Dwarf Fortress is many issues. Most followers of PC gaming comprehend it as a byzantine simulation of a colony of dwarves. Look nearer, nevertheless, and also you’ll additionally discover that it’s a byzantine simulation of geologic forces, climate techniques, and tidal actions; language, psychology, and poetry; medieval combat, after all, and even siegecraft. However the cause that I like the sport a lot is that it additionally simulates its own history, with tales of epic heroes and highly effective artifacts strewn all throughout its procedurally generated digital worlds. Beginning Wednesday, these histories can be extra accessible than ever earlier than.
On April 17, Bay 12 Video games and Kitfox Video games are including Journey Mode to Dwarf Fortress on Steam. It turns the colony sim right into a turn-based third-person isometric journey sport, one the place gamers can create not simply their very own singular character, however a complete celebration of adventurers. Which means you’ll be capable to retire that fortress you’ve been engaged on because the Steam model was launched in 2022, after which discover its deserted ruins within the third individual.
However why cease there?
![A character creation screen including louse man, masked lovebird man, and red squirrel man in Dwarf Fortress’ Adventure Mode](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dnWeau82By5FK3JFuafN7SNKeBM=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25404704/Character_Creation.png)
Additionally included within the Steam model of Dwarf Fortress is a module referred to as Legends Mode. With it, you possibly can discover the traditional historical past of the digital dimension the place your dwarven fortress has been constructed. Just like the wizard Gandalf poring over historic texts within the archives of Minas Tirith, you possibly can examine dozens of fantastical artifacts which have performed a job within the creation of that world. Then, in Journey Mode, you possibly can try to hunt them down.
![Combat in Dwarf Fortress shown from above, with trees occluding visibility at the edges of the nighttime scene. Blood spatters the ground near a long-eared goblin.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3TQm85_FiiLA0FC-J_YaxG6EkYo=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25404709/Combat_Log.png)
The builders shared an early model of the replace with Polygon earlier this week, and since then I’ve been utilizing it to create and discover a half dozen totally different worlds. For the most recent world, I let the simulation run for 250 years earlier than I dug deep into its historic file. What I discovered there was wonderful — and surprisingly straightforward to navigate due to a contemporary, mouse suitable, hyperlinked interface. I used to be shortly capable of drill down into simply one in every of my world’s 116 historic artifacts, and examine its creation and who has wielded it within the almost 180 years since its creation. I even know who final possessed it greater than a century in the past.
![A menu screen from Dwarf Fortress showing the data of an entire world in menu form.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uAVwP7DBI7gkXylJNPOipjF7bjU=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25404692/Desktop_Screenshot_2024.04.17___09.20.17.20.png)
![A menu from Dwarf Fortress showing the details of an individual legendary item.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XXHHoxusf8ohpHOud2kSdxwS7Go=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25404690/Desktop_Screenshot_2024.04.17___09.21.39.50.png)
![A section of text detailing the history of a single historical figure from a world in Dwarf Fortress.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SadVnH0eG2m0knFDDTfWg-7rgao=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25404691/Desktop_Screenshot_2024.04.17___09.21.48.23.png)
There’s no assure that I’ll discover Mazerang, the legendary silver mace created in Dreadfulname by the dwarf Zasit Grizzleshoots, however I’m going to offer it a attempt. The one query is that if I’ll go after it with a conventional celebration of people, elves, and hardy dwarves, or lean totally into the enjoyable of Dwarf Fortress and roll up one other penguin-man. Or possibly a dragonfly man… or a dingo man… or …
Dwarf Fortress’ graphically enhanced model is offered on Steam. You may also discover the unique, still-incomplete ASCII model at the Bay 12 Games website.