Top 10 Classic ASCII Games You Can Still Play
ASCII gaming is alive and well, with both modern creations and legendary classics still being enjoyed by players around the world. From simple dungeon crawlers to ambitious RPGs, these games prove that you don’t need fancy graphics to tell great stories or have fun.
Here’s a list of 10 ASCII games worth checking out today. Some are decades old and defined entire genres, while others are modern interpretations that push the limits of what can be done with nothing but text characters on a screen.
1. Stone Story RPG
A modern ASCII art RPG with smooth animations and a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere. Unlike most text-based games, Stone Story RPG combines automated combat with exploration, crafting, and puzzle solving, making it feel unique and accessible even for newcomers. Its clever use of ASCII characters to create fluid motion shows just how creative developers can be when working with this old-school style.
2. ASCIICKER
ASCIICKER is an ambitious open-world RPG that takes ASCII to the third dimension. Still in development, it lets players explore a 3D environment where every tree, wall, and creature is made entirely from characters. It’s a fascinating project that blends modern game design with a pure retro aesthetic, and it’s already attracting attention as one of the most unusual ASCII experiments in years.
3. Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
This kingdom management simulation is packed with humor, depth, and an almost absurd amount of possibilities. From recruiting strange characters to waging wars and managing politics, everything is presented with a lighthearted tone and charming text descriptions. With thousands of random events and procedurally generated elements, no two playthroughs are ever the same, making it one of the most replayable ASCII strategy games available.
4. Dwarf Fortress
The undisputed king of complex simulation. In Dwarf Fortress, you’re not just building a settlement – you’re creating an entire living world, where every dwarf has its own personality, relationships, and tragic or hilarious fate. The ASCII graphics might look intimidating at first, but the level of detail and emergent storytelling is unmatched. Players often share legendary tales of accidental flooding, vampire invasions, or fortresses collapsing under their own engineering mistakes.
5. Rogue (1980)
The game that started the entire roguelike genre. Rogue introduced randomly generated dungeons, permadeath, and turn-based movement, creating a gameplay loop that’s as addictive today as it was over 40 years ago. Despite its simplicity, the challenge remains high, and mastering the balance between risk and reward is as satisfying as ever. Many modern roguelikes still pay homage to Rogue’s groundbreaking mechanics.
6. NetHack
NetHack is famous for its depth and sheer unpredictability. Every item, creature, and dungeon feature can interact in surprising ways, making every run feel like a unique story. You might engrave runes to ward off monsters, accidentally anger a shopkeeper, or polymorph into a creature yourself. Its steep learning curve is part of its charm, and the active community continues to discover new secrets decades after its release.
7. Angband
Based on Tolkien’s legendarium, Angband is a massive dungeon crawler where patience and strategy are key. Surviving 100 dungeon levels before finally facing Morgoth is a true test of skill. Its active development community keeps adding updates, and online versions make it easy to compete with other players or share stories of daring escapes and epic battles.
8. Brogue (2010)
Brogue is known for its minimalist but beautiful design. Clever use of colors and subtle ASCII effects make caves and traps feel alive, and its intuitive controls remove much of the frustration common in older roguelikes. It’s a great starting point for anyone new to the genre, but still challenging enough to keep veteran players entertained.
9. ZZT
ZZT is both a game and a game creation system, released back in 1991. It allowed players to create their own levels and share them, effectively starting one of the earliest modding communities. The gameplay itself is simple action-adventure, but its real legacy lies in inspiring countless amateur developers who later moved on to create full-fledged games.
10. The Tombs of Asciiroth
A lightweight but fun dungeon crawler that shows how effective ASCII graphics can be for creating atmosphere. Simple movement and exploration make it easy to pick up, and it’s a perfect choice if you want a quick taste of classic roguelike gameplay without complex mechanics.