---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-39
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-39
lang: en
title: 'Difficulty, challenges and results'
summary: >-
  Additional rules change the demands of a run. The player sees restrictions in
  advance and chooses an appropriate challenge.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-39/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-39.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-39.md
aliases:
  - Run difficulty and challenges
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-ea407a6c37045737
sources:
  - id: source-ea407a6c37045737
    title: Monster Train
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-39
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-39'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Run difficulty and challenges
    description: >-
      Additional rules change the demands of a run. The player sees restrictions
      in advance and chooses an appropriate challenge.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/monster-train-challenge.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Monster Train
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1102190/ss_482b7d543a1e5773eb469b4702258b7eb34f2da1.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779381275
      credit: Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment
      rights: © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.
      caption: A challenge with selected modifiers
      alt: >-
        Monster Train: Customize Challenge shows three mutators, a Covenant
        level and a Hell Rush toggle.
      markers:
        - x: 50
          'y': 43
          label: Rules change the challenge conditions
        - x: 46
          'y': 73
          label: An additional Covenant level
    tips:
      - Show rule changes before the attempt begins.
      - Compare results under comparable conditions.
    examples:
      - title: Monster Train
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Difficulty, challenges and results

id: roguelike--family-39
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-39
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-39/

Additional rules change the demands of a run. The player sees restrictions in advance and chooses an appropriate challenge.

## At a glance

![Monster Train: Customize Challenge shows three mutators, a Covenant level and a Hell Rush toggle.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/monster-train-challenge.webp)

[Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) · © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.

1. Rules change the challenge conditions
2. An additional Covenant level

- Show rule changes before the attempt begins.
- Compare results under comparable conditions.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/)

## How it works

Modifiers, restrictions and scoring create additional goals on top of the normal completion of the run.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-39-variants"></a>

- Consecutive levels of increased difficulty <a id="variant-roguelike-39-01"></a>
- Selectable complications before the start <a id="variant-roguelike-39-02"></a>
- Difficulty budget: the player reaches the required amount of penalties <a id="variant-roguelike-39-03"></a>
- Strengthening opponents after victories <a id="variant-roguelike-39-04"></a>
- New rules at higher difficulty levels <a id="variant-roguelike-39-05"></a>
- Daily test with general conditions <a id="variant-roguelike-39-06"></a>
- run according to a given seed <a id="variant-roguelike-39-07"></a>
- Random set of required modifiers <a id="variant-roguelike-39-08"></a>
- Testing a specific character or weapon <a id="variant-roguelike-39-09"></a>
- Walkthrough without individual types of actions <a id="variant-roguelike-39-10"></a>
- Accounting for voluntarily observed restrictions <a id="variant-roguelike-39-11"></a>
- Points for speed, loot and completed objectives <a id="variant-roguelike-39-12"></a>
- Multiplier for a series of successful actions <a id="variant-roguelike-39-13"></a>
- Result penalty for damage or losses received <a id="variant-roguelike-39-14"></a>
- Streak of victories without defeats <a id="variant-roguelike-39-15"></a>
- Separate conditions for record and regular victory <a id="variant-roguelike-39-16"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) (id: source-ea407a6c37045737)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors