Dwarf Fortress has just been released on Steam, with this version featuring a graphical tileset to replace the text-based graphics along with an actual tutorial, an enhanced user interface, mouse support, and plenty of other changes. Few PC games have had as much impact on the industry as Dwarf Fortress, which has inspired countless strategy, colony management, simulation, and other games thanks to its systems and mechanics.
Dwarf Fortress has been in development since 2002, with its debut in 2006 immediately gaining a cult following thanks to its unique play style. The game is procedurally generated from the ground up, from the world's geography to the traits and characteristics of the player's dwarves, which act autonomously with some direction from the player. The dwarves act on their needs and desires, and their interactions lead to a unique story for every playthrough. This emergent storytelling has even prompted the community motto "Losing is fun!" since terrible tragedies are just another interesting chapter in the world's history, and games like Rimworld have continued to expand upon this idea.
The Steam release of Dwarf Fortress has made some notable changes compared to prior versions, with the most obvious being the new price tag and the tilesets. Dwarf Fortress has long been freeware and relied on donations, but the Steam version costs $29.99. On the visual side, while third-party tilesets have always been available, this version of Dwarf Fortress ships with a full set of tiles to replace its text-based art. The appeal of Dwarf Fortress has always been its unparalleled richness in its storytelling and the incredible depth of its simulation, but the improved visuals make it more accessible to modern audiences.
Among the many improvements to Dwarf Fortress coming with this release is the addition of full mouse support for gameplay. Traditionally, Dwarf Fortress has been controlled entirely through keyboard input, which has made it challenging for gamers who are used to the mouse controls of modern titles. The brand-new UI and many game elements are now easily manipulated with the mouse, while the game's new tutorial should help ease unfamiliar players into Dwarf Fortress' many intricate systems.
Unsurprisingly for such a beloved game, the Dwarf Fortress Steam edition has rapidly earned an "overwhelmingly positive" rating on Steam as both veterans and newcomers praise the release's improvements and celebrate this incredible legacy. Once players get through the intimidating learning curve, it's easy to sink hundreds of hours into the game's various modes.
Dwarf Fortress is available on PC.
Source: Steam