Zorbus

Zorbus is a fantasy-themed, tile-based, turn-based roguelike. You delve into a randomly generated dungeon to find a portal to the mythical Zorbus, where a mere mortal can ascend to demigodhood. Along the way, you can recruit creatures to join your party.

The dungeon

Each run generates a different dungeon. Its levels have varied shapes and connected areas, with themed locations such as throne rooms, prisons and hidden treasure caches. The dungeon draws on the late-1970s and early-1980s tabletop D&D campaigns, adventures and lore.

Creatures act intelligently: they fight one another, flee when threatened and try to gather allies against danger. Most can use items and pick them up from the floor, and they comment on events with speech bubbles. Dynamic lighting comes from dungeon fixtures and creatures’ light sources, which can be lit or extinguished. Some creatures have darkvision, and creatures react to light and sound.

Rules and progression

Zorbus has permanent death: when your character dies, you must start a new game. You can save, but loading a save deletes the save file. The game has no item identification or hunger mechanic.

The rules are slightly influenced by the d20 system used in the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Characters have races and experience levels but no classes; each time you level up, you spend points to buy skills and talents.