Desktop Dungeons

Desktop Dungeons is a medieval fantasy rogue variant game with full 2D graphics, music, and sound. The purpose of the game is to defeat the boss of a selected scenario or die trying.

The player must first select a race and a class for the character. Basic races consist of human, elf, dwarf, halfling, and gnome. Each race has an ability to convert glyphs into a specific attribute (e.g. humans convert glyphs into attack bonus). Glyphs are magical runes/spells that are randomly placed in the dungeon. Basic classes consist of fighter, thief, priest, and wizard. Each class has specified advantages and disadvantages. All classes are capable of melee combat and the use of glyphs (magic). Additional races and classes may be later unlocked.

Combat consists of the player bumping into an enemy, each turn identifying the amount of health subtracted from both parties, which may be continued until one of the parties die or if the player retreats. Unlike other similar games, enemy units here do not move nor do they attack unless attacked first. The level experience of an enemy is always seen to indicate how strong the opponent is.

Leveling up occurs when the player has killed a sufficient quantity of enemies (e.g. 0/15). Acquiring a level allows the player to engage with enemies of the same level, otherwise difficult to defeat.