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Screenshot of the Delve roguelike
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Delve (a roguelike)

A fun little roguelike experiment — quick runs, weird builds, and learning-by-doing.

Link: https://adv.dev.explewd.com/

Case study: Case study: Delve roguelike

Highlights

  • Classic ASCII roguelike: turn-based, permadeath, procedural dungeons
  • Five classes with distinct abilities, passives, and progression paths
  • 19 run modifiers (curses, blessings, mixed) for variety
  • Daily Challenge mode with shared dungeon layouts
  • Built with rot.js + TypeScript; runs in a browser

A web-based roguelike in the spirit of Rogue, NetHack, and Angband. Classic ASCII rendering, turn-based combat, permadeath, and procedurally generated dungeons. Built to grow—start simple, layer on depth.

What it is

Descend 10 floors, retrieve the Sunstone, don’t die. You will die. A lot. Cave rats. Mimics. Bosses that wake the entire dungeon. Your weapon degrading mid-fight (if you rolled Brittle). In run 47 you’ll finally get a good build going and a Door Mimic will ruin your day.

It’s a roguelike. That’s the deal.

Core features

  • Five classes: Warrior (Cleave AOE), Rogue (Backstab), Mage (Arcane Bolt), Ranger (Volley), Necromancer (Animate Dead)
  • 19 run modifiers: Cursed (Forsaken, Haunted, Fragile, Nemesis, Brittle), Blessed (extra gold/potions, half cooldowns), Mixed (Glass Cannon, Bloodthirst, Scholar)
  • Three biomes: The Warren (floors 1–3), The Ruins (floors 4–6), The Crypt (floors 7–10)
  • 30+ enemy types: Rats to wraiths, plus mimics (item/chest/door), pack leaders, named uniques
  • 4 boss fights: Brood Mother, The Warlord, The Pale King, The Dungeon Heart (two-phase final boss)
  • 50+ items: Potions, weapons, armor, rings, amulets, scrolls, wands, throwables
  • Special rooms: Shrines, libraries, vaults, challenge rooms, NPC encounters, mirror rooms, transmutation altars
  • Daily Challenge: Shared-seed run, same dungeon for all players
  • Persistent gravestones: Past deaths appear in future runs

Tech stack

Client: Vite + TypeScript + rot.js (ASCII rendering, FOV, pathfinding, dungeon generation)

Server: Node.js + Fastify + SQLite (stores completed runs, gravestones)

Deployment: Docker Compose (single container serves client + API)

Controls

Arrow keys / hjkl / numpad: movement
f: class ability
i: inventory
c: character sheet
x: examine mode
?: help

Touch controls available on mobile (landscape mode).

Live at adv.dev.explewd.com