Games Like GnollHack

GnollHack is a traditional roguelike that takes the legendary depth of NetHack and brings it into the modern age. With graphics, sounds, and voiceovers, the dungeon isn’t just a place you explore — it's an adventure full of surprises, dangers, and opportunities that challenge your wit at every turn.

This isn’t a game about quick reflexes or fast button-mashing. Every step is turn-based. Every choice matters. You succeed not by clicking fast, but by thinking smart — learning the dungeon’s secrets, mastering its systems, and using skill and cunning to overcome impossible odds.

Modern Action Roguelike Fans

If you love randomized item drops and rewards in modern action roguelikes, GnollHack offers that same “one more run” magic — but in longer sessions. Runs can last hours or even days, filled with emergent stories you’ll remember: desperate escapes, clever victories, and the occasional sudden downfall. There’s no grind or unlock treadmill — only your knowledge and skill carry you forward.

Traditional Roguelike Fans

Fans of traditional roguelikes will find something rare here: a roguelike that modernizes a classic game without losing depth. GnollHack adds a layer of immersion through visuals, audio, and narration, and bakes vital gameplay information directly into the game, sparing you the need to read wikis. It’s still hardcore, still endlessly replayable — but far more welcoming to play.

NetHack Veterans

If NetHack is your home, GnollHack is its expanded cousin. It adds new monsters, spells, items, and mechanics while keeping the heart of the game intact. It offers graphics, sounds, and voiceovers, and retains the option to play with the same depth and complexity you know and love. With active development and frequent updates, GnollHack is not just another variant — it’s a continuation of NetHack's legacy.

Main Features

GnollHack is more than a game. It’s a puzzle, an adventure, and a test of wit. If you’re ready for a roguelike where every decision can mean the difference between glory and a sudden death, then enter the Dungeons of Doom and play GnollHack.

Enabling Dedicated GPU

In the case your computer has multiple GPUs, GnollHack uses the integrated GPU by default. If you want to use the dedicated GPU, you must enable it as follows:

1. Open Windows Settings.

2. Go to System → Display → Graphics.

3. Add a desktop app and select "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\GnollHack\GnollHackM.exe".

4. GnollHackM should appear in the app list. Click on it to expand its options. Select High Performance as GPU preference.

Troubleshooting

If the game is stuck in the loading screen in the "Done loading" phase, you can fix the problem as follows:

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Click Clock and Region.

3. Click Region.

4. Select the Administrative tab and, in the Language for non-Unicode programs section, click Change system locale.

5. Select English (United States) as the current system locale and click OK.

Alternatively, you can download an MSIX installer for the game from GnollHack's GitHub releases page. Installing the game through it will also fix the problem.