An unnamed adventurer arrives at the entrance of the Great Underground Empire to recover twenty hidden treasures. The protagonist must navigate a complex, subterranean environment filled with physical obstacles and logical puzzles while managing limited inventory space. The narrative is delivered through a text-based interface that requires the player to input commands to interact with the environment, effectively serving as both the narrator and the primary agent of the story. Success depends on the player's ability to map the non-linear layout of the ruins and decipher the environmental clues left behind by the vanished civilization.

Discussion often centers on the game's role as a foundational piece of interactive fiction that defined the text adventure genre. Readers and players frequently highlight the challenging nature of the puzzles, which require careful observation and logical deduction to overcome. The atmosphere is often praised for its ability to evoke a sense of isolation and mystery despite the lack of visual graphics. Critics note that the game's prose remains effective at creating a vivid mental image of the environment. Many enthusiasts consider the title a benchmark for narrative design in early computer software.