This genre blends procedural generation and permadeath, characteristic of the “rogue-like” structure, with elements of evolutionary development. In this setup, players typically navigate a series of challenges or environments, where success leads to mutations, adaptations, or improved characteristics. These acquired traits influence subsequent runs, creating a lineage of characters or entities that evolve over time. A simple instance would involve starting as a basic creature that gains the ability to fly after completing a specific challenge, with future iterations inheriting or building upon this flying ability.
The appeal lies in the emergent gameplay and replayability. The procedural generation ensures each playthrough offers a unique landscape of obstacles and opportunities. The permadeath mechanic raises the stakes, forcing strategic decision-making and a careful consideration of risk. The evolutionary aspect provides a sense of progression beyond individual runs, as players witness their lineage adapt and improve, unlocking new possibilities and strategies. Historically, these mechanics have drawn inspiration from evolutionary biology and computer science concepts of genetic algorithms.