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CLASSIC & RETRO · BROWSER PORT GUIDE

NetHack

Creator / project: NetHack DevTeam; alt.org public server (NAO)

Explore the Mazes of Menace, retrieve the Amulet of Yendor and escape the dungeon in the browser terminal of the alt.org public NetHack server.

Roguelike RPG Dungeon Turn-Based Open Source
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This is a public game server reached through its own browser terminal. CodeYourVibe does not embed, mirror or rehost the game files. Original: NetHack (1987).

NetHack dungeon in the alt.org browser terminal, showing rooms, the player, monsters and the status lines
Browser capture of the alt.org NetHack web terminal while watching a game in progress. Source and license notes.

How NetHack plays

NetHack is the classic turn-based dungeon crawl. You choose a role and race, explore the Dungeons of Doom and the branches below them, and try to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor. Almost everything in the world can be used, eaten, wielded or turned into something else, and the game explains very little.

Who might enjoy it

For players who enjoy discovery, improvisation and a game that does not hold your hand. The terminal display is dense and text-first, so it suits readers more than spectators.

Controls and device requirements

Type commands in the browser terminal: hjkl or the arrow keys move, i opens the inventory, ? opens help and Ctrl-X shows the overview. A physical keyboard is required for practical play.

Starting a game needs a free account on the alt.org server (choose Register new user in the terminal menu). Live games can be watched from the same menu without an account.

Hands-on status: Opened the alt.org web terminal, connected to the server menu and watched a live game; the map, messages and status lines render in the browser.

What to try next

Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup WebTiles game in a browser, showing a Spider Nest level, the player and the minimap Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (2006) · Roguelike Brogue Community Edition dungeon in a browser, showing the player and explored rooms Brogue: Community Edition Brogue (2009) · Roguelike

Creator, sources and verification

This guide is based on the browser release and a session checked on 12 November 2026. NetHack is distributed under the NetHack General Public License; server-side changes belong to the alt.org operators. This listing links to the browser release and does not host the game.

Availability and the hosted build can change. Suggest a correction or read how to choose a browser game.