Dwarf Fortress is the top selling game on Steam.
I don’t know how long that will be true, but it’s a wonderful moment: one of the most influential and unique games on PC, in development for some 20 years, is finally, I hope, getting the mainstream recognition it deserves. It’s definitely getting recognition from other game developers, who’ve flocked to the launch announcement to celebrate Dwarf Fortress’s success, and its impact on their own games.
“Without Dwarf Fortress there’d never have been a Prison Architect,” wrote developer Tom Pedalino. The official Terraria Twitter account responded with the same praise, saying “this game inspired Terraria in so many ways – it’s fair to say that without Dwarf Fortress, there may not have been Terraria.”
So did Caves of Qud, which has seemingly gained sentience: “Dwarf Fortress is the most intricate simulation game ever made and one of the biggest influences on me, videogame Caves of Qud. Simulation depth, design tone, visual style. All extremely foundational for the genre. All imprinted on me and hundreds of other games.”
Other developers and a surprising number of official accounts have chimed in with congrats. That’s not unusual for the indie community, but something about it feels just a bit more special with Dwarf Fortress, which has for so long existed as a quirky exemplar of PC gaming’s breadth.
It’s just nice to see.
Congratulations on the launch! This game inspired Terraria in so many ways – it’s fair to say that without Dwarf Fortress, there may not have been Terraria. We cannot wait to dig deep into the latest version of a truly all-time classic game.December 6, 2022
congratulations!!!!!!!!!! 🎉 can’t wait for everyone to experience this legendary game and lose endlessly ❤️December 6, 2022
hi, videogame ‘Caves of Qud’ heresomething important to tell you✨Dwarf Fortress is having its Steam release today ✨https://t.co/9hXXbLyJRMDwarf Fortress is the most intricate simulation game ever made and one of the biggest influences on me, videogame Caves of QudDecember 6, 2022
Congratulations! ❤️Any chance your Dwarf Fortress takes Dwelfs? 👀Asking for a friend.December 6, 2022
Going to be reeeally hard to focus on work at the ranch today… ⛏️♥️December 6, 2022
Congratulations! Without Dwarf Fortress there’d never have been a Prison Architect and I’d have never got to work on the console version of Escape Mode, which is probably the most creative fun I’ve had working on a game EVER!December 6, 2022
Dwarf Fortress is my favourite game of all time, hands down! If you haven’t played it, there’s never been a better time to jump in! 💯Congrats to my friends at @Bay12Games and @KitfoxGames on the amazing launch!!! 🎉🎉🎉 https://t.co/zjO6x9nDXuDecember 6, 2022
Huge congratulations from me and @DSkykeep with this long-awaited launch 😘December 6, 2022
Can’t wait to dive into this again! https://t.co/m3NEZSIY8ADecember 6, 2022
Incredible work from @KitfoxGames, @Bay12Games and all the good people that made this game possible. Go check it out! https://t.co/a5KMFCn9seDecember 6, 2022
Perhaps the most glorious and influential sim game ever made, and a direct inspiration for my career as an indie dev. Congratulations @Bay12Games @KitfoxGames! https://t.co/wNPSbkg3lqDecember 6, 2022
Still can’t believe that Dwarf Fortress is playable by mere mortals nowIt has a TUTORIAL! even babies like me can get through a tutorial! https://t.co/t3KHlqVosRDecember 6, 2022
wishing a happy Dwarf Fortress Steam Release Day to all who celebrate https://t.co/2YFkXqrutdDecember 6, 2022