In the end: our favorite character for the patient lets me play as a wise tree

Diaspora, the first expansion of Quds Caves, enters early access in December.

Diaspora, the first expansion for Caves of Quds, will enter early access in December.

When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may receive an affiliate commission. Here's how it works.

What would you add to the game that has everything? We named Caves of Quds the best roguelike of 2024 in part because of its sheer density of simulated sci-fi, deep-future stuff: you can start a game as a fairly normal guy, and by the end of your run you'll be playing a clone of yourself that later evolves into a four-handed turtle gun wielding a bloody turtle man. eat life

With a set of potential interactions already so deep and so strange, what could Caves of Quds possibly add to Diaspora, the expansion that will enter Early Access in December? Well, playable trees are a good start.

Caves of Qud: Diaspora - Official Expansion DLC Teaser - YouTube

According to publisher Kitfox, Diaspora "includes several new feature arcs centered around the influx of riotous life and culture into the swampy ruins of Jerusalem." The most important of which is the ability to start the game as a mutant animal or plant. Those of you with Quds experience may be thinking, "Aren't there animal and plant themed mutants already?"

And there is. But where before you could start out as a human and mutate into a beast or a plant, now - in a nice symmetry - you can start out as a tree and change into a man. Or, you know, a progressively weirder tree. A tree with wings. And a scorpion tail, maybe. Who can tell?

Diaspora's early access launch will also bring new creatures and artifacts across Quds, alongside a new stock of mutated beasts and plants - and the accompanying expansion to the list of potential player mutations. These will certainly bring their own new and exciting forms of existential danger. Camel trade caravans will also be favored – and their salt turtle horses will be rideable for the first time.

Ball x Pit just announced a brand new expansion: Risen Ballbylon

Shroom and Gloom is my new obsession in deck builders thanks to its awesome combat, beautiful artwork, and tasty mushrooms.

The quirky spirit of the classic Elder Scrolls games is alive and well in the lo-fi RPG A Short Quest.

Since this is an Early Access launch, these are only initial suggestions. During its ongoing development period — which is expected to last "for a year" — Qud's developers plan to add a new multi-stage quest, new clans and underground villages, "roaming, large seasonal caravans," more items, creatures, mutant warehouses, and (gasp, new fungal infections).

If that last bit doesn't sound exciting to you, you've clearly never had the pleasure of hosting a sensitive skin infection of tiny mouths that occasionally "coordinates with sensible speech" to reveal. A secret about the in-game world. You can see why I'm excited, right? hello

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Stay up to date with the most important stories and best deals, as selected by the PC Gamer team.

Contact me for news and offers from other upcoming brands Receive emails from us from our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information, you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy and you are 16 years or older.

Caves of Qud: Diaspora launches on Steam Early Access on December 9th.

Lincoln has been writing about games for 12 years, unless you include the essays on procedural storytelling in Dwarf Castle that he convinced his college professors to accept. Using the brainworms of his youth spent on World of Warcraft to write for sites like Waypoint, Polygon, and Fanbyte, Lincoln freelanced for PC Gamer for three years before joining as a full-time reporter in 2024, working on Bird Diplomacy in the Caves of Qud, and Killing Hackers with Sons of Hackers. In Monster Hunter.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please log out and back in, then you will be prompted to enter your display name.

One of my favorite games just announced that it's in development, but all I feel is dread.

Defend your farm from the prying eyes of raccoons in this roguelike tower defense, out tomorrow.

The Sims of the Future is very deep about game creation, in-game games can even be cyberleaked

Escaping EloHello makes me relive my worst online PvP nightmares in a defiant way.

Warhammer Survivors is more than just a Vampire Survivors spin-off

Tired of naughty people? You might still want to play Dicevaders, a game about perfecting dice

While it may or may not be the oldest recorded board game in history, it's probably inevitable that it's a rogue.

Memory is a map in Wane, a rogue map where each biome is a corner of the archaeologist's fading mind.

I lost hours with this rogue card-based city builder, even though I had no idea how all these words could fit together.

Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer is here

Epic had its game launcher faster than Steam on the same day that Steam increased its speed—so I tested both.

Xbox Ally X 20 vs Xbox Ally X: The ultra-bright OLED display and cool air make for a very attractive upgrade for the Asus handset.

According to Overwatch's game director, there's "no secret sauce" to a successful live service game, but knowing your audience is a good start.

The developers of Big Walk explain why it's not on Xbox and probably never will be, "until Microsoft and/or Xbox are removed as targets of the BDS boycott".

Disco Elysium Studios' Red Rooster will be "an incendiary, physics-based RPG" where you play as a prisoner, an opiate-addled mathematician, and a bus driver.

After the crash of Civ 7, Humankind 2 seems to be making smart choices to pick up the 4X torch.

A co-op survival game where trolls aren't just for killing? We don't talk about them as enemies, but as neighbors.