Horseshark Games has bridged the gap between traditional fantasy dungeoneering and cyberpunk hacking with the release of Netcrawl.
Now available through the Goodman Games online store, the title offers a digital spin on the Dungeon Crawl Classics engine, allowing players to dive into computer systems where hours of virtual exploration equate to mere seconds in the physical “meatspace”.
Written by James Pozenel with cover art by the distinctive Johan Nohr, well known for his striking visual work on Mork Borg, Netcrawl functions as a “cyber sidecar”. This modular design means it can be plugged into an existing campaign as a specialised hacking simulation or played as a standalone experience where the outside world is entirely abstracted.
The mechanics leverage the d20 System, specifically tailored to align with the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG rulebook. In this setting, characters are not mere thieves or wizards but coherent data avatars travelling at the speed of light. The objective remains familiar to any veteran dungeoneer: infiltrate a secure environment, bypass its defences, and extract valuable information or “loot” hidden within the virtual architecture.
Based in Michigan, Horseshark Games has a pedigree in the “Crawl” ecosystem, having previously developed modules for both DCC and Mutant Crawl Classics. By positioning Netcrawl within the Goodman Games store, the publisher taps into a dedicated community that values the “gonzo” aesthetic and high-lethality playstyle associated with the brand. For GMs looking to add a high-tech layer to their table without learning an entirely new mechanical engine, this digital dungeon crawler provides a streamlined, light-speed solution.
