What Is a True ASCII Game?

1. Defining a True ASCII Game

A true ASCII game is, at its core, a game built entirely out of ASCII characters. Every wall, enemy, and piece of loot is represented by text symbols, and the game runs in a text-based environment such as a terminal or console window.

Typical characteristics of true ASCII games:

• Characters only: No images or sprites, just pure text.
• Standard ASCII set: Early games stuck to the 7-bit ASCII table, using simple symbols like @, #, and +.
• Text rendering: The screen is drawn by printing lines of characters, not by drawing pixels.

Classic examples include Rogue (the father of roguelikes), Nethack, and Angband. These games set the foundation for how ASCII could be used to build entire worlds.

2. ASCII vs ANSI vs Unicode – Does It Matter?

Here’s where things get tricky: many so-called ASCII games actually use extended character sets, such as CP437 or even Unicode. Characters like ░, ▓, and ☺ aren’t part of the strict ASCII table.

So, are these still “real” ASCII games? Most retro fans would say yes, because these extended sets were standard on early terminals and gave developers more creative options. Purists, however, argue that once you go beyond the original ASCII table, you’re technically in ANSI or Unicode territory.

3. Why People Still Love True ASCII Games

Despite their minimalism, true ASCII games remain beloved for several reasons:

• Pure gameplay focus: Without flashy graphics, developers focus on deep mechanics and clever algorithms.
• Accessibility: They run on almost anything, from modern PCs to ancient hardware.
• Imagination-driven worlds: Much like reading a book, players fill in the visual details in their minds, making the experience uniquely personal.

For many developers, ASCII is also a great learning tool. If you’re curious about this, check out our article: Why ASCII Games Are Perfect for Learning to Code.

4. When Is It No Longer ASCII?

At what point does a game stop being ASCII?

• Tilesets and Sprites: If the characters are replaced by graphical tiles, the game moves into “ASCII-inspired” territory.
• Rendered fonts that mimic ASCII: Some modern games simulate ASCII with images rather than actual text rendering.
• Too many visual effects: While adding colors and flickering is still very ASCII-friendly (see: Adding Color and Animation to Your ASCII Games), heavy shaders and particle effects push it out of the classic definition.

That said, many modern roguelikes like Caves of Qud and the Steam version of Dwarf Fortress blur the line beautifully.

5. Examples: True vs Hybrid vs Pseudo-ASCII

• True ASCII: Rogue, Nethack, Angband – Terminal-only, pure text.
• Hybrid: Dwarf Fortress (classic ASCII version – pure ASCII; Steam version – hybrid with tiles).
• Pseudo-ASCII: Games that use graphical sprites to look like ASCII, or browser games where “characters” are actually image files.

6. Does the Definition Really Matter?

At the end of the day, whether your favorite game uses strict ASCII or cheats with Unicode tiles doesn’t really matter. What makes ASCII games special is their simplicity, creativity, and charm.

If it feels like an ASCII game and plays like one, it probably belongs to the family. The beauty of ASCII gaming lies in how it encourages experimentation, learning, and imagination – and that’s why it continues to inspire both players and developers today.