Dwarf Fortress

[youtoo]

This is free. It does not have alot in the way of graphics, but its depth is unparalleled and radically exceeds Skyrim. It has both a fortress simulation where you run dwarves and a roguelike RPG game. you can do both in the same world. The level of depth in the crafting and simulation radically exceeds any pay games. If you have seen games like 'Gnomoria' or 'Towns' (indie games), they are based on Dwarf Fortress.

 

Be warned, this is often considered the hardest game you can find. The motto is 'losing is fun'. The game was chosen as part of a video game display in the Museaum of Modern Art. Not sure if this is the kind of game people here would like since it doesn't have graphics. However, developers tend to like a challenge.

 

www.bay12games.com

 

New York Times Piece on the developer:

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/magazine/the-brilliance-of-dwarf-fortress.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

If you want to try the game, do NOT download the regular game. You need a mod pack to get a handle on it. Makes the game playable. (seriously).

Go here: https://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=28829.0

Download 'Lazy Newb Pack' (most people use this).

Read tutorial in the link and watch the youtube videos.

 

you wont know what to do if you just started. Be warned. you will lose your first few fortresses rather quickly.

 

As a note on depth, you can do just about anything. One person built a computer in game. Another person crafted a Mermaid Death Camp (there corpses are quite valuable), other people have emptied out oceans, poured magma to fill oceans, etc... The crafting system is more robust than Minecraft. This is just in the main game and before the mods.

 

If you dont like the game, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the 'other games' forum. Lots of ideas for games to play. Its very active.

https://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?board=4.0

[WilliamImm]

I am well aware of Dwarf Fortress though TV Tropes. Somehow, I really don't see the point of making these threads.

[youtoo]

The forum is for other games? So I posted a couple I like....

[Gyro]

If I hadn't heard of Dwarf Fortress, I'd appreciate youtoo bringing it to my attention :D Knowing about the "Lazy Newb Pack" is also good.

 

I've never been able to get into DF-mostly because of the lack of any kind of graphics (yes, I know there are graphic mods, but still...) Maybe I'll try it with the Lazy Newb Pack.