Caves of Qud

Densely imagined and as complex as you fancy, this roguelike RPG is brilliant.

Caves of Qud is a genre-defining achievement in play, story, and roleplaying freedom.

A rich roguelike RPG so deep you will need to bring a thousand torches just to get to the bottom of it.

Caves of Qud has a devoted following for good reason. Its world is vivid despite its graphical style - the wonderful music helping out - and its rapid turn-based gameplay is addictive. The hardcore roguelike approach is brutal but makes each run special. This is at odds with the main thread of an RPG quest, which demands that every run is aimed at the same goal. However, that tension provides an energy that's hard to resist. It's compressed a little uneasily onto Switch, but can be made to work.Maybe not legendary status on Switch, then, but a tale worth passing down to another generation of console players.

Caves of Qud is a brilliant achievement in game design waiting to be discovered by those with the curiosity and patience for it.

Caves of Qud is a cult classic on PCs for several reasons. On the Switch, most of its charm remains intact, but the absence of Brazilian Portuguese, occasional crashes, and interface problems (not to mention the lack of specific improvements for the Switch 2) prevent it from revealing its full potential to Nintendo fans. Furthermore, enthusiasts of roguelike mechanics and ASCII aesthetics looking for something new will certainly enjoy Freehold Games' work. For everyone else, it's worth waiting for a possible localization into our language or additional improvements in portable mode. After all, exploring and conquering the maps of this fantastic universe is something that deserves to be done in the best possible way.

Caves of Qud is a unique experience in the roguelike RPG scene. Its deep and detailed world, combined with incredibly flexible gameplay and a fascinating emergent narrative, makes it a must-have title for fans of the genre. However, its difficulty and steep learning curve may deter some players. For those looking for a challenge, Caves of Qud is a must-have title. Death is part of the experience, and each new game brings with it new knowledge and strategies. However, those who prefer more guided experiences may find the game frustrating. With continued support from the developers and an active community, the future of the game still looks full of surprises.

Some hardcore RPG old-timers will enjoy every single piece of Caves of Qud, yet the prehistoric visuals and teeth-grinding difficulty could be too much for modern players.

Caves of Qud is a game that will reward you more and more for putting in the time and effort to learn about it. Even just from scratching the surface, however, I am absolutely entranced by the worlds the game can create.

A staggering achievement in terms of role-playing interactivity and flexibility, that also manages to be both accessible and maintain a fun sense of the absurd.