I went in expecting a retro curiosity and stayed for forty hours because the world just keeps producing things I had not anticipated. You can start as a mutant who shoots bursts of light from their hands and spend three hours building a settlement before the main quest has even introduced itself. The RPG depth is genuine: faction relationships, stat-driven dialogue, procedural quests, and a character creation system that produces genuinely different playstyles. It is not a smooth game. The interface asks patience. But players who want a systems-first RPG that actually surprises them will not find a better sandbox in the indie space.


Caves of Qud
December 5, 2024RPGESRB E10+
Available on
Overview
About Caves of Qud
Caves of Qud is a science fantasy roguelike epic steeped in retro-futurism, deep simulation, and swathes of sentient plants. The game weaves a handwritten narrative through rich physical, social, and historical simulations. The result is a hybrid handcrafted & procedurally-generated world where you can do just about anything. Assemble your character from over 70 mutations and defects, and 24 castes and kits - it’s all the character diversity you could want. Explore procedurally-generated regions with some familiar locations - each world is nearly 1 million maps large.
Story setup
Come inhabit an exotic world and chisel through layers of thousand-year-old civilizations. Decide: is it a dying earth, or is it on the verge of rebirth?
Play the role of a mutant indigenous to the salt-spangled dunes and jungles of Qud, or play a pure-strain descendant from one of the few remaining eco-domes - the toxic arboreta of Ekuemekiyye, the Holy City; the ice-sheathed arcology of Ibul; or the crustal mortars of Yawningmoon.
Follow the plot to Barathrum the Old, a sentient cave bear who leads a sect of tinkers intent on restoring technological splendor to Qud.
There’s a story in every nook, from legendary items with fabled pasts to in-game history books written by plant historians. A novel’s worth of handwritten lore is knit into a procedurally-generated history that’s unique each game.
Reference
At a glance
Media
Screenshots
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Playtime
How long to beat
Player-reported completion times for Caves of Qud.
- Typical
- 2hoursStory plus some extras
Playing together
Multiplayer & game modes
Caves of Qud offers various play modes for different gaming experiences.
Play Modes
Single Player
Content
Age ratings
How rating boards around the world have classified Caves of Qud. Open a board for its content descriptors.
ESRBE10+
- Mild Blood
- Fantasy Violence
- Use of Alcohol
PEGI16
Also in our guides
Often listed alongside Caves of Qud
Titles that appear in the same guides on this site. Grouped by where they show up, not by recommendation.
Coverage
Featured in our articles
This game appears in 1 article on this site.
#2
Game data and imagery provided by IGDB.com
