Summary
Dwarf Fortresshas sold over a million copies on Steam since its launch in December 2022. These are astonishing numbers for an indie game originally released as a free-to-play title almost two decades ago, and it showcases just how popularDwarf Fortressis.
Released in its alpha version in 2006,Dwarf Fortresshas been progressing constantly over the years. The game was developed by Bay 12 Games, which originally consisted of only two creators, Tarn and Zach Adams. Over time, the game has polished and improved its highly complex simulation systems.Dwarf Fortresshas often been praised for its complex, emergent gameplay and is widely considered one of thebest simulation games available on PC.
Now, Kiftox Games, whichpublishedDwarf Fortresson Steam, has confirmed that the title has sold over a million units on the platform. The premium Steam version was essentially the one that took the simulation game into the mainstream, asDwarf Fortressfinally received updated graphics and a substantially improved user interface, reaching a wider audience.
Dwarf Fortress Sells Over 1,000,000 Copies on Steam
Dwarf Fortressbecame a hit quite quickly after its Steam release, with almost 500,000 gamers purchasing copies of the popular simulation game in its first month. This ensured that the developers gained enough money to be able to continue supportingDwarf Fortressfor the foreseeable future, even hiring two more team members to work alongside Tarn and Zach soon after the premium launch.
One of the main recent improvements received by the game was a new mode, which is likely part of the reason whyDwarf Fortresscontinued to sell well over two years after the original Steam release.Adventure Mode was released forDwarf Fortressback in January 2025, and it is available for the Steam and Itch.io versions of the game. This new roguelike mode offers a different experience for players, as they can play as a single character in a procedurally generated world instead of controlling a whole group of dwarves. So, players can focus on questing and exploring around, reaching distant places on the map and trying to survive as long as possible in a highly reactive world, which gives this mode a more RPG-focused approach.
It’s likely that the success ofDwarf Fortresswill allow the game to have even more interesting changes and content updates in the future. However, time will tell how Bay 12 Games will continue polishing the popular construction and management simulation game.
Dwarf Fortress
WHERE TO PLAY
In this complex construction/management/roguelike simulation, every generated world brings a unique challenge, whether it’s dwarves with their own simulated personalities or aquifers. Observe what makes your civilization fall into eventual decline, and learn for next time… until something else inevitably goes wrong.The combat model includes skills, body parts, material properties, aimed attacks, wrestling, pain, nausea, various poison effects, and much more.It’s difficult to convey the depth of the generation. Hundreds of animals and monsters, many of which are randomly created for each world, as well as generated poetry, musical forms, instruments, and dances for your dwarves to practice and perform. A dynamic weather model tracks wind, humidity, and air masses to create fronts, clouds, storms, and blizzards. Over two hundred rock and mineral types can appear, in their proper geological environments.Remember: Losing is fun!Nothing substantial is new or changed, under the hood. It’s still good old Dwarf Fortress, but with graphics support and music by default. A few bells and whistles won’t change that.
