Overview

Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game is an electronic board game by Mattel (1980) where players navigate warriors through a computer-generated maze of invisible walls to find a hidden treasure and return it to their secret room. The board is a touch-sensitive 8x8 grid. A dragon guards the treasure and hunts warriors who venture too close. The computer generates a different labyrinth each game, controls the dragon’s movement, tracks warrior strength, and resolves combat. Playable solo (1 warrior vs. dragon) or as a 2-player competitive game (2 warriors vs. each other and the dragon). Two skill levels: Beginning (walls only) and Advanced (walls plus randomly closing doors).

Components

• Touch-sensitive electronic playing board with 64 squares (8x8 grid)
• 2 warrior figures
• 1 dragon figure
• 1 treasure piece
• 50 plastic wall pieces (for marking discovered walls)
• 2 secret room markers
• 1 treasure room marker
• Storage “dungeon” compartment for pieces and instructions
• OFF/ON switch, Next Turn/Level 1/2 key, Switch key, Sound Preview keys, AC jack
• Requires 1 x 9-volt alkaline battery (not included)

Setup

1. Turn the OFF/ON switch to ON. You hear the Warrior 1 tune.
2. Optionally select game level: press Switch + Level 1/2 together. High-pitched note = Advanced; low-pitched note = Beginning. Default is Beginning.
3. Select Secret Rooms: In a 2-player game, flip a coin; winner is Warrior 1. Warrior 1 presses any square to set their Secret Room, marks it with a Secret Room marker, then presses Next Turn. Warrior 2 does the same. In solo play, select your Secret Room and press Next Turn twice.
4. Place your warrior figure on your Secret Room square.
5. The computer automatically selects a hidden Treasure Room (at least 3 squares from any Secret Room) and generates a random invisible labyrinth.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns (Warrior 1 first). After both players move, the dragon takes its turn (if awake).

Player Turn

1. Move your warrior up to your current maximum number of squares (starts at 8).
2. Press each square you move through until you hear a beep. Movement is orthogonal only (up, down, left, right) — no diagonal movement.
3. Your turn ends when you: use all available moves, hit a wall (Wall Sound plays, back up 1 square), hit a closed door (Advanced only, Door Sound plays, back up 1 square), or voluntarily press Next Turn.

Dragon Turn

• The dragon moves 1 square after Player 2’s turn (or after the solo player’s turn).
• The dragon can move diagonally and fly over walls.
• The dragon chases the nearest warrior, or whichever warrior holds the treasure.

Turn Sequence (2-Player)

Warrior 1 moves → Warrior 2 moves → Dragon moves (if awake) → repeat

Turn Sequence (Solo)

Warrior moves → Dragon moves (if awake) → repeat

Actions

Move

• Press each square sequentially as you move. Skipping squares triggers an Illegal Move buzz.
• Movement is orthogonal only. You may turn corners freely within your move allowance.
• You cannot move through walls or closed doors.
• When you discover a wall, mark it with a plastic wall piece for future reference.

Find Treasure

• Land on the Treasure Room square. You hear the Treasure Tune and must stop immediately (even if moves remain).
• Mark the Treasure Room with the Treasure Room marker. Take the treasure piece.
• While carrying the treasure, your movement maximum is reduced to 4 squares per turn.

Warrior vs. Warrior Combat (2-Player Only)

• Triggered automatically when both warriors occupy the same square and one has the treasure.
• The computer determines the winner based on each warrior’s hidden strength factor.
• The winner gets (or keeps) the treasure and is announced by their Warrior Tune + Treasure Tune.
• After pressing Next Turn, that combat is resolved. To fight again, the losing warrior must leave and re-enter the square.

Movement After Combat

• Treasure holder lands on opponent: May continue moving regardless of outcome. If they lose, their movement maximum returns to pre-treasure level (6 or 8).
• Opponent lands on treasure holder with fewer than 4 moves used: May continue moving. If they win, maximum drops to 4.
• Opponent lands on treasure holder with 4+ moves used but below maximum: If they win, they must stop (treasure reduces max to 4). If they lose, they may continue.
• Opponent at maximum moves: Must stop regardless of outcome.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: Return the treasure to your Secret Room without being attacked by the dragon or robbed by the other warrior. The Winner Tune plays.

Elimination (2-Player): If one warrior is eliminated, the other must still find the treasure and return it home — there is no automatic win.

Solo: Retrieve the treasure and return it to your Secret Room while avoiding the dragon.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Dragon Wakes: After each player has taken 1 turn, the dragon checks proximity. If any warrior is within 3 squares (any direction) of the Treasure Room, the dragon wakes (Dragon Wakes sound). It then chases the nearest warrior.
• Dragon Attack: If the dragon lands on your warrior or you land on the dragon, you are attacked (Warrior Tune + Dragon Attacks sound). Your warrior is returned to your Secret Room. Movement maximum decreases by 2 per attack (8 → 6 → 4 → eliminated on 3rd attack).
• Attacked While Carrying Treasure: Immediately eliminated (Warrior Tune + Defeat Tune). Treasure returns to the Treasure Room.
• Exception — Landing on Dragon in Treasure Room: If you reach the Treasure Room while the dragon is still there, you are attacked but not immediately eliminated (unless it is your 3rd attack). You are sent back to your Secret Room with reduced movement. The treasure stays in the Treasure Room.
• Dragon Targets Both Warriors on Same Square: Attacks the weaker warrior (determined by hidden strength factor).
• Strength Factor (2-Player): Warriors start equally strong. Moving costs strength. The computer periodically restores warrior strength to starting levels at unpredictable intervals. Strength determines combat outcomes and dragon target selection but does not affect movement maximum.
• Secret Room Safety: The dragon cannot detect you in your own Secret Room. You are NOT safe in your opponent’s Secret Room.
• Treasure Room: Always has at least 2 open paths leading to it.
• Maximum Walls: No labyrinth has more than 50 walls.
• Doors (Advanced Level Only): The computer randomly places and closes doors throughout the game. When you hit a closed door, back up 1 square and stop. On your next turn, you can try to pass through again — all doors eventually open, but not always on the first attempt.
• Switching Levels Mid-Game: You can change between Beginning and Advanced at any time, even giving one player a handicap by playing at different levels.
• Cooperative Early Game Strategy: In 2-player games, cooperating early to find and mark walls before the dragon wakes benefits both players.

Player Reference

Movement Maximum: 8 (start) → 6 (1st dragon attack) → 4 (2nd attack or carrying treasure) → eliminated (3rd attack or attacked with treasure)

Dragon Behavior: Sleeps until warrior within 3 squares

Moves 1 square/turn

Moves diagonally and over walls

Chases nearest warrior or treasure holder

Turn Order: Warrior 1 → Warrior 2 → Dragon (if awake)

Key Sounds: Wall (siren notes)

Illegal Move (buzz)

Dragon Wakes (low buzz)

Dragon Flying (fast high notes)

Dragon Attacks (fast low notes)

Door (rising notes)

Treasure (short upbeat tune)

Defeat (slow falling tune)

Winner (longer upbeat tune)

Win Condition: Return treasure to your Secret Room

Secret Room: Safe from dragon

Starting position

Return point after dragon attack