- British solo developer Dante Nox’s ambitious masterpiece launches simultaneously on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store
- A mining adventure where you recover ore and treasure from a collapsing mine within a time limit and escape safely.
Dwarf Delve, a first-person extractable roguelite developed by Gloom Box, a one-person development studio in London, UK, was officially released on Steam, the indie.io store, GOG, and the Epic Games Store on July 27.
The player takes on the role of ‘Delbling,’ a rookie miner for the Dwarf Alliance, tasked with entering a constantly shifting, procedurally generated mining network to recover ore, treasure, and long-buried artifacts. Descending underground itself is not difficult. The real challenge lies in carrying everything back to the elevator before the shaft collapses.
A race against time against a collapsing mine shaft… Greed leads to danger
From the moment the mining shift begins, the mine starts to slowly collapse. Every action taken by the player consumes time, and while venturing deeper into the mine allows for the discovery of more valuable resources, it becomes increasingly difficult to guarantee a safe escape.
If the expedition drags on too long, the collapsing shaft will swallow up the Delbling and all the spoils that were not transported. Ultimately, the success or failure of the expedition depends on how much you take and when you decide to let go of your greed and return.
The mining process is hands-on. You must illuminate the darkness with lanterns and flares and mine valuable ore veins using ‘Battle Mallets.’ You must also personally construct routes connecting various parts of the mine and build the infrastructure to transport the mined resources.
You can install ladders to move to hard-to-reach areas or utilize rails and mine cars to transport heavy cargo to the elevator. The deeper you go, the more bountiful the harvest becomes, but the time available to return decreases.
Turning back early for a safe return is the most rational choice, but it is not easy to turn away with more treasure right in front of you. The structure where the greed for “just a little more” leads directly to danger is one of the core fun elements of the game.
Grow with mined treasures and decorate your own dwarf lodging.
Successfully escaping the mine does not mean the expedition is over. The mined ore is refined into coins and materials, which can be used to upgrade your Battle Mallet and acquire new perks and skills.
Changing your equipment configuration based on resources obtained from expeditions and establishing a growth path that suits your play style is also an important factor.
Private dwarf quarters are also provided above ground. Starting with a modest room, you can customize it into your own space using furniture, carpets, and wall decorations obtained or recovered during the mining process. It is a charming element that contrasts with the urgent mining that takes place in the dangerous underground mine.
The claustrophobic tension created by the lantern light and the collapsing mine shaft
‘Dwarf Delve’ depicts dark and claustrophobic underground mines using cartoon-style 3D graphics close to a low-poly style. The limited visibility, requiring reliance on lanterns and flares, heightens the tension as you venture deeper into the mine.
In addition, the sounds of pickaxe swings, mining equipment, and tunnel collapses heard from various places are added to make the player feel the pressure of always being short on time.
A solo developer in London who “likes ramen, cats, and reading.”
Gloom Box, the developer of ‘Dwarf Delve’, is a London-based one-man development studio run solely by Dante Knox.
Regarding the game’s release, Dante Nox shared his thoughts, saying, “I have taken a long, complicated, and overly roundabout path to bring Dwarf Delve to the world, but I have finally done it. I completed a one-man project about a dwarf treasure hunt set deep underground—not in space or a glamorous fantasy world, but perhaps somewhere just outside Hull.”
Publisher indie.io is a platform that supports over 100 indie games and developers worldwide, and it is in charge of publishing this title to support the game’s launch and community management.
Initial launch reaction mixed… Seeking a turnaround through the community and roadmap
Reactions from Steam users immediately after the official release are somewhat mixed. Currently, on Steam, only 21% of the 14 user reviews are positive, resulting in a ‘mostly negative’ rating.
While some reviews assess that the game possesses a basic framework and potential for development, there are also criticisms that improvements to convenience and a strengthened early tutorial are needed at the current stage.
The developer announced through a Steam community notice that they plan to continue developing the game by actively incorporating player feedback and suggestions even after launch. In particular, they emphasize close communication with the community and are encouraging participation in Discord.
In addition, they expressed their commitment to long-term game operation by revealing that they are preparing a roadmap to continue content updates for years to come. As a launch celebration event, they also prepared benefits for early buyers, providing them with a Gloom Box Lamp furniture and 1,000 Guilds.
Attention is focused on whether ‘Dwarf Delve,’ which has emerged into the world after a long journey by a solo developer, can turn things around by overcoming mixed reviews in the early stages of its release and improving its quality through upcoming updates and community feedback.
Information regarding ‘Dwarf Delve’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Gloom Box (Dante Knoxx, Solo Developer) |
| Publisher | indie.io |
| Genre | First-person extractable roguelite |
| Release platform | PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store) |
| Official release date | July 27, 2026 |
| price | $12.99 (Limited 20% launch discount) |
| core system | Procedurally Generated Mines, Battle Mallets, Growth System, Dwarf Lodging Customization |
| Steam rating | Mostly negative (21%, 14 cases) |
| Official Channel | Discord |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
