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Bargain with demons and boat with the dead in joyful RPG heist quest anthology Thousand Hells
Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists is a joyful choose-your-own-adventure RPG anthology from the designers of King of Dragon Pass. It features a witty procession of Orphic descents where players assemble a crew of four characters to tackle quest scenarios. The game offers an infectious, venturesome lightness despite dire blunders and supernatural calamities, with a variety of heists playing out against handsome paintings and drawing from Ancient Greek and Mesopotamian underworlds.
Thousand Hells is a 'tactical narrative' feast of infernal storytelling, but its defeats can feel brutal
Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists offers a unique 'tactical narrative' experience with imaginative hellscapes and rich storytelling, reminiscent of developer A Sharp's previous works like King of Dragon Pass. However, the game's randomized challenges and trait-matching mechanics can lead to frustratingly frequent defeats, making some runs feel futile despite the engaging premise.
Dwarf Fortress creator says we can learn something from simply walling up dwarf nobles to maintain an equal society—but notes you have to abolish the dwarf cops, too: 'Another lesson to be had there'
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams suggests that the game's complex simulation of nobility offers lessons for real-world societies, particularly regarding the management of an elite class. He notes that while players can wall off nobles, their influence persists if an armed guard enforces their demands, highlighting the need to abolish such enforcement for true egalitarianism.
Dwarf Fortress creator says we have a natural lean towards human-made stories, but 'but we're all going to be very sorely tested in the coming years' by AI
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams discusses how the game's procedural generation has always created infinite stories without AI, contrasting it with the potential of generative AI. He suggests that human-made stories resonate due to shared experience, and that while AI may improve, it will be a significant challenge to replicate the 'human spark' that makes art engaging.
Dwarf Fortress is getting the mother of all magic updates, extending to "the fundamental cosmological makeup of the universe"
Dwarf Fortress is receiving a major 'Myth and Magic' update that will introduce complex procedural magic systems affecting the game's cosmology. Developed by Bay 12 Games, the update aims to create unique magical research and situations beyond simple spell effects, with Tarn Adams describing it as going 'straight to the fundamental cosmological makeup of the universe'. The update, which has been in development for years, is expected to launch later this year and will integrate magic into world generation, including new materials, enchantments, and rituals.
Holy crap, it's happening: Dwarf Fortress gets its first Myth and Magic update later this year, bringing each…
Dwarf Fortress is set to receive its first major 'Myth and Magic' update later this year, introducing procedural magic systems deeply integrated with each world's unique cosmology. This decade-in-the-making update, developed by Bay 12 Games with assistance from Kitfox Games, aims to create emergent magical situations and allow for deep magical research within the simulation. The update will feature new magic effects, materials, rituals, and ancient ruins, all tied to the fundamental workings of each generated universe.
The challenges of developing the colony sim, from Dungeon Keeper to Dwarf Fortress and beyond
This article analyzes the development challenges inherent in the colony simulation genre, tracing its evolution from Dungeon Keeper to modern titles like Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld, and Maia. It highlights how simulating autonomous AI characters and managing complex interlocking systems, while ensuring effective player communication, are key difficulties developers face. The piece also touches on the genre's unique ability to generate emergent narratives through AI interactions.
What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism
This article analyzes the impact of video essays and online game criticism on game developers, contrasting it with traditional reviews and playtesting. While direct, actionable advice is rare, developers find inspiration and insight from creators like Mark Brown, Noah Caldwell-Gervais, and Jacob Geller, influencing their design philosophies and understanding of player experience.
The designer of cult classic King of Dragon Pass says his upcoming hellish heist game is pushing the boundaries of a concept he invented in 1999: 'There's really nothing else quite like it'
David Dunham, designer of King of Dragon Pass, is releasing Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists, a game he describes as a 'tactical narrative game' that pushes the boundaries of narrative design concepts he pioneered. The game features a surreal, replayable structure where player choices and party member traits are used to navigate underworld adventures, aiming for a concise, movie-like experience.
'Consume Me' Wins Grand Prize, Nuovo Award at the 2025 IGF Awards
The indie game 'Consume Me' by Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, and Ken "coda" Snyder won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Nuovo Award at the 2025 Independent Games Festival. The festival, held at the Game Developers Conference, also awarded prizes for Excellence in Visual Art, Audio, Design, Narrative, Best Student Game, Audience Award, and the alt.ctrl.gdc Award to various other independent titles.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Dwarf Fortress digs up a dinosaur update this month
Bay 12 Games is releasing a dinosaur update for Dwarf Fortress on June 25th, adding 100 new prehistoric creatures to the simulation game. The update is optional and will be available on PC via Steam. The developer is also highlighting an interview with the game's artist, Guido, and publisher Kitfox Games regarding the new content.
Dwarf Fortress is going prehistoric, with 100 new creatures you can befriend, fight, or eat
Dwarf Fortress is receiving a major update that adds 100 new prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs and extinct animals from various geological eras. Developed by Bay 12 Games and published by Kitfox Games, the update allows players to encounter, fight, or even domesticate these creatures. The update, launching June 25, also includes optimizations and UI upgrades.
Paralives is unpacking a collab with Aussie game Unpacking
The life simulation game Paralives is collaborating with the Aussie-made game Unpacking in a free update. This update will add iconic items from Unpacking, such as stuffed toys and posters, as decorative objects for players' homes. This marks another collaboration for Paralives, which has previously partnered with games like Among Us and Boyfriend Dungeon.
10 Best RPGs on Steam to play in 2026
This article lists and describes ten of the best role-playing games available on Steam, suitable for playing in 2026. It highlights titles such as Baldur's Gate 3, Disco Elysium, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Fallout: New Vegas, detailing their unique features, gameplay mechanics, and suitability for platforms like the Steam Deck.
Tarn Adams, co-creator of Dwarf Fortress, has over 1,400 hours in Factorio and is currently obsessed with terraforming games: 'Dwarf Fortress just doesn't accommodate a full-on sci-fi thing'
Tarn Adams, co-creator of Dwarf Fortress, discusses his current obsession with terraforming games like The Planet Crafter and his extensive playtime in Factorio, exceeding 1,400 hours. He also touches on his early gaming experiences with BASIC programs and the emotional significance Factorio holds for him.
Ostranauts' Major Update Fire in the Hold Releasing April 21st
The hardcore space simulation game Ostranauts will receive its major free update, 'Fire in the Hold,' on April 21st. This update introduces ship-to-ship combat, fire and smoke mechanics, asteroids and mining, new items, and support for Steam Deck and Gamepad with Steam Cloud Saves.
CEO of Kitfox Games reckons hundreds of hours playing Civilization could be the secret to the Dwarf Fortress publisher's success: 'Maybe Kitfox wouldn't be as successful if I didn't know how to alternate between science trees and army defences'
Tanya X. Short, CEO of Kitfox Games, discusses her gaming habits and how playing games like Civilization has influenced her leadership style. She highlights the importance of 'plate spinning' in managing projects and her fondness for database games and her studio's first title, Moon Hunters.
