GnollHack

About

GnollHack is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Hyvän mielen pelit ry and was released on April 29, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

GnollHack is a single-player fantasy roguelike that modernizes the classic NetHack experience with graphics, sounds, and voiceovers. This turn-based dungeon crawler emphasizes strategic thinking, exploration, and mastering complex systems rather than fast reflexes. Each playthrough offers randomized challenges and emergent stories, rewarding skill and wit over grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

GnollHack is a modern and accessible variant of Nethack, featuring improved UI, graphics, and quality of life enhancements that make it easier for newcomers to enjoy the game.
The game offers a wealth of new content, including unique spells, items, and monsters, while still maintaining the core elements that fans of Nethack love.
It's free to play and has an active developer working on improvements, making it a great option for both new players and veterans of the roguelike genre.

Some players find the controls cumbersome and the quality of life features lacking, which can make the game feel frustrating at times.
There are reports of bugs and inconsistencies in the UI, which can detract from the overall experience.
Veterans of the original Nethack may struggle to adapt to the changes and find the game too simplified or different from what they expect.

gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay features permanent death, introducing a challenging experience enhanced by new items, monsters, and mechanics that improve upon the classic Nethack. Quality of life changes, multiple difficulty settings for newcomers, and in-game manuals help players navigate the expanded interactions, while innovations like dual-wielding artifact weapons and fountain alchemy add depth to the gameplay.
- “This adaptation of Nethack contains a host of new items, monsters, and mechanics to the base game, while also adding several quality of life changes and expanded interactions that relieve many of my gripes with the classic version.”
- “The game has multiple difficulty settings to ease newcomers in, and there are several manuals scattered around the dungeon that explain many gameplay mechanics.”
- “There are new mechanics like mythic properties on equipment and fountain alchemy, some gameplay changes like being able to dual-wield artifact weapons, new items, and new areas.”
- “Death is permanent in this gameplay style!”
- “There are new mechanics like mythic properties on equipment and fountain alchemy, some gameplay changes like being able to dual-wield artifact weapons, new items and new areas.”
- “The game has multiple difficulty settings to ease newcomers in and there are several manuals scattered around the dungeon that explain many gameplay mechanics.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics in the modern remake of Nethack are described as simple yet effective, with significant improvements over the original's basic UI. While not groundbreaking, the addition of artwork, animations, and voice acting enhances the overall experience, making it a charming update to the classic roguelike.
- “It's a modern remake of an old roguelike, Nethack, that adds modern mouse controls and graphics.”
- “The quests, voice acting, pleasant graphics, music, NPCs, new spell system, and more are wonderful additions while still remaining true to core Nethack.”
- “An expanded version of the classic Nethack, fit with artwork, animations, music, and most charming of all: voice acting.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its quality and integration, enhancing the overall experience alongside impressive voice acting and sound effects. Reviewers appreciate the charming and immersive audio elements that complement the game's graphics and gameplay, making it a standout feature in the roguelike genre.
- “The quests, voice acting, pleasant graphics, music, NPCs, new spell system, and more are wonderful additions while still remaining true to the core of Nethack.”
- “An expanded version of the classic Nethack, complete with artwork, animations, music, and most charming of all: voice acting.”
- “Great sprite work, music, sound effects, animations, and voice acting (what other free roguelike has voice acting? This is huge!).”