The Dwarves

Description

The game revolves around Tungdil Goldhand, a scholarly dwarf raised among humans, who is thrust into a sprawling conflict when an ancient evil threatens the land of Girdlegard. The narrative leans heavily on the source material’s rich lore of dwarven clans, political intrigue, and a looming war against orcs, älfar, and other monstrous forces. It is presented with full voice acting and orchestral music by Benny Oschmann.

Gameplay alternates between exploration/conversation sequences and real‑time tactical combat. In battle, you control a small party of heroes, pausing frequently to issue commands and unleash special abilities. The game’s crowd‑physics system allows for chaotic melees where dozens of enemies can be knocked back, trampled, or sent flying off cliffs. Outside combat, you travel across a map of Girdlegard, making choices that can alter events and party composition. While character progression is light with a level cap of 10 and limited gear, the focus is on tactical positioning, skill synergy, and adapting to enemy hordes.

Part-funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $300,000, The Dwarves was praised for its faithful adaptation of the novel’s world and characters, but received mixed reviews for repetitive combat and long load times. For fans of the books, it offers a rare chance to step directly into Heitz’s universe through a compact, lore‑rich fantasy tale wrapped in a hybrid of RPG storytelling and RTS‑style battles.