Strike the Earth! Cult classic colony sim ‘Dwarf Fortress’ gets overhaul for Steam release

Dwarf Fortress, the colony sim that has absorbed (or commandeered) the focus of gamers since 2006, has had an enormous upgrade, from graphics to management, prior to its recent release on Steam and itch.io.

Rattle big black bones in the danger zone

Starting from seven initial colonists, the player will guide the development of a new dwarf fortress located underneath a mountain. As the fortress and its population grows, the player will manage the fortress’ various needs, such as the dwarf’s unquenchable desire for alcohol, as well as fend off attacks from outside and discontent (if not outright foolishness) from the impish dwarves within.

The biggest change has been the graphics, which until 2022 were composed of ASCII characters, like it’s 1986 and we’re playing it on our Commodore 64s or Apple IIs. While giving the game a quirky retro feel, this has undoubtedly been a turn off for gamers expecting that a game developed in the 21st not look like the Bangles or Cyndi Lauper are burning up the charts.

In addition, the game will feature a new soundtrack with songs composed in the game’s dwarfish language, as well as mouse control.

Learn the basics with in-game tutorials
A lifetime “living” project – created/updated since 2003, with no end in sight
Generate your unique world and manage a bustling colony of dwarves, even as they probably mine towards their eventual demise.
A new endless hobby, just for you!

Kitfox Games press release

Below the mine shaft roads it will all unfold

Currently the Steam release contains the Fortress and Legends settings, with Kitfox Games planning to introduce the Arena and Adventure modes in the near future. Steam Workshop integration is also planned to give players the opportunity to mod the game, adding new scenarios for their bearded adventurers to blunder into.