"Roguelike games, and there are hundreds ... nay ... thousands of variants out there, all share a few common characteristics. First, they are free. Second, they are turn based single player games that involve a player character, usually represented by an '@' symbol, who travels through randomly generated dungeons killing LOTS of monsters, also represented by a variety of ASCII symbols. The character grows in power, accumulating magic items, better armor, and deadlier weapons as he or she descends. But for me, the defining characteristic of a Roguelike game, that characteristic that makes a Roguelike game such a nail biting experience is that once you die, you're dead. For good. Game over." - From Adventures in ASCII, by Jeff Miller