15 Years In The Making, Caves Of Qud Is Finally Coming To Nintendo Switch
By Update []:
Initially slated for a “Q4 2025” launch, the Caves of Qud Bluesky profile has shared an announcement (thanks, RPGSite) revealing a brief postponement. The extensively developed game will now debut on Switch in January 2026.
Stating that the Switch port “isn’t flawless yet,” the developers are also “assured about the January schedule,” and, given the surge of December launches emerging, a bit more space and time to refine will only be beneficial.
Original Tale:
Hey, Qud enthusiasts! Kitfox Games and Freehold Games have declared that Caves of Qud is at long last heading to Switch with a Q4 2025 release. It’s not that far off!
For those unfamiliar with the game, Caves of Qud is a title that has spent an astonishing 15 years in development and early access on PC before launching on that platform in December last year to some hyperbolically positive critiques.
We’re observing a retro-inspired roguelike that apparently possesses all the essentials. Sufficient to make it a highlight in one of the most saturated genres ever, indeed. Wow. It undeniably appears distinctive, with some rather elaborate visuals that blend retro gaming aesthetics with what resembles directory structures from your father’s antiquated computer. The good stuff, in essence. You can also discern from the eccentric text on-screen, and the plethora of lore at every junction, that there’s a rich depth to the world you’ll navigate.
You can view the trailer above, and we’ll leave you with additional insights about the game itself:
Caves of Qud is a scientific fantasy roguelike saga immersed in retrofuturism, profound simulation, and vast amounts of sentient flora. Come dwell in a living, breathing realm and carve through layers of ancient civilizations. Decide: is it a dying planet, or is it on the brink of revival? Engage in anything and everything. Caves of Qud is a meticulously simulated, biologically varied, richly cultured universe.
INTENSIVE PHYSICAL SIMULATION — Don’t appreciate the barrier obstructing your path? Dig through it with a pickaxe, or consume it with your corrosive gas mutation, or convert it to lava. Yes, each wall has a melting point.
THOROUGHLY SIMULATED BEINGS — Every creature and NPC is as thoroughly simulated as the player. This means they possess levels, skills, equipment, faction ties, and body parts. So if you have a mutation that allows you, say, psionically to command a spider, you can traverse through the world as a spider, spinning webs and consuming things.
DYNAMIC FACTION SYSTEM — Forge allegiances with over 70 factions: monkeys, crustaceans, trees, automatons, and highly chaotic entities, just to mention a few.
DEEPLY ELABORATED SCIENCE FANTASY ENVIRONMENT — Over fifteen years of worldcrafting have resulted in a rich, bizarre, intricate, one-of-a-kind narrative universe, layered atop of the simulation, all for you to discover. Live and indulge, friend.
STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY — Turn-based, sandbox investigation and combat offer as many solutions as you and your mutations, implants, artifacts, and abilities are inventive enough to create.
RPG COMPONENTS — Quests, NPCs, towns, historical locations; some dynamic and others handcrafted, intertwined to generate a transportative RPG experience.
Play one of four modes:
CLASSIC — Like other conventional roguelikes, this mode features permadeath, meaning you lose your character upon dying. Extremely daunting even for experts.
ROLEPLAY — Approach it like an RPG. Save your progress at checkpoints found in settlements.
WANDER — Emphasize exploration. Most creatures will not attack you, you don’t earn experience by killing, but you DO gain experience by discovering new locations and engaging with legendary beings.
DAILY — One attempt with a predetermined character and world seed. How long will you stand?
Are you planning to explore Caves of Qud? Have you played it already? Be sure to share your opinions with us!