How to Install and Play Nethack on Termux

If you’re a fan of classic dungeon-crawling games, you’ll be excited to know that you can play NetHack on Termux. NetHack is a legendary roguelike game renowned for its depth, challenge, and endless replayability. With Termux, a powerful Linux terminal emulator for Android, you can bring this retro gaming experience directly to your mobile device.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install and run NetHack on Termux, allowing you to dive into its immersive world of dungeons, monsters, and treasure, all from the convenience of your Android device. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned adventurer, this guide will help you get up and running in no time.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Install Required Packages
• Step 2: Clone the NetHack Repository
• Step 3: Compile NetHack
• Optional:-Set-Up-a-Shortcut
• Conclusion

Step 1: Install Required Packages

Before we can install NetHack, we need to prepare Termux by installing some essential packages. Open Termux and enter the following commands:

$ pkg update
$ pkg upgrade
$ pkg install git build-essential ncurses-utils

These packages will help us compile and run NetHack.

Step 2: Clone the NetHack Repository

With the necessary packages installed, the next step is to clone the NetHack source code repository. Use the following command to download the NetHack source code:

$ git clone https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack.git

Step 3: Compile NetHack

Navigate to the NetHack directory and compile the game. Follow these steps:

1. Change into the NetHack directory:bashCopy codecd NetHack
2. Navigate to the Unix system directory and start the build process:bashCopy codecd sys/unix make This process will compile the NetHack source code into an executable.

Step 4: Run NetHack

Once the compilation is complete, you can run NetHack by executing the following command:

$ ./nethack

This will launch the game, and you can start exploring the dungeons and battling monsters.

Optional: Set Up a Shortcut

For convenience, you can create a shortcut to run NetHack easily. To do this, add an alias to your .bashrc or .zshrc file:

Open your .bashrc or .zshrc file in a text editor:

$ ~/.bashrc # or 
$ nano ~/.zshrc

Add the following line to create an alias:

$ alias nethack='~/NetHack/sys/unix/nethack'

Save the file and apply the changes:bashCopy codesource ~/.bashrc # or source ~/.zshrc

Now, you can simply type nethack to run the game from anywhere in Termux.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed and set up Nethack on Termux. This classic game offers endless challenges and adventures right on your Android device. Enjoy your dungeon-crawling experience and explore the depths of NetHack!

Feel free to refer to the NetHack documentation for additional tips and tricks.