Roguebook

Roguebook is a roguelike deckbuilder that combines turn-based battles with an explorable fantasy book world. Belgian studio Abrakam Entertainment developed the game with support from card game designer Richard Garfield. The story is set in the universe of the strategy game Faeria.

The key feature is a two-hero team: before each run, you combine two playable heroes who use their cards and abilities together in battle. Every new attempt opens different paths through the magical book.

Roguebook was released on June 17, 2021 for PC. The native versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S followed on February 24, 2022. The Nintendo Switch version came out on April 21, 2022.

The release dates refer to the respective native releases, not to later backward compatibility. The game is already released and no longer in the pre-order stage.

The base game is available natively for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. On Steam, Windows, macOS and Linux are listed as supported PC systems. The Switch version is a single-player title and supports touchscreen input.

A compatible Switch version playing on Switch 2 is not automatically a separate native Switch 2 version. The official store information shows no evidence of a separate Switch 2 release.

The turn-based battles revolve around two characters working together. Their cards form a shared deck, and their positions in the front and back rows affect the actions available. Who uses which card and when decides attack, defense and new combinations.

More than 200 cards, 80 relics and 30 gems serve as building blocks for different decks. Since choosing the two-hero team changes the tactical options, runs with new hero combinations can be approached in very different ways.

The most important expansion for gameplay is Fugoro, Merchant of Wonders. The additional hero brings more than 50 cards and opens new combinations for the two-hero team. Its card set uses its own mechanics around coins and markers. The add-on was released for PC on Feb 24, 2022.

Further add-on content includes alternative card illustrations and cosmetic hero skins. The Deluxe Edition is a bundle of the base game and expansions, not a separate native platform version.

For Windows, the Steam listing gives at least 6 GB RAM, an Intel Core i5-650 or AMD Phenom II X4 965, and an Nvidia GTX 650 or AMD HD 6950. Storage needs are around 4 GB. The recommended specs are 8 GB RAM and faster graphics hardware. The original minimum lists Windows 7, but the current Steam client only supports Windows 10 and later.

Outside of battles, the team moves across a hexagonal map that is hidden at first. Magic ink reveals further tiles. This opens routes to encounters, rewards and merchants. The world of the book changes its layout on every run, so map choices do not alone determine the course.

Roguebook follows the roguelike principle of repeated runs. Cards, relics and gems collected on a journey form the current deck; further upgrades unlock additional options for later runs. After the first successful completion, you can take on 20 epilogue difficulty levels.

Progress therefore comes both from understanding card combinations and from discovering additional choices on the map.

Roguebook is a single-player title with no competitive multiplayer card duel. The Steam version supports German on-screen text. On Nintendo Switch, touchscreen input is one of the supported control types.