Your thoughts are interrupted by the cry of a shrieker , a sure sign of impending trouble. With a heavy sigh, you ready your sword.

You feel that eating the little dog was a bad idea . And what's worse is that now you get the distinct impression that every creature you see wants to rip your head off .

And you think about how you had to eat his corpse after he was torn apart by orc zombies .

The only thing heavier than the air in this place is the pack on your back. You haven't eaten in days, and you can't remember when you last saw the sun. You think about your faithful little dog who joined you on your journey to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor .

"The depth of gameplay in NetHack is nothing short of miraculous, a standing testament to what can be accomplished by a community of gamers working towards a common goal."

Infinitely Replayable: Randomly generated dungeons for every adventure Challenging like no video game you've ever played before Exciting on a whole other level Free and open source Available for every platform from the Atari to the iPhone

What's All This Then?

NetHack is the deepest and most challenging video game ever created. In continuous development by an international team of over 100 developers since 1987, NetHack boasts an unparalleled level of interactivity, replayability, and difficulty.

In NetHack, players are charged with the task of retrieving the Amulet of Yendor from the Mazes of Menace, a vast dungeon that is randomly-generated to insure a unique experience for each new adventure.

In the Mazes of Menace, your wits are your greatest strength, and success is dependent upon your creativity and cunning. There are no do-overs in NetHack, and death is swift for those who fail to learn the intricacies of the Mazes. NetHack is a truly difficult game, and many play for years before emerging from the dungeon victoriously.

Think you've got what it takes to plumb the depths, snag the Amulet, and make it out alive? Give it a go. NetHack is open-source and freely available for nearly every platform under the sun, and below you can find links to many popular versions.