Dungeon Hack features a three-dimensional, randomly generated dungeon; SSI claimed that "over 4 billion" different dungeons were possible. The game features a pseudo-3D game screen based on Eye of the Beholder series. Like Rogue, dungeons are randomly generated whenever a new game is started. As a result, virtually no two dungeons generated by the game are identical. However, players can share "dungeon seed" codes that are generated by the game to play the same dungeons. Dungeon Hack uses the rulesmechanics of AD&D 2nd Edition. Permadeath—all saves are erased upon character death—is an option, like traditional roguelike games but unlike other graphical AD&D games such as Pool of Radiance).
Plot
An adventurer is sent by an evil sorceress on a mission to find and retrieve a mysterious magical orb located within an ancient dungeon. After defeating the final monster, the ending cinematic shows the adventurer leaves the dungeon with a wheelbarrow full of treasure, the sorceress waiting outside for him. The hero gives her the orb, and she gives him her thanks and says it time for them to leave. The hero remains behind during the credits to sort through his spoils. After the credits, the sorceress tells the hero to hurry as she is leaving and the adventure is over. The hero remarks on his treasure and that his adventure has only just begun, and moves his wheel barrel off screen dropping a coin, before quickly coming back and picks it back up and goes back off screen.
Reception
SSI sold 27,110 copies of Dungeon Hack. Computer Gaming Worlds Scorpia in 1994 liked the game's flexibility and inclusion of all AD&D 2nd Edition character classes, and found that "a 10-15 level dungeon is probably the best". She concluded that "in spite of some weak points, Dungeon Hack delivers what it promises: the chance to create your own, specially-designed, hack-n-slash paradise". The game got 3 out of 5 stars in Dragon. Dungeon Hack won Computer Game Review's "Most Replay Value of 1994" award. According to GameSpy's Allen Rausch, if "random creatures and meaningless hallways are your thing, you'll love Dungeon Hack -- the rest of us like at least a little story to justify our monster butchery." Ian Williams of Paste rated the game #9 on his list of "The 10 Greatest Dungeons and Dragons Videogames" in 2015.
