The audiovisuals were unrivalled for a long time. DM was one of the first games to use 3D audio, so you could actually use sound to keep track of your enemies. And while there's only one type of dungeon graphics throughout the game, it looked very good.

Dungeon Master was also one of the first CRPGs to discard the traditional XP system, and instead used a system where skills increased by usage, something later adopted by the Elder Scrolls games. The game did have the traditional character classes of Fighter, Priest, Wizard and Ninja, and characters could advance in all classes. Using melee weapons increased Fighter levels, missiles, weapons, and generally throwing things increased Ninja levels, casting spells increased Wizard levels, while making potions increased Priest levels.

You didn't create your own characters, but instead had to choose up to four heroes from The Hall of Champions. And what a colourful and diverse lot those champions were! Who can forget characters like Hisssssa, Wuuf the Bika or Halk the Barbarian?

Dungeon Master featured a wide assortment of enemies, from skeletons and zombies, to shrieking slow moving trees, to giant rats, scorpions and purple worms. And the most annoying creature of them all the Gigglers, who would run up to the party, steal an item, giggle and run away.

There wasn't really much of story in the game, but the manual included a well-written backstory to introduce players into the game. It tells that one day the Grey Lord found a Power Gem, but unleashing its power resulted in his essence splitting into two halves – a good wizard and the evil Lord Chaos. The player takes the role of Theron, Lord Grey's apprentice, who selects and controls the four champions. The task is to enter the dungeon, find the Firestaff and then use it to stop Lord Chaos.