SteamWorld Dig Review

SteamWorld Dig is a 2D Platformer that has been out for the PC and Nintendo 3DS for a few months now and has received ratings that definitely well deserved. Putting you in the shoes of Rusty, a robot who has taken over his uncle's mine, you will dig your way deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the mine. Offering hours upon hours of digging and exploration, the gameplay of SteamWorld dig is both enjoyable and addictive. If you're picking this game up before the weekend, prepare to get lost in it!

SteamWorld Dig - Gameplay

The gameplay of SteamWorld dig is incredibly simplistic and easy to jump into, after the first 10 minutes of the tutorial especially. The controls are fluid, with the ability to wall-jump in order to go back up to the surface or get over to a tunnel you have already dug out. The main objective is mining, with a small town on the surface to replenish your lanterns, ladders, and dynamite, as well as upgrade your tools as you mine ore and go deeper and deeper into the earth. Mining is a dangerous business, though, with enemies that will attack you and large stones and objects that will fall on your head if you're not careful! 

The beauty of the game world is that the caves will change with every playthrough, offering you a unique experience every time that you play. The number of obstacles and challenges that you encounter through each playthrough is just as satisfying as the last, and if you happen to get stuck - you can always self-destruct. Unfortunately, dying comes with the cost of losing half your money, dropping your gems (which you can make your way back to get!), and losing all of your water. Armed with a drill, pickaxe, and steam-powered fist, Rusty will have you digging your way to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the death of his uncle!

The music, sounds, and artwork are just as simple and satisfying as the gameplay itself. Offering a 2D Steampunk-styled world, the ambiance of the environments will remind you of the feelings invoked by old western films, with the music complementing the different "worlds" that you encounter as you dig deeper and deeper. The game is so immersive with its feel that you could very well play an entire day and not notice (I did!) that any amount of time has passed. The complete intertwining of the gameplay, story, and audio/visual aspects creates a gameplay experience that can be enjoyed multiple times.

The Verdict

SteamWorld Dig is a game that is a mining experience that enhances the types of flash mining games we used to play with a big enough scope of gameplay that makes it addictive and highly enjoyable while still giving you a game that has lots of "meat" and no filler! The upgrades and rewards scale with the progress that you make as you play through the game, offering a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience that punishes you accordingly because, let's be honest, losing half of your money can be painful! Overall, this is a great and enjoyable game that will offer a fantastic first experience, as well as a huge replay value. Definitely a must for PS4/Vita/3DS/PC Owners!

TechRaptor reviewed SteamWorld Dig on PC with a code provided by the developer. 

This review was originally published on 03-25-2014. While care has been taken to update the piece to reflect our modern style guidelines, some of the information may be out of date. We've left pieces like this as they were to reflect the original authors' opinions, and for historical context.