Mystery dungeon

Mystery dungeon are a form of Japanese roguelike games. Its roots are in computer traditional roguelike taking the same procedural generated areas with turn and grid based movements but adapted into a JRPG setting instead of the usual Dungeons & Dragons influence. The name comes from the long running Mystery Dungeon [不思議のダンジョン] franchise from developer Chunsoft which started with Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon [トルネコの大冒険 不思議のダンジョン], a Dragon Quest [ドラゴンクエスト] spin-off. Its take on roguelikes featured a more JRPG approach with the art style and including storyline, along with less punishable systems. The series continued with Shiren the Wanderer [風来のシレン] games and eventually spread to other IP's such as Pokémon [ポケットモンスター].

Following the success of the franchise, other developers began making their own mystery dungeon type games following all of the same standards. Along with the JRPG aesthetic, other elements commonly found in mystery dungeon games are heavy emphasis on items, no classes or skills, town hubs, and the dungeons featuring traps. Additionally "permadeath" concepts are used more loosely as dying will not permanently delete your progress and simply reset the current dungeon and levels, of which you can bring new items or equipment in.