Choose Gnomoria
Choose Gnomoria if it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. 2,111 Steam reviews back the pick.
Gnomoria vs Dwarf Fortress
Gnomoria and Dwarf Fortress both land in Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Gnomoria (2016) is 6 years older than Dwarf Fortress (2022). Dwarf Fortress scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Gnomoria (73.6% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Dwarf Fortress
Choose Dwarf Fortress if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95% positive across 23,734 reviews.
Both Gnomoria and Dwarf Fortress sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Gnomoria |  Dwarf Fortress | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 23.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 73.6% positive (2,111 reviews) | 95% positive (23,734 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Robotronic Games | Bay 12 Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Gnomoria (2016) is 6 years older than Dwarf Fortress (2022).
- Dwarf Fortress scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Gnomoria (73.6% positive).
- Gnomoria is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Dwarf Fortress (14.99 USD vs. 23.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Gnomoria vs Dwarf Fortress — FAQ
- Which is better, Gnomoria or Dwarf Fortress?
- On Steam reviews Dwarf Fortress scores higher (95% positive) than Gnomoria (73.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Dwarf Fortress is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Gnomoria or Dwarf Fortress first?
- If you want chronology, Gnomoria (2016) came out before Dwarf Fortress (2022). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Gnomoria and Dwarf Fortress similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.