For the better part of two decades, Dwarf Fortress has been the passion project of brothers Tarn and Zach Adams. Although the acclaimed fantasy simulation game has technically remained in development since its debut in 2006, Dwarf Fortress’ Adventure Mode will launch out of beta on January 23. The announcement was sent out with the following video, and an update about the latest changes in the game.
Dwarf Fortress allows players to control a clan of dwarves as they stake out their place in a procedurally generated fantasy world. Adventure Mode shakes up the formula by allowing players to step into a roguelike-style RPG and explore the worlds that were created during their time in the standard game. Adventure Mode also allows players to accept quests and look for lost treasures, among other activities.
Tarn Adams and Kitfox’s Alexandra Orlando have shared Dwarf Fortress’ latest updates on its Steam page. Most of the changes were for Adventure Mode, including enhanced options for character creation, the addition of Adventure Mode’s soundtrack to Fortress Mode, and even the option for child and baby portraits.
Dwarf Fortress has been around for nearly 19 years, but it didn’t launch on Steam until December 2023 with a paid version of the game that had new graphics, music, and more. The game’s incredible success on Steam allowed the Adams brothers to purchase a new home. Now that Adventure Mode is on the horizon, Tarn Adams indicated on Steam that the focus will return to Fortress Mode “very soon.” He also added that both Fortress Mode and Adventure Mode will continue to be supported by future updates.
