Installation and First Launch

Learn how to install Dwarf Fortress, choose between the classic and Steam versions, and navigate the initial game launch.

Dwarf Fortress can be downloaded from the official Bay 12 Games website or purchased on Steam. The Steam version includes a graphical tileset and quality-of-life improvements, making it highly recommended for new players. Once installed, launch the game. You'll be greeted by the main menu. For your first fortress, we recommend starting with a 'New Game' and accepting the default world generation settings to keep things simple.