana Jones style archaeological digs
  • James Bondesque (or Austin Powersesque) "spy" adventures
  • Jungle Adventure
  • Lost Valley (PC explorer from modern times, Victorian, 1920's etc.)
  • Modern Covert Ops
  • Pimp roguelike (and yes, that's pimp in the literal sense)
  • Pulp Adventure
  • Rescue Worker: could be fantasy, modern or sci-fi setting, but your job is to deal with crisis situations and rescue people, animals, and property. For instance play as a firefighter
  • Shakespearean Roguelike
  • Sports (including futuristic or fantasy): try a career as a jockey, a charioteer, a stock car driver,zero-gee soccer/football [note: this would be a difficult theme to pull off, IMO, but doable]
  • Superheroes
  • The Quest to Get Laid: Probably modern, seek out and explore strange new sex partners; requires parental warning label (sex could work, romance elements could be used in a roguelike, but can't be central because sex is the mechanics, romance is too intangible for the RL world to adequately handle)
  • Underwater: alien (create your own exotic realm of the deep)
  • Calvinball: the Roguelike

Some of these ideas can be combined, others are obviously incompatible.

See Also

List of roguelikes by theme