Deathtrap Dungeon
A deadly labyrinth awaits in the Trial of Champions.
Deathtrap Dungeon is a single-player adventure gamebook authored by Ian Livingstone, with illustrations by Iain McCaig. It was first released by Puffin Books in 1984 as the sixth installment in the Fighting Fantasy series, and later reissued by Wizard Books in 2002.
The story is a fantasy adventure set within a dangerous labyrinth located in the city of Fang. The reader assumes the role of an adventurer who enters Baron Sukumvit's "Trial of Champions," a contest to survive the perilous "Deathtrap Dungeon." Competing against five other adventurers, the player must defeat monsters, navigate the maze of dungeons, and collect specific gems that are essential for escaping and winning the Trial.
Two sequels followed: *Trial of Champions* (the 21st title, released in 1986) and *Armies of Death* (the 36th title, released in 1988).
In the May 1984 issue of *White Dwarf*, Marcus L. Rowland reviewed the book, giving it a score of 8 out of 10. Rowland noted that the format was "extremely simple, and resembles the plot of many early D&D scenarios."
A video game adaptation, *Deathtrap Dungeon*, was released in 1998, developed by Asylum Studios and published by Eidos Interactive for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. The gamebook was also converted into a 40-page d20 System role-playing adventure by Jamie Wallis, published by Myriador in 2003 and reissued in PDF format by Greywood Publishing in 2008. In 2010, the title was released electronically for iPhone and iPad by Big Blue Bubble; after Big Blue Bubble lost the license, all its apps were withdrawn. In 2011, Mark Holdom Inc. announced a film adaptation described as "a cross between *Saw* and *Gladiator*." In 2018, FoxYason Music Productions announced an original full-cast audio drama based on the book, to be released in a CD boxset alongside *The Citadel of Chaos*, *The Forest of Doom*, and *Creature of Havoc*. Written by David N. Smith and directed by Richard Fox, it features Rachel Atkins reprising her role as Vale Moonwing from FoxYason's earlier release *The Warlock of Firetop Mountain: The Hero's Quest*. In 2020, an interactive video game titled *Deathtrap Dungeon: The Interactive Video Adventure*, narrated by Eddie Marsan, was released by Branching Narrative Ltd on Steam for PC and Mac, as well as iOS and Android.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Ian Livingstone
- Illustrator
- Iain McCaig
- Cover Artist
- Puffin: Iain McCaig · Wizard: Mel Grant
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Series
- Fighting Fantasy / Puffin number: 6 · Wizard number: 3
- Pub Date
- Puffin: 1984 · Dell/Laurel-Lead: 1984 · Wizard: 2002
- Media Type
- Print (Paperback)
- Isbn
- 0-14-031708-2
- Isbn Note
- (Puffin) / 1-84046-388-0 (Wizard)
- Preceded By
- City of Thieves
- Followed By
- Island of the Lizard King
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Deathtrap Dungeon is a fantasy adventure set in a hazardous labyrinth beneath the city of Fang. The player takes the role of an adventurer who enters Baron Sukumvit's 'Trial of Champions' and must brave the dungeon. Competing against five other adventurers, the player must defeat monsters, navigate the maze, and collect certain gems to escape and win the Trial. The title was followed by two sequels: Trial of Champions (the 21st Fighting Fantasy title, 1986) and Armies of Death (the 36th title, 1988).
Reader's Guide
The gamebook received a review from Marcus L. Rowland in the May 1984 issue of White Dwarf, who rated it 8 out of 10 and noted that its format was 'extremely simple, and resembles the plot of many early D&D scenarios'. In 1998, a video game adaptation was released, developed by Asylum Studios and published by Eidos Interactive for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. The book was also converted into a 40-page d20 System role-playing adventure by Jamie Wallis, published by Myriador in 2003 and reissued in pdf by Greywood Publishing in 2008. In 2010, an electronic version was released for iPhone and iPad by Big Blue Bubble, but later withdrawn when the license was lost. A 2011 cinema adaptation was announced by Mark Holdom Inc., described as 'a cross between Saw and Gladiator'. In 2018, FoxYason Music Productions announced an original full-cast audio drama based on the book, to be released in a CD boxset with three other Fighting Fantasy titles. In 2020, an interactive video game titled Deathtrap Dungeon: The Interactive Video Adventure, featuring narration by Eddie Marsan, was released by Branching Narrative Ltd on Steam, iOS, and Android.
Did You Know?
- Deathtrap Dungeon is the sixth gamebook in the Fighting Fantasy series.
- The book was originally published by Puffin Books in 1984.
- A 1998 video game adaptation was developed by Asylum Studios and published by Eidos Interactive.
- In 2020, an interactive video version narrated by Eddie Marsan was released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deathtrap Dungeon?
It is a single-player gamebook adventure in which you play an adventurer trapped inside a deadly labyrinth in the city of Fang. Your goal is to survive Baron Sukumvit's "Trial of Champions" by fighting monsters and outlasting five rival competitors.
Who wrote and illustrated Deathtrap Dungeon?
Ian Livingstone penned the text and Iain McCaig supplied the artwork. Puffin Books first published it in 1984 as the sixth entry in the Fighting Fantasy series, and Wizard Books later reissued it in 2002.
How does gameplay work in Deathtrap Dungeon?
You follow branching choices through the maze, roll dice for combat and skill checks, and keep track of your hit points and gear as the dungeon tightens around you. Different decisions lead to different encounters and ultimately different endings, so no two runs play out identically.
Where does the Deathtrap Dungeon story take place?
The entire adventure unfolds inside a perilous, multi-chambered labyrinth situated in the city of Fang. You must navigate its twisting passages, defeat the monsters guarding each section, and stay ahead of the other five adventurers in the Trial of Champions.
Why do fans consider Deathtrap Dungeon a standout Fighting Fantasy title?
Its compact structure and the constant, multi-directional threat of death give it a claustrophobic intensity many players find more relentless than other books in the series. The 2002 Wizard Books reissue also kept the title in print for a new generation of readers.
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