Character Classes

Streets of Rogue 2 lets players pick from a roster of character classes, each with its own traits and playstyle, or build a custom character via the trait system. Classes shape how a run plays out, from combat-focused fighters to stealthy infiltrators to crafters and talkers. The developer has confirmed that not every class will be available the moment the game enters Early Access; playable characters are intended to be added gradually throughout the Early Access development phase.

Profession Specialization

Compared to the original game, classes in the sequel are more specialized. In the first game, characters like the Hacker could put up a decent fight even without ranged skills; in the sequel, picking a fight while playing as a weaker class is intended to be much less viable. To compensate, the developer has added more varied ways to improve a character's skills, including augmentation booths and skill upgrades acquired during play, so that committing to a class still rewards role-playing.

Class Roster

A character is defined along two independent axes: a Class, which is the character's physical makeup, and a Profession, which is the character's function in the world. Every non-custom archetype starts with a specific Class and, in most cases, a specific Profession. Because the two are independent, they combine freely, which is how a Vampire Cop or a Gorilla Farmer becomes possible.

The developer publishes a per-item development status for each entry. In game means the entry is present in current builds but not considered finished. In development means it has been coded to some extent but is not yet visible to players. Planned means it has been committed to in design documents but not built. The developer has cautioned that not everything on these lists is guaranteed to ship.

Playable Classes

Ten Classes are on the developer's list. Only the Human is present in current builds; the rest have been coded to varying degrees but are not yet playable.

Playable Professions

Thirty-two Professions are on the developer's list. Three of them are present in current builds. The Gangster appears twice because the two rival gangs, the Crepes and the Blahds, are separate archetypes.

The classes-overview trailer released in September 2024 spotlighted four of these archetypes by name: the Cultist and the Farmer, both flagged as new to the sequel, alongside the Gorilla and the Soldier, both flagged as returning. Counts of the roster that circulated afterwards did not come from the developer; the lists above are the developer's own.

Classes and Professions

Splitting physical makeup from occupation is the main structural change to character building in the sequel. It means an archetype is not a single fixed package: the Class supplies the body and its associated abilities, the Profession supplies the role and its associated skills, and the two can be mixed. Custom characters bypass the preset pairings entirely and are covered under Traits and Custom Characters.

The character selection, creation, and modification screens are described by the developer as bare-bones in current builds. Fleshing them out is on the list of work that must be finished before the Early Access launch.

Skills and Skill Trees

Each Profession carries a major skill category and a minor skill category, and the game suggests a second minor category that players can swap out for another. Classes carry skill categories too, with the exception of Humans. Every skill category is represented by its own Skill Tree, where Traits and Special Abilities are unlocked by spending Skill Points. Parts of a tree can be gated behind prerequisites such as a level requirement, a number of points already invested, or a specific earlier skill.

Professions and Classes can also come with negative traits, which are grouped as Quirks. Terminology has shifted from the original game: the resource earned through play is now called XP, while Skill Points refer to the points spent inside a Skill Tree. Characters also move past the original game's single special ability, with a dedicated button for a second Special Ability and the option to switch abilities in and out during a run.

Body Tier

Body Tier (a working name that may change before release) is a progression layer that reduces the amount of damage a character takes. It is roughly tied to the World Tier of the region the player is in and is purchased at in-world augmentation stations. The developer has described it as serving a similar role to armor in the original game.

Basic Stats

Each character also has a set of Basic Stats: Endurance, Speed, Strength, and Accuracy, carried over in spirit from the original game. These are set primarily by the character's major skill category and can be adjusted by eating certain foods. The developer has noted that a fifth stat tied to stamina may be added if a stamina system is introduced. They sit alongside the trait-driven customization handled through Custom Characters.

Recommended Starters

For newcomers, the Soldier, Farmer, and Thief have been highlighted as accessible classic archetypes that vary significantly in playstyle and help cover the major game mechanics: direct combat, peaceful building and crafting, and stealthy infiltration.

Early Access Launch Roster

Not every class will be present at the Early Access launch. The developer has framed the class roster as something that will grow steadily through Early Access, with more characters added in content updates. Players who want every class on day one will need to wait for the gradual rollout.