The designer of cult classic King of Dragon Pass says his upcoming hellish heist game is pushing the boundaries of a concept he invented in 1999: ‘There’s really nothing else quite like it’
David Dunham and his studio A Sharp announced Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists, an upcoming game that builds on the innovative design philosophy they pioneered with King of Dragon Pass in 1999. The original title, which blended mythic fantasy RPG elements with cattle management simulation, was initially a commercial failure but gradually developed a devoted cult following and is now recognized as a landmark narrative experience in gaming.
Thousand Hells represents Dunham’s continued evolution of what he calls “tactical narrative games.” The new title offers surreal, replayable adventures set in the afterlife centered around a heist theme. Published by Kitfox Games, the game defies conventional categorization—the publisher describes it as a “systemic storybook experience” while Steam tags identify it as a strategy RPG. Dunham emphasizes that the game’s approach is genuinely distinct from other titles in the medium.
The announcement highlights how Dunham’s two-decade-old design innovations continue to shape his work. King of Dragon Pass’ hybrid approach to narrative-driven gameplay with mechanical depth helped establish a niche for games that prioritize storytelling within systems-based frameworks. With Thousand Hells, Dunham appears to be refining and expanding upon those principles, creating what he positions as the natural evolution of concepts introduced in 1999. The game is scheduled to launch later this year.