The dungeon is viewed from above as an ASCII map. The player moves one square at a time, fights monsters, searches for hidden passages, and collects weapons, armor, scrolls, potions, rings, and food. Combat is turn-based: monsters act when the player acts, so movement and positioning are part of every attack.

The objective is to descend through the dungeon, find the Amulet of Yendor, and return to the surface alive. Dungeon layouts, monster placements, and much of the item distribution change between runs. Identification is gradual, equipment can have unknown properties, hunger limits prolonged exploration, and death permanently ends the current character.

Explore methodically and avoid fighting several monsters in open space whenever possible. Use corridors and doorways to limit the number of enemies that can attack at once, and retreat when a battle becomes unfavorable.

Conserve food and valuable consumables, identify items before relying on them, and keep a route to previously explored areas. Do not descend merely because the next staircase is available; strengthen the character and manage equipment before committing to deeper levels.