Recent reviews by Noctale

I've been playing Dwarf Fortress for years, first in text-only, later with tile sets and additional tools. This new version is something I've been looking forward to since the announcement three years ago. It was worth the wait!

The new UI is a game changer. It's not just adding mouse control to an older system; everything has had a rethink, resulting in more consistency and much improved navigation. It isn't perfect, but it's a world away from what we had before. Everything is much easier to do now.

The new graphics are my favourite version by far. I used to prefer the Vettlingr tileset over Ironhand or Mayday, but the graphics here are absolutely beautiful, with a palette that fits the game perfectly. The soundtrack is also gorgeous and really creates the perfect atmosphere.

Dwarf Fortress is often called complex. The complexity is in the simulation, painting an obsessively detailed picture of every event. Once you know how to mine, build, farm, brew and fight, the real fun comes from the legendary battles, surviving against impossible odds, accidents with machinery, floods and magma, werewolf and vampire invasions, and all manner of challenges for your dwarfs to overcome.

For those looking for more gameplay mechanics like tech trees, quest objectives or resource management, this isn't that game. Dwarf Fortress is a story engine where the fun is waiting for you if you go looking for it, and will come to find you when you least expect it if you don't.

Definitely not worth buying at this price. The game is over 10 years old, unsupported, and frankly has aged badly. There was a day when this was one of the best RPG experiences you could get, but not any more. More than doubling the price is crazy. There are plenty of newer and better RPGs at this price level.

Unimaginative level design, non-existent gameplay and an incongruous mix of poorly-drawn and 'borrowed' graphics, aptly paired with a jarring soundtrack and awful sound effects. Not recommended to be played by anyone.

If you haven't tried Terraria yet you're missing out on a real treat. Best played with friends, but almost as much fun on your own, Terraria takes the open-ended sandbox gameplay of titles like Minecraft and adds much, much more. It will keep you playing far beyond the completion of your epic fortress, as you search out ever more powerful weapons to fight bigger and badder bosses. Terraria proves that fancy graphics are not required to make a good game. Buy it, you won't regret it.