yujqiao/DungeonRush

Free

👾🐍 A opensource game inspired by Snake, written in pure C with SDL

FreeFree tier

Outputs: audio

Type

Open Source

Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About yujqiao/DungeonRush

DungeonRush is an open-source game inspired by Snake, built from the ground up in pure C using SDL2 libraries. It features both single-player and competitive multiplayer modes (local/LAN). In single-player, players control a hero queue that grows by collecting heroes while fighting monsters across levels with increasing difficulty. The game includes a variety of weapons (e.g., ThunderStaff, IceSword, HolySword, GreatBow) that drop randomly and can be equipped by different hero types, each triggering buffs or debuffs. Multiplayer mode lets two players compete, defending against monsters and each other. The project is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android (community port), with an AppImage and Arch Linux AUR package. Originally a university assignment, the code lacks extensive comments but demonstrates a fully functional game engine with SDL2 dependencies.

Key Features

Single-player mode with level progression and increasing difficulty

LAN multiplayer mode for two competitive players

Randomly dropped weapons such as ThunderStaff, IceSword, HolySword, and GreatBow

Buff and debuff system triggered by weapon attacks

Hero collection mechanic – grow your army and reach target length per level

Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android via community port)

Built entirely in C with SDL2 libraries (SDL2, SDL2_image, SDL2_mixer, SDL2_net, SDL2_ttf)

Pros & Cons

Pros

Fully open-source with no paywalls
Cross-platform availability (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android)
Supports both single-player and LAN multiplayer
Rich gameplay with weapons, buffs, and debuffs
Active community with ports and packages (AppImage, AUR)

Cons

Code lacks comments, making it harder to modify or learn from
Known issue with game speed too fast on some NVIDIA graphics cards (Linux)
Multiplayer limited to LAN only (no online matchmaking)
No official macOS binaries available (must compile from source)

Best For

Casual gaming entertainmentLearning game development in pure CStudying SDL2 library integrationLocal multiplayer gaming with friends

FAQ

What is DungeonRush?

DungeonRush is an open-source game inspired by Snake, written in pure C with SDL2. It includes single-player and LAN multiplayer modes with weapons, buffs, and debuffs.

How do I play single-player?

Use WASD to move. Collect heroes to enlarge your army while defending against monsters. Each level has a target hero queue length; once reached, you advance to the next level.

How do I play multiplayer?

Multiplayer requires both players to be on the same network. Use WASD and arrow keys to move. It's a competitive mode where you defend against monsters and your friend.

What dependencies does DungeonRush require?

It requires SDL2, SDL2_image, SDL2_mixer, SDL2_net, and SDL2_ttf. Package names vary by OS (e.g., apt, pacman, brew).

Is DungeonRush available for macOS?

The game supports macOS but official binaries are not provided. You can compile from source using Homebrew to install dependencies.