diff --git a/game.cpp b/game.cpp
index f296e57d..df00f3e1 100644
--- a/game.cpp
+++ b/game.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ extern void DEBT(const char *buf);
 bool eq(short a, short b) { return a==b; }
 
 // game state
-int items[ittypes], kills[motypes], explore[10], exploreland[10][landtypes], landcount[landtypes];
+array<int, ittypes> items;
+array<int, motypes> kills;
+
+int explore[10], exploreland[10][landtypes], landcount[landtypes];
 map<modecode_t, array<int, ittypes> > hiitems;
 bool orbused[ittypes], lastorbused[ittypes];
 bool playermoved = true;  // center on the PC?
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index 7874b87b..fb1f5c92 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -884,7 +884,10 @@ bool isAlchAny(cell *c);
 extern cellwalker cwt; // player character position
 extern int sval;
 
-extern int items[ittypes], kills[motypes], explore[10], exploreland[10][landtypes], landcount[landtypes];
+extern array<int, ittypes> items;
+extern array<int, motypes> kills;
+
+extern int explore[10], exploreland[10][landtypes], landcount[landtypes];
 
 typedef int modecode_t;
 extern map<modecode_t, array<int, ittypes> > hiitems;