Amber Halls 9+

At first it seemed 1) too simplistic and 2) too unfair. I thought: This game is no good because there’s no way to get better at it.

Then I finally figured out how to get better at it.

Very satisfying to win my first 10-level quest. And very satisfying to realize that I could now probably win most of the time. If I pay attention, anyway :)

Tips for players: Always bring everything with you; and maybe watch the replay of a daily to see it how it’s done.

This game is a peer of such excellent titles as Hoplite, Endings, and 868-Hack. It might also boast the most innovative inventory system I've ever seen.

I've been playing Amber Halls for several weeks now, and I am still regularly surprised at the deep play which the designer has coaxed out of such a simple conceit.

I also find the daily quests thrilling. Each day, you get one shot at conquering a procedurally generated dungeon. After your (nearly inevitable) death, you can watch how other adventurers have faired. My wife and I have looked forward to the quests every day this week. We even enjoy watching the play-throughs of other's games after we've had our go--taking notes so we'll improve the next day.

Well done on a brilliant little roguelike! I never thought a 5x5 grid could be so enthralling.

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Update:

I think this game is a masterpiece. I still play it once or twice a week (after months of intensive play). Any who complain of it's impossibility simply haven't learned the game: almost every dungeon generated for me has seemed fully winnable. Players score perfect games on the daily quest almost every day.

This game is a work of art.

Thought you were going to sit down and play a quick game? NOT THIS ONE, this is absolutely unforgiving, one of the toughest games I've ever played and once you get going on it it's great. I have 868 hack and Amber Halls is much harder and totally different. Anyone calling this a clone is basing their whole opinion of this game on the move pattern of a single enemy type which makes no sense.

The original mechanics of this game, moving items from level to level, make for a very fun and interesting challenge. The skull characters and items act as shields adding depth of strategy to the game and the respawning enemies will have you tearing your hair out. Lots more to discover while playing, I haven't even successfully escaped yet.