Dig or Die

About

Dig or Die is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Gaddy Games and was released on July 10, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Dig or Die" is a strategy-based game with physics-centered building mechanics and a water cycle that affects gameplay. As a CRAFT & Co. representative, you must sell automated fabrication tools and use them, along with local resources, to build defenses and escape a hostile planet. The game features classic solo and multiplayer co-op modes, as well as custom game modes.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,206 reviews

gameplay101 positive mentions

grinding72 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that combines exploration, crafting, and tower defense mechanics.
Unique water physics and structural integrity mechanics add depth to base building.
Challenging difficulty that keeps players on their toes, especially during night raids.

Limited enemy variety and repetitive gameplay can lead to boredom over time.
The game can feel punishingly difficult, especially for new players unfamiliar with mechanics.
Lack of multiplayer stability and features can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of "Dig or Die" is characterized by a blend of exploration, crafting, and base defense mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like Terraria while introducing unique elements such as fluid dynamics and structural integrity. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop, which combines resource management and strategic base building, although some mechanics can feel janky or underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with innovative mechanics, though it may require further balancing and content expansion to enhance replayability.
- “I really enjoyed the gameplay loop and had some great fun defending my base against the nightly hordes.”
- “From the moment I started playing, I was hooked by the game's captivating world and challenging gameplay.”
- “The water mechanics and upgrade system make for a ridiculously satisfying gameplay loop, the gunplay/recoil is unique, and the base-building aspect actually has meaning to it unlike basically every other game in the genre.”
- “Some of the gameplay is just damned tedious.”
- “The building mechanics are terrible.”
- “Gameplay priorities with respect to base building and technology appear to radically change on higher difficulties, but I'm not sure when I'll go back to invest another +/- 10 hours to experience this.”
graphics
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The graphics in "Dig or Die" are generally described as vibrant and appealing, with a colorful, cartoonish art style that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the detailed weapon graphics and smooth performance, others criticize the inconsistency between character and environment designs, leading to a lack of cohesion. Overall, the visuals are considered acceptable for a 2D game, though there are calls for further improvements and updates to enhance the aesthetic quality.
- “The graphics in Dig or Die are vibrant and visually appealing, creating a stunning backdrop for the player to explore and build in.”
- “The game boasts impressively detailed weapon graphics, including standout options like the ultra-realistic flamethrower.”
- “The game’s art style is incredibly beautiful, being what you would imagine from a cartoon-styled game set in an alien planet.”
- “Water physics cause too much latency for a 2D platformer on PC; the minimum graphics requirements are higher than listed.”
- “It's basically a bad tower defense game where enemies will break your base. The graphics are mediocre, and the characters look ugly because the style between the environment and characters is inconsistent.”
- “The visuals need some work - the Mega Man aesthetic is neat, but poorly realized, and lacks cohesion between various elements, particularly the game and the UI.”
music
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its engaging and atmospheric qualities, with many players praising the upbeat daytime tracks and intense nighttime themes that enhance gameplay. While some noted the soundtrack's repetitiveness over time, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience, making it a standout feature. Many players expressed a desire for a soundtrack release, highlighting its nostalgic and enjoyable nature.
- “In addition to its compelling gameplay mechanics, Dig or Die also boasts a fantastic soundtrack that sets the tone for the game's intense moments and atmospheric exploration.”
- “The up-beat soundtrack sets the rhythm of the gameplay, driving the exploration and combat encounters with an infectious energy that always keeps you engaged.”
- “The music is probably the best feature of this game, with atmospheric music that lends to the situations you find yourself in.”
- “The only things I did like were the shotgun and the music, but the negatives surpass the positives.”
- “There are also a short amount of soundtracks, so it gets super annoying after a while once you get into the game.”
- “The music is okay, but repetitive.”
grinding
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
3%
91%
Overall, player feedback on the grinding aspect of the game is mixed. While some users appreciate the reduced need for grinding compared to similar titles like Terraria and Starbound, others find certain elements, particularly in the late game, to be tedious and grindy, especially regarding resource collection and base defense. The game strikes a balance between fun exploration and occasional grind, but some players feel that the progression can become frustratingly slow or repetitive at times.
- “Exploration involves a ton of fighting and digging, but it's not tedious like the beginning of Starbound or Terraria.”
- “Mining isn't as tedious, and construction is a lot of fun.”
- “No grinding, just fun exploring.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The end game is extremely tedious, long, and super grindy.”
- “The game difficulty increases near-exponentially while your ability to upgrade is tediously slow.”
story
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
79%
6%
The story in "Dig or Die" revolves around a simple premise: the player crash-lands on a hostile planet and must build a rocket to escape. While the narrative is straightforward and lacks depth, it provides a clear goal that drives gameplay, combining survival elements with sandbox mechanics. However, many players feel the story is too brief and could benefit from additional content and complexity to enhance the overall experience.
- “The game provides a lot of interesting challenges to solve and overcome throughout the entire storyline from the start till the very end.”
- “Whereas Terraria would be all about the bosses, RNG weapon/item drops from monsters and fantasy, and Starbound is about the exploration of strange new worlds and upgrading your spaceship, Dig or Die is a shorter, more personal story about survival and escape from a hostile planet.”
- “The story present in the game is fun and doesn't take itself too seriously, but still manages to deliver.”
- “The story is pretty basic; you crash-land on a planet and your goal is to get off it by building a rocket, which isn't as easy as it may seem.”
- “There's basically one very limited storyline, in which you beat the necessary monsters in order to progress, until you've killed all the monsters and built your spaceship.”
- “That being said, the game is lacking in story and depth, and feels very linear for a sandbox game.”
replayability
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
52%
14%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of replayability across various games. Many players appreciate features like randomly generated maps, multiple game modes, and creative modes that enhance replay value, while others express disappointment due to limited content, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of significant challenges after initial playthroughs. Overall, while some games offer substantial replayability through diverse mechanics and multiplayer options, others fall short, leading to a varied experience among players.
- “The inclusion of a creative mode, available as a reward for completing the game, adds substantial replay value.”
- “Outstanding game, great value for money, very impressive depth, considerable replayability and excellent attention from the developer despite how long it's been released.”
- “Replayability: because of the semi-random map you can play over and over again and will never have the same map.”
- “You can blow through the available content in a week or so, and there is almost no replayability.”
- “For me at least, it offered limited to little replayability and just wasn't something I was interested in continuing to play over and over.”
- “It does lack replayability, since it's literally the same thing over and over again, with very little variety.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
5%
81%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with players reporting a generally bug-free experience in single-player mode, while multiplayer suffers from significant issues like freezing and server creation problems. Some users noted occasional glitches and random freezes, particularly during combat or saving, but many still found the game enjoyable and promising despite these early access challenges. While there are bugs present, the consensus is that the game is mostly stable for an early access title, with potential for improvement as development continues.
- “You need to support your tower/building/bridge just to get it to succeed... all in all, so far no glitches found in single player.”
- “Even though this is early access, it is mostly bug-free and very cheap.”
- “All in all, the cons that I can really think of could be ironed out during development, but it's a very playable, fun, and bug-free game that I've noticed.”
- “Only problem is that when I try to create a server, when making my character, it freezes for a second (loading) and then when it unfreezes, it didn't do anything.”
- “Game hangs for a moment when saving, and it can be an issue if you are fighting monsters as the game freezes, and you like to jump around a lot.”
- “If you're willing to wade through the bugs, crashes, and freezes, it is worth your time if you're into a game like this.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny due to unexpected mishaps and hilarious failures, especially in co-op play. While some moments elicit laughter, such as comical deaths and absurd situations, others can become repetitive, like the frustration of in-game physics. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging gameplay with a lighthearted tone that keeps players entertained.
- “Very nice game, some hilarious failures and other mishaps make the game so much fun.”
- “This is genuine, challenging but very funny 'digging for survival' game.”
- “It's always funny to say 'I think I got the hang of this,' only to upgrade your building station and go 'oh crap.'”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many users reporting smooth performance at high resolutions and refresh rates. However, some concerns remain regarding multiplayer optimization and modding capabilities, indicating that while the game performs well, there are areas that could benefit from further improvement.
- “Optimization: no issues to report.”
- “Performance: the game works without issues in 1440p, 85Hz.”
- “Thankfully, this game is well optimized enough to handle all of those graphics without creating an FPS dip.”
- “The biggest complaint I have is that the game is not optimized for modding.”
- “True, multiplayer optimization may be a bit off, and it definitely causes some recurring serious bugs, but the simple act of having a friend along is completely worth it.”
- “Solid, the user interface has been optimized.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The atmosphere in "Dig or Die" is highly praised for its immersive qualities, primarily driven by a fantastic soundtrack that enhances both exploration and intense gameplay moments. Players appreciate the seamless transition from a serene, safe environment during the day to a tense, threatening atmosphere at night, complemented by fitting sound effects that enrich the overall experience. The combination of music and environmental elements creates a captivating ambiance that keeps players engaged and eager to continue their adventure.
- “In addition to its compelling gameplay mechanics, Dig or Die also boasts a fantastic soundtrack that sets the tone for the game's intense moments and atmospheric exploration.”
- “Starting at a laid-back atmosphere, it delivers a sense of safety while you collect your materials and begin crafting, but soon the fun turns into terror as night falls and the rains come.”
- “Starting at a laid back atmosphere it delivers the sense of safety while you collect your materials and begin crafting but soon the fun turns into terror as night falls and the rains come.”
- “The music and sound effects feel very fitting to the game’s atmosphere.”
- “The water just flows so naturally coupled with a soothing background music it creates such a serene atmosphere.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a fun and wholesome experience that evokes laughter and surprise throughout, creating a lighthearted emotional atmosphere. While some gameplay elements could be improved, the overall enjoyment and satisfaction derived from the building mechanics contribute positively to the emotional engagement.
- “This game, to the very end, did not stop surprising me. It made me feel stupid at times and made me laugh.”
- “It's a much more wholesome experience, with much more enjoyable and satisfying building mechanics and depth.”
- “Very fun and wholesome game; I love it!”