10 Video Games That Got Really Good When You Stopped Playing

Releasing in an alpha state all the way back in 2006, there's a pretty solid chance that you, reader, are one of many who gave up on this game before its retail release in 2022.

Known for its lack of hand-holding, unfathomably deep gameplay, and ASCII-based graphics, there has never been a game so impenetrable. One of the first hardcore survival/exploration games - a genre that exploded after Mincecraft (itself inspired by DF) - simply learning to play it effectively took hours of research and trial-and-error. And that's to say nothing of learning to recognize the ASCII-based graphics, which felt a lot like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. And on top of that were the many, many mods required to simplify things even a little.

Those who stuck with it were richly rewarded with one of the most engaging and satisfying games ever made, but that demanded a ton of commitment from players who stuck with it through its many alpha and beta versions.

Finally released officially in 2022 - complete with actual graphics - now is easily the best time to jump in. But considering the epic legacy of DF, we wouldn't be surprised if this is still the tip of the iceberg.