The game presents exploration from a first-person view inside a multi-level dungeon. The party moves through grid-based corridors, searches rooms, opens chests, disarms traps, and fights encounters selected through turn-based commands.

A party of up to six adventurers uses class abilities, weapons, armor, and Wizardry spell levels to survive. Progress depends on mapping routes, identifying safe returns, managing healing and spell points, and improving characters through experience, treasure, and equipment.

Map every intersection and mark locked doors, treasure locations, stairways, teleporters, and dangerous dead ends. A reliable return route is especially important because Wizardry’s dungeon hazards can turn a successful expedition into a recovery problem.

Keep healing and escape options available before testing an unfamiliar area. Rotate damaged front-line characters when possible, inspect new equipment carefully, and avoid spending high-level spells early unless the encounter or dungeon position justifies the cost.