Dwarf Fortress Gets 100 Prehistoric Creatures in Massive Update

No matter how many simulation games hit the market, Dwarf Fortress continues to set the bar for sheer depth. Developer brothers Tarn and Zach Adams of Bay 12 Games are showing no signs of slowing down, and their latest project is set to bring a massive prehistoric expansion to the game. Arriving on June 25, 2026, the upcoming patch adds exactly 100 extinct creatures to the world.

While it is being called the “dino update,” artist Guido—known to the community as 'Neoriceisgood'—suggests “the extinction update” is a more accurate title. The roster spans from the early Cambrian Explosion all the way through to extinct mammals and birds from the Holocene era. Players can expect to encounter everything from the armored Ankylosaurus to the evolutionary bridge-species Tiktaalik, and even the Spinosaurus mirabilis, which was only discovered and named in 2026.

Customizing Your Prehistoric World

If you are worried about your carefully managed world being overrun by lizards, Bay 12 Games has confirmed that these creatures are entirely optional. You have full control over how they manifest in your game:

• Set them as extinct in your world generation settings.
• Restrict them to isolated areas or specific wilderness biomes.
• Include them as fully domesticated animals.
• Utilize them for war, as pets, or as a food source.

Neoriceisgood noted the challenge of creating art for animals that don't exist today. For creatures like raptors and archaeopteryx, the team opted for a modern, feathered, and colorful look, while larger dinosaurs lean into more traditional designs. Every single one of the 100 creatures also comes with a unique 'dinoman' human-hybrid version, adding a layer of variety for those who encounter them in their travels.

A Commitment to Scale

The project began with a goal of 70 creatures, but Neoriceisgood pushed for a round 100, a move that required a rapid development pace over the course of just a few months. The selection process was a collaborative effort, with the team members picking their favorites—such as the Sharovipteryx, chosen by Neoriceisgood for its unique rear-leg gliding membrane.

Kitfox Games Community Director Alexandra Orlando noted that this scale is exactly what players have come to expect from the studio. “Why would you ever assume that we're only doing the basics? This is Dwarf Fortress” she said.

Beyond the prehistoric roster, the June 25 update is also expected to bring further improvements to diplomacy, as well as general UI and performance optimizations to the PC version of the simulation classic.