When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
Streets of Rogue 2 is an upcoming RPG-roguelike rocking a 16-bit art style and pleasing retro graphics. It’s once again developed solely by Matt Dabrowski and is expected to be released in 2025. However, the title has endured a delay from its original early access state, casting doubt on this further.
The name cleverly nods to the Streets of Rage series from yesteryear, but it also borrows ideas from the popular Retro City Rampage and other ‘demake’ titles. The game promises an “immersive RPG sandbox set in a vast randomly generated open world,” so there’s a lot to look forward to here.
Key Takeaways
- Streets of Rogue 2’s release window is currently 2025, following a delay to its early access run.
- Streets of Rogue 2, a roguelike meets immersive sim, features a vast open-world environment 10,000 times larger than before.
- The game allows for various playstyles, from aggressive approaches to peaceful farming or business, and reacts differently to each player’s actions.
- Although initially a PC exclusive, Streets of Rogue 2 will later be released on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch consoles.
What Is Streets of Rogue 2?
The first Streets of Rogue had a simple concept but layered dozens of mechanics and variables on top of it to create a game that felt almost limitless in terms of what you could do.
Streets of Rogue 2 has the same primary objective of overthrowing the current government and becoming President but trades out the randomly generated stages you progress through for a single open-world environment that is “10,000 times the size of a level from the first game.”
While the first game gave you thousands of ways to complete that main objective through dozens of characters with their own skills, abilities, and interactions, Streets of Rogue 2 doesn’t even require you to pursue the main plot if you don’t feel like it.
Streets of Rogue 2 is a systems-driven game that is much like an immersive sim. That means everything, and everyone reacts differently depending on your actions. You can take an aggressive approach and go guns blazing, or be a complete pacifist and start a farm or run a business.
If you’re looking for the ultimate open-world sandbox experience, nothing will offer as much freedom as Streets of Rogue 2.
When Is Streets of Rogue 2 Coming Out?
Originally, the Streets of Rogue 2 early access was planned for August 2024. However, an update on the Steam page now indicates the game has been delayed to 2025. Previously, it was expected to launch in Q4 2024, with October 22, 2024, as the specific date announced as the early access release.
In contrast, there’s a Streets of Rogue 2 demo available, which is an early alpha build of the game, including a “small chunk of the game world.” You aim to take down the Major or gain favor with the city official as either a Chef, a Soldier, or a Cop in a randomly generated world.
At the end of November, the game’s developer, Matt Dabrowski, took to Reddit to lament the many delays that the game has experienced. He confirmed there would be no further release date announcements until he is 100% sure they can be met.
Fans of the game have been left frustrated, but they also seem very understanding and supportive of the developer’s struggles. Having said that, an early 2025 release window seems likely.
Expected Streets of Rogue 2 Price
There is no listed price for the early access version of Streets of Rogue 2, but the developer stated in an FAQ what range it expects to charge. According to developer Matt, “If I had to make an educated guess based on the current indie games market, it will likely be released into Early Access at $19.99 or $24.99 USD.”
While it could be $20, we suggest expecting $25 and hopefully being pleasantly surprised if it ends up being cheaper.
What Consoles/Platforms Will Streets of Rogue 2 be Available for?
Streets of Rogue 2 will launch as a PC exclusive, just like the first game. Console players don’t need to worry, though, because the developer has stated that the game will come to PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch consoles in the future.
Streets of Rogue 2 Trailers
The reveal trailer for Streets of Rogue 2 introduces the new “City of Dreams” where the game will take place and shows off how drastically different your experience can be in the game.
One character becomes a farmer, another a comedian, and a third a businessman. Regardless of which path you take, it seems the President will always be out to spoil your fun and inspire you to spark a rebellion.
The gameplay showcases plenty of chaotic action, new building and crafting systems, new vehicles, and four-player co-op.
Next, we got the gameplay trailer for Streets of Rogue 2, which clearly states the game’s intention to create “the most open-ended and fun sandbox experience ever and evolve the ultimate freedom of choice that made the original game a cult hit.”
NPC collateral damage 🤕 pic.twitter.com/smXRlw0Y51
— Streets of Rogue 2 💥 Play Demo Now! (@streetsofrogue) May 16, 2024
It restates the goal but offers a few new possible ways to accomplish it, such as hiring a group of mercenaries, unleashing a zombie outbreak, or just ignoring it and starting a peaceful farm.
It teases just a fraction of the possibilities the game has in store to get your creativity going and inspire you to want to try things for yourself.
Why Fans Are Excited
The only real criticism I could see about Streets of Rogue was the fact that you were constrained in both time and space. You only had so long to exit a zone before you were forced out by overwhelming danger, and the areas themselves were never all that large.
Streets of Rogue 2 fixes both of these issues, plus adds more of what we loved from the first game. The open world means you never have to worry about running out of time or space and opens up even more ways for systems to interact on a large scale.
Adding more classes and systems only increases how deep Streets of Rogue 2 can get. Thanks to advanced AI, everything reacts appropriately to your actions in ways that are expected and unexpected.
Streets of Rogue 2 looks like it will make the first game feel like a prototype, and that game was already one of the best mashups of roguelike and immersive sims you could get.
The Bottom Line
Anyone who has even a passing interest in systems-driven games should check out Streets of Rogue 2. This game promises a level of freedom and reactivity that is almost unheard of in modern gaming.
With the freedom to play however you want, either alone or with friends, you could spend hundreds of hours in Streets of Rogue 2 and have completely different experiences each time by switching up your class and goals.
Check out Streets of Rogue 2’s early access release date on August 14 to hit the streets as soon as it launches.
FAQs
When is Streets of Rogue 2 coming out?
How much will Streets of Rogue 2 cost?
Do I need to play the first game to play Streets of Rogue 2?
References
- Streets of Rogue 2 on Steam (Store Steampowered)
- A ‘Thank You’ from the dev, Matt Dabrowski (Reddit)
- Streets of Rogue 2 – Official Reveal Trailer | Wishlist Now on Steam! (YouTube)
- Streets of Rogue 2 💥 Play Demo Now! on X (X)
- Streets of Rogue 2 – Official Gameplay Trailer | Open-World Sandbox RPG (YouTube)
