The Black Register is a compact traditional roguelike created for 7DRL 2026, built in the spirit of the earliest dungeon crawlers and inspired by the raw tension and simplicity of classic Rogue. You descend into a deadly seven-level dungeon filled with hunger, darkness, traps, strange rooms, and monsters that are often smarter than they first appear.

What makes the game distinct is its relationship with death. In The Black Register, death is not just the end of a run—it becomes part of the dungeon’s history. Fallen adventurers are entered into the Register, and their legacy may return in future runs through ghosts, revenge monsters, and other lingering traces of those who came before. The dungeon becomes a ledger of failure, memory, and unfinished business.

MOVEMENT & ACTIONS
Arrow Keys / HJKL / Numpad — Move in a direction
, (comma) — Pick up item / open container
U — Use stairs or Close nearby door

INVENTORY & ITEMS
I — Open inventory
E — Use equipped item / drink potion
Q — Drop item
Tab / Shift+Tab — Switch equipment set

MAGIC & COMBAT
F — Fire ranged weapon
C — Cast spell from spellbook
Bump into enemy — Melee attack

SPECIAL
P — Pray at shrine
Z — Look / examine tile
M — Show message log
O — Auto-explore
H — Show this help screen
X — Close any overlay
Y — Help