A prequel to the classic Temple of Apshai, Gateway to Apshai (1983) shifts the Dunjonquest series into faster, more arcade-oriented territory. As the son of Apshai’s greatest hero, you are summoned by the sage Merlis and tasked with braving the perilous Gateway dungeons to fulfill an ancient prophecy and uncover the location of the lost temple. Gameplay blends action and RPG mechanics from a top-down perspective. Players start with minimal gear—a dagger and leather armor—and must explore a series of timed dungeon levels, collecting loot, fighting monsters, and uncovering hidden doors and traps using spells and found items. Each of the 8 levels contains 16 dungeons with 60 rooms each, for a total of 7,680 explorable chambers. Combat is real-time, with enemies like snakes, rats, and bats becoming increasingly dangerous with each level. The streamlined controls, quick pacing, and absence of long-form narrative text set this title apart from earlier Dunjonquest entries, making it more accessible to action-oriented players. Though it lacks a save feature, Gateway to Apshai was praised for its impressive scale, snappy performance, and strong replay value—earning acclaim from reviewers across Softline, ANALOG, Ahoy!, and Hi-Res magazines.

A really well-regarded entry in the Dunjonquest series, Gateway to Apshai (C64 Playthrough) fits well within the greater Dunjonquest mythology and could be revived as a stand-alone product, or as part of a larger Dunjonquest Saga.  At the start of the game you have five lives to complete the game, and approximately six and one-half minutes to explore as much of each level as you can.  After that time, you’re automatically teleported to the start of the next deeper level.