Gateway to Apshai is a top-down action role-playing game prequel to the Dungeon Crawl series. It was originally released in 1983 for the Commodore 64 and the Atari 400/800, with a version for the Colecovision following shortly after. The game is an early example of the action-RPG genre, with dungeon exploration, treasure hunting, and combat. Players take on the role of an adventurer delving into dangerous dungeons in search of the fabled Gateway to Apshai. Along the way, they encounter numerous enemies, traps, and items, with the ultimate goal of increasing their abilities and discovering the secrets the dungeons hold.