Dnd (1975 video game)

dnd, short for The Game of Dungeons, is a 1975 computer role-playing game. Its filename, "dnd," comes from the abbreviation "D&D" for the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons.

Developed by Gary Whisenhunt and Ray Wood at Southern Illinois University, it was written in the TUTOR programming language for the PLATO system between 1974 and 1975. Later, Dirk Pellett of Iowa State University and Flint Pellett of the University of Illinois made major updates to the game from 1976 to 1985. It is recognized as the first interactive game to include what are now called boss enemies.

In the game, players create a character and explore the multi-level Whisenwood Dungeon—a name blending the creators' last names—to find two ultimate prizes: the grail and the orb. The action is shown from an overhead view, and the game incorporates many basic Dungeons & Dragons concepts. The dungeon has several maze-like levels; after finishing one, players can move to the next, but they can also return to earlier levels or leave the dungeon entirely, making it one of the first video games with non-linear progression.

As players advance, they gain new spells, weapons, and items to help in their quest. Teleporters move characters between levels, and high-level monsters—including a Golden Dragon guarding the Orb—appear at the end of each dungeon. Leaving the dungeon lets players recover and regain spells before returning.