Caves of Qud's immense depth and wide scope have made it absolutely infamous among roguelike fans, as has the fact that it has been in development for 15 years. After repeatedly teasing a 2024 release for version 1.0, the developers confirmed that the game will finally come out for real in December.
Caves of Qud launches for PC on Steam, Itch.io, and GOG on December 5 for $29.99. The early access version of the game is currently discounted until October 29, and if you want to pick up the game, you might want to do so soon. A press release suggests that the current cost of $16.99 is “the lowest price it has ever been.”
At its most basic level, Caves of Qud is a roguelike role-playing game. The developers took inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons, and more specifically a post-apocalyptic spin-off called Gamma World, to focus on player agency and emergent narrative. The game generates a solid fictional story to fill out the sci-fi world every time you play, and as a result of it all, you'll find a variety of factions to align yourself with.
Qud Caves – Release Date Trailer 1.0 – YouTube
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The game solidly simulates the physical properties of the world around you, so you can, for example, dig through an awkward wall with the right tool. The Steam page rather ominously promises that “yes, every wall has a melting point,” and if the idea of a game where you want to calculate how hot you can make an object intrigues you, Caves of Qud intrigues you. it could be for you.
Version 1.0 of Caves of Qud is set to add a final mission to the main story so you can finally finish it, assuming, of course, that you don't choose to continue with the insanely difficult difficulties where death lurks around every corner. This version also features a new tutorial to help new players understand all its intricacies.
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