In a way, the gameplay of Dwarf Fortress brings instant reminders of Oregon Trail. After a very elaborate process of world generation, Dwarf Fortress open up on the lives of a small team of dwarves who have embarked into the wilderness. These dwarves have a cache of supplies available to get them started, but are otherwise left to their own devices. Like Oregon Trail, Dwarf Fortress is essentially about surviving in an environment which is doing everything it can to kill you.
But of course, the Dwarf Fortress is much more complex than that (and much more complex than Oregon Trail). Dwarf Fortress, beyond being a survival game, Dwarf Fortress is a sandbox strategy game, and it offers a huge number of avenues for success in failure. To survive, you'll need to manage fishing, manage mining, manage crafting, manage defense, manage trading, manage, manage stockrooms, manage sleeping quarters, manage build orders, manage the behavior of your dwarves, and on and on. There are endless things to manage, and Dwarf Fortress doesn't do much of it for the player. Automation is available - but only if the player sets it up first.
This is the challenge and dilemma of Dwarf Fortress. It is an insanely confusing game at first glance. There are likely thousands of things which can be managed and adjusted, and the interface is not well explained or laid out. It is not a game for everyone.
But that's the point, and the bluntness of the game's complexity is refreshing. That isn't to say its always fun. But just like playing Oregon Trail, playing Dwarf Fortress isn't just about winning. Its about exploring a world which is always different and always dangerous. While it would be nice if the game was less deliberately obtuse, the game's difficulty enhances the sense of adventure and success that comes with surviving your first winter.
