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Dwarf Fortress is a colony management and simulation game created by brothers Tarn and Zach Adams of Bay 12 Games and published by Kitfox Games. The original free version has been updated since 2003, and this premium edition launched on Steam on December 6, 2022 for Windows, with Linux support added later.
Each game starts by generating an entire world, with its own history, civilizations, creatures, and legends. You then choose a site and guide a small group of dwarves as they dig into the earth, build workshops, farm, brew, craft, and defend against sieges, monsters, and the dangers lurking deep underground.
The simulation is famously detailed. Dwarves have personalities, needs, and relationships, combat tracks individual body parts and materials, and weather, geology, and fluids all follow their own rules. Fortresses often fall in spectacular ways, which is why the community motto is "Losing is fun!"
The Steam edition adds a full pixel-art tileset, mouse controls, in-game tutorials, an original soundtrack, and Steam Workshop mod support. Adventure Mode, where you explore the world as a single character, was added in a free update on January 23, 2025. The game is single-player.
Dwarf Fortress suits patient players who love emergent stories, deep management systems, and games like RimWorld that reward learning complex mechanics.
PC: Steam keys activate on Steam and run on Windows and Linux. The game is very light, needing only about 500 MB of storage.
Steam edition vs classic: The free classic version from Bay 12 Games uses ASCII graphics. The paid edition adds graphics, music, tutorials, and Workshop support, and helps fund development.
Language: The game is available in English only.
Before you buy, check the activation platform and region on each offer, then follow our guide on how to activate your CD key. For development news, visit the official Dwarf Fortress website.
Legendary colony simulation from Bay 12 Games, updated since 2003.
Every world is generated with its own history and civilizations.
Dig, build, farm, and craft to grow your dwarven fortress.
Dwarves with personalities, needs, moods, and relationships.
Detailed combat, geology, weather, and fluid simulation.
Pixel-art graphics, original soundtrack, and in-game tutorials.
Adventure Mode added free to explore as one character.
Steam Workshop mod support on Windows and Linux.
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