We Are The Dwarves

We Are The Dwarves is a PC real-time tactical adventure set in a science-fiction universe built from stone, stars, and hostile deep-space civilizations. Steam and GOG continue to list it under the same name, with Whale Rock Games credited as both developer and publisher; no verified storefront rebrand or renamed edition was found.

The premise is deliberately unusual. Three Dwarven astronauts, Forcer, Smashfist, and Shadow, search the Endless Stone for a new star while confronting ancient monsters and unfamiliar civilizations. This is not a conventional fantasy RPG or a traditional space shooter. Its identity comes from combining isometric exploration, stealth, ability-driven combat, and an active-pause command system.

How The Tactical Loop Works

Most encounters begin with observation rather than immediate combat. You scout the area, identify patrol routes, study enemy positions, and look for terrain or environmental opportunities before committing to an attack. The game rewards players who treat each encounter as a tactical problem instead of rushing toward the nearest target.

Active pause is the central control mechanic. Time can be slowed dramatically so you can reposition characters, select abilities, aim attacks, and queue a sequence of commands. The action then plays out, allowing a carefully prepared maneuver to succeed or exposing a mistake that needs to be corrected.

That pause-and-queue structure gives We Are The Dwarves a distinct rhythm. It is real-time rather than turn-based, but it expects the same level of planning found in deliberate squad tactics. Players who enjoy top-down real-time tactical games like Door Kickers 2 will recognize the appeal of planning movement before chaos takes over.

Three Dwarves, Three Solutions

Forcer is the ranged specialist, built around distance, ranged destruction, and attacks that benefit from careful setup. His abilities are most effective when you control sightlines and prepare the battlefield before enemies can close in.

Smashfist is the close-range powerhouse. He is designed for direct confrontation, absorbing pressure and delivering heavy melee attacks when stealth has already broken down or an enemy must be removed quickly.

Shadow provides the most overtly stealth-focused playstyle. He uses successive assassinations and precision archery to eliminate isolated targets, making him valuable when you can control visibility, approach angles, and enemy awareness.

The trio is more than a set of interchangeable classes. Their abilities are intended to be combined, letting one dwarf create an opening while another exploits it. A strong plan may involve Shadow thinning a patrol, Forcer preparing a ranged sequence, and Smashfist handling the survivors once the encounter becomes noisy.

Enemy Awareness And Skill Trees

Enemy behavior is not based only on a simple visual detection cone. The game describes opponents as reacting to movement, ambient noise, and scent, which makes positioning and timing important even when no attack is taking place.

This sensory model strengthens the stealth game beneath the action layer. A character may be safe because he is hidden, but an unnecessary movement or noisy action can still compromise the plan. The result is a campaign where scouting and restraint matter as much as damage output.

Each dwarf has an individual skill tree, allowing customization across different approaches. The official feature description specifically frames these choices as ranging from stealth to slasher-style combat, so progression is about shaping how each character solves problems rather than simply increasing a single universal power level.

The most satisfying encounters are the ones where these systems overlap. You are not only choosing which ability to use; you are deciding who should use it, from what position, at what time, and whether the noise or movement it creates will trigger a wider response.

Story Structure And Content Model

We Are The Dwarves is structured as a focused, story-driven campaign rather than a procedural roguelike or an open-ended colony game. The narrative follows the three astronauts as they explore unknown regions of the stone universe and encounter new civilizations and ancient creatures.

The campaign gradually introduces the characters and their distinct roles, then expects you to manage them as a coordinated team. This makes the game a better fit for players who prefer authored scenarios and escalating tactical challenges over endless random runs.

The commercial model is straightforward: the core game is sold as a standalone premium title. Current Steam and GOG listings do not show a season pass, expansion catalog, or separate paid campaign that needs to be added to understand the main experience.

Its content loop is therefore based on mastering encounters, experimenting with skill-tree choices, and replaying difficult situations until the plan works. It is not built around loot rarity, live-service progression, or an ongoing content treadmill.

Who Should Play It

We Are The Dwarves suits PC players who enjoy deliberate tactical planning, small-team coordination, stealth approaches, and unusual settings. The three-character structure keeps the decision space readable while still giving each encounter several moving parts.

It is also a strong match for players who like the tension of real-time systems without needing constant reflexes. The active pause gives you room to think, but it does not remove the consequences of poor positioning or a badly timed ability.

Players looking for a conventional action RPG, flexible open-world exploration, or straightforward power fantasy should approach it cautiously. Encounters can be demanding, and the game often expects you to learn enemy behavior and discover the intended tactical sequence through failure.

The experience is especially rewarding when a plan comes together exactly as intended. It can be frustrating when you want broad improvisation but the scenario appears to favor a narrower solution.

PC Features And Platform Details

The PC version is built around mouse-focused tactical control, with keyboard input available for commands and the active-pause workflow. The interface is most useful when you are selecting abilities, positioning multiple dwarves, and queueing actions with precision.

Steam lists Steam Cloud, achievements, leaderboards, captions, trading cards, and family sharing among its platform features. GOG lists the game as DRM-free, supports offline installation, and states that GOG Galaxy is optional rather than required for play.

Both storefronts identify the game as primarily single-player, while also listing co-op support. GOG specifies that the co-op feature requires a compatible controller, so players should not assume that the campaign is designed around online party play or unrestricted keyboard-and-mouse co-op.

Localization is broader than English alone. The storefront listings identify English full audio, with interface and subtitle support also available in Russian, Ukrainian, French, Simplified Chinese, German, Spanish, Czech, Portuguese, and Italian.

Related Tactical Games On PC

The closest comparisons are games that combine squad control, stealth, and real-time decision-making rather than games that merely share a fantasy theme. Stealth-focused real-time tactics like Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew provide a useful comparison for players interested in coordinated character abilities and carefully staged infiltrations.

Squad stealth strategy such as Partisans 1941 is another relevant reference point because both games encourage reconnaissance, avoiding unfavorable fights, and using a small team to overcome stronger opposition.

For players more interested in the science-fiction setting and stealth-combat mixture, tactical science-fiction adventures like Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden offer a broader comparison, although that game uses a different combat structure.

We Are The Dwarves FAQ

Is We Are The Dwarves still called We Are The Dwarves?

Yes. Current Steam and GOG listings retain the name We Are The Dwarves. No verified rebrand, definitive-edition rename, or alternate current PC storefront title was found.

What type of game is We Are The Dwarves?

It is an action-based real-time tactical adventure with an isometric viewpoint, stealth elements, exploration, character progression, and an active-pause system for planning commands.

What are the three dwarves used for?

Forcer specializes in ranged destruction and setup, Smashfist focuses on close-range brute force, and Shadow handles stealth, assassinations, and precision archery. Their abilities are designed to work together.

Does the game have pause-and-queue controls?

Yes. You can slow time heavily, plan movement and attacks, and queue commands before allowing the encounter to continue. This is the defining feature of the PC gameplay loop.

Does We Are The Dwarves support co-op?

Co-op is listed by the storefronts, and GOG notes that a compatible controller is required. The game is primarily presented as a single-player tactical campaign, so co-op should be treated as a secondary platform feature rather than its main structure.

Is We Are The Dwarves DRM-free on PC?

The GOG version is explicitly DRM-free and can be installed without GOG Galaxy. The Steam version uses the Steam platform, with Steam Cloud and other Steamworks features listed on its store page.