Caves of Qud (free version)

The 2017 free edition of Caves of Qud by Freehold Games is a glimpse into one of the strangest, richest sci-fi worlds ever generated by code. Imagine a roguelike where mutants, psychic powers, and talking plants all exist in a post-apocalyptic stew of weirdness. The game doesn’t hold your hand—if you survive more than 15 minutes on your first try, you probably cheated. But the reward for persistence is a setting that feels alien yet alive, where every run reveals bizarre encounters and unexpected stories. It’s like reading a classic sci-fi novel, except the book keeps trying to kill you.

“Caves of Qud is a science fantasy roguelike epic steeped in retrofuturism, deep simulation, and swathes of sentient plants. Come inhabit an exotic world and chisel through a layer cake of thousand-year-old civilizations. Decide: is it a dying earth, or is it on the verge of rebirth?” - Freehold Games