Dwarves

A recurring fantasy race appearing as NPCs or playable characters in Tomba!, EverQuest Online Adventures, and Rune: Viking Warlord.

Role-playing (RPG)

Action

Games

1993–2000

Years

Platforms

About

In the platformer Tomba!, the Dwarves are a friendly, green-skinned race residing in the Dwarf Forest who assist the protagonist. In the MMORPG EverQuest Online Adventures, Dwarves are a playable, robust race aligned with the forces of good. In the action-adventure game Rune: Viking Warlord, they appear as a faction deeply rooted in Norse mythology.

In the Tomba! series, these characters communicate in a unique native tongue that the protagonist must decipher to unlock essential quests. The Dwarf Elder serves as a primary narrative guide, directing players toward confronting the Evil Pigs. This depiction expanded in the sequel, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return, where their homeland is encased in stone, requiring players to break a magical curse to restore their society.

Within the broader EverQuest franchise, the Dwarves of EverQuest Online Adventures originate from the mountain city of Moradhim. As devotees of the creator deity Brell Serilis, they possess innate infravision and high physical resistance, making them highly suited for defensive combat roles. Their inclusion in this console release highlighted the franchise's commitment to adapting classic tabletop-inspired fantasy archetypes for early online gaming.

In Rune: Viking Warlord, the Dwarves represent a darker, industrialized society. Having abandoned their traditional ways under the corrupting influence of the god Loki, they construct massive underground factories and forge advanced weaponry. Players must navigate their hazardous, machine-filled domains and battle mechanized defenses, showcasing a grim, steampunk-influenced departure from traditional mythological depictions.