Info about Caves of Qud:

Official game description:
Caves of Qud is a science fantasy roguelike epic steeped in retrofuturism, deep simulation, and swathes of sentient plants. Come inhabit a living, breathing world and chisel through layers of thousand-year-old civilizations. Decide: is it a dying earth, or is it on the verge of rebirth?
Do anything and everything. Caves of Qud is a deeply simulated, biologically diverse, richly cultured world.
**DEEP PHYSICAL SIMULATION** — Don’t like the wall blocking your way? Dig through it with a pickaxe, or eat through it with your corrosive gas mutation, or melt it to lava. Yes, every wall has a melting point.
**FULLY SIMULATED CREATURES** — Every monster and NPC is as fully simulated as the player. That means they have levels, skills, equipment, faction allegiances, and body parts. So if you have a mutation that lets you, say, psionically dominate a spider, you can traipse through the world as a spider, laying webs and eating things.
**DYNAMIC FACTION SYSTEM** — Pursue allegiances with over 70 factions: apes, crabs, trees, robots, and highly entropic beings, just to name a few.
**RICHLY DETAILED SCIENCE FANTASY SETTING** — Over fifteen years of worldbuilding have led to a rich, weird, labyrinthine, one-of-a-kind storyworld, layered on top of the simulation, all for you to explore. Live and drink, friend.
**TACTICAL GAMEPLAY** — Turn-based, sandbox exploration and combat offers as many solutions as you and your mutations, implants, artifacts, and skills are creative enough to invent.
**RPG ELEMENTS** — Quests, NPCs, villages, historic sites; some dynamic and some handwritten, interwoven to produce a transportative RPG experience.
**ATMOSPHERIC ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK** — Over two hours of otherworldly music to delve to.
Caves of Qud has one of the most expressive character creators of all time.
Play the role of a mutant indigenous to the salt-spangled dunes and jungles of Qud, or play a true kin descendant from one of the few remaining eco-domes — the toxic arboreta of Ekuemekiyye, the ice-sheathed arcology of Ibul, or the crustal mortars of Yawningmoon.
Build your character out of:
*   Over 70 mutations — outfit yourself with wings, two heads, four arms, flaming hands, teleportation, the power to clone yourself…
*   Dozens of cybernetic implants (and more to find as treasure) — night vision, translucent skin, carbide fists, spring-loaded ankle tendons…
*   24 castes and kits from across the social order of Qud and beyond Moghra’yi, the Great Salt Desert
*   Too overwhelmed to build a character from scratch? Choose one of 9 preset characters and start your adventure right away. Then return to character creation when you are ready.
Play one of four modes:
**CLASSIC** — Like other traditional roguelikes, this mode has permadeath, meaning you lose your character when you die. Extremely challenging even for experts.
**ROLEPLAY** — Play it like an RPG. Save your progress at checkpoints located in settlements.
**WANDER** — Focus on exploration. Most creatures will not attack you, you don’t gain experience by killing, but you DO gain experience by discovering new locations and treating with legendary creatures.
**DAILY** — One chance with a fixed character and world seed. How long will you survive?
After 9 years of continuous development and frequent updates, Caves of Qud has finally reached its 1.0 release! Here are some highlights of what's been added for 1.0:
*   The last leg of the main quest
*   The new, fully graphical UI
*   Hundreds of visual & sound effects
*   Lots of polish & stability
Caves of Qud is a project of epic proportions that's been in development for over fifteen years, since 2007. It began as the science fantasy roguelike dream of co-creators Jason Grinblat and Brian Bucklew, who released the first beta in 2010. Since then, it's accrued a few more contributors who have enriched the project by helping to add visual effects, sound effects, an original soundtrack, a new UI, new game systems, new lore, and half a world of content. Caves of Qud has grown into a wild garden of emergent narrative, where a handwritten story weaves a path through rich physical, social, and historical simulations. The result is a hybrid handcrafted and procedurally-generated world that's alive in a way few games are.

Release date: 5 Dec, 2024

Categories: Roguelike, RPG, Turn-based Combat, Open-World Exploration, Character Customization, Emergent Storytelling, Mod Support, Environmental Simulation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Immersive, unique worldbuilding and lore (weight 0.92): The game features a captivating and unique world with deep lore, stunning visuals, and excellent writing. Procedural generation ensures varied experiences, while a compelling main quest provides grounding. Character customization is extensive, and the world feels alive with diverse cultures and emergent stories.
- Deep mechanics, rewarding learning curve (weight 0.71): The game features complex mechanics and systems that reward player investment. The UI, while initially overwhelming, becomes intuitive with practice, and controller support is well-implemented. The game gradually introduces complexity, making it accessible to newcomers while still offering depth for experienced players.
- Emergent storytelling, unique experiences (weight 0.45): The game excels at emergent storytelling, creating unique and memorable experiences through its randomized elements and player actions. The game encourages experimentation and creative problem-solving, leading to absurd and hilarious situations. The world is weird and quirky, offering a refreshing departure from typical game narratives.
- Unparalleled character customization freedom (weight 0.22): The game offers unparalleled freedom in character customization, allowing players to create diverse and unconventional builds with mutations, cybernetics, and psychic powers. Players can become anything from a four-armed mutant with a flamethrower to a sentient door, leading to hilarious and unbalanced situations.
- Addictive, engaging gameplay loop (weight 0.2): The game is addictive and has a strong "just one more turn" vibe. The game is worth the purchase price and is endlessly replayable. The game induces a wide range of emotions, including joy, excitement, panic, dread, victory, and defeat.
- Deep, expressive character building (weight 0.16): The game features a deep and exciting stats and abilities system, with character builds feeling infinite and ever-changing. Experimenting with different character builds is enjoyable, and the leveling system doesn't feel grindy. The game offers a good variety of character builds and customization options.
- Immersive soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.16): The game features a compelling soundtrack and sound design that enhances the atmosphere and immersion. The music is unique and fitting, creating an exotic and alien feel that perfectly complements the game's setting. The sound design elevates the experience, making actions feel weighty and creating memorable moments.
- Incredible achievement, genre pinnacle (weight 0.13): The game is described as an incredible achievement and a peak within the roguelike RPG genre. It is considered one of the best roguelikes available, with a fantastic atmosphere and undeniable depth. The game's music is excellent, and it provides an incredibly immersive experience.
- Encourages system exploitation, creativity (weight 0.1): The game encourages players to break and exploit its systems, offering a ridiculous amount of tools and possibilities. The game is practically infinite in detail and replayability, with absurd hours of gameplay and nigh infinite build possibilities. The game almost expects you to break it to progress at a good rate.
- Thriving modding community, customization (weight 0.08): The game has a thriving modding community that is embraced by the developers, offering a deep level of customization. The inclusion of a mod kit and Steam Workshop enhances customization options. The developers are dedicated to providing updates for the game for a decade or more.

Common complaints:
- Unforgiving difficulty, steep learning curve (weight 0.82): The game is frequently criticized for its high difficulty, steep learning curve, and unforgiving nature. Players report dying often, sometimes instantly and unexpectedly, due to traps, strong enemies, and unclear game mechanics. This can lead to frustration, lost progress, and a sense of being overwhelmed, especially for new players.
- Clunky UI and controls (weight 0.62): The game's UI and controls are frequently described as clunky, unintuitive, and overwhelming. Players struggle with complex keybindings, archaic interfaces, and a lack of clear explanations for game mechanics. This can lead to frustration and a reliance on external resources like wikis.
- Repetitive gameplay, shallow content (weight 0.39): Many reviewers found the game to be repetitive and lacking in meaningful content. Procedural generation often results in similar environments, quests, and encounters, leading to a 'Groundhog's Day' scenario. The grind to recover after death is frustrating, and the world feels empty despite its vastness.
- Poor lore and dialogue (weight 0.38): The game's procedurally generated lore and dialogue are often criticized for being nonsensical, poorly written, and difficult to understand. NPCs offer limited interaction, and the story feels generic and uninspired. This detracts from the game's atmosphere and overall enjoyment.
- Punishing save system, permadeath (weight 0.37): The game's save system and permadeath mechanics are often criticized for being punishing and frustrating. Players can lose significant progress due to unexpected deaths, glitches, or design choices like only being able to save in towns. This can lead to save-scumming and a reluctance to experiment.
- Unappealing, basic graphics (weight 0.07): The game's graphics are frequently described as basic, rudimentary, and visually unappealing. The minimalist art style and low-resolution textures may deter some players, making it difficult to identify objects and characters. Some reviewers compare the graphics unfavorably to older games.
- Frequent, instant deaths (weight 0.05): The game is known for its high level of difficulty, often resulting in frequent and unexpected deaths. Players can be killed in one turn by various enemies and hazards, leading to a punishing and unforgiving experience. This can be frustrating for players who are not prepared for the game's brutal nature.
- Roguelike/RPG elements clash (weight 0.05): The game's roguelike and RPG elements sometimes clash, creating a disjointed experience. The story can feel too long for a roguelike, and the lack of build diversity can be frustrating. The UI can also be confusing, which is a common issue in roguelikes.
- Incomplete language localization (weight 0.03): The game lacks complete localization for some languages, such as Chinese and German. This can be a significant barrier for non-English speakers, hindering their ability to fully understand the game's story and mechanics. The lack of localization can also make the game less accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.
- Subjective, non-constructive feedback (weight 0.03): These clusters contain points that are highly subjective, based on personal preferences, or lack specific details. They include statements about the reviewer's skill level, enjoyment of the game, and minor glitches. These points do not provide constructive feedback or actionable suggestions for improvement.
- Unstable, lacks gameplay, overpriced (weight 0.02): Some reviewers have had negative experiences with the game, citing issues such as instability, a lack of meaningful gameplay, and a feeling that the game is overpriced. One reviewer was unable to leave the starting area after 10 hours of play, while another found the game to be a 'clicking simulator'.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelike/RPG hybrid with options (weight 0.36): The game blends roguelike and RPG elements, featuring turn-based combat, procedural generation, and permadeath (optional).  It offers multiple game modes, including options to save progress and customize the difficulty, appealing to both traditional roguelike fans and those seeking a more forgiving experience.
- Vast, explorable open world (weight 0.26): The game features a vast, procedurally generated open world with dungeons, quests, and a main storyline.  Exploration is a key element, with players delving into caves, interacting with NPCs, and uncovering the world's secrets.
- Diverse character builds/challenges (weight 0.04): The reviewer's experiences highlight the diverse character builds and challenges encountered in the game. Examples include a mutant scholar with burrowing claws, a Chimera mutant with 20 limbs, and encounters with dangerous robots.
- Exploitable mechanics/systems (weight 0.02): The game features deep mechanics that can be exploited, allowing players to trivialize challenges. While this may appeal to some, it can also lead to optimizing the fun out of the experience.
- Factions and reputation mechanics (weight 0.02): The game features factions and reputation mechanics that affect player interactions with regions and enemies. Players can build relationships with different factions, such as Templars, Apes, Fishes, and Birds, influencing their gameplay experience.
- Cooking system provides character buffs (weight 0.02): The game features a cooking system that provides buffs to the character. Players can create new food and potions based on the ingredients used, enhancing their abilities and survivability.
- Unusual world elements/interactions (weight 0.02): The game world includes unusual elements such as lillypads mutilating crocodiles and an economy based on fresh water. The player character can hack limbs off of crocodiles and eat crocodiles.
- Multiple input methods supported (weight 0.02): The game can be played using keyboard, mouse, or controller, or a combination of these input methods. The UI is old-school and takes some getting used to, requiring frequent keyboard use.

Performance notes:
- Great Steam Deck experience (weight 0.05): The game is generally well-suited for the Steam Deck, offering good performance and controls, though some players may need to tweak the default controller layout. The Steam Deck battery lasts around 4 hours during gameplay.
- Occasional bugs and performance dips (weight 0.03): While many players report stable performance, some have encountered bugs, including progress-blocking issues and performance drops during specific scripted encounters with explosions. These issues may require retrying or workarounds.
- Runs well on diverse hardware (weight 0.03): The game is optimized to run smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including older machines and laptops. This broad compatibility ensures accessibility for players with varying system specifications.
- Active development and improvements (weight 0.01): The developers actively address performance issues and bugs through weekly updates and a beta branch. This indicates a commitment to ongoing improvement and responsiveness to player feedback.
- Minor gameplay bugs (weight 0.01): Some players have reported minor issues such as the color-coded damage display not functioning correctly and enemies not attacking. These issues do not appear to be widespread.
- Technically impressive mechanics (weight 0.01): The game is technically impressive due to its complex simulation mechanics. This depth contributes to the overall gameplay experience.
- CPU slowdowns in complex scenarios (weight 0.01): Despite its simple graphics, the game can cause CPU slowdowns, especially during complex calculations involving numerous entities and effects like fire and smoke. This can impact performance even on capable systems.
- Resolution glitch on Mac (weight 0.01): Mac users may encounter a resolution glitch that requires manual adjustment in the launch properties to avoid a distorted rendering ratio. This is a specific issue affecting the Mac version of the game.
- Inconsistent music volume (weight 0.01): The music volume can be inconsistent between tracks, leading to sudden and jarring changes in loudness. This can disrupt the overall audio experience.
- Great atmospheric soundtrack (weight 0.01): The game features a well-received soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. The music complements the gameplay experience.
- Wish commands for debugging (weight 0.01): The game includes wish commands that allow players to debug and fix minor issues themselves. This feature provides a degree of control and customization.
- Lockscreen crashes reported (weight 0.01): Some players have reported experiencing lockscreen crashes while playing the game. This issue may disrupt gameplay and require restarting the game.
- Best with mouse and number pad (weight 0.01): The game is best experienced with a mouse and number pad. This control scheme may offer more precision and efficiency compared to other input methods.
- Low battery draw (weight 0.01): The game has low battery draw, making it suitable for playing on airplanes. This feature is beneficial for players who want to enjoy the game during travel.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended; potential masterpiece (weight 0.96): The game receives overwhelmingly positive recommendations, with many reviewers considering it a masterpiece, a genre leader, or even one of the best games ever made. Reviewers highlight its depth, replayability, engaging content, and the unique experiences it offers, often urging players to overlook the dated graphics and initial learning curve. Many recommend the game even at full price, anticipating hundreds of hours of playtime and considering it a worthwhile investment.
- Start with Roleplay mode (weight 0.5): Many reviewers suggest starting the game in Roleplay mode or with checkpoints enabled, especially for new players. This allows players to learn the game mechanics and explore the world without the frustration of permadeath and significant progress loss. This approach helps ease the learning curve and makes the game more accessible to newcomers.
- Appeals to specific genre fans (weight 0.49): The game is recommended for fans of specific genres and settings, including traditional roguelikes, RPGs, science-fantasy, and post-apocalyptic worlds. Reviewers often draw comparisons to other popular games and tabletop RPGs to help players determine if the game aligns with their interests. The game's unique blend of elements makes it appealing to a niche audience seeking a particular type of experience.
- Emergent storytelling; rewards imagination (weight 0.04): The game excels at emergent storytelling, rewarding player curiosity, creativity, and resilience. It's recommended for those who enjoy games that require active imagination and offer deep, strategic gameplay. The focus is on creating unique experiences rather than relying on realistic graphics.
- Expect frequent character deaths (weight 0.03): The game is known for its high difficulty and frequent character death, so players should avoid getting too invested in any single character. Reviewers recommend reading descriptions and details carefully to avoid unexpected deaths. Blind playthroughs are best suited for Roleplay mode, where the consequences of death are less severe.
- Potential stability/performance issues (weight 0.02): Some reviewers experienced stability issues and poor performance, leading to refund requests. Others felt they got their money's worth despite negative experiences, while some recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing. These points indicate potential technical problems or a lack of optimization that may affect the player experience.
- Modern take on classic roguelikes (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those seeking a modern take on classic roguelikes like Angband, Nethack, and ADOM. Reviewers draw comparisons to other popular games like Dwarf Fortress and Tales of Maj'Eyal, suggesting that fans of these games will likely enjoy this one. The game aims to capture the essence of these classic titles while offering a more modern experience.
- Learn basics before playing (weight 0.02): New players should start by reading introductory guides or watching video tutorials to understand the game's mechanics. Reviewers recommend focusing on learning the basics and playing by instinct, enjoying the journey without overwhelming themselves with information. The tutorial is also recommended for new players.
- Mods enhance the experience (weight 0.02): Mods can enhance the game experience, with players exploring the workshop for improvements, including base building mods. Reviewers suggest using mods to address specific shortcomings or to customize the gameplay to their preferences. The modding community plays a significant role in shaping the game's evolution and offering additional content.
- Premature 1.0 release; overpriced (weight 0.02): Some reviewers feel the game should have been delayed to address its issues, suggesting it was not ready for a 1.0 release. Concerns are raised about the price increase despite high sales, with some feeling the game is not worth the money. These points indicate potential issues with the game's development and release timing.
- Excellent entry point to genre (weight 0.02): The game is considered one of the best starting points for those looking to explore the roguelike genre, with the potential to revolutionize it entirely. It may be the breakthrough for players struggling to get into the genre, offering an excellent introduction to tile-based roguelikes. The game is also praised for its immersive qualities and fascinating world.
- Hopes for future content (weight 0.02): Reviewers express hope for more content, future updates, and improvements to the AI and Japanese translation. These points indicate a desire for continued development and refinement of the game. The community is eager to see how the game evolves and what new features will be added in the future.
- Encourages experimentation; player agency (weight 0.02): The game gives players the freedom to use and abuse game knowledge as they see fit, encouraging experimentation and a willingness to "roll with the punches." There is a lot to learn, but the game is more fun for players who are willing to try new things and adapt to unexpected situations. This emphasizes the game's open-ended nature and the importance of player agency.
- Compared to Nethack/Stone Soup (weight 0.02): The game is compared to classic roguelikes like Nethack and Stone Soup, with some considering it the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in that style. It's seen as an excellent introduction to tile-based roguelikes, although one reviewer recommends playing Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup instead. The game is expected to be a reference point for the genre for the next decade or more.
- Hundreds/thousands of hours playtime (weight 0.02): Reviewers anticipate spending hundreds or even thousands of hours with the game, facing repeated deaths and exploring its vast world. The game is described as an epic achievement and a labor of love, indicating a deep level of commitment from the developers. This emphasizes the game's long-term appeal and the potential for endless replayability.

Other player notes:
- Complexity necessitates external resources (weight 0.08): The game features significant complexity and obscurity, making external resources like the official wiki almost essential for understanding mechanics and progressing. New players may find it beneficial to consult guides and resources to mitigate the initial difficulty and fully appreciate the game's depth.
- Distinctive old-school pixel art (weight 0.04): The game features a distinctive art style that blends old-school pixel graphics with abstract tilesets to create a mysterious and visually appealing world. While the graphics may not appeal to all players, they contribute to the game's unique atmosphere and charm.
- Long Development Cycle (weight 0.03): The game has been in development for a very long time, with some reviewers following its progress for years. The developers are congratulated for finally reaching the 1.0 release after such a long development cycle.
- Blends contrasting elements (weight 0.02): The game world blends contrasting elements, such as beauty and grotesqueness, brutality and tenderness, creating a unique and thought-provoking experience. The game also offers an inclusive character creation experience.
- Low Completion Rate (weight 0.01): Steam achievement statistics suggest that a very small percentage of players have actually completed the game. This could be due to the game's difficulty, complexity, or length.
- Frequent Updates (weight 0.01): The game receives frequent updates, indicating ongoing development and support from the developers.
- Still in Early Access (weight 0.01): The game is still in early access, suggesting that some aspects may need further modernization and refinement to be more inviting to new players. This also implies that there is potential for future improvements and additions to the game.

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