Someone has to keep order in a jail stuffed with goblins, rats and the occasional dragon, and that someone is you. Warden's Duty unblocked strips the roguelike down to its math. There is no hallway to explore and no real-time combat. Every cell is a puzzle about which resource you can afford to spend.
Ondřej Žára created it for the 2015 Seven Day Roguelike Challenge. It plays entirely on the keyboard.
How to play Warden's Duty
A floor is a grid of cells, shown on a mini-map in the corner. Move into a cell and its occupant takes over the screen with a short list of numbered options. For a monster, that usually means fighting up close, casting a spell or firing arrows.
Tap a number to highlight an option, and colored gauges show precisely what it will do to each of your five resources: health, mana, arrows, gold and experience. Enter locks in the choice. Close combat drains health, spells drain mana and shots use up arrows. Your strength and magic skill reduce those costs, and enough experience levels you up, which boosts your stats and fully refills you.
Some cells hide chests, traps, magic pools or shops instead of monsters. Once a floor is empty, you head down to the next one, which is bigger. The run is over when no remaining cell offers anything you can pay for.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| Start the game, confirm the selected action, play again after game over | Enter |
| Move to a neighboring cell | Arrow keys, W A S D, or H J K L |
| Choose an action in the current cell | Number keys 1 to 9 |
Tips
- Compare every option. The preview numbers are exact, so check all of them before reaching for the same attack every time.
- Scout the floor before spending. Visit a few cells first so you know where the dangerous creatures are and can save mana or arrows for them.
- Level up at the right moment. Since a new level restores everything, an expensive fight right before the bar fills is often a bargain.
- Carry spare gold. Shops sell arrows, potions and training, and you will want something when one appears.
- Ignore what you don't need. Chests and pools carry risk, and choosing to leave them alone still counts as clearing the cell.
Warden's Duty questions
Why can't I select one of the actions?
You cannot cover its cost right now, or it would bring your health to zero. That option unlocks again once your stats change, for example after a level up or a purchase.
Can I play Warden's Duty with a mouse or on a phone?
No. Every action uses the keyboard, with arrow keys or letter keys to move and number keys to choose, so you need a computer.
What happens at a magic pool?
Drinking is a gamble. A sip might boost or drain your stats, so skip it when you cannot afford a bad result.
