In Rogue, the player assumes the role of an adventurer. The game starts at the uppermost level of an unmapped dungeon with a myriad of monsters and treasures. The goal is to descend to the bottom level, retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, and then ascend to the surface. Until the Amulet is retrieved, the player cannot return to earlier levels. Monsters in the levels become progressively more difficult to defeat.