Options

👉 GnollHack provides a vast array of configuration options that allow you to customize the user interface, gameplay mechanics, controls, and audio settings to fit your playstyle. This page serves as a comprehensive reference for all available options, whether you are playing on a modern graphical port or a classic terminal interface.

🏁 Getting Started

• Accessing Options File — How to access the Options file on various platforms
• Additional Options — Advanced configuration options (e.g., colorizing menus, status highlighting, message filtering)

💡 Configuration Examples

Here are some of the most common and useful configuration examples to help you customize your options file. For more advanced features, see Additional Options.

⌨️ Number Pad Movement

If you have a keyboard with a numeric keypad, you can configure it to move in all eight directions.

Syntax:

OPTIONS=number_pad:value

💡 Example — Enable standard 8-direction movement on the numeric keypad:

OPTIONS=number_pad:1

🎒 Autopickup Customization

Configure the game to automatically pick up specific types of items (such as gold, scrolls, and potions) while ignoring others.

Syntax:

OPTIONS=autopickup
OPTIONS=pickup_types:characters

💡 Example — Turn on autopickup and only pick up gold ($), scrolls (?), potions (!), and wands (/):

OPTIONS=autopickup
OPTIONS=pickup_types:$?!/

🖥️ User Interface & Display

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
acoustics	true / false	true	Enables in-game audio messages and sound effects. If disabled, the character is effectively deaf, blocking sound-based notifications (such as doors opening or monster noises).
crawl_interval	(varies)	125	Delay in milliseconds between animation steps when the player or a monster is crawling. Lowering this speeds up crawling.
dark_room	true / false	true	Renders floors and features that have been explored but are currently out of line of sight in a darker shade to distinguish them from active vision.
detailed_weights	true / false	false	Displays small object weights using more precise units: ounces (oz) for the imperial system or grams (g) for the metric system, rather than standard pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg).
herewindow	true / false	true	If enabled, displays a floating window listing all objects present on the player's current tile (the modern .NET MAUI frontend handles auto-placement and renders this window in the SkiaSharp map layer).
hitpointbar	true / false	false	Draws a color-changing health bar (green-to-red) background behind the HP text in the status panel (fully supported in the .NET MAUI frontend via the Settings page toggle).
implicit_uncursed	true / false	true	Omit the "uncursed" label from inventory descriptions to keep menus cleaner, showing only "blessed" or "cursed" tags.
inventory_weights_last	true / false	true	Appends item weights in parentheses after the item name in menus rather than before it.
last_item_show_duration	(varies)	3	Number of turns that a newly picked-up item remains highlighted in inventory context menus.
legacy	true / false	true	Displays the classic introductory welcome message when starting a new game.
lit_corridor	true / false	false	Renders dark corridor squares in full visibility (as if lit) once they enter your character's field of view.
long_charge_text	true / false	false	Uses a verbose description for tool and wand charges (e.g., "1 charge left, 0 times recharged") instead of standard abbreviated numbers.
move_interval	(varies)	50	Delay in milliseconds between animation steps during normal walking movement. Lowering this speeds up walking.
runmode	teleport / run / walk / crawl	run	Configures map redrawing during automated travel or running. teleport updates only at the end of movement; run updates every 7 steps; walk/crawl update every step (with crawl using the crawl_interval delay).
shield_effect_length	(varies)	10	Number of animation frames to display for shield block or magical protection visual effects.
show_comparison_stats	true / false	true	Displays comparison statistics (e.g., changes to Armor Class or weapon damage) in pickup and loot menus against your currently equipped gear.
show_damage_formula	true / false	false	Shows the underlying dice formula (e.g., 1d6+2) used to calculate an item's damage when examining it.
show_dice_as_ranges	true / false	true	Converts traditional D&D-style dice notation (like 2d6) into a simple range (like 2-12) in item descriptions.
show_weight_summary	true / false	true	Displays your total carried weight and carrying capacity at the bottom of the inventory screen.
showrace	true / false	false	Displays your character symbol on the map representing your race (e.g., @ for human) instead of your role symbol.
showscore	true / false	true	Shows your current calculated game score directly in the on-screen status bar.
skill_table_format	true / false	false	Formats the skill enhancement and level-up menus as an organized grid table instead of a plain text list.
sortloot	none / loot / full	loot	Controls list sorting in inventory/loot screens. none sorts by slot letter; loot sorts ground loot alphabetically; full sorts all lists alphabetically.
sparkle	true / false	true	Renders a shiny sparkle effect animation around your character on the map whenever magic resistance successfully blocks a spell.
spell_table_format	true / false	false	Formats the spellcasting menu as an organized grid table instead of a plain text list.
talk_effect_length	(varies)	6	Length/duration in animation frames that dialogue speech bubbles and talk effects remain visible on screen.
tombstone	true / false	true	Displays a graphical tombstone illustration at game over, detailing your character's level, score, and cause of death.
whatis_menu	true / false	false	Displays an interactive menu identifying all symbols and objects at a targeted location when using the target inspection command.
wiz_mstatusline	true / false	false	Displays extended debugging statistics (such as level, HP, speed) for monsters under the cursor (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
wizweight	true / false	false	Displays the exact weight of all inventory items, bypassing character identification checks (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
worn_shows_equipment	true / false	true	Opens the full equipment screen when typing the worn items command (w) instead of showing a plain text inventory list.

⚙️ Gameplay & Mechanics

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
autodescribe	true / false	true	Automatically shows descriptions of terrain, features, and monsters in the status bar as you hover your cursor over them.
autodig	true / false	true	Automatically attempts to dig through solid rock or walls when moving into them if you are wielding a suitable digging tool (like a pick-axe or mattock).
autokick	true / false	true	Automatically attempts to kick open closed doors or force locked chests/containers when walking into or looting them (Android port only).
autoopen	true / false	true	Automatically opens a closed, unlocked door when you walk into it, saving a manual input turn.
autopickup	true / false	false	Automatically picks up items on the ground when walking over them if they match the categories configured in pickup_types.
autoquiver	true / false	false	Automatically fills an empty ammunition quiver with suitable projectiles from your inventory when firing a ranged weapon.
autoswap_launchers	true / false	true	Automatically swaps your wielded weapon to a launcher (like a bow) when performing ranged attacks, and swaps back to your melee weapon when attacking adjacent targets.
autoswap_polearms	true / false	true	Automatically swaps from a polearm to a standard melee weapon when a monster moves into adjacent range.
autounlock	true / false	true	Automatically attempts to unlock doors or containers using keys or lock picks from your inventory when you walk into them or loot them.
baseacasbonus	true / false	true	Displays Armor Class (AC) as a positive protection bonus starting at 0 (higher is better) instead of the classic descending system starting at 10 (lower is better).
bones	true / false	true	Allows loading "bones" files (the layout, items, and ghosts of deceased characters from previous runs) when entering a dungeon level.
checkpoint	true / false	true	Saves the game state automatically after changing dungeon levels to protect progress in case of a crash.
confirm	true / false	true	Prompts for confirmation before you attack a peaceful or friendly monster, preventing accidental hostile acts.
disclose	iavgco options	ni na nv ng nc no	Configures what game information (inventory i, attributes a, vanquished monsters v, genocided species g, conduct c, dungeon overview o) is revealed upon game over. Prefix each category letter with + (always disclose), - (never disclose), y (prompt, default yes), n (prompt, default no), or ? (prompt, default special).
displace_peaceful	true / false	true	Automatically swaps places with a peaceful monster or pet when walking into them instead of blocking movement or attacking.
dumplog	true / false	false	Generates a complete text log summarizing character statistics, inventory, and recent events in your game folder upon death or ascension.
exchange_prompt	true / false	true	Prompts for confirmation when equipping items that would require removing currently worn gear (e.g. swapping rings or armor).
fixinv	true / false	true	Keeps inventory slot letters assigned to items constant, even if items in preceding slots are dropped or consumed.
force_hint	true / false	false	Forces the game to show tutorial tips and hints regardless of other settings. Enabled by default in Casual and Modern modes.
force_invmenu	true / false	true (Mobile) / false (Desktop)	Displays a visual menu of valid items when executing commands that require inventory selection, rather than prompting for a raw keyboard letter.
goldX	true / false	false	Categorizes gold as "uncursed gold pieces" or "unknown gold pieces" instead of just "gold" in your inventory menu.
ignore_stopping	true / false	false	Prevents automated pathfinding travel from stopping when your character passes over items, closed doors, or engravings.
knapsack_prompt	true / false	true	Prompts for a specific action (like dropping or stashing) when picking up an item while carrying a full inventory.
lootabc	true / false	false	Formats loot menu shortcuts as generic a, b, c letters rather than mnemonic letters (such as o for open, i for inspect, c for close).
max_hint_difficulty	(varies)	veteran (-1)	Limits tutorial tips and hints to games played at or below this difficulty level.
mention_walls	true / false	false	Prints a message in the message log (e.g. "You bump into a wall") when walking into a wall.
metric_system	true / false	false	Enables the metric system, displaying weights in kilograms (kg), grams (g), or tons. If disabled (default), the game uses the imperial system, displaying weights in pounds (lbs / lb), ounces (oz), or hundredweights (cwt).
monpolycontrol	true / false	false	Enables manual selection of the new form when polymorphing monsters (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
multishot_always_fire	true / false	false	Forces ranged attacks to fire the maximum possible number of projectiles per turn based on your skill level.
packorder	(varies)	$")[8=%?+!(9*7`0_	Defines the sorting order of item classes (weapons, armor, food, scrolls, etc.) in your pack display.
paranoid_confirmation	(varies)	pray Autoall multishot	Requires typing "yes" instead of "y" to confirm dangerous actions (like breaking items, eating non-vegan food, or attacking peacefuls).
pickup_burden	unencumbered / burdened / stressed / strained / overtaxed / overloaded	stressed	Configures the maximum encumbrance level you can reach before the game prompts you before automatically picking up items.
pickup_thrown	true / false	true	Automatically picks up ammunition and weapons that were thrown by you or monsters when you walk over them.
pickup_types	(varies)	all	Restricts autopickup to specific item classes represented by their symbol characters (e.g. ? for scrolls, ! for potions).
pile_limit	(varies)	5	Sets the minimum number of items on a single grid tile required to trigger the "There are many objects here" message.
player_selection	dialog / prompts	dialog	Selects whether character generation questions are asked using graphical dialog pop-ups or sequential text prompts.
playmode	normal / explore / debug / casual / modern / reloadable	normal	Configures active rules: normal (classic roguelike), explore (sandbox), debug (wizard mode), casual (unlimited saves/revives), modern (automatic assists), reloadable (manual reloading).
pushweapon	true / false	false	Automatically pushes your previously wielded weapon into your secondary slot when wielding a new weapon.
rlecomp	true / false	false	Compresses save files using Run-Length Encoding to save disk space at the cost of slightly longer save times.
sanity_check	true / false	false	Performs regular validation of internal data structures to detect memory corruption (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
scores	(varies)	3 top/2 around	Configures the leaderboard view (e.g., displaying the top N scores and the scores surrounding your rank).
search_box_traps	true / false	true	Causes the search command to check adjacent chests/boxes for traps before searching floor tiles.
selectsaved	true / false	true	Displays a list of existing save files at launch to choose which game to load.
sortpack	true / false	true	Groups your inventory items by type (weapons, armor, potions, etc.) instead of showing them in the order they were acquired.
spellorder	0 to 7	0	Selects the sorting criteria for spell books and casting lists (e.g. alphabetically, by level, or by spell school).
stash_on_autopickup	true / false	false	Automatically stashes newly picked up items into an active container (like a sack or bag of holding) in your inventory.
swap_rhand_only	true / false	false	Swaps only the weapon in your primary hand, leaving off-hand shields or secondary weapons equipped.
takeoff_uses_all	true / false	true	Makes the take-off command (T) remove all armor pieces sequentially rather than prompting you to pick a single piece.
tellexp	true / false	true	Prints a message in the message log whenever your character gains experience points (XP).
verbose	true / false	true	Shows descriptive log messages for game events rather than short, abbreviated notices.
wiz_alwaysenc	true / false	false	Forces random monster encounters to generate on every step (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
zerocomp	true / false	false	Enables zero-compression for save files to save disk space.

🖱️ Controls & Input

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
clickfire	true / false	true	Allows firing or throwing your readied projectile/weapon directly at a map tile by clicking on it.
clicklook	true / false	true	Enables describing and identifying items or monsters on a map tile by clicking on it.
clickpole	true / false	true	Allows attacking an adjacent or distant (2 tiles away) enemy with a polearm by clicking on them.
cmdassist	true / false	true	Displays helpful warnings and directional indicators if you enter an invalid movement key or direction.
engrave_quickstyle	(varies)	0	Selects which engraving stylus/tool is automatically chosen when executing the quick engrave command: 0 (ask every time), 1 (always use finger), 2 (use last item).
engrave_quicktext	(varies)	(none)	The default text written when using the quick engrave command (commonly set to "Elbereth").
help	true / false	true	Displays the complete database description/lore for targeted items/monsters when running the whatis lookup command.
herecmd_menu	true / false	false	Displays a popup menu of context-sensitive actions you can take on your current tile (such as opening chests, kicking, searching) instead of requiring individual keys.
inventory_obj_cmd	true / false	true	Displays an action menu (wear, read, eat, drop, etc.) when selecting an item in your inventory, rather than immediately triggering a default action.
middle_click_command	default / by role / ? / off / look / move / cast / fire / zap	by role	Configures the game command bound to a middle mouse button click. by role triggers role-specific default actions.
mouse_support	0 (off) / 1 (on, OS adjusted) / 2 (on, OS unchanged)	0	Configures mouse click support. 0 disables mouse clicks; 1/2 enable mouse inputs with different OS QuickEdit/terminal integration settings.
number_pad	-2 (off, yuhj) / -1 (off, y/z swapped) / 0 (off) / 1 (on) / 2 (on, MSDOS) / 3 (on, phone-style) / 4 (on, phone MSDOS)	0	Configures numeric pad keys for movement. Useful for keyboards with or without numpads, supporting standard, MSDOS, or phone-style layouts.
prefer_fast_move	true / false	false	Swaps key bindings for running and walking so that pressing movement keys defaults to running (fast move) and shift/control walks (slow move).
rest_on_space	true / false	false	Binds the Space bar to wait/rest one turn, making it easier to skip turns or wait for enemies to approach.
right_click_command	default / by role / ? / off / look / move / cast / fire / zap	by role	Configures the game command bound to a right mouse button click. by role triggers role-specific default actions.
run_spot_distance	(varies)	10	The maximum distance (in tiles) at which detecting a monster will automatically stop your automated travel or running movement.
self_click_action	true / false	false	Binds clicking or tapping on your own player character to trigger a custom action (like resting).
travel	true / false	true	Enables pathfinding travel, allowing you to move to a destination tile automatically by clicking it.
travel_debug	true / false	false	Draws debug visualization lines on the map showing pathfinding calculations (requires Wizard/Debug mode).
whatis_filter	none / view / area	none	Configures target filtering when cycling through map entities: none cycles all, view cycles only visible tiles, area cycles a regional area.
whatis_moveskip	true / false	false	Speeds up keyboard targeting by skipping the cursor over groups of identical tiles (like solid walls) instead of moving one grid cell at a time.

🐾 Pets & Companions

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
catbreed	(varies)	(none)	Selects the breed of your starting cat companion (e.g. white persian, siamese), changing its visual tile representation.
catgender	male / female / random	random	Sets the starting gender of your cat companion.
catname	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting cat companion.
dogbreed	(varies)	(none)	Selects the breed of your starting dog companion (e.g. black labrador, german shepherd), changing its visual tile representation.
doggender	male / female / random	random	Sets the starting gender of your dog companion.
dogname	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting dog companion.
horsegender	male / female / random	random	Sets the starting gender of your horse mount/companion.
horsename	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting horse mount/companion.
pets_not_gifted	true / false	false	If enabled, you will not receive any default starting pets/mounts regardless of your character role (e.g. Knights starting without a pony).
pettype	cat / dog / horse / none / random	random	Selects your preferred species for your starting pet companion.
ramgender	male / female / random	random	Sets the starting gender of your ram companion.
ramname	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting ram companion.
safe_pet	true / false	true	Prevents you from accidentally attacking your own pets, mounts, or companions in combat.
wolfgender	male / female / random	random	Sets the starting gender of your direwolf companion.
wolfname	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting direwolf companion.

🧬 Character & Roleplay

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
align	lawful / neutral / chaotic / random	random	Selects your character's starting moral alignment. If set to random, alignment is picked based on what is compatible with your selected role.
blind	true / false	false	If enabled, starts your character with permanent blindness. Renders the screen pitch black except for items/monsters felt via touch or telepathy (a hard difficulty challenge).
female	true / false	false	Determines whether your starting character is female (affects role titles and specific interactions like succubi/incubi).
fruit	(varies)	slime mold	Sets the name of a custom fruit your character enjoys eating, renaming the in-game "slime mold" item.
gender	male / female / random	random	Sets your starting character gender.
luggagename	(varies)	(none)	Sets the custom name for your starting luggage container monster (specific to the Tourist role).
name	(varies)	(none)	Configures your character's name.
nudist	true / false	false	If enabled, starts your character without any equipped starting armor (an extra gameplay challenge).
race	(varies)	random	Selects your character's starting race (e.g. Human, Elf, Dwarf), which influences stat caps and specific traits.
role	(varies)	random	Selects your character's starting role/class (e.g. Valkyrie, Wizard, Barbarian), which defines starting equipment and skills.

🏛️ Legacy Versions

ℹ️ Note: These options are shared across multiple legacy interfaces (such as TTY/ASCII, Curses, and/or the legacy Windows GUI). They are not used by the modern .NET MAUI frontend.

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
animation_interval	(varies)	25	Configures the animation speed (delay in milliseconds between frames) for map movements and spell effects in legacy interfaces.
extmenu	true / false	false	If enabled, displays a visual selection menu when entering extended commands (#) rather than requiring manual text entry.
ignintr	true / false	false	Prevents standard OS keyboard interrupts (like Ctrl+C) from immediately terminating the game process in terminal interfaces.
mail	true / false	true	Enables the in-game mail daemon character to deliver real-world system mail notifications as scroll items (specific to ASCII/TTY ports).
menu_deselect_all	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to deselect all checked items in a menu.
menu_deselect_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to deselect all checked items on the currently visible menu page.
menu_first_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to jump immediately to the first page of a multi-page menu.
menu_headings	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the text display style (e.g. bold, underline, inverse video) used for header text in menus.
menu_invert_all	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to invert all item selections in a menu list.
menu_invert_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to invert all item selections on the current menu page.
menu_last_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to jump immediately to the last page of a multi-page menu.
menu_next_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to flip to the next page of a multi-page menu.
menu_objsyms	true / false	false	Displays the ASCII character representations (e.g., ) for weapons) next to items listed in selection menus.
menu_previous_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to flip back to the previous page of a multi-page menu.
menu_search	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to perform a text search within active menus.
menu_select_all	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to check/select all items in the current menu list.
menu_select_page	(varies)	(varies)	Binds a keyboard shortcut to check/select all items on the current menu page.
menucolors	true / false	true (Mobile) / false (Desktop)	Enables colored text highlighting (such as coloring blessed items green and cursed items red) inside menus.
menustyle	traditional / combination / full / partial	full	Selects the user interface style for multi-item selection menus: traditional (pure character prompts), combination (text lists with quick letters), full (standard checkbox menus), partial (simple listing).
msg_window	single / combination / full / reversed	full (TTY) / reversed (Curses)	Configures how message history lists are aligned and updated on screen: single (single line top window), combination (in-line text log), full (popup full-page text), reversed (reverse chronological history).
partydetails	true / false	false	If enabled, lists detailed statistics (level, exact HP, status effects) for all current pets in the status window.
partylinecolor	true / false	true	Uses color codes in the status window to display the health and attributes of pets.
partymultiline	true / false	false	Displays each active pet's statistics on a separate line in the status window, instead of combining them into a single row.
roguesymset	(varies)	(varies)	Selects a symbol set mapping from the symbols database to use when rendering the classic Rogue-like levels.
symset	(varies)	(varies)	Selects a custom mapping of symbols from the symbols database for drawing map terrain and objects.
windowchain	(varies)	(varies)	Selects which windowing processor library handles display rendering callbacks.
windowtype	(varies)	(varies)	Selects which windowing backend interface runs the game (e.g. TTY, Curses, MSWin, or Qt).

⌨️ ASCII

ℹ️ Note: These options pertain to the legacy ASCII version of the game. They are not used by the modern versions of GnollHack.

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
DECgraphics	(varies)	(varies)	Loads DEC VT100-style line-drawing characters for dungeon walls and borders on compatible terminal emulators.
IBMgraphics	(varies)	(varies)	Loads classic IBM PC CP437 character set symbols for high-quality terminal map rendering.
Macgraphics	(varies)	(varies)	Loads Apple Macintosh-specific character mappings for map symbols.
altkeyhandler	(varies)	default	Selects an external keyboard mapping module or DLL to process custom key handlers (legacy Windows GUI only).
altmeta	true / false	false	If enabled, interprets pressing the Escape key followed by a character c as the Meta-key combination M-c.
ascii_map	true / false	false	If enabled, forces the game map to render in plain text ASCII/UTF-8 mode instead of graphical tiles.
boulder	(varies)	(none)	Overrides the character symbol used to represent boulders on text/terminal displays (e.g. boulder:). It is recommended to use S_boulder instead.
classic_colors	true / false	false	Uses classic NetHack low-contrast colors for floor dots and boulders, instead of updated high-contrast palettes.
classic_statue_symbol	true / false	false	Renders map statues using the legacy backtick symbol (`) instead of showing the underlying monster's character glyph.
color	true / false	true	Enables color rendering for map symbols, menus, and text logs; if disabled, displays everything in monochrome.
dungeon	(varies)	(varies)	Defines the specific ASCII character symbols used to draw wall segments, corridors, stairs, and doors on the map.
effects	(varies)	(varies)	Defines the specific ASCII symbols used to draw spell animations, explosions, and projectile flight paths.
eight_bit_tty	true / false	false	Enables sending raw 8-bit character codes directly to the terminal emulator, required for displaying non-ASCII international characters.
enablettyarrowkeys	true / false	false	Enables standard keyboard arrow keys for navigation and movement in Unix terminal environments.
hilite_pet	true / false	false	Highlights pet character symbols on the map (typically using bold or inverse text) to make them stand out from enemies.
hilite_pile	true / false	false	Highlights map tiles containing multiple items (typically using underline or a unique color attribute).
ibm2utf8	true / false	false	Translates CP437 line-drawing character symbols into standard Unicode UTF-8 symbols for modern terminal environments.
menu_overlay	true / false	true	Overlays interactive menus on top of the right-hand portion of the map screen, keeping the left side visible (TTY only).
monsters	(varies)	(varies)	Defines the custom character symbol assignments for all monster types on the map.
null	true / false	true	Allows sending null bytes to the terminal as output padding, which is required for terminal compatibility on some legacy systems.
objects	(varies)	(varies)	Defines the custom character symbol assignments for all item categories on the map.
petattr	(varies)	(none)	Configures the visual style attribute (e.g. bold, reverse video, underline) used to highlight pet symbols on the map.
show_decorations	true / false	true	Colors decorative map elements (like fountains or alters) with high-visibility colors in ASCII mode to aid navigation.
silent	true / false	true	Suppresses the terminal bell/bleep sound when trying to make invalid movements or commands.
standout	true / false	false	Highlights the --more-- message log pauses using the terminal's standout/reverse video mode.
subkeyvalue	(varies)	(varies)	Allows overriding specific raw keyboard input values and mapping them to custom commands.
tiled_map	true / false	true	Tiled map display mode (renders graphical tiles inside the window).
timed_delay	true / false	true	Uses short pauses (time delays) during spell animations and projectile actions so they are visually readable.
traps	(varies)	(varies)	Defines the character symbol assignments used to draw active and discovered traps on the map.
underline_peaceful	true / false	true	Renders peaceful or neutral monsters with an underline character to distinguish them from hostile targets.
use_darkgray	true / false	true	Uses bold black / dark gray instead of dark blue for low-visibility dungeon walls and unlit areas.
use_inverse	true / false	true (Windows/Android) / false (other)	Renders monsters detected via telepathy or detection spells in inverse video color.
video	(varies)	(varies)	Configures video update routines and window scaling methods for terminal display optimization.
videocolors	(varies)	(varies)	Configures raw color mapping values for the internal console rendering loop.
videoshades	(varies)	(varies)	Configures the mapping of gray shades to black/gray/white for monochrome terminal displays.
vt_tiledata	true / false	false	Sends special VT terminal control codes to render graphical tiles inside compatible terminal emulators.
whatis_coord	none / map / compass / full compass / screen	none	Configures the coordinate description style shown when inspecting tiles: none hides coordinates; map shows grid (e.g. [12, 10]); compass shows relative direction/distance (e.g. 2 East); screen shows window coordinates.

🖥️ Curses Interface

ℹ️ Note: These options are specific to the curses terminal interface. They are generally not applicable to the modern GUI versions of GnollHack.

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
align_message	(varies)	top	Anchors the message history log window to either the top or bottom of the terminal screen.
align_status	(varies)	bottom	Anchors the character status bar window to either the top or bottom of the terminal screen.
autostatuslines	true / false	false	If enabled, automatically expands the status window height (up to 8 lines) to display active status effects, pet stats, and mounts.
cursesgraphics	(varies)	(varies)	Loads customized character mappings for wall and corner drawing specific to the Curses terminal interface.
fullstatuslineorder	true / false	true	Standardizes character status field order (HP, mana, strength, etc.) across different window widths and terminal resolutions.
guicolor	true / false	true	Enables colored graphics for terminal UI components, border frames, and dialog boxes.
here_window_size	(varies)	8	Configures the display height (number of rows) of the auxiliary "here" tile info window.
hicolor	(varies)	(varies)	Configures terminal highlighting colors using reverse-order color palette logic.
show_weapon_style	true / false	true	Displays your active weapon's damage style (Slash, Pierce, Blunt) in the status bar.
showexp	true / false	true	Displays your current total experience points (XP) and level progress on the status line.
showmove	true / false	true	Displays your current character movement speed factor on the status line.
showrealtime	true / false	true	Displays the total elapsed real-world time (wall-clock duration) of your run on the status line.
status_updates	true / false	true	Enables real-time redraws of status line fields during gameplay actions; if disabled, status lines update only at turn boundaries.
statushilites	(varies)	(varies)	Configures the highlight control rules (e.g. flashing red on low HP, green on level up) for character status values.
statuslines	(varies)	2	Allocates a fixed height (2 to 8 rows) on screen to display character status values.
term_cols	(varies)	(varies)	Sets a fixed terminal window width in columns (overriding automatic resize detection).
term_rows	(varies)	(varies)	Sets a fixed terminal window height in rows (overriding automatic resize detection).
time	true / false	false	Displays the current in-game turn counter on the status line.
windowborders	0 (off) / 1 (on) / 2 (auto)	2 (auto)	Configures window borders: 0 hides all borders, 1 forces borders on all windows, 2 draws borders automatically if terminal width/height allows.
windowcolors	(varies)	(varies)	Configures custom foreground and background colors for specific Curses window panels.

🪟 Legacy Windows GUI

ℹ️ Note: These options are specific to the legacy Windows GUI port (GnollHackW.exe). They are not applicable to the modern .NET MAUI frontend.

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
blinking_cursor_on_tiles	true / false	false	If enabled, draws a blinking indicator on the tile where the cursor or target is located to improve visibility.
font_map	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the font family used for text overlays in the dungeon map window.
font_menu	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the font family used inside selection lists and interactive menus.
font_message	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the font family used in the message history log window.
font_size_menu	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the font size (in points) for text inside menus.
font_size_message	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the font size (in points) for text inside the message window.
font_size_status	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the font size (in points) for text inside the character status window.
font_size_text	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the font size (in points) for plain text popups and encyclopedia windows.
font_status	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the font family used in the character status window.
font_text	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the font family used inside plain text popups and helper windows.
fullscreen	true / false	false	Toggles whether the legacy GUI client launches in full screen or windowed mode.
map_mode	(varies)	(varies)	Configures the scaling and rendering mode of the graphical map tiles (such as stretched, centered, or pixel-perfect scaling).
menu_tab_sep	true / false	false	Uses tab characters instead of spaces to format and align columns inside menus.
msghistory	(varies)	20	Sets the maximum number of recent game messages retained in scrollable message history.
news	true / false	true	Displays the server news and update text when starting the game.
palette	(varies)	(varies)	Selects the color palette template used for drawing text and window interfaces.
perm_invent	true / false	false	If enabled, displays a persistent inventory sidebar panel, allowing you to see your items at a glance without opening a menu.
popup_dialog	true / false	false	If enabled, displays text prompts and questions in modal popup dialog boxes instead of writing them to the message line.
preferred_screen_scale	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the default display scale percentage for high-DPI monitors.
scroll_amount	(varies)	(varies)	Configures how many tiles the map view pans/scrolls when the player reaches the camera scrolling margins.
scroll_margin	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the camera panning margin (number of tiles from the screen edge the player can reach before the map scrolls).
show_buff_timer	true / false	false	Renders numerical duration countdown timers directly on top of active status effect buff icons.
show_grid	true / false	false	Draws a grid overlay pattern separating individual map tiles to aid spatial alignment.
show_tile_mon_hp_bar	true / false	false	Renders a small visual health bar directly over hostile monsters on the map screen.
show_tile_pet_hp_bar	true / false	false	Renders a small visual health bar directly over your pets and companions on the map screen.
show_tile_u_hp_bar	true / false	false	Renders a small visual health bar directly over your character on the map screen.
splash_screen	true / false	true	Displays the graphical logo splash screen during game launch.
sound_volume_ambient	(varies)	50	Sets the volume percentage for ambient background soundscapes.
sound_volume_dialogue	(varies)	50	Sets the volume percentage for character voices and dialogue.
sound_volume_effects	(varies)	50	Sets the volume percentage for combat actions and spell sound effects.
sound_volume_general	(varies)	100	Sets the master volume percentage for all game audio outputs.
sound_volume_music	(varies)	50	Sets the volume percentage for background music.
sound_volume_ui	(varies)	50	Sets the volume percentage for interface button clicks and menu sounds.
tile_file	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the path or filename of the active graphical tileset sheet.
tile_height	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the height of graphical tiles in pixels.
tile_width	(varies)	(varies)	Sets the width of graphical tiles in pixels.
toptenwin	true / false	false	Displays the high scores leaderboard screen immediately at game over.
vary_msgcount	(varies)	(varies)	Dynamically adjusts the number of older message log lines shown simultaneously based on window height.

🗑️ Obsolete

⚠️ Warning: These options are obsolete or deprecated.

Option Name	Values	Default	Description
asksavedisk	true / false	false	Deprecated floppy disk option: prompts the user to insert a save disk before saving.
BIOS	true / false	false	Deprecated MSDOS option: forces using raw IBM ROM BIOS screen write calls.
checkspace	true / false	true	Deprecated floppy disk option: checks for sufficient free disk space before saving.
fast_map	true / false	true	Deprecated console option: uses a high-performance, less flexible map rendering algorithm.
flush	true / false	false	Deprecated Amiga option: flushes keyboard buffer inputs.
font_size_map	(varies)	(varies)	Obsolete option: sets the font size for text map overlays.
large_font	true / false	false	Obsolete console option: enables high-density large font mode.
page_wait	true / false	true	Deprecated Macintosh option: waits for mouse click between text page displays.
preload_tiles	true / false	true	Obsolete memory option: preloads tileset graphic files into RAM at launch.
rawio	true / false	false	Deprecated MSDOS option: enables raw keyboard input polling.
softkeyboard	true / false	false	Obsolete option: displays a software keyboard helper overlay on touch screen devices.
soundcard	(varies)	(varies)	Deprecated MSDOS option: selects active sound card hardware registers.
suppress_alert	(varies)	(varies)	Obsolete version option: suppresses notifications regarding version mismatches and feature updates.
wraptext	true / false	false	Obsolete layout option: wraps text blocks inside popups and menus.