New mode turns complex dwarven simulation on Steam into a real role-playing game

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Dwarf Fortress has the reputation of being a very complex simulation with dwarves. In a sandbox world, players have almost limitless freedom. When the game appeared on Steam in 2022, it was received quite positively. Now there is a new mode that turns the simulation into a role-playing game.

What is Dwarf Fortress? Dwarf Fortress was actually released as an alpha version in 2006. At that time, the complex simulation was only controlled in the form of an ASCII code. A Steam version was released in 2022, this time even with graphics because the developers needed money.

Essentially, Dwarf Fortress is a world simulation. The great appeal of the game is the stories that can arise from the enormous freedom. A new mode on Steam now offers players a different perspective on the world: as an open-world role-playing game.

You can find the trailer for the Steam release of Dwarf Fortess here:

Dwarf Fortress on Steam Announcement Teaser

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You can now explore your world as a role-playing game

What does the new mode offer? Adventure Mode has been available as a beta on Steam since April 2024. The full version was released as a major update on January 23, 2025. In Adventure Mode, the complex simulation becomes a classic sandbox role-playing game with a few features.

  • You can create and play your own character
  • You can then explore and travel around your simulated world with the character
  • There is also a complex combat system, which the developer himself (via YouTube) describes with: As if [die Spieler] go through a Dwarf Fortress combat protocol.
  • The new update also came with a tutorial and a mode that gives you more help and instructions
  • There should be quests in which you can find dungeons and magical items
  • You can recruit NPCs on your adventure to join your journey
  • The user interface has been improved

    • The special thing about Adventure Mode is that your simulation continues to run even while you are playing the mode. You can explore and influence the world you have built in Fortress Mode. When you return from Adventure to Fortress Mode, you can see how your adventure changed the world.

    You can currently get Dwarf Fortress on Steam with a 20% discount for €23.19. The offer is available until January 30, 2025.

    The big appeal of Dwarf Fortress for many players is that you can really do almost anything you want. But some of these ideas go so far that even the developers have to intervene: Dwarf Fortress comes to Steam, gives you total freedom: But one idea was so crazy that the developers intervened

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