Starting a Fortress

Learn how to generate a new world and start your first Dwarf Fortress game with recommended settings for map size, history, civilizations, and more.

To begin your first game of Dwarf Fortress, you'll need to generate a new world. Use the 'Create new world' option from the main menu and set the following parameters:

1. World map size: Medium
2. History length: 100 years
3. Number of Civilizations: Medium
4. Number of Sites: Medium
5. Number of Beasts: Low
6. Natural Savagery: Very Low
7. Mineral Occurrence: Everywhere

Once world generation is complete, select 'Play now'. The game will save the world and prompt you to choose a game type. Select 'Fortress'. The game will then simulate two weeks of world activity before offering a tutorial.