# Install unnethack with Homebrew, Nix Fork of Nethack. Version 5.3.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:unnethack ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install unnethack ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#unnethack ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/un/unnethack/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:unnethack - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 5.3.2 - **Source summary:** Fork of Nethack - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** NGPL - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-25T13:38:10+02:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - unnethack (cli) - unnethack (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 5.3.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-25 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/UnNetHack/UnNetHack - Upstream latest detected: 5.3.2 (current) ## Project history and usage UnNetHack is a terminal roguelike and NetHack variant. Its upstream README describes it as a fork originally based on NetHack 3.4.3, with more randomness, more levels, more challenges, and a development style intended to feel like NetHack had continued releasing as a modern open source project. ### Project history The project belongs to the long NetHack variant tradition rather than to a standalone game lineage. Its earliest tagged base in the repository is NetHack 3.4.3, and the UnNetHack changelog records UnNetHack 3.5.1 on 2009-06-13 with new Sokoban, Medusa, Castle, bigroom, Blackmarket, and other variant levels, plus borrowed patches from the wider roguelike ecosystem. Later releases continued that model of curating NetHack community ideas. The changelog records UnNetHack 4.0.0 in 2012, 5.1.0 in 2013, and 5.2.0 in 2019, with work on reproducible dungeon layouts, UTF-8 terminal graphics, status indicators, xlogfile support, and many imported or adapted ideas from NetHack 3.6, xNetHack, dNetHack, EvilHack, Slash'EM, SporkHack, and other variants. ### Adoption history The official README points users to the project page, development blog, public servers, source repository, IRC, Reddit, and the rec.games.roguelike.nethack Usenet group, which places adoption in the traditional NetHack community channels rather than in a commercial release channel. The supplied package metadata records distribution through Homebrew and Nix. For package-manager users, that makes UnNetHack a packaged way to install a community-maintained NetHack fork without building the large historic C codebase by hand. ### How it is used UnNetHack is used like other NetHack-family terminal games: users install the `unnethack` executable and play locally in a terminal or on public servers. Its changelog highlights TTY and curses UI work, UTF-8 graphics, xlogfile fields, dump logs, and seed support, all features that matter to players who run games locally, script reproducible games, or host shared roguelike servers. ### Why package nerds care For package nerds, UnNetHack is a neat example of a packaged game fork whose value is not a new engine but a maintained variant rule set and a curated patch set. It also exercises classic Unix packaging concerns: terminal UI, reproducible builds, generated configuration defaults, save files, public-server compatibility, and a source tree descended from historic NetHack. ### Timeline - 2003: Repository includes the NetHack 3.4.3 base tag. - 2009: UnNetHack 3.5.1 appears in the upstream changelog with new variant levels and community patches. - 2012: UnNetHack 4.0.0 is recorded in the upstream changelog. - 2013: UnNetHack 5.1.0 is recorded in the upstream changelog. - 2019: UnNetHack 5.2.0 adds reproducible dungeon layout support and UTF-8 terminal defaults. ### Related projects - NetHack is the upstream base. The UnNetHack changelog also names other related NetHack variants and patch sources including Slash'EM, SporkHack, xNetHack, dNetHack, EvilHack, AceHack, NH4, and GruntHack. ### Sources - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** unnethack - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - unnethack: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/un/unnethack/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [jnethack](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jnethack/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, nethack, roguelike. - [nethack](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nethack/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike, terminal-game. - [allureofthestars](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/allureofthestars/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. - [angband](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/angband/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. - [avanor](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/avanor/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. - [brogue](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/brogue/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. - [cataclysm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cataclysm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. - [rogue](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rogue/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games, roguelike. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/unnethack.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/unnethack.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph