Caves of Qud

Short description: 2024 video game

Caves of Qud

Developer(s)| Freehold Games
Publisher(s)| Kitfox Games
Designer(s)|

* Brian Bucklew
* Jason Grinblat[1]
* Caelyn Sandel[2]
* Nick DeCapua[2]

Artist(s)|

* Samuel Wilson
* Cyril van der Haegen[1]

Composer(s)|

* Craigory Hamilton
* Brandon Tanner[1]

Engine| Unity[3]
Platform(s)| Windows, macOS, Linux,[4] Nintendo Switch
Release| 5 December 2024[4]
Genre(s)| Roguelike, role-playing
Mode(s)| Single-player

Caves of Qud is a roguelike role-playing video game developed by Freehold Games and published by Kitfox Games. It is set in an open world that is partially pre-made and partially procedurally generated.[5][6][7][8] The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic science fantasy setting and is inspired by the pen-and-paper role-playing games Gamma World and Dungeons & Dragons.[9]

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Development
* 3 Reception
* 3.1 Early access
* 3.2 Full release
* 3.3 Awards
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Gameplay

A player has their reputation with various factions change due to their decisions and relationships.

Unlike other traditional roguelikes such as NetHack, Caves of Qud has a quest system as a core mechanic. Some quests are scripted, while others are procedurally generated.[7][10] Players can choose to follow the main quest line, but can also choose to ignore it and play the game without following the pre-written plot. When creating a character, the player can choose between playing as a True Kin or a mutant. True Kin, being unmutated humans, have higher base stats and access to cybernetic augmentations, while mutants can possess physical and mental mutations offering a wide range of utility. By default, the player character will start in the unique village of Joppa, but it is also possible to choose to spawn in a procedurally generated town.[6]

Caves of Qud has "deeply simulated physical and political systems" which are randomly generated and different each session.[4] At the start of each run, the game generates a set of historical events and group relationships centered around a set of five randomly generated ancient rulers, dubbed Sultans. It takes inspiration from the history systems of the games Dwarf Fortress and Epitaph. The procedural history system is based on historical accounts such as word of mouth and ancient texts, allowing for bias and conflicting perspectives.[9]

## Development

American studio Freehold Games began development on Caves of Qud in 2007, with the first public beta released in 2010.[11] Caves of Qud was released on Steam in 2015, under their early access model.[12][13] Content was gradually added through weekly updates.

In July 2023, Kitfox Games, the publisher of the Steam version of Dwarf Fortress, announced that they would be publishing the 1.0 version of Caves of Qud the following year.[14] The game was fully released on December 5, 2024.[15] A Nintendo Switch port was released on February 16, 2026.[16]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| 91/100[17]
Review scores
Publication| Score
Edge| 8/10[19]
Eurogamer| 5/5[20]
PC Gamer (US)| 94%[21]

### Early access

While most reviewers during the game's early access period rated the game highly for being more accessible than other roguelikes, some found the game's interface confusing.[7][22][23]

### Full release

The version 1.0 release of Caves of Qud received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[17]

Reviewing the game for PC Gamer, Jonathan Bolding writes that Caves of Qud has likely the "best, most modern interface and controls in a game of its kind." He named the game's deep world simulation the "best one [he's] ever played."[24]

### Awards

Year  | Award  | Category  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2024  | D.I.C.E. Awards  | Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year  | Nominated  | [25]
2025  | Independent Games Festival  | Excellence In Narrative  | Won  | [26]
Hugo Award  | Best Game or Interactive Work  | Won  | [27]
Golden Joystick Awards  | Best Indie Game  | Nominated  | [28][29]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Freehold Games". Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218212855/http://www.freeholdgames.com/. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Press Kit – Caves of Qud". Freehold Games. https://www.cavesofqud.com/press-kit/.
3. ↑ Saver, Michael (2024-12-30). "Games made with Unity: 2024 in review". Unity Technologies. https://unity.com/blog/games-made-with-unity-2024-releases. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Caves of Qud on Steam" (in en). https://store.steampowered.com/app/333640/Caves_of_Qud/. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
5. ↑ "It's best to play this roguelike the same way you'd read The Grapes of Wrath". 7 August 2015. https://killscreen.com/previously/articles/best-play-roguelike-read-grapes-wrath/. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Roguelike Lets You Kill Your Evil Twin With Mind Bullets" (in en-us). 12 April 2017. https://kotaku.com/roguelike-lets-you-kill-your-evil-twin-with-mind-bullet-1794265424. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Caves of Qud Gameplay Overview" (in en). Polygon. 12 August 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRolH9MWEFE.
8. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (3 October 2017). "These 3 roguelikes are pushing the genre's boundaries while remaining true to its roots". Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218203601/https://www.pcgamer.com/these-3-roguelikes-are-pushing-the-genres-boundaries-while-remaining-true-to-its-roots/. Retrieved 18 December 2019. "The spirit of Rogue lives on in this trio of indie roguelike trailblazers."
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Procedurally Generating History in Caves of Qud" (in en). 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218204040/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0sLa1y3BW4. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
10. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan (18 July 2020). "Caves of Qud introduces a sprawling new dungeon: The Tomb of the Eaters". https://www.pcgamer.com/caves-of-qud-introduces-a-sprawling-new-dungeon-the-tomb-of-the-eaters/. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
11. ↑ "Press". https://freeholdgames.com/Press/. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
12. ↑ Lewis, Catherine (July 28, 2023). "Legendary roguelike RPG's 9 years in Steam Early Access was possible as devs wanted a "positive lifestyle and great game, rather than maximum profit"". GamesRadar+. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/roguelike/legendary-roguelike-rpgs-9-years-in-steam-early-access-was-possible-as-devs-wanted-a-positive-lifestyle-and-great-game-rather-than-maximum-profit/. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
13. ↑ Sykes, Tom (17 July 2015). "Sci-fi roguelike Caves of Qud hits Early Access". Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218205009/https://www.pcgamer.com/sci-fi-roguelike-caves-of-qud-hits-early-access/. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
14. ↑ Brown, Fraser (July 28, 2023). "Dwarf Fortress's publisher is now helping the best early access roguelike across the finish line after 8 years on Steam". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/dwarf-fortresss-publisher-is-now-helping-the-best-early-access-roguelike-across-the-finish-line-after-8-years-on-steam/. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
15. ↑ "Save 15% on Caves of Qud on Steam" (in en). https://store.steampowered.com/app/333640/Caves_of_Qud/.
16. ↑ Romano, Sal (February 4, 2026). "Caves of Qud for Switch launches February 16". Gematsu. https://www.gematsu.com/2026/02/caves-of-qud-for-switch-launches-february-16.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Caves of Qud for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc.. https://www.metacritic.com/game/caves-of-qud/.
18. ↑ "Caves of Qud". 7 August 2023. https://opencritic.com/game/17907/caves-of-qud.
19. ↑ "Caves of Qud". Edge (407): 104. 24 January 2025.
20. ↑ Donlan, Christopher (10 December 2024). "Caves of Qud review - come in and get lost". https://www.eurogamer.net/caves-of-qud-review.
21. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan (5 December 2024). "Caves of Qud review: An epic science-fantasy RPG and a new great in the genre.". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/caves-of-qud-review/.
22. ↑ Smith, Adam (9 June 2017). "Have You Played… Caves Of Qud?". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/09/have-you-played-caves-of-qud/.
23. ↑ Davies, Marsh (20 July 2015). "Premature Evaluation: Caves of Qud". Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218205110/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/20/caves-of-qud-review-early-access/. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
24. ↑ "Caves of Qud review" (in en). 2024-12-05. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/caves-of-qud-review/.
25. ↑ Welsh, Oli (January 10, 2025). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a GOTY front-runner at the DICE Awards". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/awards/506810/dice-awards-nominations-2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
26. ↑ Elderkin, Beth (19 March 2025). "'Consume Me' Wins Grand Prize, Nuovo Award at the 2025 IGF Awards" (in en). Game Developers Conference (GDC). https://gdconf.com/news/consume-me-wins-grand-prize-nuovo-award-2025-igf-awards.
27. ↑ "2025 Hugo Award Winners". 17 August 2025. https://seattlein2025.org/wsfs/hugo-awards/winners-and-stats/.
28. ↑ Harris, Iain (2025-10-03). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the Golden Joystick Award 2025 charge for most nominations, nudging out Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/events-conferences/clair-obscur-expedition-33-leads-the-golden-joystick-award-2025-charge-for-most-nominations-nudging-out-death-stranding-2-ghost-of-yotei-and-kingdom-come-deliverance-2/.
29. ↑ Bevan, Rhiannon (2025-11-20). "All Of The Winners At The Golden Joystick Awards 2025" (in en). https://www.thegamer.com/golden-joystick-awards-2025-all-winners/.

## External links

* Official website

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