Mining Mechs
- October 27, 2023
- Delayed Victory
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Mining Mechs" is a game where you control a mining mech to dig into the earth and collect resources, selling them on the surface for upgrades and new mechs. The game features online co-op multiplayer for up to 8 players, with challenges and achievements to unlock. The deeper you dig, the harder it gets, as you uncover the secrets of the underground.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Great nostalgic experience reminiscent of the classic game Motherload.
- Fun and relaxing gameplay with no stress or failure states, perfect for casual gaming.
- Affordable price for the amount of content and enjoyment it provides.
- Game can become grindy and repetitive, especially in the later stages.
- Upgrade system feels unbalanced, as new mechs start with low stats requiring significant investment to be effective.
- Limited content and replayability after completing the main story and achievements.
- story263 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered weak and simplistic, often described as a light and silly narrative that serves primarily to motivate the mining gameplay. Players noted that while the main quest involves digging deeper to uncover a mystery, the side quests are repetitive and lack depth, often revolving around collecting specific resources. Overall, the story is seen as a minor aspect of the game, providing just enough context to support the gameplay loop without being particularly engaging or memorable.
“The main game story is a kind of mystery; there's reports of strange sounds and you dig deeper and deeper to investigate, furthering your progression and the story.”
“The dialogue with the characters and the story itself is playful and funny, probably not meant to be taken too seriously.”
“The story is very simple with light comedic touches; every time you descend 100 meters in the mine, the story progresses.”
“After a few hours, when you find out the game is unfortunately completely hollow and besides the mining, which never changes in any way, you just don't really do anything else (there is very little to a 'story', but no offense to the dev, it's completely forgettable and meaningless for the most part).”
“There's no real story, no real end game, just 3-5 hours of solid, addicting, mining/selling/upgrading gameplay loop for you.”
- gameplay259 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple and addictive mining loop that offers a chill experience, appealing to fans of casual gaming. While it lacks depth and complexity, many players find enjoyment in the straightforward mechanics and the satisfaction of upgrading their mechs. However, some critiques highlight issues with repetitive tasks and a lack of engaging content, suggesting that the game may not hold long-term interest for everyone.
“The gameplay loop is simple but fun.”
“The gameplay is addictive, the upgrades are fun, and the digging mechanics are just right.”
“Mining mechs is an absolute delight from the moment I dove into the world of mining mechs, I was hooked on its unique charm and engaging gameplay.”
“Blatantly unfinished, multiplayer works at a coin flip, gameplay is really boring. There are flash games of this that are a) free and b) don't waste your time with poorly made quests and half-assed gameplay. The worst part is I spent money on it.”
“Gameplay is just hold the analog-down button and then empty out your dirt on the surface and repeat.”
“Gameplay doesn't change at all, so it might get boring pretty fast for most people.”
- music137 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for being catchy and enjoyable, often described as a "banger" soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the music can be repetitive over longer sessions, it generally fits well with the game's theme and provides a relaxing backdrop for gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially given its low price point.
“The soundtrack is awesome.”
“Sometimes you just want to dig a nice hole and listen to pretty music that absolutely slaps... this game checks both those boxes!”
“Great little game with an even better soundtrack, value for money+++ , easy to learn but very addictive.”
“Music references to Drake and Taylor Swift, woof.”
“The music is bizarrely unfitting though.”
“- had to mute the music multiple times, could use some improvement.”
- humor75 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and charming, while others describe it as cringe-worthy and unoriginal. Many appreciate the playful dialogue and corny jokes that evoke nostalgia, though some feel the humor can become repetitive and lacks depth. Overall, it offers a light-hearted experience that may appeal to casual gamers, despite its uneven execution.
“It has some good humor that got a few actual laughs out of me, which is better than a lot of games that try and be funny.”
“The dialogue with the characters and the story itself is playful and funny, probably not meant to be taken too seriously.”
“Very fun and chill mining game with good humor sprinkled throughout the story.”
“The game is painfully unfunny, and on top of that it's clunky, basic, and unpolished. This kind of shortcoming would be acceptable if they focused on making a good game before selling it, but as they're thinking about DLC before becoming playable, I have nothing but spite for this title I have spent a few hours on, which were a few hours too many.”
- grinding71 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as overly grindy, particularly in the later stages, where players feel stuck in a repetitive cycle of mining and upgrading without a sense of meaningful progression. While some enjoy the relaxing nature of the gameplay, many find the grind tedious and lacking in substance, with upgrades feeling pointless and achievements requiring excessive farming. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate grinding mechanics, but it may become frustrating for others seeking a more dynamic gameplay experience.
“The pacing is off, it's too grindy, there isn't anything exciting to work towards, it's way too annoying to come back up - and go back down, the UI is bad (amateur dialogues, don't reuse buttons for multiple things..), and the controls feel floaty.”
“Very grindy, uninspired copy of the motherload, it doesn't have any interesting mechanics, upgrading robots is boring and annoying, you need to buy upgrades from scratch for every single robot you buy, what even is the point of having this many different robots to choose from?”
“The endgame is also very unsatisfying because not only do you have a meager maximum of every convenient tool (explosives), the inventory space (for either ores or dirt) is still far from enough, all of which make farming achievements or simply wanting to enjoy being rich and invincible a very tedious and unsatisfying experience.”
- graphics53 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the cute and simplistic art style, particularly the pixel graphics of the mining mechs. While some users noted that the visuals can feel reminiscent of a student's first project, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and polished, especially given the low price point. However, there are occasional mentions of graphical issues, such as problems with the user interface in borderless mode.
“The visuals of mining mechs are beautifully simplistic; they're very pleasing.”
“Love the retro graphics, great music, and it's an extremely fun way to spend some time and very little money!”
“Nice graphics, very nice music, and the simplicity of the game is just perfect for killing some time while having fun.”
“After turning on the 'borderless' mode, the graphical user interface breaks.”
“Oh yeah, and the art style is all over the place.”
“If you're craving the classic dig game you used to get back in the 2000s that ran on a web browser with better graphics and a storyline, this is for you.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that the story is light and limited in depth. While there are calls for more playable characters, the developers are reportedly working on a new game+ mode that may introduce some replay value through tokens. However, as it stands, players feel there is minimal incentive to replay the game.
“Seeing more playable characters would be cool.”
“Edit: the dev is working on new game+ which would add some kind of replay value in the form of tokens.”
“It lacks replay value.”
“Zero replayability.”
“The story is light, there isn't much replayability, and you probably will only use a few of the mechs.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized for the Steam Deck, offering up to 5.5 hours of gameplay on a full charge, with generally good performance across most devices. While occasional lag can affect actions like running and drilling, these instances are rare and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the game's smooth performance and user interface, highlighting it as a strong example of quality indie game development.
“Speaking of Steam Deck, the game is incredibly optimized; it can last you 5.5 hours on a fully charged deck.”
“We both find it enjoyable to play with no issues in performance or UI.”
“Good performance on the deck.”
“Lag in this game (rare but at times performance got worse briefly for seemingly no reason) currently slows down actions like running and drilling which isn't great (looks weird to others in multiplayer)... but most devices probably wouldn't have any lag at all so that's fine and the game is still enjoyable.”
“It's an example why indie games are the future of this type of entertainment (not cash-grabby, unoptimized and greedy AAA games).”
- stability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minimal issues, others encounter significant bugs, such as window resizing and cursor glitches. Despite these problems, a few users have noted that the game runs well on specific platforms like the Steam Deck.
“Played this on my deck; a few minor control issues, but other than that, it runs great.”
“Goated soundtrack, great progression, bug-free.”
“Goated soundtrack, great progression, bug-free.”
“I thought this game would be good for me, but unfortunately, it is quite buggy.”
“Amazing game, but whenever I leave my computer alone, the window becomes small, and the cursor glitches out to where I can't fullscreen or save and quit.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its excessive and intrusive advertisements, particularly for super mining mechs, leading many to label it as a quick cash grab.
“The advertisements in this game for super mining mechs are appalling.”
“Another quick cash grab.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the "flight power" stat is perceived as unnecessary and unengaging, leading players to disregard it entirely. This suggests a lack of emotional investment in that particular aspect of the game.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's atmosphere as being significantly enhanced by its futuristic soundtracks, which effectively complement the overall experience and immerse players in the game's setting.
“The futuristic soundtracks perfectly complement the game's atmosphere.”
“The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
“The haunting visuals and ambient sounds create a truly captivating atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
“Despite the futuristic soundtracks, the overall ambiance lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
“The environments are bland and forgettable, which detracts from the intended atmosphere of the game.”
