The year is 2002. A fringe game developer started development on a small two month effort called Dwarf Fortress. The game was an offshoot of his first release Armok, an RPG title. Dwarf Fortress changed the focus from a single adventurer to a caravan of dwarves attempting to build a colony. Seventeen years later that game is still in development and is one of the most complex and complete simulations ever built by one man. It is an amazing achievement, yet due to its ASCII art console interface and sheer complexity of the game it is accessible only to the enthusiastic few.

There have been many games that have tried to take the magic of Dwarf Fortress, distill it, and make it palatable to a large audience. These games usually fall into two categories. The first type being those that removed too much of the complexity and randomness of Dwarf Fortress's dauntingly complex simulation. This makes for a drab and mechanical experience. The second type are those that never finish development, failing to understand the wonder of 17 years of daily devoted development Dwarf Fortress's creator has poured into his magnum opus.

Rimworld is the exception. Rimworld is the perfect balance. Rimworld is Dwarf Fortress for the masses. Its simulation is just complex enough to be engaging, but not overwhelming. Its interface is well designed. Most importantly it allows for creative and imaginative storytelling that made Dwarf Fortress endlessly entertaining.

It is well worth the price and well worth your time.

The year is 2002. A fringe game developer started development on a small two month effort called Dwarf Fortress. The game was an offshoot of his first release Armok, an RPG title. Dwarf Fortress changed the focus from a single adventurer to a caravan of dwarves attempting to build a colony. Seventeen years later that game is still in development and is one of the most complex and complete simulations ever built by one man. It is an amazing achievement, yet due to its ASCII art console interface and sheer complexity of the game it is accessible only to the enthusiastic few. There have been many games that have tried to take the magic of Dwarf Fortress, distill it, and make it palatable to a large audience. These games usually fall into two categories. The first type being those that removed too much of the complexity and randomness of Dwarf Fortress's dauntingly complex simulation. This makes for a drab and mechanical experience. The second type are those that never finish development, failing to understand the wonder of 17 years of daily devoted development Dwarf Fortress's creator has poured into his magnum opus. Rimworld is the exception. Rimworld is the perfect balance. Rimworld is Dwarf Fortress for the masses. Its simulation is just complex enough to be engaging, but not overwhelming. Its interface is well designed. Most importantly it allows for creative and imaginative storytelling that made Dwarf Fortress endlessly entertaining. It is well worth the price and well worth your time.