Caves of Qud

About

Caves of Qud is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi inspired roguelike game set in a desert wasteland filled with bizarre ancient technology and mutated creatures. You can play as one of many unique characters, each with their own skills, abilities, and starting equipment, as you explore, fight, and make decisions that will shape the world around you. With procedurally generated content and deep character customization, Caves of Qud offers a rich and replayable experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,568 reviews

gameplay256 positive mentions

grinding69 negative mentions

Incredible depth and complexity, offering a unique blend of RPG and roguelike elements.
Rich world-building and lore that creates a captivating atmosphere, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.
Constant updates and a dedicated development team ensure the game continues to evolve and improve.

Steep learning curve with a confusing UI and controls that can be overwhelming for new players.
Permadeath can be frustrating, especially when deaths feel random or unfair, leading to a lack of meaningful progression.
The community and developer interactions can be polarizing, with reports of toxicity and exclusionary practices in the official Discord.

gameplay
868 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
2%
The gameplay of "Caves of Qud" is characterized by its remarkable depth and complexity, offering a rich tapestry of mechanics that encourage experimentation and creativity. Players can engage in a variety of character builds, utilizing unique abilities and interactions within a procedurally generated world filled with intriguing lore and emergent gameplay. While the learning curve can be steep, the game rewards persistence with a satisfying and immersive experience that blends traditional roguelike elements with innovative features.
- “Fascinating game where the game world interacts with the character building and gameplay mechanics leading to expansive possibilities.”
- “The mechanics of skills and equipment gel well with each other.”
- “The gameplay is fun and satisfying.”
- “The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “The first few hours of this game are quite frustrating - it took a while to get a feel for the UI and basic mechanics.”
- “I have no idea why this has overwhelmingly positive reviews, because it's an exercise in wrestling with the horribly explained mechanics in order to try and not die instantly after leaving the starting area.”
story
859 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The story in *Caves of Qud* is a rich tapestry of emergent narratives and procedural generation, offering players a unique experience with each playthrough. While the main questline is still incomplete, the game features a variety of quests and lore that encourage exploration and experimentation, allowing players to craft their own stories within a vividly imagined post-apocalyptic world. The writing is praised for its depth and creativity, although some players note that the main storyline can feel linear and the quest system lacks variety, leading to a mix of engaging and repetitive experiences.
- “Qud is an amazingly unique and all-around fun traditional roguelike with deep surreal writing and storytelling, a long campaign through a massive open world, and is just burgeoning with crazy experiences you can't really describe unless you play it yourself.”
- “Caves of Qud is a masterclass in generative storytelling, deep, immersive gameplay, and mechanics that are actually enjoyable to engage with.”
- “The main quest is not finished, some major locations (the kind you can see from the world map) are not finished, and some of the few named unique NPCs have no dialogue.”
- “The story and lore is quite original, and the ample side quests and random adventure will keep you side tracked and leveling up for hours to come, if you survive.”
- “The main story route will take you to some truly wild and bizarre places, and there are many ways to enjoy the game, even as a pacifist.”
graphics
657 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The graphics of "Caves of Qud" are a polarizing aspect, characterized by a retro, minimalist aesthetic that some players find charming while others deem off-putting. Many reviews highlight the game's simple tile-based visuals, which evoke nostalgia for classic roguelikes, allowing players' imaginations to fill in the gaps, though the graphics can initially be jarring. Overall, while the visuals may not appeal to everyone, they are often praised for their atmospheric quality and ability to complement the game's deep mechanics and rich storytelling.
- “The visuals are atmospheric, and that in conjunction with the sound design provide an overwhelmingly immersive experience.”
- “The use of colors and effects on the simplistic tile graphics produces this otherworldly psychedelic hackerspace portal into the world of Qud; it is truly a gorgeous video game.”
- “The graphics are simple but very stylish, and they give you the information you need while allowing for a ridiculous amount of depth in the game.”
- “The main letdown is the graphics/aesthetic, where it actually kind of actively diminished my enjoyment.”
- “I would tentatively recommend Caves of Qud to anyone as long as graphics are not a big deal to them; this game is about as much of an eyesore to look at as the very first video games on DOS PCs.”
- “The graphics are prone to cause spontaneous eye bleeding, the controls are incredibly weird (who uses the number pad??), and everything is obtuse and confusing.”
music
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The music in "Caves of Qud" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's unique world and lore. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from soothing to haunting, and its seamless integration with the gameplay experience. While some players note a desire for more variety in tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's ambiance and storytelling.
- “The soundtrack and ambient noises perfectly create a sense of place.”
- “The music is haunting and gives the perfect feeling to the game.”
- “The music truly adds to the bizarre/mystical experience.”
- “I got PTSD from the music and now need a night-light.”
- “The only complaint I might have is sometimes the music feels like it doesn't fit what is happening.”
- “Before this game, I had never thought about the criticality of music in a game; after playing this for several hours, the deafening silence was maddening.”
atmosphere
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, enhanced by exceptional music, evocative writing, and unique visuals. Players describe it as a rich, surreal experience that blends elements of science fiction and fantasy, creating a world filled with lore and charm. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, drawing players into a deeply engaging and often bizarre environment.
- “The visuals are atmospheric, and that in conjunction with the sound design provide an overwhelmingly immersive and atmospheric experience.”
- “Playing this with a controller and drinking in its atmospheric sights, sounds, and prose transports me to an unfamiliar world awaiting discovery.”
- “The atmosphere is one of a kind - it's a glorious retrofuturistic world that oozes the aesthetics of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.”
- “The world is dripping with atmosphere and lore, chiseling away at layers and layers of eons-old civilizations long forgotten in a post-post-post apocalyptic world.”
- “Even with minimal graphics and visuals, this game's atmosphere of scientific weirdness and whim is wonderful, and the stories built from its experiences are one of a kind.”
- “Overall, Caves of Qud provides an intoxicating rush of accomplishment for those who actually manage to get somewhere, and the atmosphere of the world is dizzyingly labyrinthine and psychedelic, with the purposeful mix of primitive and futuristic elements providing a fresh, visionary view on game worlds.”
replayability
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
Caves of Qud is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, offering nearly infinite variations through its character creation, procedural generation, and diverse gameplay options. Players appreciate the depth of content, unique world interactions, and the ability to experiment with different builds and strategies, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre. Despite some concerns about fixed elements in the world map, the overall consensus is that the game provides a rich and engaging experience that encourages repeated play.
- “Caves of Qud has utterly unique characters and locations, with an infinite amount of replay possibilities!”
- “The game is bursting with content wherever you look, with tons of systems for you to explore, tons of loot to collect, tons of unique enemies, and tons of replayability thanks to the deep character creation options.”
- “The replayability here is beyond what most games could ever hope to achieve.”
- “There's nothing else to the game besides combat: the only other significant content is the main quest which has little replay value.”
- “I feel this game loses so much replayability because it doesn't do procedural generation right.”
- “To sum up, the game has backloaded content (most fun content is past the early stage), terrible balancing of enemies, bad balance of items and abilities, and it breaks too many permadeath rules.”
humor
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently described as bizarre, quirky, and often laugh-out-loud funny, with players encountering absurd situations and unexpected deaths that add to the overall charm. The writing, while sometimes verbose, is praised for its cleverness and ability to generate hilariously random content, making each playthrough a unique comedic experience. Overall, the game balances its challenging mechanics with a rich tapestry of humor that keeps players engaged and entertained.
- “Bizarre, wonderful, and often hilarious things follow.”
- “While this game is definitely one of trial and error, it never fails to amaze me in its deep and downright insane game mechanics that make me burst out laughing while I'm killed by a walking goat man who shot me with a bolt action rifle while practically every orifice on my body is seeping molten wax from my fungal infections.”
- “The game doesn't hold your hand; you will inevitably die a lot, but the sheer amount of immersion and funny things you'll encounter will make you scratch your head in curiosity and wonder.”
grinding
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and punishing, particularly due to the presence of high-level enemies in beginner areas and the repetitive nature of enemy encounters. While some appreciate the meta-knowledge and strategic elements that can mitigate the grind, others feel that the overall experience becomes frustrating and unbalanced, leading to long sessions of monotonous gameplay. Despite these criticisms, a few players noted that the game can still be enjoyable with the right approach and character management.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Enemies that can instakill you the moment you enter their line of sight (most characters will get no warning about this by the way) spawn in beginner areas, making exploration and leveling feel both tedious and punishing.”
- “The game gets grindy really fast; you end up autopiloting the first 1-3 hours of gameplay each run, killing the same enemies and knowing who to talk to and which dialogues to say to get the quest and never talk to them again.”
- “After dying a bunch, it can become a little bit tedious to get through the early game; however, the developers have plans for meta progress and unlockable starting characters, so I'm not worried.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, with many recounting moments of joy, sorrow, and deep investment in their characters. The narrative and gameplay evoke a range of feelings, from companionship and loss to introspection on serious themes, often leading to tears and reflection. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth in certain aspects, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to create a rich, immersive emotional experience.
- “This game has made me cry on several occasions, 10/10.”
- “This game has made me feel things no other game has ever done.”
- “The moments between her death at the hands of a snapjaw captain, and me burning him alive were... emotional.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, including issues with saving, quest completion, and user interface functionality. While some users note improvements over time and commend the developers for their responsiveness to issues, others express frustration with the frequency and severity of crashes, particularly in late-game scenarios. Overall, while the game shows promise and depth, its stability remains a concern, especially for those playing in early access.
- “Good solid gameplay and remarkably bug-free.”
- “I would generally say the game is almost bug-free from my experience, but that also comes with early access.”
- “It's a little bit buggy (saves don't always save properly, end up with the same quest multiple times and they can't be completed) but the depth and scale is impressive - a game you can literally get lost in.”
- “Game can be a bit unstable; I've gotten a few crashes and glitches.”
- “This game does so much right but to be honest, I have started playthroughs well over 20 times only to be set back by glitches that cause me to have to abandon my character and start over.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
Caves of Qud features an incredibly unique and deep character development system that allows for extensive customization through mutations, skills, and attributes, offering players a variety of playstyles and strategies. The game’s innovative storytelling, combined with its intricate mechanics, creates a richly immersive experience where character design is integral to gameplay. With a focus on replayability and a meticulously crafted world, players are encouraged to explore different character backgrounds and development paths.
- “Caves of Qud is an engrossing game, blending rich storytelling with intricate combat and character development.”
- “Caves of Qud is a truly unique roguelike, with a hugely detailed mutation system allowing for flexible character design and many different playstyles.”
- “The character development and creation systems are really where this game shines.”
- “Whereas most games try to be a novel, with cutscenes and endless character development, Caves of Qud tells its story in what I think is a truly innovative way for a game, with sparse dialogue and lots of flavor text.”
- “Character development revolves around skill development, as well as choosing unique mutations (if you choose to play as a mutant) that give your character beneficial (and sometimes harmful) effects.”
- “It’s a challenging experience, but the unique systems for character development and interaction with NPCs keep you coming back for more.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting significant performance issues, particularly in towns with minimal NPCs, leading to lag and unplayability at times. While some improvements have been made through regular updates, many users feel that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance smoothness and overall performance, especially as save files grow larger. Despite these concerns, the graphics are generally well-received, and some players appreciate the focus on gameplay and player choice over technical refinement.
- “The graphics are smooth, there are cool effects, you can chop off your own arms and regrow them with injectors and mutations, and many of the performance issues have been improved dramatically since I went to the beta branch.”
- “It's nice to have the option to progress a character without being forced to either be hyper careful or hyper optimized.”
- “Like many early access titles, this game really needs some optimization done to it, but it's just surprising to see it from a game like this.”
- “It's also ridiculous that the game will sometimes lag to the point of being unplayable in a town that is only two screens with maybe 25 NPCs standing around doing nothing, but on the other hand, performance issues and bugs are actively fixed on a regular basis.”
- “It's crazy how horribly made and optimized this game is.”
- “Another issue I had with the game is the performance - you would think such a simple looking game would run smooth as silk, but this game has to stop and think an awful lot.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's monetization strategy includes non-cosmetic bonuses locked behind a $5 monthly Patreon subscription, raising concerns about compliance with advertising laws. Despite acknowledging potential legal issues, the developers are prioritizing profitability over market research feedback.
- “The game offers a fair monetization model, with optional in-app purchases that enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization is transparent, allowing players to support the developers through Patreon while still enjoying the game for free.”
- “The non-cosmetic bonuses available through the Patreon subscription provide great value for those who want to invest in the game.”
- “The game needs an 'in-app purchases' tag - there are non-cosmetic bonuses locked behind their Patreon at $5 per month.”
- “The makers of this game realize that their changes to the monetization formula may violate advertising laws, but they are willing to take their chances in court.”