Anoxic Depths: When Dwarf Fortress and Cave Diving Get a Roguelite Divorce (But Stay Friends)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
*Anoxic Depths: Caves Of The Yendori* is a 10-year-old cave-diving roguelite that blends the procedural generation of Dwarf Fortress with a disorienting 3D-in-2D perspective for a uniquely challenging and rewarding experience. It's the kind of game that'll have you scratching your head and yelling at your screen, and that's precisely why it's worth checking out.
Right, so Rock Paper Shotgun (bless their hearts) just unearthed a little gem that's been kicking around for a decade, and bloody hell, it's more interesting than it sounds. It's called *Anoxic Depths: Caves Of The Yendori*, and the headline pretty much nails it: it's a cave-diving roguelite that feels like Dwarf Fortress had a weird baby with a submarine simulator.
Now, you might be thinking, "A 10-year-old game? What's the fuss?" But stick with me, mate, because this one's got a twist. Studio Tectorum, the developers, describe it as "3D gameplay in a 2D world," which, if you're anything like me, makes your brain itch in a good way. Imagine trying to navigate a complex cave system where you can rotate the view in 90-degree increments. Sounds confusing? Oh, it is. Gloriously so.
You play as a diver tasked with retrieving artifacts from procedurally generated underwater caves. The catch? The researcher sending you down there isn't exactly a certified diving instructor. (Always a bad sign, isn't it?) No tutorial, just vague hints from NPCs around the cave entrance, and a whole lot of potential for decompression sickness and pulmonary barotrauma. (I'm not entirely sure what either of those are, but they sound unpleasant.)
The genius – and the source of much potential frustration – lies in the game's unique perspective. It's all cross-sections, just like Dwarf Fortress, but with the added ability to rotate the view. So, you're constantly building a mental map of the cave, counting your rotations, and praying you don't get lost. Thankfully, there are items like diving lines to help you find your way back to the surface. (Remember to turn on your breathing apparatus first, though. Rookie mistake.)
And if you *really* want to lean into the Dwarf Fortress comparisons, you can even play with a kanji tileset or ASCII. Personally, I'm half expecting to run into a procedural demon down there. Imagine trying to escape one of those things when you can't even remember which way is up!
So, if you're looking for a roguelite that's a little bit different, a little bit confusing, and a whole lot of fun, give *Anoxic Depths* a try. There's a demo on Itch.io that limits how deep you can dive, but your saves will carry over to the full game. And who knows, maybe you'll discover a secret Web3 integration down in those caves... (Okay, probably not, but a bloke can dream, right?).
Tags: roguelite, dwarffortress, cavediving, indiegame, exploration
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun