Choose Goblins of Elderstone
Choose Goblins of Elderstone if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Goblins of Elderstone launched in 2023.
Goblins of Elderstone vs Dwarf Fortress
Goblins of Elderstone 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. Dwarf Fortress (2022) is 1 year older than Goblins of Elderstone (2023). Dwarf Fortress scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Goblins of Elderstone (69.7% 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 Goblins of Elderstone 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
 Goblins of Elderstone |  Dwarf Fortress | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 23.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 69.7% positive (228 reviews) | 95% positive (23,734 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Outerdawn, Lost Goblin | Bay 12 Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Dwarf Fortress (2022) is 1 year older than Goblins of Elderstone (2023).
- Dwarf Fortress scores higher on Steam reviews (95% positive) than Goblins of Elderstone (69.7% positive).
- Goblins of Elderstone is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Dwarf Fortress (19.99 USD vs. 23.99 USD).
- Dwarf Fortress is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Goblins of Elderstone has no Deck rating yet.
Goblins of Elderstone vs Dwarf Fortress — FAQ
- Which is better, Goblins of Elderstone or Dwarf Fortress?
- On Steam reviews Dwarf Fortress scores higher (95% positive) than Goblins of Elderstone (69.7% 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 Goblins of Elderstone or Dwarf Fortress first?
- If you want chronology, Dwarf Fortress (2022) came out before Goblins of Elderstone (2023). 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 Goblins of Elderstone 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.