Indie developer Cellar Door Games has generously released the source code for its acclaimed 2013 roguelike, Rogue Legacy, making it freely available for educational use. This act of knowledge-sharing, as the developer stated, provides a valuable resource for aspiring game developers.

Cellar Door Games Opens Rogue Legacy's Source Code

Art and Music Remain Proprietary, But Collaboration is Encouraged

In a Twitter (now X) announcement, Cellar Door Games unveiled the Rogue Legacy 1 source code on GitHub, under a non-commercial license. This allows individuals to download and explore the game's mechanics for personal learning and development.

The GitHub repository is managed by Ethan Lee, a developer also known for his contributions to other indie game source code releases. The move has been widely praised on social media, highlighting its potential to foster game development education.

Beyond educational benefits, this release contributes to game preservation. It ensures the game's accessibility even if it's removed from digital storefronts. This proactive approach has even garnered interest from Andrew Borman, Director of Digital Preservation at the Rochester Museum of Play, who expressed interest in collaborating with the developer.

While the source code includes all localized text, the game's assets (art, graphics, music) are not included due to proprietary licensing. Cellar Door Games clarifies on GitHub that the code is intended for learning, inspiration, and tool creation. However, they encourage contact for inquiries regarding distribution of work beyond the license terms or incorporating assets not included in the released code.