Development for Dwarf Fortress started in 2002, and the first alpha was released to the public in 2006. Since then, the game has undergone constant development and improvement, with new features and content being added regularly. The base variant of Dwarf Fortress didn’t feature any graphics and was instead displayed entirely in ASCII characters. Dwarf Fortress launched on Steam early in December with several improvements, most notably a graphical tile set to replace text-based graphics.
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Recent reports claim that Dwarf Fortress sold a whopping 160,000 copies on its launch day on Steam, and the number of copies sold has only continued to increase, now surpassing the 300,000 mark. Dwarf Fortress is currently priced at $29.99 and some quick math suggests that the game has already grossed over $9 million in sales. This is an incredible feat for such a niche game, and it goes to show the immense popularity of the title.
In 2019, the two brothers behind the development of Dwarf Fortress, Tarn and Zach Adams, revealed that they were planning to bring the game to Steam in order to generate income to afford their healthcare. This admission seemingly indicating that they may have been facing some financial difficulties at the time. However, with the figures their game has generated in just the first six days of its release, it’s safe to say that they won’t need to worry about their finances for a while.
Dwarf Fortress is noted for its complex, procedurally-generated world, and its unique gameplay mechanics. The game is notoriously difficult to learn and has a steep learning curve. However, once the players have learned the basic mechanics of Dwarf Fortress, the hope is that they begin to appreciate the depth and complexity of the game.
The Steam version of Dwarf Fortress is an excellent way to get the most out of the game as it includes all the features of the regular version, plus a few extras that make it even more enjoyable. Many players find Dwarf Fortress addictive and rewarding as well, easily spending hundreds of hours on the title. There are those who feel it is a true classic of the indie gaming scene and can provide many hours of enjoyment for those who are willing to invest the time to learn it.
Dwarf Fortress is available on PC.
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Source: PCGamer
