View source for Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

{{Short description|Survival horror roguelike video game}}
{{tone|date=April 2024}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
| caption = Screenshot of a player ('@') being chased by zombies ('Z')
| author = Whales
| released = 0.1 / {{Start date and age|2013|02|26|br=yes|df=yes}}<ref>[https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/releases/tag/0.1 0.1]</ref>
| latest release version = 0.H "Herbert"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/releases/tag/0.H-RELEASE |website=cataclysmdda.org |access-date=2021-12-08|title=Release Herbert · CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA}}</ref>
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2024|11|23|br=yes|df=yes}}
| name = Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
| screenshot = Zombie chase.png
| logo = File:Cataclysm logo square.png
| language = English, Chinese, Chinese (Taiwan), Russian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Japanese, Polish, German, Hungarian, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, French, Italian, Norwegian Bokmal, Dutch, Czech, Ukrainian, Greek, Arabic, Danish, Filipino, Icelandic, Indonesian, Serbian, Turkish
| language count = 25
| language footnote = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transifex.com/cataclysm-dda-translators/cataclysm-dda |website=Cataclysm-DDA Localization|date=2021-12-08|title=The Cataclysm-DDA translation project on Transifex}}</ref>
| genre = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[roguelike]], [[survival horror]]
| developer = Kevin Granade and community
| programming_language = [[C++]], [[ncurses|ASCII with ncurses]], [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|Tiles with SDL]]
| platform = [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| license = [[CC BY-SA]] 3.0<ref name="license">[https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/master/LICENSE.txt license.txt] on [[GitHub]]</ref>
| website = {{Url|https://cataclysmdda.org/}}
| repo = {{Url|https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA}}
}}

'''''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead''''' ('''CDDA''') is an [[Open-source video game|open-source]] [[survival horror]] [[roguelike]] [[video game]]. ''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' is a [[Fork (software)|fork]] of the original game ''Cataclysm''.<ref name="cataclsymfork">{{cite web|title = Cataclysm - RogueBasin|url = http://www.roguebasin.com/index.php?title=Cataclysm |website = www.roguebasin.com |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> The game is [[Freeware|freely downloadable]] on the game's website and the [[source code]] is also freely available on the project's [[GitHub]] repository under the [[CC BY-SA]] [[Creative Commons license]]. The game is currently largely developed by its community.<ref name="license" /> ''[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]'' named CDDA one of "The 50 Best Free Games on PC" in 2016.<ref name="RPS2016" />

The game can be played either in [[Text-based game|text-based mode]] or through graphical [[Tile-based video game|tilesets]]. Prior to playing, the player generates a world with different settings and mods. The player then creates a character and select one of many possible starting scenarios. At game start, the player has multiple approaches, including things required for day-to-day survival such as [[scavenging]], [[hunting]], and finding shelter, as well as larger goals such as [[farming]], installing [[bionics]], making and repairing vehicles, and constructing homes.

== Plot ==
The game is set in [[New England]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/master/doc/Lore/design-user-experience.md#world |title=CDDA Design - User Experience|website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref> in {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}+1}} (current year + 1), after a catastrophic event killed most of the human population and spawned various monsters and hazards. After an interdimensional traveler from an alternate Earth crash landed a portal traveling vessel in the [[Midwestern United States]] 35 years prior to Cataclysm, the US government began to research alternate dimensions. In their explorations they obtained a sample called XE-037 (known among the developers as the Blob) that was able to reanimate the dead and cause targeted phenotype mutations. It escaped the lab environment and reproduced in the world's [[groundwater]] supply, causing an enormous [[Zombie apocalypse|zombie outbreak]] and manipulating the population through people's moods, making many people violent. In the following months, the world began to further spiral out of control, with mass demonstrations, rioting, and internal deployment of troops. Amidst the chaos, Earth became the target of a multidimensional portal attack, leading to vast portal storms, with portals opening all over the world, affecting the weather and the reality around them. Unknown forces from other dimensions entered opportunistically as the dimensional fabric was destabilized.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/master/doc/Lore/lore-background.md | title=Cataclysm-DDA/Doc/Lore/Lore-background.md at master · CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA | website=[[GitHub]] }}</ref>

A US government official managed to get access to the [[Emergency Broadcast System]], and send out a final message: "The government has fallen. No help is coming, you’re on your own". This event is referred to as "The Cataclysm".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Background Story |url=https://cataclysmdda.org/lore-background.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=cataclysmdda.org |archive-date=2022-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405042953/https://cataclysmdda.org/lore-background.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

Though the cataclysm is predominantly a zombie apocalypse, many other apocalyptic events are occurring alongside it, including invasions from fungi, [[triffid]]s, and [[Lovecraftian horror|Lovecraftian]] monsters such as [[Mi-go|Mi-Gos]] that have built encampments and towers around the world.

== Development ==
''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' is based on the earlier game ''Cataclysm''<ref name="cataclsymfork"/> whose [[source code]] was made [[open-source software|open-source]] under the [[Creative Commons licence|Creative Commons]] [[CC BY-SA]] license on [[GitHub]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm/blob/master/LICENSE |title=Cataclysm / LICENSE |website=github.com |author=whales|date=23 November 2021}}</ref> by the original author Whales in October 2010.<ref>[https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm/commit/69ffbb2953c1e92a9b24d5380dabe7f26066223e first commit] by whales on github.com</ref> After the ''Cataclysm'' author [[End-of-life (product)|ended the development]] around 2012, the game's community [[Fork (software)|forked]] the game into a new repository called ''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' in early 2013.

In June 2013, a successful [[crowdfunding]] on [[Kickstarter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiestatik.com/2013/06/22/cataclysm-dda-kickstarter/ |title=Multipocalyptic Roguelike Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Turns To Kickstarter |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401001904/http://indiestatik.com/2013/06/22/cataclysm-dda-kickstarter/ |archivedate=2014-04-01}}</ref> raised $9,492 (beyond the $7,000 goal) for the payment of a full-time developer for 3.5 months.

[[File:CDDA recharger.png|thumb|upright=1.2|View with graphical tiles]]
The game is made with [[ncurses]] to provide text-based graphics; later a [[Simple DirectMedia Layer]] (SDL) version with [[Tile-based video game|graphical tile]]s became available.

The game is under heavy development with experimental releases available multiple times each day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cataclysmdda.org/experimental/|title=Experimental Builds |website=cataclysmdda.org |access-date=2021-10-05}}</ref> The stable versions are considered "snapshots" of development rather than the primary version, with the daily updated experimental [[Branching (version control)|branch]] being the "master" version of the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://old.reddit.com/r/cataclysmdda/comments/a117jk/is_cataclysm_dda_0d_released_already/eanjd75/|title=Is Cataclysm DDA 0.D released already? • r/cataclysmdda|website=reddit|date=28 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-28}}</ref> From 0.H, [[release candidate]] builds were introduced, backporting fixes and featuring minor adjustments only.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/issues/70661 |website=GitHub |title=Stable Release (0.H) candidate: your guide to the upcoming stable version |access-date=Jan 5, 2024}}</ref>

In December 2015, an unofficial [[Application launcher|launcher]] was created for CDDA under an [[open-source license|open-source]] [[MIT license]] to allow players to stay up to date with the latest releases and [[Mod (video gaming)|third-party mods]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/releases |title=remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher |website=GitHub |access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref><ref>[https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/blob/master/LICENSE License] on github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher</ref> However, the launcher was confirmed unmaintained since January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/commit/2d4b6dcdfc2768117e92a144c901c32197425469|title=Update README.md · remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher@2d4b6dc|website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref> Other launchers have since been created and released, including a fork named Kitten CDDA Launcher <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/Fris0uman/CDDA-Game-Launcher |title=Fris0uman/CDDA-Game-Launcher |website=GitHub |access-date=2024-01-04}}</ref> and a [[Godot (game engine)|Godot]]-based launcher called Catapult. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/qrrk/Catapult |title=qrrk/Catapult |website=GitHub |access-date=2024-01-04}}</ref>
== Gameplay ==
[[File:Last_Ant_Lab_Part!_-_(Nosh)_Cataclysm_Dark_Days_Ahead_-_Episode_123_(lSt0y_5WhYI).webm|thumb|Gameplay video]]
Unlike most roguelikes, the game features [[Nonlinear gameplay|non-linear gameplay]]: the player is free to explore the [[procedurally generated]] map, clear areas of monsters, work with [[Non-player character|NPCs]], and build shelters and vehicles. The gameplay is mainly based on day-to-day survival, and the game tracks parameters like hunger, thirst, morale, illness and temperature which the player must manage to stay alive. More advanced players usually set up their own stories and end goals for the player characters, such as searching for [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]], clearing cities of zombies, and even working with the game’s factions, and even there, these goals currently do not “end” the game. The game also manages numerous other mechanics about the player including drug addiction, [[mutation]]s, broken limbs, and bionic implants.

=== World ===
[[File:Screenshot of Map view, 2015.png|thumb|276x276px|Map view showing a large city|left]]
The world can be persistent between games. When starting a new character after the death of a previous character, the new game can be set in the same game world as the last,<ref>{{cite web|title = Whales/Cataclysm|url = https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm| website = GitHub |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> but it is not recommended as it can cause issues<ref>{{cite web | url=https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/issues/26126#issuecomment-564313167 | title=Previous game's NPC followers have "memory" of new player · Issue #26126 · CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA | website=[[GitHub]] }}</ref> The world has support for seasons and dynamic weather conditions, and the season lengths can be modified during world generation. Recent weather conditions/events added include the portal storms, which were initially only mentioned in the main storyline for CDDA, during these portal storms, nether monsters will appear and can cause negative effects on the player when they get caught outdoors during the storm if not outright kill them, but during the portal storms, a dungeon will appear, this dungeon can grant the player unique temporary status effects or items by travelling through it successfully.

A typical CDDA world has cities, towns, rivers, forests, bridges and other landmarks. Cities and towns generally have several common establishments often found in the real world such as houses, stores, malls, parking lots, swimming pools, hospitals, and more, but hold danger in the form of large hordes. Rarer locations such as labs, military bases, and missile silos can be found in remote places throughout the world. Latest versions have support for three-dimensional buildings.<ref>{{cite web|title = CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA|url = https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/d56e624ed03b6efba398b17b53ed5dda2b027d56/src/mapgen_functions.cpp |website = [[GitHub]] |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>

While most of the action in CDDA is liable to happen on the surface overworld, as traditional with roguelikes, the world does [[Dungeon crawl|contain underground dungeons]]. Examples of these include mines, labs, and strange temples.

=== Character ===
[[File:Cataclysm player.png|thumb|Player creation menu which shows Profession, Traits, Skills and Stats|277x277px]]
Characters can be generated randomly or can be custom-built to suit player gameplay and preferences. Players choose from several available initial scenarios. The default scenario is "Evacuee" in which the player starts from an [[Emergency evacuation|evacuation center]] with few provisions.

Like most roguelikes, the game allows players to initially choose from various professions and each profession has its own set of traits and skills. Characters can increase their skills gradually once in-game by practicing the respective skills or reading books obtained from various sources found within the cities or towns.

The game has a menu which shows the character's current conditions such as hunger, thirst, morale and illness. In order to survive, the character has to consume food and water often, and sleep on a regular basis. If afflicted with an illness, the player must use certain medications in order to treat the diseases, most diseases can recover their own, but some others can only be removed with the right medication, or vice versa. The menu also displays the character's stats.

=== Crafting ===
[[File:Cataclysm crafting menu .png|left|thumb|256x256px|Crafting menu]]
Despite the game lean toward looting as primary source of tools and equipment, CDDA has a detailed crafting system, with many basic necessities such as clothing and food being craftable from raw items that are found lying around the world. For crafting to be successful the player needs the necessary raw materials, equipment, skill and proficiencies. The player also needs to know the recipe of the object to be crafted, which can be found by having specific books. Successful crafting leads to an increase of the corresponding skill.

Crafting can be hampered by player conditions such as low morale, damaged limbs, insufficient light or lack of flat surface or workbench.

=== Construction ===
[[File:Vehicle construct.png|thumb|273x273px|Vehicle construction and repair menu]]
CDDA features an intricate construction menu where one can perform activities ranging from simple construction, like boarding up a window or digging a pit, to elaborate ones like building a reinforced concrete wall, digging a well or creating basements. Like crafting, construction requires raw materials like brick, stones, or nails. Equipment required for construction can be either salvaged from cities or can be crafted via the crafting menu from additional raw materials. For the most part, the terrain in the game is fully destructible, meaning that the player and other entities can destroy it or build structures on it.

Vehicles can be repaired or even built from scratch using the construction menu. Players are reported to have created vehicles of quite different sizes and capabilities, from small quad bikes with limited storage<ref>{{cite web|title = I tried building a smaller vehicle instead of a montrosity. • /r/cataclysmdda|url = https://www.reddit.com/r/cataclysmdda/comments/2qpgpm/i_tried_building_a_smaller_vehicle_instead_of_a/|website = reddit |date = 29 December 2014|accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> to huge "deathmobiles"<ref>{{cite web|title = Vehicle Show and Tell|url = https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/vehicle-show-and-tell/207|website = discourse.cataclysmdda.org|date = 11 February 2013|accessdate = 2017-11-15}}</ref> with multiple engines, turrets, machine guns, and chemical labs.

=== Farming ===
The player can farm land and grow grains, vegetables, berries and other shrubs (e.g. cotton), provided that they find the respective [[seed]]s. The final crop can be laid up for later use (though some food may perish), it can be eaten raw or can be used to prepare more elaborate products (e.g. [[cooking oil]], [[flour]], spirits, [[vinegar]], sealed food).

The farming season usually extends from late [[Spring (season)|spring]] to early [[autumn]] and depends on external temperature. Every plant type has different growing rates and growth can be accelerated using commercial or home-made fertilizers. Final output depends on the character's survival skill: the higher the skill, the higher the yield of every single plant. Once harvested, all plants are considered "dead" and leave straw (grains) or withered plants and some seeds.

=== Creatures ===
There are a plethora of monsters and creatures found in the world. The wilderness contains many animals, ranging from small passive animals such as squirrels, rabbits, and rats, to large aggressive predators and sometimes hostile herbivores ranging from [[moose]] to [[wolves]] and [[bears]]. These animals can be hunted for their meat, fur, bones, and organs for cooking and sometimes chemistry.

The main threat to the character's life are the [[zombies]] that roam mainly the cities and some areas within the wilderness. Zombies come in many shapes, abilities  and sizes, and most (but not all of them) are infamous for their ability to revive after some time if they are not butchered or smashed to a pulp. The game also features a wide range of adversaries ranging from mutant humans and animals to aliens and interdimensional creatures, often inspired by the works of [[H. P. Lovecraft]], [[Junji Ito]] and other popular horror and science fiction genres.

As time passes, zombies and other creatures mutate into more powerful forms, progressively increasing difficulty. Mundane animals may be replaced with zombie or mutant versions, further reducing access to edible meat while making the world more hostile.

Despite the increasing deadliness of zombies and monsters, unlike most other games, the number of zombies and monsters in a given area (not counting the overall infinite world) is limited, when the zombies and monsters of an area are dead and rendered unable to revive, they will no longer spawn in that area.

== Reception ==
The game's reception by gaming websites was overwhelmingly positive.<ref>[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/14/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead/ Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead: A roguelike you could play for the rest of your life] by Sin Vega on [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] (November 14th, 2016)</ref><ref>[http://toucharcade.com/2016/01/15/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead-review/ 'Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead' Review - A Learning Curve Like A Sheer Cliff, But Great Rewards Await] by Shaun Musgrave on [[TouchArcade]] "''4.5 stars''" (2016-01-15)</ref> ''[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]'' named it number 39 of "The 50 Best Free Games on PC" in October 2016.<ref name="RPS2016">[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/31/the-50-best-free-games-on-pc/13/ The 50 Best Free Games On PC] on [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] (October 31st, 2016)</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}
* [[List of open source games]]
* [[List of roguelikes]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead}}
* {{GitHub|CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA|''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead''}}

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